sorry for the delay on posts this month. my team had been traveling for two and a half weeks with little on our backs, just our tents, no sleeping pads, no computers and no internets. it was glorious. and then we’ve just been resting the past week since the accident. so heres a little about what our ministry looked like for the month:
our mornings began with warm water bucket showers that our contacts would blessed us with and putting on our traditional African skirts. the days were filled with Children yelling “Azungu!!” (whiteman or foreigner) and us yelling back “Akuda” (blackman). they love it. They are also like FBI spies and can spot us from miles away, either that or we just really glow in the sun with our paleness. we’ve piled more of us into tiny automobiles than I thought even possible and we’ve preached preached and done more preaching. We’ve even preached on marriage and sex multiple times- ha. who would of thought I’d be considered a pastor in Africa?
most of our nights have ended with us going to bed at 9PM with full bellies of nzima or rice and fanta (its cheaper than water here!), brushing our teeth out of a water pump (exactly like the one outside watermark) and us questioning if thats dirt on our feet or our new African tan line??
oh Africa I heart you.
The first week of our traveling ministry we were in the village of Dedza. I absolutely loved it there. One of my best weeks on the race so far hands down. We were staying in the yard of a lady from the church named Doloris. They were so hospitable towards us. Because we were living with a host family it was a great way to get to minister to them too. I definitely was able to make lasting friendships. Our main goal for the week was to plant two new churches so we would go into the villages during the day and do door to door and then preach in the afternoon. We’d usually preach under a huge tree and they would bring out bamboo mats for us to sit on. totally africa. There was one day in particular that was just not my day. nothing seemed to be going right for me- I was grumpy and not feeling well and I knew we were all going to have to preach and I was just not feeling it. Basically, I just wanted to run away. I have never felt that hopeless in a situation before. Back home, I’d just get in my car and leave, but I was stuck in the middle of the bush annoyed, sick and exhausted. Main thing being I saw how much the Africans were looking up to us to teach them. I didn’t feel like I had anything to give, not even a smile, but my heart broke because I didn’t want to let them down. Who knew when these people would hear the Gospel again- its not like they have Bibles they can read. They were relying on us- the white men. So I knew I just needed to pray. So I prayed hardcore, I broke down crying. I have never prayed for the Holy Spirit like I did that day before in my life. annnd it was beautiful. God showed up and within 10 minutes I had this overwhelming peace transform me and I got to work with the kidos that day too. I told the story of Noah and Jonah and got to teach them how to pray. It was an awesome day. Caleb, Kimberly and I also got to participate in Spec’s small group at his house and we even were honored in naming it Abundance. It was a blessing to be apart of them. There is so much I could go on about our week here that I don’t even know how to put into words.
our amazing contacts Dickens, Blessings, Christopher and Spec ^^
I alllso shaved my head three weeks ago. haha yup. since getting to Africa, I have felt God calling me to complete surrender to Him, in a sense of my identity. I am not defined by my hair. I am not defended by the relationships I have. I am not defined by what I do. but I am defined in God alone. and I need to continue to learn this. this was my way of telling God I am all His. a way to find my beauty in Him and through the way he created me not through my looks or how people see me. It will be a lesson I am continually learning from. plus its cooler and feels awesome. annnnd I got to throw away all my hair stuff- less to carry in my pack for me!
This is why I love Africa. I’m for the first time in my life learning and seeing and feeling HIS inexhaustible presence! and I love how open the Africans hearts are to hearing the good news. I was reminded this month that Jesus didn’t die so He could follow us, He died in order for us to follow Him to the cross, to true LIFE.
Not sure where my team will be next month yet, we will be finding out this upcoming week. I wanted to thank you all so much for your prayers this month and after the accident, my team has needed them. We’ve had a tough month community wise too. And it’s only been a week after the wreck and Tommy is walking and we’re all doing great! still recovering, but God is healing us. I also want to send a HUGE thanks out to all my supporters!!! I can’t thank you enough. The people in Africa wouldn’t be hearing the Gospel without you guys. I am however still in need of $1,400 in order to be fully funded. My deadline is by the first of January, so if you feel lead to help at all I would greatly appreciate it. Dan is also in need of $2,500 and his deadline is by December 15th. Help us spread the word. Continue praying, we’re praying for you all daily. Thanks guys, love and miss you all!!!
