Wow!! Let’s just say that this World Race experience has been one crazy roller coaster so far! Africa has been filled with so many good things and I still have one more month left: Prayer walks on the beach, sandboarding down sand dunes in Namibia, whitewater rafting down the Zambezi river, sharing the goodness of Christ with native Botswanan villagers whom have never heard the name of Jesus before, praying the Lord’s protection and healing over sick children at the hospital, and teaching guitar, English and Spanish lessons. I have held the hands of sick, diseased, and starving children as we laugh and sing songs to the God who heals and feeds. In Botswana I had the opportunity to bring bags of food and containers of clean water to families in need. In all of this His word has taken on a different perspective as we engaged with the hurting, homeless, and hungry. We became His hands and feet. He tells us that he takes care of his children…we got to be the way he took care of these children. What a huge reward to be Him to others.
At the Maramba Old People’s Home our team got the chance to minister to the elderly who had nowhere else to go. Most of the elderly are not well respected in their village, to be old is to be associated with witchcraft and evil spirits. Because of this they are often beaten and sometimes killed. As a response the Zambian government set up this living center to take care of them. Our ministry was simply to love on them and show the Jesus. We did this by sitting with them, talking and reading scripture to them, singing worship songs, cleaning their rooms and bathrooms, feeding them and helping with the maintenance and groundskeeping. Most of the elderly do not sleep English but God’s love crosses all kinds of barriers and we are sure that He spoke to them through us.
Every Saturday in Botswana we spent time at the local prison and were blessed with the opportunity to be guests in the church service the inmates put on. As we walked up to the building we hear singing and praises proclaimed in their native language. These are the cries of men who have lost everything. Who are grasping for a God that loves them deeply. From leading them in worship, to sharing stories of God’s redemption, to diving into His word we had the privilege of sharing Christ with these men of whom many we can now call our brothers. I just received an email from one of the pastors that is so faithful to preach the Gospel in word and deed there. His words:
“Dear Brother Joshua,
Hope all is well with you and the team, back here in Botswana prison fellowship is going on as God will permit. The inmates send their love and appreciation for your visit. One hard core inmate gave his life to Jesus after your last presentation. His transformation has helped prisons office solve gang problem in prison. He has now confessed all his criminal involvements awaits sentencing.”
From each hand that I hold to each word of His that is spoken, He is calling people to Himself. I have seen God at work in many different places all over the world, but do you know what is truly sad? We can easily miss it! It can pass right by us unnoticed. From the mundane to the unbelievable, if we don’t open our eyes and see what He is really doing right here right now, we may come to the conclusion that He isn’t really at work, which is a terrible lie. I can attest to this. I hate to admit this, but there are many days on the race that I didn’t choose to open my eyes. I didn’t choose to look. I wanted to do my thing and just get by. AHH what a sad life. What a boring life. This is not what He wants for us, but rather He is calling us into a crazy, abundant, joy filled life. God is exciting and mysterious. He calls us not into a life that is safe and predictable but one that is full of risk and reward. Just take a look at any one of the many men and women that God used in the Old and New Testament. They took risks, they did crazy things for God and life was full of purpose because they were doing it all for Him.
What kind of life are you living? Are you playing it safe or are you living on the edge? Are you taking opportunities to say “Yes, Lord, I will do it!” no matter what He asks? Even before He asks? Take a moment and ask Him to cultivate a “Yes” spirit in your heart towards His words. This life is crazy and full of so much joy and purpose if we just stop what we are doing and listen and obey. It is a fairly simple life that He has given us, but we are the ones that like to complicate it by placing more weight on our shoulders than he is giving us. Much of that weight is His to carry not us. I am learning to take each day at a time, throwing off the people pleasing tendencies, realizing what and where my identity is placed, and stepping into freedom found in Him by loosening the chains the enemy likes to place on me, or I feel I need to place on myself. I would like to encourage to journey alongside me and step out in boldness as we answer his wooing whispers.
*PS.. Internet is not very good here in Africa. It is difficult to upload pictures. I will try and add more later.
