When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Will you fear evil?
For He is with you.
His rod and His staff comforts you….
1:06 am; Maasai Mara, Kenya
The Lord woke me up; I didn’t know why. As I laid wide-eyed in my dark tent, all I could think was Psalm 23. I prayed it over and over until I drifted off to sleep.
2:00 am; Ministry Location, Kenya
They were woken up with flashlights and men yelling;
6 Kenyan men broke into the tents demanding money and electronics.
4 of my teammates were forced into one bed.
They were holding hands, praying out to the Lord, reciting Psalm 23.
5:16 am; Maasai Mara, Kenya
We were woken up by a phone call from camp. All I heard on the other end of the line was sobbing, but through the tears, I heard, “THEY TOOK EVERYTHING!”
I sat up straight in bed,
my stomach was in my throat
my heart pounding out of my chest.
2 of my teammates and I were on a safari in Maasai Mara.
4 of my teammates and our ministry host were back at camp.
The ONE night we were gone for the month, my team was robbed. MY girls.
WHY GOD?
Why wasn’t I there? I wanted to be.
I wanted to hold them.
The Lord made it possible for me to go on a safari,
(one thing I’ve always wanted to do).
He made it clear that I was supposed to be on the safari.
But why?
The entire next day, as I questioned why,
He brought Psalm 23 to my mind again and again.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me…..”
It is incredible the way that He can speak to my team with one verse.
He reminded me that He leads me; and He always will.
He lead me to the safari-
He made me lie down in green pastures.
My team walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
But He was with them.
He allowed things to be taken.
But he protected them.
It is a miracle that my girls are still alive.
Do I trust my Shepherd?
Do I trust Him when He takes me out of the darkness?
Do I trust Him that I was supposed to be in green pastures?
Do I trust Him that He will bring my team through the valley of death?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned through this is is that the Lord doesn’t promise that we will always be safe. But He does promise that He will lead us and be with us.
I am just a sheep.
& I will follow my good Shepherd.
He comforts me, He comforts me…
Kenya was an amazing month, but my team, The Janes, are going through some tough things still.
We just got to Uganda, so please be in prayer for us.
For safety. For comfort. For good sleep. For confidence. For trust. For more love.
The Lord is using this for His good.
He is GOOD! & We WILL rejoice.
