“Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 2 Timothy 2:22
Our time in Tanzania is winding down! On Friday, we said tearful goodbyes to our new family in Gairo and piled onto a minibus headed back to Morogoro. On the way, we visited a Maasai tribe and held a church service with them at the end of a long bumpy ride down a dirt road (more like a creek bed…). My thoughts for this blog began while Mark was preaching.
Mark joined our team at the beginning of this month and with the transition, we changed our name from “Meizon” to “Waka Waka in the Spirit” (Waka is a Swahili word that means “to catch on fire and burn”). Come take a look at my amazing team with me, the brothers and sisters that I am blessed to call companions on this journey…
I am sitting in the front of the church with my other teammates. As I watch Mark preach, my heart gets so happy. So here’s this guy in a loose t-shirt, dirt-stained jeans that probably haven’t been washed in a couple weeks, and untrimmed beard. He speaks boldly and confidently to a church full of African tribal people, complete with gauged earlobes and traditional clothing. His words? “I am realizing that I should not say that I am from Virginia when I introduce myself – I am an ambassador of Christ!” I am struck anew with the realization of just who my brother is – a radical, passionate man of God, full of relentless conviction as a disciple of Christ. And I get to live with, serve alongside and learn from him as we continue on this journey around the globe!
I look to the back of the church and catch sight of Hugh sitting on the floor against the wall, free and un-driven by expectations or the desire to impress anyone. Here skater dude meets mighty man of God, with an ear always tuned to the Spirit and a constant posture of humility and desire for more of the Lord’s presence. He is a leader who inspires the same confidence in others that he demonstrates in his own walk, a risk taker and trail blazer with an ever-ready heart of compassion and listening ear. His friendship and leadership continually inspires and blesses me.
Next my eyes move to the rest of my teammates sitting with me in plastic chairs on the back of the podium…
Jo Linda blows my mind sometimes. Listener, counselor, encourager… and my mountain-climbing buddy (we’ve already scaled three)! I see a picture of her standing on a mountaintop, arms outstretched, glowing with an aura that makes her look more spirit and less substance because it is so bright. There is relentless passion within her that keeps burning stronger with each passing week like embers beneath a breath. The world has lost its hold on her and her words are powerful and spoken in the moments when they are needed. She draws people out in unflinching love and brings the team together in laughter and in deep and stimulating conversations… my dear sister and friend!
Hosanna has just shared her testimony a few minutes before Mark’s sermon, and I am struck by the power of it. Giving up her ambitions to unreservedly follow Jesus, she has a heart of gold. When she speaks, her words ring with insight and wisdom. She is a woman of uncompromising conviction and shows a faithfulness to speak the truth of the gospel that continually inspires me. She also has a tender heart and responds in grace to the people around her. She is a woman of the Spirit, power, and commitment who I am blessed to walk alongside!
Wes brings a smile to my face. I continue to see him as a protector and defender who will speak for the voiceless. He brings the same attention to detail that is reflected in his photography into every part of his life, and very little escapes his notice. He comes alive when he’s surrounded by kids, effortlessly finding ways to entertain and pour love into them. At the same time, he has an incredible capacity to speak life and affirmation into those around him. Gentleness and conviction intersect in my brother’s voice.
Naomi warms my heart. Her bright laugh and hugs have lifted my spirits more times than I can count. Yet in her gentleness, she is also a warrior. She prays words of fire and speaks life when she shares her testimony or words of encouragement. She is real, transparent, and ions away from fitting the hypocritical Christian stereotype. She comes before God with the innocence of a daughter and the adoration of a bride, dancing unashamedly and joyfully in His presence. She is a gem.
Our team along with Mandi and Zack, who joined us this month as part of AIM's Passport program, our squad leader Lindsay, and our African brother Joseph 🙂
So there you have it – my powerhouse team! I know that I haven’t talked much about fundraising, simply because God has provided all my financial needs for this trip. But my teammates still need funds in order to meet the final deadline in just a few days, July 1. And all of them HAVE to stay on the field, cuz I can’t imagine finishing this race without them! I know some of you have hearts to pour into this ministry and partner with us in bringing the love of Jesus to the people of Africa and Asia in the next five months. I am asking you to consider supporting one or several of my teammates. The links to their blogs are in the left column of my blog, and from there you will find a link to support them. It would bless me more than I can say if you would consider donating to them, and I know it would also be a huge blessing to them.
And just a note to everyone at home – I love you and miss you all! We’re over halfway through the Race, which is crazy to me. I love hearing from you guys, especially the little details from home… please feel free to email me or message me on FB anytime 🙂
And as they say here in Tanzania, “Bwana a sifiwe!”
