Hey y’all!
I’m so sorry I haven’t posted a blog in a while. I’m just going to go ahead and let y’all know that blogging is really hard for me but I’m going to work on getting better at it. So many things have happened between Cambodia and now, here in Malawi! That’s right, I’m in Africa!!! What?!! Don’t worry, later I’ll be posting more blogs for y’all to read so I can catch y’all up on Cambodia and Vietnam. But for now let me just tell you about this place called Lilongwe, Malawi….. I’m in love!
First, let me give you a little update on some team changes. We had our second debrief at the end of April in Vietnam and since we are moving into a new continent and a new season of the race we were also assigned new teams. Although it was sad to part with Team Ransom, I am super stoked to see what the Lord has for me on my new team, Team Technicolor. I’m excited to grow in new relationships with the women on my team. Yes, I’m on another team of all ladies. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that when I was put on my first team of all women in October, but after walking through the first four months of the race with those amazing women I am so grateful the Father placed me with them during that time and I was actually praying that He would bless me with another group of just women! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness. He knows my heart and He knows whats best for me.
Okay so, Africa… I’m not going to lie, I had no idea what to expect of Africa. I had no idea what it would be like here. But oh my goodness when I stepped off the plane in Africa I knew I was going to fall in love with this place. I love everything about it here, in Malawi. Granted, I’ve only been here for six days so far but so many people have already stolen a little piece of my heart here! And God is already teaching me so much here. He gave me the word “release” this month. I’ve been asking the Lord what He has for me this month and He’s asked me to release my fear of man and stand up and preach! Of course I was terrified by this because He’s asking me to let go of something that really freaks me out. Y’all know me and y’all know that I love talking to people whether they are a friend or a stranger. I love talking to everyone about everything! But what y’all may not have known is that I’m pretty terrified when it comes to standing up and talking in front of huge crowds! Ahhhhh!
I’m not sure where that fear is rooted from but I know it’s a fear coming from the enemy trying to bring me down. By holding on to that fear I am walking in disobedience of what my Father has called me to do. He has called me on this journey to share His love and His word all over the world. And what better place to rid myself of this silly fear than Africa. No lie, we’ve only been here for six days and we’re been asked to preach at least once every day!!! So if any of y’all have any sermons or sermon ideas, that would be much appreciated. Haha. I stood up and preached on day two of ministry at a widows group!!! And it was completely on a whim. I didn’t even have a sermon planned, I just stood up with my bible and brought the word! Crazy, right?!! Yeahh, I shocked myself as well. I was shaking and scared but I am so ready to walk in obedience and freedom from fear of man. I had no reason to be afraid, the Father equipped me with the words I needed to speak. What even is my life here in Africa??? God is doing some incredible things! And then the next day I gave my testimony at a little bible study in a hair salon…. What?!! God continues to surprise me every day here in Africa! I love it so much!!!!
This month our team was paired with another team so there are twelve of us living in our contacts house with their family as well. It’s pretty interesting. Their house is completely hand built with cement and bricks. The floor inside the house is dirt. We are all sleeping on the floor and if the water is working we get to take maybe one ice cold bucket shower a week. We get to cook all of our meals over a fire, which is actually a lot of fun! So this month we are basically camping indoors. Pastor Blessings and his wife Grace, daughter Sharon, and son Blessings Jr. have been so kind welcoming us into their home. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else this month. Praise the Lord for this family and their generous hearts and their love of the Father!
Pastor Blessings and his daughter Sharon have been with us throughout each of our ministries this first week here. We walk so many miles every day! When we leave the house we have to walk at least two miles before we get to the bus stop and then once we get to the next stop on the bus we have about another three mile walk through the villages to get to where we are going. This week we have been bouncing around between many different ministries. We have been to a private christian school for orphans, a widows group, an orphanage, preached in church, preached in bible studies, and many more new things to come. I will elaborate more on these in a later blog but I just wanted to catch y’all up a little bit.
Thanks so much for all your support and prayers! It’s very evident that I have people praying for me and my team because the Lord is answering so many prayers and doing so many great things here! Again, if any of y’all have any sermons or sermon ideas I would love to get them from y’all! They would be so helpful for me, I’ll be doing a lot more preaching here in Africa! Y’all can email me at: [email protected]. But I only get wifi once a week so I will be able to check my email for the next few hours after I post this and if not today then I can check again next week. Thanks y’all!
