Africa is amazing!! It really has been the best country out of them all but thats not because its the most beautiful or anything like that. It is the best country because this is where we have done the most for the Lord and made the most difference for him. This is absolutely everything that I thought that this trip would hold. I am growing in extreme ways (or so I have been told haha) and I am finally seeing what the Lord has called us all to do. On top of all of that, this is my last month on the race! That is absolutely crazy to think about!
Everyday I go out into the communities and we talk about Jesus to everyone we meet. When I first started I didn’t even know what the salvation prayer was or really how to say it. I made a fool out of myself infant of everyone when they asked me to say it and practice in front of everyone and I totally didn’t know what I was saying. Thats when I really realized that I have a ton to learn here and God is going to change me in enormous ways that I won’t even e able to see in myself.
When your in the communities, as a man, you have to be looking out for everything and be looking out for the best interests of the girls that you are with. At any point there could be trouble and you need to make sure that everyone is safe and accounted for. One time there was a cop chase that went right by our team so we had to stay put for a little while. Another time the community found someone who stole something and they don’t just go to the cops, they take justice in their own hands. The enemy tries to get us out of the communities any way he can. Also, he tries to get in your head and heart in everyday he can also. He has many many ways that he has to take us out and most of the time they are tricky and we just think that it is all chance that things like that happen.
One example of the devil getting us not to do what we are supposed to do just happened in my life this last week. So for several years now I have had a hard time hearing God and hearing the difference between His voice and my voice in my head. On Tuesday this week we were just finishing in the communities for the day and were waiting to get in the van. I looked up and I saw a little boy that had a broken arm in a cast. He was just walking past all of us about 50 feet away. I had a voice in my head tell me that I should go pray for him to be healed. Instantaneously, I was telling myself not to do it. I was convincing myself that I was just going to hold everyone up and that that wasn’t God in my head that was just one of my voices. Then I said,” Oh he’s in a cast anyway, he wont get healed.”
At that moment everything changed in my mind and my heart for ever. I heard the first voice say to me again,” You think I can’t heal him just because of his cast?” That hit me very very hard. I didn’t know what to say because I knew now that the first voice was God and I just said no to Him. I just said no to the God of the universe because I was scared about what other people would think, about the kid not being healed and crap like that. I had the worst feeling in my stomach that I have felt in a long time. I took that very rough and very hard on myself. We all have jobs and things set aside for us to do as individuals and that no one else can do. They are unique to each and every person and I just said no to one of mine. I couldn’t believe what I just did.
When I got into the van I knew that something had to happen and something had to change in my heart. I could either hate myself because I missed out on one of my jobs and said no to God or I could decide to make myself better by this situation. I decided to take in this feeling and remember how sucky it is to say no to God and say to myself that I will never do that again. I made a rule to myself that when I hear a voice like that then I’m going to follow it no matter what others may think or if I make people late or look like a weirdo. I don’t care what they think because I am following my King. I should have to care what they think, all I should care about is what He thinks.
From that moment on I have been living differently. When someone says there is something wrong with them or they are nervous or not feeling well, I know that God can and has healed them. It is my job to pray for them and no one else in that moment can do it for me or anything like that because it was just set out for me. I am not going to say no again and I encourage all of you guys to be searching for that voice and once you hear it don’t shy away from that job. I promise that it will be perfect what ever He tells you to do.
Some of the great things that we get to do out here everyday is seeing people come to the Lord. I love seeing how interested people are in hearing about Jesus. they really want to know more and more and they ask tons of questions that help everyone. When they ask questions it helps them think about what they believe and it helps us know what we really believe. It is awesome just getting to see where people are at life and helping them along as they help you!
So its my last month on the race!! The emotions are all over the place. The way I have been living for the past 8 months is about to change in a way that I haven’t ever had it before. I am so excited to be home with all of my family and friends that I have missed so much. I can’t wait to give my mom and dad the biggest hugs and tell them all the things that I have been through. I can’t wait to see my brother and have adventures with him doing new and exciting things. I also can’t wait to hang out with all my best friends and just to hear about how they have been and tell them all the crazy things that I have been learning. All that being said, I am nervous. Im nervous of the change. I am not going to have the people I have been living with or the things that I have been doing. I am going to have different responsibilities that Im going to have to do. On top of all of that I’m going to have a different outlook on life and a different way of living. There is so much change that is going to happen and change is always scary but necessary.
There is so much going on and so much to do over here. This week we are going to be going into schools every morning and then out in the communities in the evening. It is going to be really really tiring days. One thing that I have learned is that I really can’t do anything by myself. I don’t even have enough energy to get through the day most of the time. Whenever I’m feeling down or I’m tired or if there is anything wrong, I pray for God to help me and give me enough strength to get through all of it!
Keep praying for me and my team and the work that we are doing! Thank you all for following me through this journey and caring for me. It means very much to me! Till next time!
