Door to
Door
EVANGELISM
All this week, for the majority of the
morning, we evangelized from door to door. In Africa, this kind of evangelism
is widely accepted. For several of us, the struggle was inside of who we are.
We are not a people who go door to door for anything in America, in fact, it is
looked down upon. I just kept thinking about when people come to my door to
sell something and how I am immediately annoyed. I remember last fall when a
guy came by my house to sell a carpet cleaner and how relentless he was. I
remember just wanting to shut the door on the conversation and walk away. The
guy did not want to give up nor was he taking no for an answer. The reality is
that most people shun the door to door salesman attempting to sell tupperware.
I began thinking about trying to do door to door evangelism in the states and
how unsuccessful I believe I would be.
However, I have learned more than I
thought that I would have. I have learned more about the God that I serve just
by having to be bold and by professing who He is. It is funny how I thought I
knew but when you are put on the spot it is somehow different. We go from door
to door asking to come in, we are welcomed into the home and meet people for
the first time and say who we are, we are born again, and why we are there.
Silence takes over if we do not speak and that in itself can be intimidating.
Surprisingly, the whole week has been great because you are put in a situation
that you would not choose to be in. We,
as a group, were forced to learn more about ourselves and our God we are trying
to be a fool for. I learned about knowing how to dive right in and tell them
who I am and that Jesus came to die for us and that God knows our name. It is
interesting trying to figure out how to go about telling people about Jesus
when I, as a follower of Jesus Christ,
am already supposed to know…But I learned about that and am still
learning. Pridefully, I wish I could say I know now, I don’t get intimidated,
or I have the answers but I would be lying. But I am learning : ) I am thankful
for the experience of door to door evangelism and what that experience taught
me.
I met some of the most welcoming,
hospitable people that blessed my heart. It makes me smile thinking about the
encounters I was blessed to have. I smile as I think about a girl named Celeste
and Foster who didn’t want us to leave until we had some soda. She rushed out
to get us soda and offered us drinks out of money that is most likely limited.
Celeste asked for prayer for the opportunity to go to school. School in Kenya
costs and she hasn’t finished secondary schooling yet and would like the
opportunity to go back. As I stood there and processed, I thought how
unfortunate to desire an education and have to pray for the money to go. It
broke my heart as she stood there and softly requested.
We met another lady that teared up as she
praised God for bringing us to bless the house in which she lives. She believed
God walked with us and brought us here to bless her. She then in return blessed
us and encouraged us in such an eager way. It was a spirit that seemed
different in some way. She had the spirit of thankfulness and a spirit that was
truly eager to have us and love on us.
Another home we visited had a Mother of five
who was so excited to have us in her home. She was so excited that she just got
to spend some time with fellow believers, family members from across the world.
And that kind of love, family love, sums up African hospitality. When in Africa
you are loved and treated as family between the I love you’s, hugs,
“please make this your home”,
or “you are welcome here”. In Swahili there is a word which
means welcome that they say as you are welcomed into the home. You are sure to
be taken care of either with a meal or a drink because they can’t stand you
leaving without. I was so encouraged by the people I came in contact with over
the last week. Thank you God. Kenya has been incredibly unique in their spirit
and hospitality.
We leave Kenya in a few days and head to
Tanzania…the time goes by so fast. Our month here in Kenya has been wonderful.
We are going to be teamed up with Team 12:18 next month and we are looking
forward to Tanzania. Pray for us. Please keep Team SWAT and Team Radiance in
your prayers, the majority of our teams have come down with illnesses over the
last 2 weeks. We are thankfully getting better but still in “getting
better” mode. There are about 5 of us, including myself, who are not sick
so Thank God.
Thank you for everything. Thank you for
all of your prayers and encouragement. Would not be here without you.
