It’s a strange feeling sometimes, walking the dirt roads as a white American in Gairo, Tanzania. We’ve been here working with Pastor Chacha for one week, preaching and sharing testimonies and music at open-air crusades, visiting orphan children and spending time with the local churches. Everywhere we go, little African children shout “Mzungu!” (“white person”), staring at us with open curiosity. At our first crusade, the kids were relentless in their gaze, yet would not even respond to our greetings of “Jambo!” It was almost as if they saw us on a TV screen and couldn’t fathom that we were real.
Feeling like some kind of strange novelty, I set out to break the ice and bring some reality to the situation… “C’mon guys, I’m just a human being too!” I borrowed Naomi’s camera and sat down with the huddle of kids. They drew back a bit, and I snapped a photo and showed them their faces on the screen. At first they didn’t seem to get it. A few photos later, they began to catch on and press in closer as they realized that the captured image was of their faces! Before I knew it, I was nearly trampled by a puppy pile of kids on top of me, eager to catch a glimpse of each successive photo as they appeared in rapid fire. 🙂
My team shared highs and lows a few nights ago, and all I could think of when I reflected back on the day was the joy of having an African toddler in my lap during the crusade that evening. She sat there throughout Wes’ testimony and Lindsay’s sermon, quiet as a mouse with her fuzzy head resting against me. So although I left the crusade that night without preaching to the people gathered or witnessing anything profoundly out of the ordinary, I have to say that my heart was very happy and content.
The next night after Mandi preached, people came forward to receive prayer for healing. Since we were standing with them to lay hands on them and pray for them, a bunch of the kids pressed in close as well to get in on the action. Some of the African church leaders tried to pull the kids away to prevent them from distracting, so I moved away from the front with my guitar, motioning them to follow me. As my team prayed, I found myself on the sidelines with a circle of kids around me. I began to play guitar quietly so as not to distract from the prayer that was happening, but to keep the kids entertained and bless them as well. Before I knew it, my voice was unnecessary because they had begun to chime in on the familiar Swahili lyrics, “Hakuna Mungu kama wewe, Hakuna Mungu kama we” (“There’s no one, there’s no one like Jesus, There’s no one, there’s no one like Him”). Once again it was only a matter of minutes before I was in the middle of what felt like a team huddle, kids pressing in on every side and even a few adults smiling down on me and joining in the chorus. They would have kept singing for who knows how long if our translator hadn’t called me away, telling me it was time to leave. A couple kids grabbed my hands and walked all the way home with us, singing “Hakuna” through the streets of Gairo.
At training camp back in October, my squadmate Amanda received a picture of me from the Lord. She saw me in Africa surrounded by kids, playing and laughing with them, completely free and full of joy. A few weeks ago, around the time when we arrived in Africa, Wes gave me a similar word, once again picturing me surrounded by African children shouting and praising God.
In that moment of playing guitar and singing with the kids, I remember a vague sense of guilt that I was not with the rest of my team doing “real” ministry, praying for healing and ministering to adults who are fully cognizant of the gospel and can understand the message that we are here to share. Yet I am realizing more and more how wrong my mindset can be! Jesus reminded me of the passage in Luke 18 when He called the children to Him after the disciples tried to send them away. Do you remember His words? “Let the children come to Me… For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children” (v. 16 NLT).
More and more on the journey, the Lord has put on my heart the weak, the unimpressive, and the overlooked. He continues to speak to me that these are the things He uses. I believe that He more often speaks through weakness and brokenness than through eloquence and strength. Fortunate for me, since I seem to find myself in the former category more often than the latter! I love Luke 10:21: “Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and He said, ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.’” As I encounter new things here in Africa that I often don’t understand or feel equipped to handle, I am so grateful that He does not ask me to have all the answers. He asks me to come to Him like a child, trusting my Daddy because He is trustworthy. I want my words, my prayers, my life to reflect that simple faith.
As I write this, I’m reminded of the song that has ministered to me most on the Race. These are the lyrics that I go back to time and time again: “Like a child I’ll take You at Your word, as these mountains of doubt they fade away. I’m longing to trust and love You more. So for me this is beautiful, a brand new thought and a brand new world. Can I stay here forever, here with You?”
