Holler at your boy Family and friends, Right now I am sending backlog blogs, sorry that I have not been keeping you updated minute-to-minute like I would of loved to. Africa has been a hard place to just sit down and place all my feelers on the table. What I can say is that this month in Iringa Tanzania has been won of my favorite months and a great time of reflection and also an even better time to dream with God. So team Wellspring came into Iringa on a killer bus ride that I think took about 8 hours. This was a tough 8 hours because right before that we came from Uganda and that drive was about 16-18 hours. But once we got to TZ we were welcomed by our contacts and made to feel right at home. Pastor Chacha picked us up at the bus stop and was accompanied by his translator Peter-Brian, who would come to be a great friend. As usual the first day we were given the opportunity to rest and we used it wisely. I had a good intro meeting as team leader with pastor Chacha and Peter-Brian. We discussed what this month would be like and went over our schedule. This was such a novel concept to us because we had previously been warned 10 minutes before we left to do anything in Uganda. Definitely a prayer answered to have such a detailed schedule. Our goal here from my understanding was to pour into the body of the church (Evangelical Assemblies of God) and spread the gospel throughout the town thru street and door-to-door evangel. This is a common method and theme in Africa but from country to country has been different. Our first full day in Iringa we were sent in to town to get to know the place and just see what it was all about. We would also hold a small service for the small people of the church, and by small people I mean kids. It was good to see the kids had their own little service. It was also good to see that they wanted to be there, it was Saturday afternoon and they genuinely seemed happy to be there.
I got to open our stay with the first Sunday sermon for the group, I had been working on new material but I felt that I should open with my Earthly and Heavenly Treasures speech. I thought this would be a great segue into setting the pace for the upcoming month. There were 3 services set for the day and we were to teach the first one, witness the second service, have lunch there at the church, head for market evangelism and then return for the night service to either preach or witness. It was still up in the air. But this was to be a normal Sunday for us and most of the days looked like this for the month. I was stoked I knew it would be a tough month but I was giving peace and assurance I would remain able. So what was funny about this month was that I feel it was a month of answered prayers. I prayed continually for strength, peace and community. Every morning I had great time with the lord and I meditated on Psalm, 1:1-3 a lot, I actually read thru the first three books of psalms throughout this month and was given nuggets of wisdom and truth.
So the problem that set in was when the team got the malaria, it started small with people feeling weak, maybe a headache, achy. One got tested and then others got tested and just as those results confirmed others were affected and bad. I just didn’t really know how to react to this. I think there was a sense of miscommunication because I didn’t really do much to assure they were ok. I knew they were taking medicine and I knew they didn’t feel good but I thought there was nothing I could do. So I continued with ministry till they got better and was glad that there was feedback about this, I learned a lot. This was the prayer of community answered. So then the team forced me to go get checked out for Malaria even though I don’t believe in doctors, or was having any symptoms. And well I was positive for it, there is really no telling how long I had it. I had a good amount but luckily it hits people different. So while I had malaria I don’t know for how long never felt the symptoms and had been rolling like nothing was wrong. I was given medicine and was healed. This was a prayer answered in strength. All together so much happened this month. And I was given so much peace. We visited three orphanages, and some schools and University. And although I didn’t speak at all of them I felt so great because I was able to pour into my group and really encourage team Wellspring in having such a great month. There was so much redemption this month our last month in Africa. Also we were able to have a small thanksgiving at a local café that is geared towards Mzungus. I was able to be with my current family as we celebrated in spirit our home Families. It has been a great 3 months and I will continue write blogs about what has been going on in Africa. Thank you to all the supporters who are praying and assisting financially in this mission to spread the great love. I am still in need of assistance in you are in a position to help in any way check out my blog and donate Here. There is a need of about less than $2,500 by December 15. We head to Asia in about 4 days and I will be posting more blogs and more pics if net allows. Until then thank you and continue to pray for us. We love you and stay tuned for new blogs to come.
