“Wherever you go, I believe you’ll discover that God will meet you on the way in a variety of disguises and at the most unexpected moments.” -Seth Barnes
If there is one thing I have without a doubt learned on this race it is that God shows up, most of the time it is when we least expect it or at least when I least expect it.
God I want to see you. God I want to hear you and know it is you.
This has been my constant prayer since being on the race. I have never hid the fact that I see God more through people and relationships than I do anything else. I can look at the ocean and mountains and being in awe because my Dad created that. Although, when I see His face and His characteristics I see Him through the most random people He has put in my path. This past month He showed up for me in ways that in days brought me to tears.
We lived with Pastor Eduardo and his wife along with their 5 kids and one grand daughter and usually several other visitors that show up all throughout the day. The minute I saw their youngest daughter Abigail my heart leaped. I was so excited to live with a family for a month with younger kids that I could run around with. Abigail is 4 and her smile can light up even the darkest room. From the minute I bonded with her I knew she was special. Every time I heard her sweet laugh while she is running through the house I was reminded of how great God is. How great He is to give a child an innocent and sweetness about them that reflects Him. As I laid in my tent at night she would stick her face on the mesh and in her squeaky sweet voice says JBBBBBB and giggle and run off. Every day with her last month was such a reminder of how great our God is.
While I am talking about our host family I have to talk about Mama Angelica, Pastor’s wife. She is the one who brought me to tears because she leaks Christ so much without even realizing it. Her smile is gentle and she has a true servant’s heart. She is raising a huge family and still went above and beyond to love all 6 of us in such a way I can’t explain. She doesn’t speak English but communicated with us through love and her smiles. Some afternoons while I was laying in my hammock I watched her and listened to her while she was talking to her kids, I loved the way she guides her house in such a loving way. When I was so sick with Malaria I cried to myself because I was so miserable and wanted to be at home with my G’mama and I kept praying I could just sleep so I could feel better but God sent me something better than sleep. He sent me His daughter, His faithful servant, Mama Angelica. She took me in and took care of me just like I was her child. She made soup for me after she had already spent all afternoon fixing a big dinner for my teammates. She checked on me continually and made sure I was eating and drinking. Every morning she communicated with me through sign language to see how I was feeling. Through her I saw God, I saw how much He loves and cares for each of His children. She gained a spot in my heart and she will always be there.
One Thursday night we were over an hour away doing home visits and preaching at one of Pastor’s other churches. We went to one home and prayed over a lovely man in a wheelchair who had a continual smile, we went from there to another house. We walked on to a property that had several houses on it. We saw adults and kids every where. We turned to the right and saw the most beautiful older woman hunched over with her cane and walking around her house. The minute I saw her I felt these chill bumps, or as we call them here on the World Race God bumps go all down my neck and arms. She went into her house and changed and as she came back out following her was a small older man also hunched over as well. You could tell years had made these two wise. They sat down on the buckets they use to fetch their water with and we all crowded around them. I sat as close as possible to the woman, I sat on the dirt right beneath her feet because I wanted to know everything about her, I could feel His presence so strong there. They told us about their struggles, their family, how they ended up living where they lived, the war he once fought, their sicknesses, and how they met. I could have set there for hours and hours listening to all they had to say. They told us how their kids and grandchildren don’t come and check on them or help them yet they use their water and use the garden. They told us they helped their kids because that is what God has called them to do. As I looked into the eyes of the older lady I saw Christ. I felt and seen Him. Our time ended to soon and I was in tears as we prayed for them. I didn’t want to leave them. In Mozambique people love to do the double kiss thing where you kiss each cheek but instead of actually kissing you just touch cheeks, as I bent down to hug her she went to do that to me but I kissed her on her cheeks because I wanted her to know she is loved. She is so wrapped in Him and I love every bit of Her. Every day since we left there I have though about that couple. One day in Heaven I will get to love on them again.
I seen Him in the women in the church we have been serving in, they have smiled at us with the most genuine sweet smiles as they came to our house everyday to help Mama Angelica fix us food. Their sweet attempts at learning our language and there eyes that are so bright because they are full to the brim with the love of our Father has spoke to me more than any words could.
Being in a country that almost 99% of the people you meet don’t speak your language you are forced to make conversations through hand signals and sign language or through a translator. True connections are hard to come by but they are NOT impossible. I made heart connections with women there that I may never be able to verbally communicate with but a simple smile and hug was enough. The last person I want to tell you about that God showed himself through in Mozambique is Johnny, he is our translator. He a true man of God. His every action and every word he uses to glorify God. He has became our best friend last month. He gave up his job for the month to volunteer to be with us every step of the way. He was with us during home visits, hospital visits, Saturday children’s ministry, speaking at other churches, and taking us where ever we wanted to go on our days off. He spoke truth to us and to who ever else because that is all He knows. He is a leader in His home and guides His fiance closer to Christ with His example. He is caring and a true example of what a follower of Christ looks like. He made us laugh, challenged our ways of thinking and opened or eyes to new views. Johnny has a deep love for our creator and he shows that by how well He loves the World Race teams that he works with. He was our protector last month while we were in the city and counted us as we got on each public bus to make sure he hadn’t lost any of us…does that sound familiar?! He never lost one of his sheep.
Month 3 was hard and challenging but so worth every trial. God and I are became closer each day and I moved towards a very intimate relationship with Him. In that month He took me to new depths of His love by the people He put in my life. People I may or may not ever see again but people who left an impression on me and my heart. So, thank you Mozambique for the memories, the malaria medicine, and the love of our Father.
**Please see my sweet former teammate and sister’s blog to view a video of what our month in Mozambique looked like. Her blog is alysontofel.theworldrace.org Its coming soon! 🙂
