Motorbikes, mud and walking with Jesus [part three]

We left Sokuns mother that afternoon knowing that we didn’t do much but show up, sit there and smile but that through things as simple as that God can and will use that to plant some seriously amazing seeds. I left for “home” that afternoon knowing that that wasn’t the end of the story with Sokuns mother. I knew that God had big plans for Sokun and his family and that our meeting with them was merely the beginning. At the time I had no idea we would see the fruit from that visit so quickly. The next day we rose early and went to church, after church Sarah and I went back to Sokuns church/school to teach English and bible stories, at least that’s what we thought we were doing. As we arrive; again on the back of a motorbike, we pull up to the same shack, with the same mud and eager children. Except this time there wasn’t only children awaiting our arrival, but also in the crowded shack stood adults of all ages-might I add that SOKUNS MOM was one of those adults (Praise God)! Sarah and I were a little confused as to how teaching kids English translated into a room of adults we sought out the pastor, that’s when we were informed that we would be preaching the sermon that week.

 

As I sat there on the verge of tears, convinced that there was no way I could possibly get up there and give a sermon; Sarah bless her heart stepped up. A wave of relief passed over me as I wrongly assumed I had dodged the bullet. While Sarah was giving an amazing impromptu sermon on the fruits of the Spirit I was praying that she would be confident that God’s words were on Her lips, that she would be confident that He would give her the words she needed to say. While I was praying for Sarah I heard God remind me with a little nudge that His words were on my lips too, that I could preach too. As quickly as I heard that I dismissed it and reminded Him that there was no way I could do that. Well guess who proved me wrong and guess who ended up in the front of a crowded shack holding her bible and shaking like a leaf. Yup..this girl! As the room waited quietly in eager anticipation a thousand bible stories and versus raced through my mind, as I was trying to sift through it all in the two seconds I had to prepare God gave me a verse I know well and love dearly, Isaiah 61.

 

(I didn’t have a picture of me in church preaching- but I figured a picture of me

actually on the Motorbike would be more then sufficent!)

 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor..” As I read that first verse I couldn’t help but smile. Not only is Isaiah 61 one of my favorites but it’s also one of the scriptures God used to call me here. What He used to call me to that exact moment. And there I was, stepping out in faith, with the Spirit God gave me-to preach His good news. My sermon wasn’t anything amazing, I shared with them Isaiah 61:1-3 & 10,11. I explained what those verses meant to me and how God used those verses to speak to me about coming on the World Race and now He was using those verses to speak through me to them. I told them about God’s redeeming love and faithfulness. I told them how God redeemed me and my life and He can and will do the same for them, for their community and even their country. I shared about how God takes the disappointments and the damage from our lives and uses it for His glory; that He truly does make beauty out of our ashes. I shared how He’s used those verses to encourage me and how I hoped they would find encouragement in them as well. Like I said- nothing amazing; short and sweet! However the feeling I felt afterwards was rather amazing! I’d heard the stories and I knew going into the World Race that more then likely I’d have to preach at some point; I guess I just thought it’d be later rather then sooner and honestly I was more then fine with that. Preaching was not and never has been on my list of things I’d like to do, however I did it! God showed up big time and gave me the words I needed and also kept me from fainting (huge plus!). Not only did I do it and survive-kind of like my first motorbike experience-but I actually enjoyed it. Plus that amazing feeling you get after you’ve stepped out in faith and did whatever it was that God was calling you to do is one of the most wonderful feelings ever. Next time you feel Him calling you to do something, no matter how crazy or outrages it seems at the time I dare you to give it a try, I bet it’ll be worth it! All in all God showed up in some big ways that weekend; not only for me and my team for the whole community. I am so blessed and so grateful for that entire experience, it was so good to see all the ways God is working in this country, especially in this community and it’s so good to know that not only was He here before us but He’s going to be here after us!

¹⁰<sup value='(R)’> I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
   my soul shall exult in my God,
<sup value='(S)’>for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
   he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself<sup value='(T)’> like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
   <sup value='(U)’> and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
   and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord GOD will cause<sup value='(V)’> righteousness and praise
   to sprout up before all the nations.