Its been over a month, so I apologize for not keeping you guys up to date. My computer crashed maybe 2 months ago so its been a little harder to try and be in touch than it used to be. I made another video blog for Tanzania but because Africa’s internet is terrible and because now I dont have the file, I dont think it will make it up.
Tanzania wrapped up pretty nicely. We continued working with the church, doing revival type services throughout the week in different parts of the town, and then doing door to door ministry as well. The first week we worked in the oldest part of Sumbawanga doing the revivals and door to door. Because its the oldest part of the village, there is still allot of bad spiritual activity due to witch doctors and things like that. We were doing door to door one day and came upon a house with a boy in it who was very sick. I had seen him out playing just a few days earlier, like a normal boy running along with the rest of them. We came into the house and he was laying limp, eyes rolled back into his head, drooling, and no response to touch or to his name. His mother had called the witch doctor to come see him, but we got to the house before he arrived. We asked her if we could pray for him and she declined us. But after a couple of minuets spending time with her and our translator asking her again, she agreed. Im not sure how long we prayed for this boy, Laxon is his name, but we left the house in high hopes that the Lords grace was going to cover him soon. Later on that day we went back to that house and before we got to the door we saw Laxon out playing, like nothing was ever the matter. This is only one testimony as to the healing and redemption the Lord is bringing in Sumbawanga.
The last two weeks we were there, we had the chance to go and visit an orphanage. Im not even sure if it was apart of our schedule, but we went anyway. The orphanage probably had about 30 or more kids in it. Allot of them were newborns, only a couple months old; the oldest was maybe 10. As soon as we walked in the door all the kids had run up to us with their arms up in the air, wanting us to pick them up. Who knows the last time these kids had been played with and loved on. It was so very sad to see how much attention these kids needed. Not because they were spoiled, but because they never got any at all. We ended up going back 3 more times to spend time and love on these kids. I think I now understand a bit more why the Lord asks us to take care of the widows and orphans. They are precious in His sight.
We left Sumbawanga and met back up with the rest of the squad in Nairobi for our 3 month debrief. A few people from AIM flew in and met us there to talk with us about our time in Africa. It was a good few days. We changed teams again, for the third time. I wasnt really excited about it because I loved my last team allot. We all got along and worked together so nicely. But Im also excited about my new team and the things the Lord is going to teach me through them. Our new team is:
Andrea Gosselin
Tracy Hagar
Jessica Sims
Ashley Van
Nathan Salley
and myself
Now we’re in Thailand. We spent a few days in Bangkok, the biggest city Ive ever seen, and now all the guys are together this month for “manistry”. We’re working in Chaing Mai doing some work with some full time missionaries here. I havent been able to do much though, I have the flu. I was running 102 temp. yesterday. I went to the hospital and got some meds from the doc. I should be good in a few days, but your prayers are welcome.
Thanks for all your support.
Jonathan Beckman
