Spider and mosquito bites
Cold symptoms and vomit
Fever and chills
It’s day 14 and I have experienced all of these. From the hotel room in NY City to the hostels and campgrounds we stay at here in Uganda Africa. But what’s cool is that none of these have been the highlight or the focus of any single day of the journey thus far. The day I had a fever, I explored the night life of NY with the first girls I met in my squad. I vomited right next to the Nile River where I also had deep heart talks with these people that are becoming family. Every mosquito bite I’ve received here in Africa is from an adventure of living in Uganda whether we’re worshiping, learning, praying, meeting new people and praying over them, or rafting the Nile, I never got a bite from a mosquito or spider and wished I was home where they all would be frozen right now. It’s been a lot of stuff to take in these past couple weeks with leaving and meeting people, with learning and discovering, but it’s been so cool to see how the Lord is providing in EVERY category.
Have you heard the Lords voice before?
Have you acted on it?
Do you usually say no to it?
Have you tried listening to the Lords voice in order to know what to say to someone or even where to go?
These are some of the questions we’ve been asking AND learning how to do and it’s safe to say my life has changed a lot since Christmas – and I just know it’s going to only increase as the days go on. I miss my friends and the love they give me, I miss my family and the support they provide. I miss my hair and it’s comfort it delivers but more than all of that – I’ve already learned so much more about the ONE that I love above all others, Jesus. Did you know that this Jesus we talk about didn’t just take our sins at the cross so that we now receive eternal life in heaven? Did you know that the same Jesus that did that has the power to make your headache go away? Did you know that same Lord that gave His only Son for you is also able to provide you with the words to give to His people even without knowing that individual? If you said no to any of these here is your double dog dare to give it a try. Pray over a headache and ban it away – deem it no power over you, yea apparently it’s a thing if you truly believe it. Another challenge is instead of watching the next episode on Netflix, pray and be still. Ask the Lord for a person (age / gender), a place (market / event), an ailment (heart / foot), a color (any ROYGBIV), and an object (from the toenail on the floor to a flying saucer in the sky).
Then go to that place – keep an eye out for all things He put on your mind. Meet the person, and tell them the words God has provided. I know that America is different than Africa, well aware… but let me know how it goes for you. Just remember, the story doesn’t just end when you’re not watching anymore, it continues. A seed today may grow into nourishment within the month.
On this journey, I have felt alone, judged, naked, sick, tired, emotional, loved, misunderstood, cared for, prayed for, loved, hungry, full, enthused, exhausted, blessed, reached and much more and today was just day 14…
To all you who are checking in, Africa is amazing and my squad is made up of the most diverse individuals the Lord could have put together. We might not have every country involved, but from home life, wreckage stories, first languages and holiday traditions, we’re pretty diverse as they come. My encouragement for you all back home and/or on this journey in other countries or times is this: dare yourself to be still and listen. I promise, if it can even start to change someone as stubborn as I, I can’t wait to see what it can do to guide you along YOUR journey.
God bless and remember,
There is never a time that we are truly alone or misunderstood. We must just listen and be still to feel the presence of the most high.
GOD BLESS xoxo
