If I’ve learned anything on the Race, it’s never, ever have expectations…and if you have them…get ready for them to not be met. Looking back on our time in the bush, all I can think is, “Mary, after 10 months, you should have known better”.
Unfortunately, I entered into the bush with expectations:
– Three weeks in uncharted African wilderness
– Zillions of Maasai Warriors living in their mud-huts cooking goat over an open fire with lions roaming in the background
– Peace and quiet as we lived life with tribes, learning how to basket weave and kill a elephant with a spear
– Relational ministry as we poured into a single community
But in reality:
– 10 days in three developed towns
– Local Tanzanian’s living in mud/wood houses cooking chicken with goats roaming in the background
– Two-three days in a location, then we moved to another village where we would do church services and street evangelism…never spending longer than an hour with someone
If you can’t tell, our time outside of Morogoro was not what I expected-at all. As stated in the above bullets, we moved from village to village, packing/unpacking every few days and setting up/taking down our tents 6 times in 10 days.
Our purpose for the time in the villages was preaching and sharing the gospel…and we definitely did that! We woke up each morning and after a breakfast of rolls and peanut butter, we would hit the dusty streets to go up to anyone and everyone and straight up share the gospel with them. It was like, “Hi, my name is Mary…do you know Jesus?” Ok, that’s a little overplayed, but you get the point. I lost count how many times I shared the beauty of the Cross. At nights we had church service, sometimes seeing people we had witnessed to during the day. The services would be 2-4 hours of dancing to drums, singing & wild clapping, 2-3 personal testimonies, and a sermon…then more singing and dancing.
To be honest, we didn’t see much fruit. We showered the communities with truth, but often it seemed like the seeds fell on ears hardened to its goodness, or hearts that would choke the seeds with life’s worries and lack of faith. Sometimes it felt like people just wanted to see us rather than hear us.
In it all though, the Lord stretched and grew me sooooooooo much. I gained a confidence and boldness to speak with authority the gospel of Christ. We would walk up to strangers and I would hear the Lord give me words or encouragement for them. In the bush the Lord pulled me closer to Himself and taught me that it’s not about my expectations or what I think I need or want, but it’s about His kingdom and what He has planned. He knew where He wanted us, and it wasn’t cooking goat with the Maasai Warriors, it was pouring into three villages and boldly taking His name to those who have never heard.
Village life was two weeks ago, and currently, I’m not even in Africa anymore! For the past 30+ hours we have been traveling to our FINAL COUNTRY on our route: INDIA!! We landed a few hours ago and will spend the month in Bangalore doing…I don’t have any idea actually. We are staying the night in New Delhi then will catch a 40 hour train ride to the southern part of the country.
So far, India is HOT, crowded, and HOT. The people seem interesting and I’m excited for a new country and new culture. I feel the Lord preparing my heart to be fearless this month and not care at all what people think of me – I’m going to tell anyone and everyone I can about the love that has transformed my life. This year, God has grown me, challenged me, empowered me, and I am now, more than ever, pumped to live this last month out recklessly and passionately for the Kingdom I LOVE.
