Feb 6 (Friday) – Our first hut-to-hut evangelism in the bush went amazingly. Mel, Joel, Tomina, and I went. I’m blown away with how God used each of us uniquely and distinctively. We were really walking in our gifts and everything felt so natural, pure, and holy. First, we met a lot of heavy spiritual warfare and rejection. See “The Old Man Under The Tree” After much rejection and hardened hearts, we entered a new home and the spiritual climate immediately changed. This place was different. The Holy Spirit started moving like crazy amongst us all. God gave me a vision for the boys at the house. I felt compelled to tell the two young men of the family that I was only able to be here a month, but they would continue sharing the gospel in this place, and if they wanted to see a revival in this place, it needed to come from within. They have been chosen and called by God to be a voice to the Nations. This world desperately needs men of God to rise up and lead; it desperately needs role models/examples. It needs godly voices to touch people, to change lives, to bring hope, peace, joy, salvation, and life to a dying world. I put my hands on them, prayed for them, and anointed them. Our pastor/contact/translator then gave an incredible word of confirmation to the boys, likening me to Samuel and them to David. It was powerful. The guys were very moved. (update: they ended up coming to church that Sunday and seemed seriously motivated and indebted to God).
Feb 8 (Sunday) – I went for a 4 hour hike in the morning instead of preparing the sermon that I was supposed to preach. The hike was beautiful. We got lost. I returned just in time for church to begin, but God gave me everything I needed in order to give one of my most sincere sermons ever. He led me through it and spoke to me even through a language I don’t know-Swahili (a story all in itself). Awesome. The church offering was chicken, vegetables and fruits. I visited a woman yesterday during our hut-to-hut ministry, and she came to church today. She brought me a chicken as a gift. LOL – We prayed over the home of a woman whose husband habitually drinks and comes home at night to beat her and behave destructively and violently, sometimes kicking her out of her own home. The next day the woman told us that he came home for the first time sober and peaceful and he wanted to talk. Praise GOD! Tonight our contacts began a film ministry but no one showed up. They were very disappointed so they asked us to pray for the people to come. As we prayed, people began coming. Families started pouring in. By the end of the night over 150 people showed up. The night next over 300! This was unheard of for such a small community with a church of only maybe 20 members and a hut that could fit barely that inside. Prayer is POWERFUL. At the end of the night, after cleaning up everything at the night
seminar/film ministry, I did a sweep of the field to look for chairs or
left behind equipment and we found a HUMAN CHILD left behind. Only in
Africa. The poor little kid had fallen asleep under a tree and had been
left by his family or friends.
seminar/film ministry, I did a sweep of the field to look for chairs or
left behind equipment and we found a HUMAN CHILD left behind. Only in
Africa. The poor little kid had fallen asleep under a tree and had been
left by his family or friends.
Feb 9 (Monday) – I’m really going to cherish the past four days in the bush doing village ministry. I’ve never before felt so alive in the Spirit. I want to remember these days when the Spirit has led me step by step through nearly every moment. I want to remember them when I go through seasons in which it may not be God’s timing to use me in such visible or evident ways so that I can continue to be obedient to the Word of God regardless.
Random Masai Journal Observations (Feb 13): Absolute peace. The only sounds that reach my ears are the children playing together far off and the sweet sea-born wind rustling through the trees. My view is the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro, emerging above the gentle clouds dotting the crisp blue sky. The cool breeze plays with my unkempt hair and I love it. A baby goat approaches a patch of green near where I sit. It bleats and wanders away in search of its mother. So few insects here-only the occasional variety of fly, ant, or termite, and none bother me. I’m surrounded by beautiful mountains and lush bush on three sides, and a gorgeous stretching lake on the fourth. The lake is a perfect jogging distance away. It takes a one-mile jog to reach the nearly completely private beach, and the dip in the cool water instantly washes the sweat and dust from my body. In the distance all around are scattered Masai settlements full of very proud and hospitable people. They are fascinated with me and I with them. I notice two women walk by with bundles of sticks on their heads. They are middle-aged and dressed in gorgeous bright green and red wraps. They stop nearby under the shade of a large tree. They don’t notice me as I sit quietly in the shade of a large abandoned termite hill. I watch as the women rest in the shade, sharing stories and stroking eachother’s hair. Not too far is the church, an open brick-and-stone structure that provides great shade from the sun and cool ventilation with its many and varied windows and doorways. The sun is warm, the breeze is cool, and the sights are gorgeous. Beautiful and serene, the world around me defies definition. For the first time on the World Race, I feel a real and lasting peace in this place. I could even see myself bringing a wife here someday and living in simple fellowship with her and God, finding joy in working the land together and settling a family. A few miles away is a largely untouched village that desperately needs to be reached, and I already have both the connections and the welcoming invitation! Perhaps I am spending too much time with the Masai…
