Tanzania was a month of “hurry up to wait”�. Many mornings we’d
get up and have breakfast, then sit and wait anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours
for our translators to come and get us to go do door-to-door evangelism and
prayer. Then we’d come back for lunch and have a break before heading to a
university or children’s program to have fellowship, teach English, preach God’s
Word, and sing songs.
get up and have breakfast, then sit and wait anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours
for our translators to come and get us to go do door-to-door evangelism and
prayer. Then we’d come back for lunch and have a break before heading to a
university or children’s program to have fellowship, teach English, preach God’s
Word, and sing songs.
This was a month were people came to know Jesus’ Love and
forgiveness, where men and women were healed of malaria and sickness; a month
where Jesus continued to show his miraculous ability to heal and restore vision
in eyes, strength in bones to walk, and freedom from bondage and spiritual
warfare. He led us to prostitutes to share about how beautiful and loved and
cherished they are and how they are like fine china, not Styrofoam or plastic
that can be reused and discarded. He brought orphans for us to love on and
people who needed comfort, love, encouragement and hope just to make it through
the day.
forgiveness, where men and women were healed of malaria and sickness; a month
where Jesus continued to show his miraculous ability to heal and restore vision
in eyes, strength in bones to walk, and freedom from bondage and spiritual
warfare. He led us to prostitutes to share about how beautiful and loved and
cherished they are and how they are like fine china, not Styrofoam or plastic
that can be reused and discarded. He brought orphans for us to love on and
people who needed comfort, love, encouragement and hope just to make it through
the day.
Jesus is present in
the darkness of Tanzania.
the darkness of Tanzania.
And longs for them to
know Him and have hope for every day of their lives.
know Him and have hope for every day of their lives.
Check out this story from the month:
It was Sunday, the last day of
ministry. After a morning of 6hours of ministry, and a quick break to eat
lunch, it was only minutes later that we were heading down the dirt bumpy roads
of Iringa Town, Tanzania as a pack of 11 world racers and 5 translators. We
reached a series of shops where there was a large group of people gathered,
sitting around, listening to music, chatting, and drinking local homemade alcohol
from the truck parked out front.
ministry. After a morning of 6hours of ministry, and a quick break to eat
lunch, it was only minutes later that we were heading down the dirt bumpy roads
of Iringa Town, Tanzania as a pack of 11 world racers and 5 translators. We
reached a series of shops where there was a large group of people gathered,
sitting around, listening to music, chatting, and drinking local homemade alcohol
from the truck parked out front.
We walked up to the shops and our translator simply told us:
SING.
SING.
So, we did. Soon, a large group of children, women and men
gathered around us as some of our teammates put on a skit about the slavery and
bondage of sin and then shared the Good News of the Gospel. After more
preaching and praying, the sky grew gray and we decided it was necessary to start
our walk home so we did not get drenched by the storm clouds.
gathered around us as some of our teammates put on a skit about the slavery and
bondage of sin and then shared the Good News of the Gospel. After more
preaching and praying, the sky grew gray and we decided it was necessary to start
our walk home so we did not get drenched by the storm clouds.
But as one of our teammates was walking by, a woman sitting
on a bucket stopped her and told her she wanted to be prayed for…
on a bucket stopped her and told her she wanted to be prayed for…
Meet Praiska.
As we walked a mere 20 steps, we entered into her small two
bedroom clay/brick house. The house was dark inside with only a small window
and the open front door providing light. All 16 of us packed into her tiny
living room furnished with a small loveseat and a chair and table.
bedroom clay/brick house. The house was dark inside with only a small window
and the open front door providing light. All 16 of us packed into her tiny
living room furnished with a small loveseat and a chair and table.
As we asked her what we could pray for her for, she started
to describe the fire that was consuming her from the inside out that made her
feel a burning sensation over the right side of her chest and arm. As we asked
her more questions she wept as she told us she has AIDS and divulged her
extensive history with men and sin.
to describe the fire that was consuming her from the inside out that made her
feel a burning sensation over the right side of her chest and arm. As we asked
her more questions she wept as she told us she has AIDS and divulged her
extensive history with men and sin.
She couldn’t look up.
She couldnt face looking us in eyes.
She couldnt face looking us in eyes.
She simply stared at
her hands folded in her lap, weeping.
her hands folded in her lap, weeping.
She felt the weight
and shame of the life she has lived, and desired so desperately to be free from
the burn and hurt manifesting both physically and emotionally. As we told her
of Jesus’ love for her and how she was absolutely cherished, precious, adored,
and loved, she continued to weep. She couldn’t believe Jesus could still love
her after everything she’s done.
and shame of the life she has lived, and desired so desperately to be free from
the burn and hurt manifesting both physically and emotionally. As we told her
of Jesus’ love for her and how she was absolutely cherished, precious, adored,
and loved, she continued to weep. She couldn’t believe Jesus could still love
her after everything she’s done.
She wanted that
unfailing love to fill her. She wanted that hope.
unfailing love to fill her. She wanted that hope.
We gathered around
her as she prayed and asked for Jesus’ forgiveness for the life she has lived
and thanked him for the Grace and Love that He has given and showered over her.
She asked Jesus to walk with her every day and teach her how to live out the
life He created and called her to be since her before she was even born (Psalm
139).
her as she prayed and asked for Jesus’ forgiveness for the life she has lived
and thanked him for the Grace and Love that He has given and showered over her.
She asked Jesus to walk with her every day and teach her how to live out the
life He created and called her to be since her before she was even born (Psalm
139).
Then we all joined in
praying healing over her body and for the Holy Spirit to fill her and bring
joy, love, patience, Grace, kindness, forgiveness, to give her strength, to
romance her and reveal how much he loved her.
praying healing over her body and for the Holy Spirit to fill her and bring
joy, love, patience, Grace, kindness, forgiveness, to give her strength, to
romance her and reveal how much he loved her.
God healed her that
day…
day…
Not just of the
burning sensation and fire consuming her from the inside out;
burning sensation and fire consuming her from the inside out;
But also from the
weight and burden of her guilt and shame of her sinful life.
weight and burden of her guilt and shame of her sinful life.
That day she broke
free from the bondage of her slavery to sin and the wage of sin being death.
He breathed new life into her and gave her the gift of eternal life with Him
forever. He washed her clean and made her pure and righteous and holy in His
sight.
free from the bondage of her slavery to sin and the wage of sin being death.
He breathed new life into her and gave her the gift of eternal life with Him
forever. He washed her clean and made her pure and righteous and holy in His
sight.
“Now we look inside,
and what we see is that anyone united with Christ gets a fresh start, is
created new. The old life is gone; a new life flourishes!”� ~ 2Corinthians 5:17
and what we see is that anyone united with Christ gets a fresh start, is
created new. The old life is gone; a new life flourishes!”� ~ 2Corinthians 5:17
Freedom. Life. Love.
Ps. Photos courtesy
of Stephanie May. Check out her writing and photos: stephaniemay.theworldrace.org
of Stephanie May. Check out her writing and photos: stephaniemay.theworldrace.org
