Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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    If you asked me what one lesson did you walk away with from your time on the race, it would be this resounding truth.  Through Jesus Christ, God’s kingdom came, comes and will come to earth.   Jesus teaches us to pray “on earth as it is in heaven.”  He teaches us to pray those words because He intends for his kingdom to reign on earth.

    The day started out as normal. Well, as normal as life goes in Nkhotakota. I woke up with a stiff back from sleeping on a rock hard floor. As I stood brushing my teeth a spider crawled across my foot. Breakfast consisted of a piece of bread and horrible coffee. I was tired and exhausted.  I wished I was awaking in the comforts of my American life.  But I am far, really far, away from home.  So, with a not so hot attitude, I tied up my worn down sneakers and hit the dirt road for my daily run. 
    Not five minutes into my run , I caught a glimpse of a young African child running after me. A normal days run for me in Africa is quite an experience.  In spite of the heat, humidity and bugs, I acquire quite a following of young African children. It can be anywhere from about eight children to up to thirty.  Most of them are too young to keep pace with me so I give them a high five and they trickle off as I run.  Others I have to humbly confess can easily keep my pace as they run along side with me without one thought to slowing down or letting up.  I have come to believe it’s a game they are playing….the rules include running directly in front of the white girl and you earn points with each successful trip. As I finish my run they follow me to the front door. Then the children simply sit outside our front door.  Awaiting what?  I haven’t figured that out yet.
    So, anyway, Im kicking along with my I-pod jamming out some Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes, and I hear above the music, “Azungu”  (That means white person, and it is what Africans call us here.)  It was early and I was in no mood to deal with the abundant amount of children.  But it’s just one child and I had resolved to have a good attitude.  As I turned around to give my friendly fellow a high five, I looked up and behind him was about twelve other children running toward me.  “Azungu, Azungu!”  Great, I thought.  But in the stillness of that moment, I hear the Lord whisper, “Ash,don’t miss this moment.”
      I took a deep breath, still annoyed, but I turned off my music and smiled.  I started high-fiving the children as they gathered around me.  One high five after another.  A smile. A laugh. Then I tickled one young girl, and more laughter.   I even got crazy and I threw in a double high five.  Moment by moment, smile by smile, child by child…the kingdom of God.

 
“Our Father in heaven,
 


hallowed be your name

 

your kingdom come,
 


your will be done,

 

on earth as it is in heaven”


 
Matthew 6:9-10

   Next on the morning agenda was prison ministry.  A few of the local pastors have been pastoring inmates for years.  Every Saturday morning they visit the local prison and lead service. I was not sure what I expect. Moments before entering the prison I was told I would be preaching. Ha, thats a joke if I’ve ever heard one. As we entered,  the heat from mid day sun was felt on the back of my neck.  We were escorted into the prison with a guard dressed in an olive green uniform and a red trimmed hat.  We walked through the prison doors and immediately I could smell urine.  There were hundreds of prisoners.  They were dressed in dirty tattered clothing.  There was one main courtyard with prison cells lining each side. It was dirty and loud.

    Above the loud rumble prison life, worship songs echoed.  Worship had already started. About forty men were gathered in the corner singing. They trotted our posse front and center.  What on earth am I going to say to these men?  As I stood there, in the hustle of the moment, again I heard God’s gentle voice “Ash, don’t miss this moment.”
    I spoke and so did some of my other teammates.  When I was all over, then men began to sing again. Let me just say, one of my favorite aspects about Africa has been the music.   Africans have this crazy ability to all clap on different beats, but yet somehow, its sounds amazing.  They also can dance way better than any white boy, and when they worship they dance with authenticity before God.   In native tongue of Chechwa, men stood together praising God. One man caught my attention.  I watched him the entire time.

 With his head turn
upwards and arms open, he sang. He sang and sang and he never once
opened his eyes.   Donald Miller writes this author’s note in Blue like Jazz.     

I
never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve. But I was
outside the Baghdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man
playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never
opened his eyes.

After that I liked jazz music.

Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. “

 God was there.  He was there  in that dirty prison in Nowhere land Africa and He was there in hearts of the children of Africa.
 
 

“Our Father in heaven,

 

hallowed be your name
 

your kingdom come,
 

your will be done,
 

on earth as it is in heaven”
 
Matthew 6:9-10

 

 
 
 “It’s my kingdom, Ash, Don’t miss this moment.” 
God’s kingdom….on earth as it is in heaven.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Team Pi in front of teh Livingston tree. The place where the slave trade was ended in Africa.  
The team of pastors we worked along side in Nkhotakota.