Written September 16, 2012
We have been walking to every corner of this valley (and sometimes out of it), meeting people in their homes and on the road.
Each time we shake hands, introduce ourselves, and then we ask them questions about their lives.
We have met countless people who have no hope.
People who are burdened by poverty or have lost loved ones.
I can’t even count how many people we have met who love Jesus and desire to follow Him, yet claim they are not saved because they don’t go to church.
We came across two women sitting in their yard taking corn off the cob.
We sat with them and helped, asking them questions and getting to know them.
They showed us pictures of their family and served us chai.
One woman was younger, maybe early 30’s.
The other was an old woman who looked to be about 80.
Despite her age, she was very vibrant and happy to see us.
She would smile and nod at us even though she had no idea what we were saying.
We talked with the younger woman and learned that she was saved, but her husband was not. We spent time talking to her and encouraging her.
We prayed for her husband.
We looked at more pictures and drank more chai.
Then someone asked if Grandma was saved.
She said she was not.
She also said that she knew that God was the one who has given her everything from her children and grandchildren, to her animals and crops.
She told us that He made the dust on the ground and put breath in her lungs.
Through the Pastor, who was our translator, we explained to her that the God who has given her everything desires a relationship with her.
We told her that the love He has for her is eternal, and nothing she has ever done or ever will do can change how much He adores her.
Neither death nor life, nor angels or demons.
Nothing can seperate her from His love.
She looked down as she listened to the Pastor tell her in Maasai all that we had said.
And then, in a small voice, she said that she wanted to know that love.
She wanted to know Jesus…
We prayed with her, and when we were finished,
she lifted both hands to the sky and smiled bigger than ever.
The Pastor shook her hand and said he was welcoming her into the family of God.
She went around to each of us, shaking our hands and kissing her granchildren, all the while smiling her beautiful gap-toothed smile.
She couldn’t contain her joy.
And I couldn’t hold back my tears.
It was by far one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.
Today was our last day in Tangi Tatu and I am completely in awe of how God has allowed me to be apart of something so incredible.
Each time I have shared about what Jesus did on the cross and how there is no condemnation, that we have freedom just given to us through grace,
I am completely floored.
It hits me harder every time.
It really is the most incredible thing…
That all of our sin and shame and guilt and fear has been washed away,
and we are considered HOLY no matter how many sins we commit in our life.
Each one has been paid for before we were even born!
And all that’s left is the most amazing, astounding, breath-taking, never-ending love.
It doesn’t make any sense.
But maybe it’s not supposed to…
