So I figured I would fill you guys in on what we are doing here. We are working at a home of one of the coordinators for HIM (Harvesters International ministries). His name is Medson Gama and he is so much fun. He is so full of energy and life. He truly has a heart for God and the people here. The first week wew went out into the community here and did house visits. We met a few different families and we stayed for a while and talked with them and prayed for them. We even prayed healing for them if they needed it. We are going to try and go back to these houses and build some relationships and pour into them more. We also got to hike a hill/mountain that is behind the church we go to. Oh by the way, I think I mentioned it in the last blog but the singing at this church is so amazing. I just sit there and smile and see the joy and love in the faces of the people singing. If only we could grasp that back home. To see that it isn’t a job or chore to sing, but is us praising our God. I know you, Aunt Nancy, have tried to show us that many times. It took me going half way across the world to finally see that. Thank you for trying and never giving up. Even though you get frustrated, you never stop. I love you!
Along with the house visits we did on the first 2 days, we went to some villages an hour away or so away to share and speak at a church. The first day we went to this small church with brick walls, which most are made of, but this one didn’t have a roof yet, so it was made out of the sacks that rice come in. And they don’t have chairs, well they do but they gave them to us to sit in. So they use bricks. Yes. Bricks. They sit on those and when those are all gone they sit on the dirt floor. They have nothing in terms of a fancy church building, but that isn’t needed when you are coming to preach and love God. They have more love there than most giant churches back home. They have nothing to lose by giving God all they have. They live on God’s promises and miracles already. They have such an excitement for life. The kids were a BLAST! We got a lunch break and after we ate, I found my way outside playing with the kids. I found out quickly that they aren’t 100% sure about us. Not scared but timid. So even the slightest movement towards them sent them into a mad scatter. Imagine the GIANT roaches in the squatty potties…..wait…..most of you can’t…..well just normal sized roaches at home. GONE! So you would have to let them slowly work their way back in and then turn around to make them think you are walking away, then RUN after them again! It was so much fun. They were loving it too. Even the mothers were laughing. We would pin point one that we wanted to catch so we could just run after one instead of deciding that after the fact. Way easier that way. They are quick! So I did that for the break and found out quickly that I am out of shape! Lol Not that I needed that to show me that. I still blame the heat/altitude. Then the next day we went to a few different places. Similar scenarios with the kids and people, but some churches were nicer. Some had metal roofs and the pews were made from the mud/concrete stuff they use for walls. Makes for some long days riding in a bus made for 16 with 17 in it, driving in the African heat, not much for lunch and being gone most of the day. BUT ALL WORTH IT! So worth it. To be out in the world, where most people will never go or even think about going, spreading God’s love in any way we can.
So this week we got to go to a village about 5 hours away. And to get there, we got to ride in a flat bed truck with small sides on it. 3 people in the cab and 15 people in the back with all our tents, food, and other stuff to go 3 days. So that was interesting to say the least. We had a few people standing the entire time. I was in the middle most of the way there with 5 or 6 people swapping how we sat every so often cause we were losing circulation. Then I hopped on the stuff on the back to make some space. Well that is a rather special place to be. More room? Sort of. I had one leg hanging off the whole time and in the back, when you are driving down a dirt road the air kicks about 43% of it back up and it clings to ANYTHING back there. Including skin, clothes and hair. So Lauren and I were COVERED when we arrived. It was hilarious. Seriously. I have never been so dirty….until the next day. Haha but on the way we stopped by a small village for about an hour. When we got about half a mile out, we were SWARMED with kids. I mean…..swarmed! They were running behind the truck and singing and laughing. It was so cool to see. I have pics to prove it. So we stop there to share some testimonies and then we proceed on. So we are driving again and the sun is beginning to set. It is so beautiful. So I am like, “MAN….I just want to pull over and take some pics!” Then no more than 10 seconds later…..the truck breaks down. I was like WHAT? So I grab my camera and run off to find some good pics, and also playing with some random kids for a few. Well we end up being there for about 2 and a half hours. From the moment we stopped, I knew it was God….not that it isn’t ALWAYS God, but this one was different. Some of us poured into the people around for the whole time and I got to talk to Jeremy for a good while. It was needed. Also Medson was able to talk to the guy who lived on the corner there and now that we were there and had the time to talk, that guy is going to plant a church RIGHT WHERE WE STOPPED! I mean if that isn’t a diving appointment I don’t know what is! So when the truck got fixed we said bye, but planned on stopping by on the way back to give him Medson’s personal bible.
So now it is dark and cooler and we still have about an hour to get to our final destination. So we arrive at our final place to find the same type of greeting as before. Tons of people and it hours after when we said we would be there. We go to where they have a place for us to stay and start to set up camp. We pitch our tents and most fall asleep rather quickly. But if any of you know me, I have quite the supply of energy so I was up with a few others late. We all finally go to bed and are wakened around 530 by the sun since the hours here are a little different than home. Sunrise at about 530ish and sunset around 6. So night owls such as myself are thrown off. But we arise and are offered a shower which is just a bucket of water and a bar of soap, but at that moment, with the dust and heat, it was one of the best showers ever! We are all able to rinse off and get some new found energy and head off to our place of ministry. We all hop in the truck to ride about an hour out from camp. We soon find out that we are a ways in the bush and didn’t bring enough water. We do a service with Jeremy, Shannon, Lauren and myself speaking. I spoke on Colossians 3 verse 1-17. It was all God because I was searching around for something to talk about and when I found that I had nothing but the scripture. But when I got up there, much more came out. So around lunch, we are basically out of water and we find out that it is possible to have someone go to the store to get water. We have someone head that way to hopefully return with water. Well about an hour later he returns with water….but not drinkable for us. So..we have him go back and get water that we can drink. We had a long day on the truck the day before and none of us drink what we should even at the house we are staying at. So with all that combined, it didn’t take much to drain us of water in our bodies. We all come to the conclusion that we finally know what thirsty is. The guy finally returns with 20 half liter bottles of cool to sort of cold water. We are able to have one each and decide to save some for the other team because it is safe to assume that they are in the same place with water as us. So we take the water and TRY to conserve it. Can’t really but just knowing that it was getting close to time to leave and we had something. Well we finish our time there with a few skits about David and Goliath and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The other team arrives and we make our way back to camp to rest and eat. Well we stop and get some water on the way back in town, but still not what we need, but enough to get us by. The next day we aren’t traveling but staying close by in the village so would help. We do another service the next day with all our testimonies and some people preaching and of course some music too. I have been carrying a jimbay, which a African type drum around with me for a few months. I got to play it during this service and that was the best part of this trip for me. It was a great time and we know that God was able to work there. On the way home we saw an AWESOME sunset and we drove artly in the evening so it was way cooler than the way in. Yet again I was on the back with one leg swinging off the whole time but it was good. I didn’t have to worry about bothering anyone where I was at. About 5 hours later we get back home and can finally get a good shower. Just wait til you guys can see the pictures of me. WOW.
Well we got a nice day off yesterday and I had time to write this and watch a couple movies. We have some people that are a little under the weather today. We think it has mostly to do with dehydration so please be praying for that. We can drink the water here at our house we stay at, so that is awesome. I think that was a thing that played into us not being prepared with water. We had been so used to having it readily accessible at most times.
I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is so soon. We got an email talking about traveling on December 1st and it hit me. We don’t really think about the date here and with the weather getting hotter, you don’t think about the holidays creeping up. But I going to miss you all! Eat plenty for me! I am going to miss all the food and being with you all! I am going to write another blog that is about my team mate Lauren Newborn who needs all your help. She is very close to getting sent home. So read that one too please!
lovelovelovelove
