`Relationships. God has
created us to be relational beings. He
has created us to desire to fellowship with one another. This trip has blessed me with many
relationships; many that I believe will be more than just short term. When we were told we were coming to Zimbabwe I
certainly did not think that I would have relationships here. I really don’t know why I thought I would not
develop relationships. Perhaps it was
because I thought I would be in the bush and that no one would speak my
language. There I go again,
expectations. It was quite a surprise
when I arrive here and everyone I met not only understood me, but also spoke
the same language as me. I was excited that God had not only blessed us with a
beautiful home, but also with people to build relationships with. I still was unsure how relationship building
would go, especially because we are only here for 2 weeks. I, along with several of my teammates, were
praying that it would feel like longer than two weeks. I looked at the family we are staying with, 3
children…well, I don’t do my best with children, but maybe ok. Then I had the
opportunity to really sit and talk with our ministry partner, Pastor
Brian. As I had my first real
conversation with him, something clicked. I did not see him strictly as a
ministry partner or as a pastor. No, he
reminded me of some of the men I love at home, my uncles, my friends, my
cousins. I laugh. Pastor Brian is
definitely not like any pastor I have met at home. Our conversations range from the silliest jokes
to the seriousness of spirituality and anointing. There is nothing I can’t say to him and there
is nothing he can’t share with me. We
are open books with one another. I have been blessed to yet again, develop a
relationship that is pure in the Lord, centered on God, and full of joy. I have made a new best friend. I truly see Brian as my new best friend. My fears, my struggles, my growths, my
questions, all of those things I can share with him. I can have him pray for me or with me and in
turn, I am praying for him and with him. There is an unspoken but well understood respect for one another. Pastor Brian has spoken amazing prophetic
words over me and over my life. At first
I was a little hesitant and honestly embarrassed. Here was this pastor whom the Lord has
blessed with prophetic gifts, and it felt like he could see right through
me. For those who don’t know every
aspect of my life, there are many areas that were once dark. I certainly did not want there to be any
trace of those things left inside of me and I certainly did not want this man
to find them! Also, during this time, I
had just begun a 7 day fast which was bringing many of my own personal
struggles to the surface. I had been
praying God would reveal to me what ever I was holding on to that was not
allowing me to really grow as one with him and He definitely starting revealing
those areas. Because of this, I
certainly did not want this pastor reading my heart! But the opposite of what I “expected” to
happen actually did happen. Instead of
meeting judgment, I met grace and love. It was like instead of being horrified by what I was dealing with, he
actually loved me more because of it. I
praise God for my new friendship.
