We’re in month 2 of Africa and already month 7 of this crazy World Race experience. Last month my team was in Lira, Uganda where we worked with a large church, Victory Outreach. Our team split up and helped with a variety of projects and ministries, according to which we felt most passionate about and interested in. There were many believers there and everyone was extremely welcoming, friendly, and genuine. The church body is totally thriving and it was so encouraging to see how they operate and reach out to the surrounding community. There were countless opportunities to jump in and join the church in serving. For four days, we participated in a large youth conference (with about 500 attendees!) We attended and spoke at different cell groups (small groups) every Wednesday night. Some of our team helped with Sunday School training, some preached at the church’s “lunch hour prayer” or the radio, and some will completed file work in the Compassion Children office of the church.
We stayed in a compound which also included the pastor’s home. I loved it – I will never forget the 13 staff members who I really got to know during our stay. Very quickly they became like family and they taught me much about African culture. I learned how to cook true African dishes, and they taught me traditional songs, dances, and some of the language. Through these relationships the Lord truly energized me and gave me strength and life. I had been feeling somewhat drained – emotionally and physically at the end of Turkey. God yet again showed me how important it is to build relationships and to encourage and spur one another on in love and good deeds. Once the month came to an end it was so difficult to say goodbye to everyone and I will miss them dearly. I hope one day to return back to Uganda to visit my friends at Alpha, and hopefully bring my family along to meet them as well.
Now, we find ourselves in a small village off the east coast of Kenya – Mpeketoni – for a month. Things are somewhat different here and I am desperately trying not to compare last month’s experience in Lira to the time here. We are staying in a church and working with a bishop who oversees many churches in the area. His name is Bishop Maurice and he lives with his wife, Mama Emily, and their children, in a small house next to the church. We are working with Team Ninja and one of the main ministries we are getting involved in here is door-to-door evangelism. I love it. A few of us walk the village with a translator from the church and choose a few doors to knock on!
I went out with my teammate Emily and two translators a couple of days ago and had a very awesome experience. We met two women and started a conversation with them – asking questions to find out about their life and situation. Their names are Mary and Jesinda and both had been to church in the past but currently were not attending. Their husbands were not interested in the whole God thing. Mary and Jesinda knew of Jesus but hadn’t committed their lives to Christ. Before I even really knew what was happening, Emily and I both just started sharing different Scriptures with the women. Their faces showed they were listening intently and were interested. I started to get excited! We shared that they didn’t need to go to church to be saved – they simply needed a real intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. After more conversation on what that intimate relationship really looks like, Emily asked if Jesinda would like to accept the invitation and commit her life to God. She said yes and Emily led Jesdina in a beautiful prayer. We asked Mary if she also wanted to pray and she said she did. Then I prayed for her – and it was definitely the Holy Spirit’s leading because I had never actually lead anyone to Christ before. It was amazing to know that it was completely the Holy Spirit just giving me the words and it is such a huge honor to be used as a vessel for the Lord. Even if he brought me over to Kenya only for this reason; it is reason enough for me! These women’s lives will never be the same because they now have the Lord. No matter the struggles they go through, God will be there right by their side. They have each other to encourage and grow in discipleship and can be a huge example to their husbands. I was fired up leaving their home and am totally stoked to go knock on more doors for the Kingdom!
