“I see Jesus on you.” Those are the words I heard this month that have had a big impact on me. What do people see when they look at me? Let me back up a bit.
Tanzania, country/month number seven; what do these few weeks hold for us? This month we are doing door-to-door evangelism in the surrounding area of the church we are working with. This region of the country is very Muslim, but not the same kind of religious people I have experienced in either Malaysia or Kenya. These people claim Islam as their religion as we begin conversations in them, but when I ask them to tell me a little about it I have gotten the same answer multiple times. “Well, I don’t really know much about it, I just follow it.” Hmm, ok. I usually follow that up by asking them if they know anything about Jesus. “No” is the resounding response to that, but they tell me that they are willing to listen to whatever I have to share with them. 
TIP: When you are a white person in a foreign country you can get away with a lot more than the locals. You will find closed doors being opened, simply out of curiosity and the thinking that somehow the color of our skin and our country makes us more important and deserving of respect. It’s a very eye-opening thing to experience.
Our pastor told us of how much opposition he faced when he started the church, being as how most of the neighbors are Muslim. His prayer was that our presence would build new relationships with them. God is a God who answers our prayers.
Our team of six (Radiance) divided in half and each group got a translator. A couple of days ago my group had just gotten started that day and upon arriving at our first house of that day we met two neighbors outside of their home. They greeted us with the usual friendly and very welcoming Tanzanian way. “Karibuni sana!” (You are very welcome) Is something we hear literally dozens of times each day. As the women brought seats for us it was very obvious by the head covering that one of the women was Muslim. When we introduced ourselves and explained why we were here she told us she was Muslim. We had barely begun to share the gospel when she interrupted and told us that she was ready to accept Christ. That’s when she looked at the three of us and said, “I can see Jesus on you.” Wow, that took me back. Here was a woman of a totally different religion who had barely heard the name Jesus and I have nothing else to say but God is good. I was able to lead the woman in a prayer of salvation, along with her neighbor. What an awesome testimony and example of how Christ can work through us.
So this brings me back to the question, what do people see when they look at me? Am I filling myself so much with Christ and His word that they flow out of me? Grandma, I’m holding up my finger right now and doing my best to let my light shine. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t as simple as I just made it sound…or is it? Sure life isn’t easy, out here or for all of you at home, but who cares. I don’t know about you but I have yet to find the verse that says that.
I was talking with a racer from M squad who is on the race for the second time. We were talking about how exhausted we all feel this month and he said it was the same way for him last time. These months on the race, whether from the countries we are in or the time frame of the year, are the hardest. “We have to be intentional,” he told me. We are aware of the way we are feeling and so we should be doing everything we can to not let it interfere with the mission the Lord has called us to for this month. That goes for all of you back home. When we see that we are beginning to wear thin on energy and strength we need to be “intentional” about going deeper to the Lord and asking Him for His refreshment. Ask Him to fill you up again so that you are overflowing with HIM. That’s what I hope and pray for as I continue through this month, this race, and into my life when I get back home.
