Saturday 23 June 2012

Living Examples.

For the last week we have been richly blessed but worked to the point of exhaustion. We stayed in a pastor's house for a week in Kyenjojo town. There we had amazing breakfasts, our own bunk, and even a television! We thought we had reached the ultimate outreach location when we first arrived. Little did we know how hard we would work for those little perks. The church we worked with was about a kilometer away from the house that we stayed and we walked there and back about twice a day. We also did door-to-door in the surrounding villages, walking even further. There was never a day that we didn't have our schedule jammed packed, between crusades, school ministry, door-to-door, and even the orphanage that is connected with the church. Needless to say we were pretty worn out from the adventure. But through our adventure I was able to experience true African hospitality. The pastor and his wife, David and Anette brought us into their home like family and told us to never hesitate to come back anytime because now we are friends and family. They are amazing examples of Christ to live by. They have never felt called to be involved in children's ministry but through God they opened an orphanage. But they didn't just open an orphanage, they parent the children there. Many of the kids were first raised in their home before living at the orphanage. But David and Anette don't just do ministry, they are constantly looking for God's next direction. They are real life circle makers in their prayer. Before the ground that the orphanage, church, and school rests on was anything, they fasted under the mango tree for three days praying for what God was going to accomplish there. They are truly examples of Christ in their day to day life. I am so thankful for them because without their hospitality and love, I doubt I could have handled the exhausting schedule of Kyenjojo town. On Monday we moved to Mityana and have settled into a nice house of a very lovely lady. The town here is big and very African. I think I am some people's first white person, the way they scream "mzungu" after me. Yesterday a little boy started to cry when he saw me and Alex. He tried to run but he couldn't because he was crying so he finally decided to cover his eyes with hands until we passed, which for some reason totally helped. I guess if he can't see us, we aren't there. Crazy kid. On other news, on Thursday we had a rooster and a chicken for dinner and I was on cooking duty. (Don't forget in Africa all the meat is fresh) So naturally I killed the chicken, with a kitchen knife too. Then we ate it a few hours later. Can't wait to show you the pictures! Otherwise all is well, and on Monday we are moving again to a small village close by, then returning here on the following Monday to finish our outreach.
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6

Monday 11 June 2012

Praying Circles.

"Work like it depends on me and pray like it depends on God." -Mark Batterson, "The Circle Maker"
Written on Friday, June 8
Another week is almost over and done, only five more until I reach home. Time is certainly flying by. This week has been crazy. People in the village have been so generous and grateful to us, that in the past few days we have received crazy amounts of avocados, eggs, bananas, passion fruit, mangoes, invites for tea and lunch, and even a live chicken that is sitting next to me right now. The joy and thankful heart that the people here have is an inspiration. This past week has focused on prayer for me. I recently finished a book by Mark Batterson called, "The Circle Maker." It is an awesomely insightful book that is all about praying circles around things both litterallly and figuratively. We must dream big, pray hard, and pray long. It seems as soon as I put the book down, an oppurtunity to put it into practice came along. We met a man who is thirty three years old named Moses. Since he was seven he has suffered with huge bumps all over his body and severe weakness that has slowly taken his abilty to walk away from him. The first value in this book that I applied was circling literally. It was the easiest first step to take for me. I circled his house and prayed for Moses' deliverance. Then I dared to dream big and believed that God can preform a miracle and heal Moses. I thanked God for the miracle that He was GOING to preform, not just asking that He would. Finally I prayed/am praying long. God didn't heal Moses on that particular day but I believe His work isn't done in Moses' life. Everything is in God's timing and I know He has a plan for Moses' life. So I will continue to pray for him. I also strongly recommend "The Circle Maker" for a convicting read and even all of Mark Batterson's books. So far I have only read two but I hear they are all good and I plan to read the rest upon return to America.
Psalm 5:1-3
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Ah, somebody just came in with watermelon, yum. God has certainly blessed this place.


Update: The chicken previously mentioned has been consumed and tasted delicious. :)

Deep in Tea Feilds.

Written Monday, June 4:
One week of outreach has already come and gone. Its almost impossible to believe. Many things have remained much the same from mini-outreach. We go door-to-door and proclaim God's love in the village center. However this time we are deep on an African mountainside. Tea leave fields stretch as far as the eye can see in one direction and on the other the African jungle, which I navigate through everyday to fetch water. The beauty of God's creation is all around, from the sunset to the children laughing in the school yard. This time around I am focusing on following God and discovering who He wants me to be. "He won't get you where He wants you to go until you become who He wants you to be." -Mark Batterson, "Soul Print" That's exactly it, I want to be who He wants me to be, so I can discover all He has in store for me. And sometimes it takes a trip deep into the jungle, far away from everything you know to fully rely on God and turn to Him. Sometimes it takes a trip with no electricity, for you to read the Bible when you are bored for lack of anything else to do. And before you know it, you begin enjoying seeking God and reading Scripture to find Him. Of course I am still counting down the days until I return but I choose to soak up this opportunity for all its worth, because, lets face it, how often do you travel across the world to be totally immersed in God? Really though, how often does this happen? Once in a lifetime I think."Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." Habbakkuk 1:5