Internet in Africa is not the greatest. I’m sorry that the blogs have been slim to none since my arrival in Africa. Last month we worked in Malawi with a group called Harvesters. Our purpose was literally to spread the gospel. Malawians embrace the idea of work, and when the sun rises at 4:45 in the morning I awoke to the sound of sweeping, since the women swept the inner and outer part of the house each morning. It was all like clockwork! At 5:00 the next thing to hear is water dumping into a bucket from the well. Then at 5:30 I would hear the high-pitched voice of Miriam telling me to go shower.
That was our morning, and the day was filled with us going door-to-door and speaking about the gospel. We usually would say small openers to get people interested in Jesus, and also to just give them a summary of what would be discussed in detail later. Then around dusk we would all come together in one part of town, and sit on our bamboo mats to hear a long message about the gospel. At this time we watch the setting sun, and gazed at the countless stars shining around us as one of our guys preached. We would arrive in a village on Monday, and then leave the following Monday. Sunday would be our church launch day as well as our farewell to the villagers that we have spent the week getting to know. It was all clockwork, and went by quickly.
I have never talked so much in my life in such a short mount of time, but I have also never seen God move my heart as much as he did. God gave me a joy; a joy in each conversation I had as well as a joy for every new face I met. When I spoke to women, a verse, or an idea would pop into my head, and then I would go off teaching while depending on the Lord and Spirit to guide me. My words were not my own, and my heart was no longer my own either. The Lord gave me compassion!
Most people who know me can attest that I’m pretty insensitive and lack compassion, but during that month my heart began to break for the woman who was lost, or the neglected child who didn’t know the Lord. My heart broke for the man that took a drink to combat his problems rather than take it to the Lord. My heart wept for strangers, and leapt for joy when dancing and playing with children. I could never imagine embracing and doing the things that I did in my past life. I held dirty naked children in my lap, and embraced women who have struggled with so many physical infirmities. I am not myself anymore, I blame God for that. 😀
