A little breakdown along the way…
The road trip from Uganda to Tanzania wasn’t exactly like a normal travel day on a family summer vacation. One can’t really expect that in Africa anyway – nor on the World Race.
After a 3-hour delay, our bus picked us up in Jinja (sounds kind of like my name), Uganda and we got on for an approximately 28 hour trip. Most of the potty breaks were just that. Potty breaks (no rest stops, no restaurants, a hole in the ground, BYOTP – bring your own toilet paper). It might sound awful but God had His hand on us the entire way. Even when the travel day… turned to days and we spent over 50 hours in transport.
Just after pulling out of the first really nice potty stop, they discovered something wrong with the bus. We pulled back to the nice potty stop that led to setting up our tents on the floor of the restaurant. That the owner would even be so gracious to let us camp out and to offer everyone free tea is a God-thing.
4am packing up from our overnight in the restaurant.
We spread out all our tents across the floor.
Driving into Tanzania was breathtaking. The mountains were incredible and the patches of friendly sunflowers welcomed us into our final month in Africa.
Tanzania Landscape
Walking with Pastor our first day of ministry in Tanzania.
Two travel days loom ahead of us – the trip to India and the journey home. We leave today (July 31st) for India and our final month of the World Race.
Please pray for travel connections/conditions and health and safety for us all – as well as finishing strong in India, that we would bring God glory however His Spirit leads.
Travel days are also great for reading, watching movies and listening to music. In case you are traveling this summer or just want some reading, here are a few highlights of what some of us have been reading and listening to this year.
Books
- WideAwake by Erwin McManus (pursuing God’s dreams for your life)
- Forgotten God by Francis Chan (paying attention to the Holy Spirit)
- When Wallflowers Dance by Angela Thomas (women discipleship)
- Understanding the Power and Purpose of Woman by Myles Munroe
- In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (risk taking with God)
- Prayer Shield by Peter Wagoner (importance of praying for church leaders; intercession)
- Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore (practical application of praying the Bible in your life)
- Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson (understanding your identity in Christ)
- Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (women discipleship)
- Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning (discipleship – sequal to The Ragamuffin Gospel)
- Scared by Tom Davis (fiction – photojournalist documents an African girl and her family impacted by the AIDS epidemic and poverty)
- Priceless by Tom Davis (fiction – photographer covers the sex trade in Russia)
Music
- Jonathan David Helser – and his fantastic wife, Michelle. They led worship at World Race training camp and really set the standard of worship for our squad. They are amazing!
- Passion: Awakening – Steve Fee, Hillsong, David Crowder – a compilation that will pump up the volume of your heart! Special favorite: Like a Lion.
- Jesus Culture – Nothing Can Separate
- Jon Foreman (personal favorite song: Your Love is Strong)
- Kari Jobe (Revelation Song, No Sweeter Name)
Movies
Faith Like Potatoes – The family we lived with in Thailand shared this movie with us. After a month of working in a field in the Philippines, growing up on a farm, and interviewing farmers in South Africa during grad school, I could identify with several parts of this flick. Perhaps not the best acting in the world, but good messages.
Blood Diamond – Get ready to get your heart churned up! Note the rating on this movie and be prepared for rough language – but reality. Then gear up prayer for Africa.
300 – Viewer discretion advised. I watched this as I was reading through 1 & 2 Samuel and I’m pretty much convinced the fighting depicted in 300 is a strong representation of war in Bible times especially with David and his Mighty Men. (Also see the book In a Pit with a Lion On a Snowy Day based on 2 Samuel 23:20-21) Plus, it is full of leadership lessons. There are a few intimate scenes you’ll want to fast forward through, but if you are up for action this is where it is at.
The Pursuit of Happyness – A heart-touching story of a father who loves his son and defies the odds through economic and family trauma. **Four stars!**
Sermons/Podcasts
Matt Chandler – The Village Church, Flower Mound, Texas – free sermons
Tim Keller – Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC
