Our whole squad got together in Kampala for a few days last
week in order to regroup and get rejuvenated for our third and last month of
ministry in Africa. Many of our squadmates have gotten sick these past few
months (about 85% of us apparently have a parasite we picked up from rafting
the Nile – I’m not sure if I have it yet but I’ll probably get the medication
just in case), others have been challenged by various experiences in and out of
ministry, and a few others have gone home from the race. We were looking
forward to catching up with friends and getting pumped up before Tanzania.
Soon after we arrived I met up with Tracy (my dear friend
and previous teammate… love you girl!) and we began excitedly chatting it up outside,
attempting to catch up on what the Lord has been doing in our hearts and lives
the past few months. It wasn’t long before two Ugandan men came up to introduce
themselves and proceeded to talk to us; at first I wasn’t too sure about their
intentions and was minorly frustrated that our conversation was being
interrupted, but was pleasantly surprised when the new conversations took off
on a spiritual note. This is what living
in the rhythm of God looks like; we can try to make our own plans but
ultimately the Lord knows better. “In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps� (Proverbs 16:9).
It’s always a good segue to talk about faith when you’re one
of the only mzungus (white people) in Africa and people ask you what you’re
doing here. “Oh, I’m on this 11-month
long mission trip; we’re traveling the world and trying to tell people about
the hope, love, and truth of Christ.
Do you know Jesus?â€� 🙂 That’s basically how my conversation with Abel began. It
turns out he was a Christian and was super encouraged, inspired, and challenged
by what we’re doing on The World Race. He proceeded to ask a variety of different
questions about the trip for the next hour; he asked some basic logistical questions
at first and then continued to dive into what God has been teaching me, what my
spiritual giftings are, what types of ministry we’ve done, the topics of the
sermons I’ve given, etc. It was an incredible conversation. Not only was the
Lord using this “random� meeting to encourage Abel, but He was also allowing me
to externally process some of the lessons He’s been revealing to me over the
past few months as well. I love
operating out of the will of God; He brings people together and these
divine encounters are always symbiotic. When we’re serving the Lord in the ways
we were created to, it doesn’t even feel like service anymore – both parties
are mutually benefitting from what He is doing. Praise God!
Throughout the conversation God kept putting different
scriptures on my heart to share with Abel; I talked about the sermons I’ve
given, the visions I’ve had, and the words the Lord has been speaking to me
recently. I shared a vision about how we’re all part of God’s army of LIGHT (dressed in white) and another one about being
raised up on wings like eagles and
flying with Jesus when we become weary.
Abel was incredibly touched and encouraged. On top of that, I
was getting super pumped while speaking to him; I realized how much LIFE and
JOY conversations like this evoke in me. I had been feeling checked out of
ministry the last few days before leaving Uganda and getting frustrated that I
felt like the excitement, passion, and joy I usually have bubbling out of me were
gone (or at least hiding for a little while). But this was God’s sweet reminder
that I still have that passion and
fire inside of me… I just need to continue operating out of HIS strength, being
raised up on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:28-31) and abiding in Him (John 15).
Abel asked when I came to know the Lord and I told him I have known Christ
since I was a little girl; he sounded surprised and said it seemed like I had
been born again yesterday because I was so passionate
and pumped up about Jesus! This touched my soul. Coming from a place of
feeling like my joy and vigor were weaning away, it was ridiculously
encouraging to hear this. Thank you, Lord! He knows exactly what we need. 🙂
Abel told me this was the last thing he expected to happen
that night; he was planning on going out to drink with some friends but it was
obvious that God had other plans. Towards the end of the conversation he shared
that he felt like God had put something on his heart to do – that he had a
calling on his life. But whenever he tried to move forward in completing this task
he continued finding closed doors and meeting opposition left and right. He
said he was feeling discouraged and just needed strength and encouragement to
continue pushing forward for the Lord. He told me that he had gone to church
that morning and the pastor had asked people to come up for prayer if they were
feeling disheartened and needed encouragement; he knew he should have gone up
but simply stayed in his seat instead. He
said that it was as if God had made our paths intersect so I could pray for and
encourage him since he was reluctant to ask for it earlier. I love how God
works! I said it seemed like the Lord was really pursuing him and it was a
blessing and an honor to be able to witness it. This is God’s rhythm, not ours.
Abel was going to go out and drink that night and I was going to chat it up
with Tracy (which would have been great too!), but God had other plans to
deeply encourage both of us. God
knows what we need before we even ask… and He provides.
I asked if I could pray for him and he graciously accepted;
I laid my hand on his head and the Spirit fell. I prayed with passion and could
literally feel the Lord directing my words; as I prayed my eyes welled up with
tears and I almost began to cry because I felt such immense love for Abel in
that moment – it was as if I was experiencing the affections the Lord had for
him instead of my own. I was completely overwhelmed by the Lord’s presence, the
love I had for my new brother, and the gratitude in my heart for Jesus. I
finished praying and Abel just looked up at me with sincerity; he thanked me
incredulously, shook my hand a few times, and then gave me a big bear hug. It
was as if I had just finished talking to a friend I had known for years – it
was incredible. My heart was oozing with love and joy. This is what the body of
Christ looks like. This is kingdom. I was on a Spirit-high for a while after
that, completely amazed and overjoyed at what the Lord can do. He redeems all things and brings new life
daily. He restores the weary, gives strength to the weak, and offers new
hope. He is a good Dad… and I love Him so much! 🙂
“Do you not know? Have you not
heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He
will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even
youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they
will walk and not be faint� (ISAIAH
40:28-31).
