Kenya Stinkin Africa
What?!
Our set ministry consisted of working at a clinic half of the
week and every other day visits to local schools to teach English etc.
At the beginning of the month I asked the Lord what my specific ministry should look like
and He said…
Pray and speak life
and love over newborns.
Make a friend named
Frankie.
Eat last.
Clean up after
births.
Preach once.
Bring joy to the
Compassion program.
Make so many
bracelets you don’t have any string left.
Comfort and know the
pregnant mothers- hold their hands, pray for them, ask the hard questions.
As I look back on the month and my list I am blown away by
all God did. He came through and gave me the opportunity to follow through on
the ministry He asked me to do in the beginning. I asked Him. He answered. And
this is what He did.
Pray and speak life
and love over newborns.
Yes it is true… I got to help deliver babies. Half of the clinic was made up of women
about to give birth and women that just gave birth. It was awesome. I had no
idea this was a passion of mine until I was in there. I loved it. Like looooved
it. I would sit with the new moms and their babies and make matching bracelets
for them. I would hold the little babies so the moms could rest. I got to pray
for their futures and destinies. I prayed they would know the Lord at a young
age, that they would be used in powerful ways to help change their culture for
Jesus, that they would be strong and courageous world changers etc. Sometimes I
would hold the babies for hours. There was no place I would rather be.
Make a friend named
Frankie.
Here he is… when I first met him he cried when I picked him
up… now he smiles 🙂 friends? Oh ya
Eat last.
This tested my patience at times and I forgot to do it other
times but through it the Lord showed me what it practically looks like to put
others first and get over myself.
Clean up after
births.
I will spare you the details but it is way gross. This was
an awesome way to serve the hard working nurses and take one thing off of their
“to do” list. They couldn’t believe I wanted to clean up but soon got used to
it. It honestly became a sweet joy to do.
Preach once.
Jesus has an interesting way of getting me to speak. We had
a Wednesday night house church and they needed a speaker. I hesitantly said I
would do it trying my best to get out of it knowing full well the Lord had told
me to do it. Bryan pointed that out and told me I wasn’t getting out of it and
would speak. So I did. God showed up and it was really cool. He has definitely
given me a passion and heart for speaking but the process of perfecting that
gift has not been an easy one the past couple of years. Speaking that night brought so much freedom and
joy to my heart. I am free to speak as He has called me to speak in my own
special unique Moriah way.
Bring joy to the
Compassion program.
The Compassion program is a program that helps women who
have HIV/AIDS. The women come together twice a week and make bracelets and
purses etc. This gives them something to do as well as brings in income. The
first week we went the room was heavy and not a smile to be seen. I couldn’t
stand it. I spoke of having joy in the midst of pain but who I am to tell them?
I have never been where they are or even close. But I knew there had to be more
for them. The Lord wasn’t done with their stories. He wasn’t done with them…
The next week all I knew was I wanted to make them smile and
laugh. They needed His joy to penetrate their despair. When it was my turn to
give encouragement I stood up and gave them some of my string so that they
could make new types of bracelets. Then I went around and hugged each one of
them (15 women). You should have seen their smiles. My teammates said they lit
up. Next we played charades and the whole room erupted in laughter. My heart
was full to see these women, even if it was just for an hour, smile and laugh
and forget about their pain. It was a different room of ladies when we left
that day.
Make so many
bracelets you don’t have any string left.
So I had a lot of string. Not going to lie when I felt like
the Lord said this at the beginning I didn’t think it would happen… but He is
so faithful. I gave away about half of it to the Compassion ladies. Then I made
a lot at the hospital but I still had so much. Making 30 for the women’s
conference we put on… now that will do it. I watched as my string dwindled. How
awesome! God was really going to do it. You should have seen the men on my team
trying to make these bracelets… priceless night. Who knew practically
weightless string could bring so much healing, hope and fun!
Get to know and
comfort the pregnant mothers- hold their hands, pray for them, ask the hard
questions.
Her name was Emily. She was in sooo much labor pain and
crying out. I came next to her bed and gave her my hand and said squeeze it as
tight as you need to. She did. For a good 30 minutes or so I sat with her as
she squeezed and I prayed. A little later her sweet baby was breathing life in
at 3.3 kgs. The next day I came to visit Emily. I sat with her and asked her
questions. She was the first of the mothers to truly open up. She is 18. Both
her parents have died. The father of her child left when he found out she was
pregnant. She was alone. She turned from me as tears filled her eyes. She
didn’t even have anything for her new baby to wear. I wouldn’t let that stand
and had her in new clothes in no time.
Emily looked at me and asked if I would name her baby. I was
taken back. Seriously? I started to pray and ask God what He wanted her name to
be. I honestly couldn’t think of any other name except the name Moriah. She was
totally a Moriah. Similar to my story her mamma’s water broke and minutes later
she was out. Instead of her dad I was there to catch her. Moriah means “God
will provide” and “God’s anointed one”. I asked Emily what she thought and she
loved it and said it was a good name. After holding Moriah for a while the Lord
said the word grace. How perfect. Moriah
Grace, God will provide unmerited favor. That is my prayer for her life. That
God will provide for her every need. That He will give her grace upon grace.
That she will be a woman marked by the grace she extends to others and the anointing
and favor she boldly walks in.
I visited her everyday until we left. I brought my friends
along and we met her friends and started a sweet relationship with them all.
What an incredible blessing. Not only did the Lord open up countless
relationships with moms and their babies but also gave me a very special one
with Emily and Moriah. When asked what a highlight of my year has been it is
absolutely holding that sweet girl. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about
her. Maybe one day I will hear her talk, see her run and enjoy her little
laugh.
Man does He answer prayers beyond what we sometimes even ask…
I was listening to a sermon on prayer the other day. Mark
Batterson said “the worst tragedy that can happen is unanswered prayers that
were never asked”. If we don’t ask we don’t receive…plain and simple. Gosh God
is not only sooo faithful but He delights in hearing and answering our prayers.
He looooves it. I challenge you to ask and believe in faith for the things that
are burdening your heart today. Turn those worries, hopes, desires, dreams, and
burdens into prayers. Let go and let Him show up. Why not ask Him for direction
for the month/day/year? Ask Him what He wants to do with you today I dare you.
