Hello all and welcome again to my blog.
It’s been quite a bit since I’ve written last, as it’s been about a month gone by and a country as well. Currently I’m at my debrief here in Malawi at a place called Thumbi View Lodge at Cape Maclear (you should check the pictures!) and reflecting over my past month and preparing myself for the next two months to come. As some may know already, Malawi is my first month where I am staying there for not just one month, but two, and with that I have been placed in a new team as yesterday was the much anticipated day of the team changes. Though for now I’d like to tell you about my time in Zambia and what Manistry month was all about.
So Manistry month was a month where all the guys became one team without the girls and really developed our sense of brotherhood and heightened our friendships to a new level and understanding. We were partnered with a missions organization called Africa 4 Jesus, or A4J, where we were working closely with four guys who gave their time to the service: Charles, Rodrick, Isaac, and Ken. Each and one of them I had my own special connections with, as one would be one of humor, the other of council, and maybe another adventure. They were truly God loving and fearing men and I enjoyed my time and ministry with them throughout the month. Much of the work we did was in the villages, ministry wise that is, as we had our own devotions, talks and community in the city of Livingstone while we all stayed in one house together, bonding over the football (soccer) game that would be on, or whatever was cooking, or the bitter loss of a Monopoly game…yeah I never won, and of course the delightful one on one conversation I would have with the hosts. Naturally I have to say, it was nice to just have only the men for once, for I truly loved it, but that was only a short-lived luxury as I soon found it harder to live with just guys and no women around. Yes there were some nice things about having only my bothers, but for a whole month I definitely struggled with the loss of that type of love we receive from women, for it is special and maternal in a way, such that is comforting and honestly really nice to have when going through a hard time. Uh-oh, did I just get weirdly vulnerable there for a second? I think so, but might as well get comfortable cause vulnerability is coming your way, dear reader, cause I can say that this was surely the hardest month I have had yet.
Really I still am struggling with a bit now, and I don’t exactly understand why last month was such a hard month, but it all came down to my connection with God, for I did not feel it was a strong one. Last month was a month of doubt and confusion, a loss of discipline and gain of apathy. More and more I had questions regarding the character of God, simple and demanding questions, different, and yet I found that they conglomerate into an over arching theme of questioning faith. The concept and act of faith has been a constant battle for me since day one of accepting Christ, as it is so hard to trust something that seems not to be actually there for you everyday or in tangible form. I can only imagine what a difference it would be if I not only knew the authority and sovereignty of God day by day, but if I actually believed it and acted on it day by day. My walk of faith would change drastically. Because of my lack of dwelling in the word, my lack of faith in The Father, I found that community grew to be much more difficult than I had anticipated, for the body of Christ runs beautifully when all minds are centered on His eternal glory, yet my mind became distracted with everyday life, with friendships and the bumps that come with them, the temptations running ramped through my head, and there I felt the deceptions of the devil trickle sneakily through my wayward self. He is a snake, one that makes such terrible things not terribly obvious at first, for he warps the truth ever slightly and that is how he wins. Fortunately, all it took was just one person to tell me, ‘Hey, did you ever think that Satan may be trying to deceive you?’
Wow! The difference it made, for the minute someone shed some light on the source of the problem, well then I found myself only crawling back to the Word, to prayer, to my first love. Really it has been a hard time trying to write all this and get all my thoughts collected, for it is only really now that I see God through the strife clearer than I had before. All it took was God to whisper so gently in my ear the truth of Him, for who is he to doubt with his perfection and righteousness.
The month was great in some beautiful aspects, and it was hard in other ones. For starters, I had celebrated both Christmas and New Years in Africa with my team and hosts, and really it was kinda difficult to celebrate while not being close with my family, for I felt a couple moments of homesickness creeping in. Yes it was so fun to celebrate Christmas in Zambia, as our team really came together as a family to celebrate, doing secret Santa with each other, gifting, and laughing over now fond memories. I mean honestly, we didn’t do that much tradition of things, for we just mostly sat around and ate food and watched football/soccer with the hosts. I’m sure I also used Christmas as an excuse to pig out on more food, for when I’m on the race I find every reason to eat more when I can, cause ya’ know… why not? New Years was also a solid time, as I remember Rodrigo and I went out and celebrated the turning year at a place called the Zambezi Cafe, where we chatted about life and what to do next year, and that was basically the highlight of that. I believe I stayed up till midnight for the official New Year. I just now asked Bo what we did for Christmas and New Years, and all I really got out of him was, “It kinda sucked.” So yeah, that kinda sums it up I guess… but I mean, it was restful and nice, so feel not an ounce of pity, dear reader.
Well this is a blog post awaited and far too delayed, and I apologize for being so slow to post this, but it was hard to get things in order and to tell myself to write about what needed to be written about, and so there it is. I feel like I’m leaving a lot out, but this is pretty short and to the point. Of course I encourage you readers to read other posts my team and manistry team has posted, for perspectives are a beautiful thing, for we all tell things and see things a little differently. Thank you for the read, and like always, I always appreciate encouragement and prayer, a nice p.m. is always nice too if you really wanna talk about stuff or ask questions. I promise you that my next post will come much quicker than this one did, as I do feel quite bad about this, but thank you for reading and I can’t wait to tell about my time here in Malawi, for there is much to do and much to write about. Did I mention that I dyed my hair blonde the whole month of Manistry? Well I did, cause Tanner and I decided it would be a fun thing to do, and it was… for the first few days… anyway, now the hair is all gone.. poof! Gone like the wind, and now I look like I’m about to be sent off to basic training.
Thank you again for the read, the prayers and love you show, for it means much. Glory be to God, for it is our service in all things we give him our praise. Grace and Peace be with you, dear friends and family, and walk with the sovereignty of God behind you, for with that there is no room for the temptations or lies of Satan to interfere. I pray that you were encouraged by this post, or that it impacted in some way, for this is just a small bit of the amazing work God is doing in my heart and others. If all this wasn’t enough, then get this: I got to pray the salvation prayer with two ladies during my time in the villages of Ministry, and they received Christ then and there! Hallelujah!
Until next write, Garrett Stoecker
Note: If you want to read a really embarrassing story about me, look up my man Jackson Moushon’s blog writes and search for one about Manistry… readers’ discretion is advised!!!
