I enter the room, through a darkened corridor
Round the corner to the right, to an area with no ceiling, and only cement walls and floors.
Although it may be dark outside, only 2 lights grace the inside.
Florescent flickerings attempt to “light the way” for what is about to come.
Mama Martha comes up to the front, and the song begins
Oh! What beauty to behold
Although there are no instruments, besides vocal cords, hands, and old tamborines
The melody that is sent to heaven’s ears is sweeter than most I have heard before.
As women poor out heart and soul before Jesus, little do they know, they teach me the simplicity of worship.
“Jesus is the ‘winner-man'”, “All I have to say is ‘thank you Lord'”
Simple phrases, repeated over and over, that come from beautifully vulnerable and feminine hearts, resonate within the walls of this darkened room.
They are not quick to end their song, and although open to new ones, the old songs are good enough, for God never changes and therefore one can truly “sing of his Love forever”.
Beauty, Sweet, Broken, Vulnerability, Sincere… Sincere.
These are the words that come to mind as I think back on our last few days of worship here in Tama Africa.
We call it a revival, and although no more than 40 or 50 people show up to any one service, it is a revival nonetheless.
A revival of my heart, and my mind.
I’m said to be the missionary, the pastor, the evangelist,
But little do these women know the mission work they do on the field of my heart,
As they contentedly wait on “The One who is worth waiting for”.
Thankful, desperate, humble hearts make requests known to God,
I am asked to pray… the words come from my lips
– “What may I pray for you for?”
And I hear
-“I want the power of God in my life”
-“I want to know Him more”
-” I want the fire of God in my life”
– ‘Come again’ I think to myself. ‘You barely have enough food to put on the table to feed your babies. You are, or know of someone who is sick, and there is no money to fix the problem… and you ask for…
“The power of God…..intimacy….fire”
Oh my foolish heart! How wrapped up you have become in your selfish ways and desires.
Although these men and women have so little, in many ways they have more to offer than I ever could… they have found “the higher way” that my heart desperately seeks.
They have “tasted and seen that the Lord is good”,
And therefore they live not on bread alone, but “on every word that comes from the mouth of God”.
They are desperate for it, they are hungry, and their hunger is contagious…..
Oh to be hungry, Oh to be starving!!!!
