On March 4th, I turned 31 (yes, I’m shocked that I’m that old too. I’m also in just a little bit of denial.)
This is the second birthday I’ve gotten to spend on the Race. Last year, I spent it on a 30+ hr bus ride from Malawi to Zambia. This year, I spent it in some farmland in rural Nepal. I’m not gonna lie, I wasn’t super excited when I learned where I’d spend my birthday. It didn’t ruin my day, but it could’ve been better, you know?
I woke up that morning and, like every other day, went up to the roof first thing to spend some time with Jesus. I looked over and, for the first time in the week we’d been there, I saw mountains! Every other day, the smog was so thick, you couldn’t see them. But today, Jesus cleared it up just for me. I’m convinced that was His birthday present to me.
During my time with the Lord, he hi-lighted that today was the day he chose to put me on this earth, all of us are put on the earth to glorify Him, and that our birthdays don’t need to be about us, but glorifying Him.
I didn’t think too much of it and went about the day… 3 hour church service, a one on one, an unsatisfying nap…the usual. Then our translator wanted celebrate Sara and I (Sara’s birthday is on the 5th). He took a small group of us to a cafe but the food wouldn’t be ready for an hour. We almost started a hunt for tea, but a squad mate was talking to a man on the street and the next thing I know, we’re invited to the man’s house and are walking towards it.
The home was very humble – one room with a twin bed (boards with a blanket on it) and a wooden bench. The 45 year old man lives there with his wife (25 yrs) and baby (11 mos).
It was very evident that the presence of darkness was there and had a very real hold in this home.
A squad mate, Eric, began to share the Gospel, but the couple was so uncomfortable with the truth being shared that hey couldn’t keep still or quiet. The distractions were unstoppable – talking, singing, dancing, playing with the baby, anything but listening.
We were getting nowhere and all of a sudden our translator, Bipin, says, “Let’s all pray in tongues” and jumps right into prayer. He directed us to lay hands on them in prayer and as soon as that happened, the man and woman both stopped talking and actually allowed us to minister to them.
The power of prayer is incredible! Satan and his boys don’t stand a chance against it!?
The next thirty minutes held a lot of spontaneous dancing, laughing and a little bit of wondering if the parents ditched us with their baby. They didn’t though…they just went to get tea.
While we were along with the baby we prayed over him, renamed him Joshua Carp (Carp was written on his jacket so it, obviously, had to be incorporated) and anointed him with holy dishwater. (You use what you’ve got! Don’t worry. We blessed the water before we used it to bless Joshua Carp.) It was a busy few minutes.
The parents came back and we got to share a meal with them before separating.
I don’t now why the Lord led us to that home and those people.
Maybe it was to plant seeds in the hearts of those parents.
Maybe it was to pray protection and anointing over that baby.
I’ll probably never now this side of Heaven.
What I do know is that..
I’m glad I didn’t settle for a nap and some chocolate.
I’m thankful for a translator who wanted to celebrate and was willing to follow the Spirit’s leading.
I’m grateful I didn’t have a birthday agenda to be followed, because that’ s not why I’m on this earth anyway..
Funding Update!
I am only $665 away from being fully funded!! Thank you so, so much to all of you who have so selflessly given! You can continue to give to my trip on the main page of my blog.
Not working for the last year and a half has also been catching up with me, so if you’re interested in helping me cover personal expenses, you can give at https://www.youcaring.com/tammy-moye-660145
