These were my exact words and my exact thought ever since I stepped into Africa and found out that all of us would be preaching at some point. Now, i know I had talked about how I couldn’t wait to go around the world and preach the love of God…but, I guess I never really thought I would actually have to preach…boy was I wrong!
When we were in Kenya…I got my first experience of preaching! Now…I’ve led Bible studies, I’ve shared my testimony, I’ve prayed in public in front of hundreds of people…but never once had I ever prepared a sermon and had to preach it! I was terrified to find out that I had to! I immediately felt panicked and almost wanted to cry! I kept saying how I was not a preacher…I was not made to be a preacher…that I didn’t have the capabilities to even conduct a sermon and then preach it in front of people! I kept saying how I was not even that knowledgeable about the Bible like others are…that I was just made to make friends with people and to show them the love of God through our friendship and hugs and hanging out…and stuff like that! I was terrified of being judged! But I had no choice! Everyone had to preach at some point while in Kenya…and so, I needed to just preach what I know!
So…I did! And I was scared to go up in front of everyone…and I felt unprepared…but I obeyed Him…I was obedient and I spoke about what I know through Him…about the power of the cross…about the power of His death! And I know that that was good enough for Him! The rest of my time in Kenya, I really just gave testimonies and prayed and sang with others…I didn’t preach again!
At least not in Kenya! And to be honest…I thought I was off the hook! I thought I didn’t have to worry about preaching again…especially since we didn’t have to in Uganda…I thought, “YES! MY PREACHING DAYS ARE OVER!” Wrong again, Tangi! It was not over! We arrived here in Tanzania, and found out right away that we would all be preaching, for sure, at least once a week! WHAT?! “Oh well!” was my next thinking! I realized that we ALL would have to and there was no way out of it! So…I sucked it up….and decided it would be better to obey God again in following Him in this kind of way! So, I basically said, “What to you have for me, God? What can I preach on?” And honestly, ideas came flooding in! I’m still writing them…which is taking a bit of time…basically b/c I’m kinda lazy….but they are coming along….and I’ve already preached once…a few more to go…and it might be even more times then I think b/c all of us girls on Team Lunchbox are going into the “Bush” without our guys…they will be working with the Masai tribe in Kenya from the 19th of February to the 2nd of March. I’m ready! Bring it on!
Please pray for us! Thanks!
