Step 1: Our ministry contact this month is a 30 year old man who is a giant in stature and in the faith. "You must pray impossible things and then move forward in faith that God will bring them to pass." Cognitively, I know I agree with this statement but I am not sure how often I test its validity. Elias, on the contrary, lives by this mantra. I am interested to see how I am influenced living under his leadership for the next month. Challenge #1: Pray big prayers. Pray big while we help him conduct home visits to the sick. Pray big as we assist with a international youth conference running Wednesday thru Saturday this week. Pray big as we walk the perimeter of a parcel of land where he would like to erect his future ministry site.
Take me deeper step number one – Pray big!
Step 2: Elias prayed for a home and God provided. He is elated to host us in the house God provided. As I surveyed Gods provision the following thought ran though my head, "I wonder if anyone has walked into my home and felt the way I do." The house that God built is built of clay and cement blocks. The roof is made of what appears to be banana leaves, wooden poles and, over the bedrooms, ribbed aluminum. The floor is dirt. There is no plumbing. The bathroom, outside, is a 5' by 5' cloth cube surrounding a hole in the ground. Elias and his two brothers have given up their rooms for the seven us to share. The four girls share a room the size of my bathroom and walk in closet combined. The Bonasso's and Matt share a room of equal size. Did I mention it is hot? In this season of holiday parties at home and many a festive affair I am having to check my heart right and left. I confess, I choose to be grateful every time I am served rice and beans. Water, this month, is possibly my greatest joy. A shower, or really any form by which to be clean, is second. A cool breeze is third.
Take me deeper step number two – Look to me for provision and when I do provide be grateful.
Step 3: "We keep waiting for the rains to come but they haven't yet." In one way I am glad about this. The malaria risk is high during the rainy season and all of us are a little on edge this month when it comes to malaria. However, if I really implement step one I shouldn't be concerned. Or at least, my experience last night tells me I shouldn't. I will summarize with a great quote from my teammate today. "You realized we spent eight hours in church yesterday and in that time we witnessed three exorcisms." Seriously. I am not in Kansas anymore. I expect to be stretched this month and I expect to be blessed.
Take me deeper step number three – Psalm 5:3 expect great things
Stay tuned for more but be patient. We, yet again, have to drive some distance for internet. While I am "dark" and out of reach I welcome your prayers for health/protection from disease, for my sweet family as there is good chance I won't be able to be in touch much during this month where we were so hopeful I would be, and for me as I work to embrace the changes, the challenges and be consumed (see Mozambique blog for reference)
