It's been a while since I last posted anything. Since the trip, my life has been a whirl wind of blessings. Tonight I lay in be reflecting on the trip and how wonderful God has been.
So many thoughts and memories return to my mind. I miss Africa in ways not a lot of people can relate to, of they've never experienced overseas missions, especially Africa.
Many people have said or thought that people in Africa are "more" hungry for God and truth than in America. That's a lie. Or an excuse. Americans tend to mask their hunger and look for other things to "satisfy" them. When it wares off, they immediately look for another fix. It doesn't necessarily mean they do drugs, they just find a way to hide it. They put on a mask. A mask that hides their sadness. Or their anger. All their feeling and want.
After a trip to a 3rd world country, you begin to see people differently. Missions will do that to you. You don't look at someone and think "oh, she's this and he's that", instead you think "theres a soul. There's a soul. There's another." you want to go up to people sometimes and say, "it'll be alright" or offer them prayer. When I go to school I often think, I wonder if they'll ever know what I know. Sometimes it breaks my heart. then I think, that's what I'm here for!! To make sure they do know wha I know.
Tanzania was a place I'll never forget. I look back thinking about how God kept trying to speak to me and I wouldn't let him. I was battling within myself. Thinking I knew everything. I didn't. And still don't.
I thought I knew exactly what God has called me to do and by golly I was going to do it. I didn't want to except that, what If I was wrong. He dealt with me so long just to give it over to him. Let his plan rule, not mine.
I remember, before the trip I was having horrible medical issues. Pain in my stomach that'd send me to the emergency room. It started a month before our departure. It had me so down and out. I battled everyday. Fearful. Full of anxiety. I never had anxiety in my life until that happend. I was under attack. My mind went back and forth, should I go? Should I go to Africa?
Then one night while desperately praying to God for an answer, I told him that I don't need an answer. I was going. I was going to rely on him no matter the cost. Because the cost of a soul is much greater. That missions was my heartbeat and there was nothing else I wanted to do. So I prepared and got better. I was still terrified of what was to come with my body and traveling to such a foreign place. I always thought I trusted God, but I never knew how much trusting him took until I had to. It was so hard.
The day of the departure I felt the Lord speak to my heart. He said to me, "don't worry about anything that happens, I have it in control." it threw me so off guard, so I shrugged it off thinking, I'm better and improbably made it up. Not half an hour later, the pain came back. I was terrified and sat in te bathroom in tears. Then he spoke it to me again. And I was peaceful.
We finally left an we were on our way. Once we got to Addis Ababa I was feeling horrible. Nerves and sickness reigning over me like a chronic disease. A few prayed over me. I felt better and drank some water. Indefinitely had a touch from God and felt the sickness and nerves leave.
Another girl was sick right after I felt better. So I felt the urge to go pray over her. I shrugged it off thinking, im in an airport! What will people think!? And is this God? And it was like he said GO PRAY! I argued I was also sick... And I felt the response of, didn't I heal you? Again, I felt like this was all on my brain.
I finally got up. Walked over to her and laid my head up to hers and grabbed her hand. Told her to pray for me a d I'd pray for her. I felt a surge in the Holy Ghost and prayed hard and loud in tongues. It was terrifying but he also got better.
The entire trip I battled and fought the voice of God.
During services I wanted so desperately to pray with people and feel that same urge I felt at the airport. But I couldn't. Not until I gave something up.
I had to completely put my trust in him and give up my personal plans I had laid out so perfectly.
I finally felt a little bit of release. But my mind was bogged with questions of, if I am supposed to give wanting to do missions over to God, then what am I supposed to do? He knows that my hearts desire, why would he take it away? What's the next step in my life? And many more....
In church I had some great peace. And witnessed amazing acts of God that totally built my faith in him.
One special situation was a little boy. His story begins likes this....
In the church I saw a young girl, probably 5, crying. A few AYCers and the translator was praying with her. I stood back and prayed God would give her what she needed. Deliverer healing and salvation. Afterward she told the translator that she believed God had healed her from pain and disease. She then asked we pray for her brother, who was bit by something unknown and his hand had swollen up. So we did. Little did we know, he was in the church service outside.
Once she left to go tell her mother what God did I sat down on the wooden church pew. I started thinking about how wonderful God is and before I knew it I felt such an overwhelming spirit of the Holy Ghost come over me.
I prayed for a while and cried and worshipped. My eyes had been closed. And I felt a hand grab my hand that was raised. I didn't bother to open my eyes, I thought someone was praying with me.
Then I felt a small body lean up again my left side and I felt a small little hand being out into my left hand. I opened my eyes and saw this little African boy leaning again me, crying and his swollen hand in my hand. The translator looked at me and simply said, "Pray."
I closed my hand over his and held it tight as the translator and an AYCer laid their hands onto mine.
I prayed a d pleased God to heal him in everyway I could think. Then I felt a longing inside me, and I prayed to the God of mercy and salvation that if he didn't heal him, that he'd fill him with the holy Ghost and save his soul.
I opened my eyes and my hand and saw only his middle finger was swollen. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I looked to the two other praying as of to ask of they saw it too. He said he didn't hurt anymore and felt better. After that, all I could do was cry. I cried for so long. And the little boy sat there next to me and held my hand and leaned against me. I continued to pray blessings on his life. I felt such an attachment to him.
The next day. Sunday morning, he was filled with the Holy Ghost. As was his mother and little sister!
God. Is. Real. And amazing. So amazing.
The last day we spent time at the church reflecting. God used us in many ways. We saw healings deliverances and salvation everywhere we looked.
I sat in the pew an prayed. Then I sat in silence. Wondering. Why wouldn't God answer me?! What am I supposed to do?!
I was so upset and frustrated, more than anything, I wants to be used in missions. And I was afraid God had a different plan.
I sat there and finally after all my questions had been asked I felt like God spoke to my heart again.
"Listen."
And I did.
I heard many of my AYC members seeking God with tears and tongues. It touched me.
Then he said, "I am calling them, like I have called you."
I sat there and cried again. I kept asking, what am I called for? Missions?
I desperately wishes God would give me a solid answer.
Then, sister Johnson from Rwanda came to me and grabbed my hand and said "Trust in the Lord and he will direct your paths"
That was my answer.
I just neede to trust him. He knew best.
He still knows best.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Tenting
A lot of you know that during our trip we were planning on "tenting" In the middle of no where, Africa.
Well, we did.
After two nights at the Nature Haven Camp and Lodge, where some of us slept in tents(with small padded beds) we left for a couple
More nights at Majengo KIA.
After very quickly running back to the Arisha hotel so grab some clean clothes for our next few nights in Mejengo, I forgot pajamas as well another's forgetting important things too! We hopped back in the jeeps and headed to the middle of nowhere for a couple nights sleeping in tents under the beautiful African stars.
We got there and quickly set up the Tents, depending on what your definition of quick it with a bunch of city girls...
Gordon (the missionaries son), Zach, Julianne (missionaries niece) and the missionaries all gathered up the pieces and setup the tents while most of us girls gave plenty of moral support and maybe even held tent pieces and took pictures :)
Finally it was set up and the kids service was started in their small church building. A couple AYC members taught a couple lessons. It was so awesome to see te kids sing praises to God during their music portion of kids church! The first service 3 kids got the Holy Ghost and were healed.!
Immediately after the adult service in the big tent was starting, we had an AYC choir and there was preaching done by Gordon and Bro Jury! The Holy Ghost fell and many recieved the Holy Ghost and were healed!
That evening we gathered around the camp fire, ate a delicious dinner and had a fantastic time. We laughed as played some group games that caused quite a ruckus!
During those two nights of camping we had a make-shift bathroo
Out of sticks and plastic tarps... It was an adventure going to the bathroom!
During the late evening a few stayed up and played games and talked. It was quite memorable!
The next morning came early with breakfast and a day of passing out tracts, except the busses were late. On "African time" so the street evangelist
Was cut short. We later learned that even though we left it wasnt very successful that the next service we left had over 400 in attendance because of our tract distribution!
That evening we had another tent service, it was also powerful!
After church we sat around the camp fire and learned hymnals in Kiswahili, thanks to the Smoaks we each got a song book with a bunch of good church songs in Kiswahili. It was such a sweet gift and a blessed time singing to the Lord!
The morning could not come soon enough for some of us! We've had some cold hard nights sleeping in those tents and we were ready for the Arusha hotel!
Good thing we had to share tents with other AYCers because it would get below into the 50s at night! Cuddling was a must!
The next morning we left for Ausha to spend the rest of our journey at the hotel, that had beds and showers and toilets!
What an experience we will never forget and forever cherish! So glad for what God did and what he is still doing in the Maasai villages!
Well, we did.
After two nights at the Nature Haven Camp and Lodge, where some of us slept in tents(with small padded beds) we left for a couple
More nights at Majengo KIA.
After very quickly running back to the Arisha hotel so grab some clean clothes for our next few nights in Mejengo, I forgot pajamas as well another's forgetting important things too! We hopped back in the jeeps and headed to the middle of nowhere for a couple nights sleeping in tents under the beautiful African stars.
We got there and quickly set up the Tents, depending on what your definition of quick it with a bunch of city girls...
Gordon (the missionaries son), Zach, Julianne (missionaries niece) and the missionaries all gathered up the pieces and setup the tents while most of us girls gave plenty of moral support and maybe even held tent pieces and took pictures :)
Finally it was set up and the kids service was started in their small church building. A couple AYC members taught a couple lessons. It was so awesome to see te kids sing praises to God during their music portion of kids church! The first service 3 kids got the Holy Ghost and were healed.!
Immediately after the adult service in the big tent was starting, we had an AYC choir and there was preaching done by Gordon and Bro Jury! The Holy Ghost fell and many recieved the Holy Ghost and were healed!
That evening we gathered around the camp fire, ate a delicious dinner and had a fantastic time. We laughed as played some group games that caused quite a ruckus!
During those two nights of camping we had a make-shift bathroo
Out of sticks and plastic tarps... It was an adventure going to the bathroom!
During the late evening a few stayed up and played games and talked. It was quite memorable!
The next morning came early with breakfast and a day of passing out tracts, except the busses were late. On "African time" so the street evangelist
Was cut short. We later learned that even though we left it wasnt very successful that the next service we left had over 400 in attendance because of our tract distribution!
That evening we had another tent service, it was also powerful!
After church we sat around the camp fire and learned hymnals in Kiswahili, thanks to the Smoaks we each got a song book with a bunch of good church songs in Kiswahili. It was such a sweet gift and a blessed time singing to the Lord!
The morning could not come soon enough for some of us! We've had some cold hard nights sleeping in those tents and we were ready for the Arusha hotel!
Good thing we had to share tents with other AYCers because it would get below into the 50s at night! Cuddling was a must!
The next morning we left for Ausha to spend the rest of our journey at the hotel, that had beds and showers and toilets!
What an experience we will never forget and forever cherish! So glad for what God did and what he is still doing in the Maasai villages!
Tracts
Unfortunately my blog posts won't be exactly day by day but, more like events put together. It'll still be enjoyable, I hope!
Our ministry to the people of Tazania began with tracts. We hit the streets and passed out tracts in a small part called Esso. It was definitely picture perfect of African living.
The first day of tracts me and a couple others were sick and stayed at the Esso church with the missionary's wife, the inspirational Sister Smoak and Sister Johnson. Sister Clarice was there as well, another amazing woman.
We had such a great move in the spirit as we praye for Esso and lost to be found. God reached so deeply into our soul. The groups went out to the streets and passed out tracts and sang and prayed.
Not only God did great things they also had some interesting and hilarious moments on the streets...
One of our girls, Elizabeth Torres, kept getting marriage proposals by strangers!! Anther, Morgan Timmons, kept getting called "watoto" which is child. Jyl got a note fon a stranger that had his number written on it but, he didn't stop there! One might at church someone gave her another note, she laughed and thought another guy was giving her his number. Turns out, it was the same guy! Poor Jyl had herself an African stalker!
Me, Rashe and Jaclyn got to try some sugar cane from a vendor thanks to Girdon Smoak, that was definitely an awesome experience!
As we walked we had a dwarf woman follow us everywhere we went! We weren't sure what to do with her!
good thing we had the protection from God, we had some interesting situations come our way!What was so awesome about the tracts was that it reached SO many people and drew lots of people to the services. One might after we left the Village, Megengo KIA, they had over 400 in attended because of the tracts! Awesome!
Thank for the patience I'm trying to gather all my thoughts as stories so I can add them to this blog!
Later!
Our ministry to the people of Tazania began with tracts. We hit the streets and passed out tracts in a small part called Esso. It was definitely picture perfect of African living.
The first day of tracts me and a couple others were sick and stayed at the Esso church with the missionary's wife, the inspirational Sister Smoak and Sister Johnson. Sister Clarice was there as well, another amazing woman.
We had such a great move in the spirit as we praye for Esso and lost to be found. God reached so deeply into our soul. The groups went out to the streets and passed out tracts and sang and prayed.
Not only God did great things they also had some interesting and hilarious moments on the streets...
One of our girls, Elizabeth Torres, kept getting marriage proposals by strangers!! Anther, Morgan Timmons, kept getting called "watoto" which is child. Jyl got a note fon a stranger that had his number written on it but, he didn't stop there! One might at church someone gave her another note, she laughed and thought another guy was giving her his number. Turns out, it was the same guy! Poor Jyl had herself an African stalker!
Me, Rashe and Jaclyn got to try some sugar cane from a vendor thanks to Girdon Smoak, that was definitely an awesome experience!
As we walked we had a dwarf woman follow us everywhere we went! We weren't sure what to do with her!
good thing we had the protection from God, we had some interesting situations come our way!What was so awesome about the tracts was that it reached SO many people and drew lots of people to the services. One might after we left the Village, Megengo KIA, they had over 400 in attended because of the tracts! Awesome!
Thank for the patience I'm trying to gather all my thoughts as stories so I can add them to this blog!
Later!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Asante Yesu
Thank you Jesus!
What an amazing trip. I cannot even explain.
Yesterday I noticed I didn't explain why my title was called Iguana! Well, our group has been trying to learn Kiswahili and during one of the church songs the only part we thought we understood sounded like "Iguana". So many things have happened I wish I could write it all down right now!
What an amazing trip. I cannot even explain.
Yesterday I noticed I didn't explain why my title was called Iguana! Well, our group has been trying to learn Kiswahili and during one of the church songs the only part we thought we understood sounded like "Iguana". So many things have happened I wish I could write it all down right now!
Catch Up Time!
Okay ya'll! I have plenty of time until my next flight so I'm gonna talk about the trips events!
Like I last said, we went on an all day safari!
We saw many animals up close! A Pride of lins was my highlight! There was a lioness laying in the middle of the dirt road while we drove around it, there was even a make lion lying underneath another vehicle! It was truly mind blowing, the other lions were having "lunch" on a buffalo.
The entire safari our keeps sang and had a great time, singing Lion King songs and Veggie Tales songs! We are supposed to be adults! Haha.
We were privileged to see many different animals like zebras and baboons and lions. It was such an adventure!
The adventure did not stop there! On the way to the Camp the day before the Safari we pulled over on the side of the road because we saw one of our jeeps pulled over. We all turned around to see out the back window, concerned for our other jeep.
We saw a Masai warrior yelling at the jeep's driver. When we turned to the front window we saw about 15 Masai warriors running full speed towards our jeep with spears in hand! Needless to say, we took off!
What had happen was a girl took a picture of the warrior, which is frowned upon, a. He threw a spear at the jeep. Basically, his buddies came running to back him up while he was getting yelled at by the driver. Crazy experience! Definitely terrifying!
We had such an amazing time at the Nature Haven Camp and Lodge, although it wasn't what we thought, we camped outside in tents, it was still a fun adventure!
One morning a trip mate named Jessica Graham came up to us and told her own personal experience of her room. That morning she encountered a Scorpion in the bathroom, in her defense she grabbed the toilet scrubber and killed it! I couldn't imagine!
Several had lizards and bugs galore around them at the Camp and Lodge! It was not fun at the time but reflecting back, it was quite entertaining!
Believe it or not, the group who was in tents at the lodge had it better than those who stayed in rooms! We didn't have any bug or animal problems and our shower was warm!
I cannot express the awesome things about those few days at the Camp and Lodge. Gettin to dance with a tribe as they sang in Kiswahili and seeing all the animals and making memories was such an experience in itself.
I'll blog ya later!
:)
Like I last said, we went on an all day safari!
We saw many animals up close! A Pride of lins was my highlight! There was a lioness laying in the middle of the dirt road while we drove around it, there was even a make lion lying underneath another vehicle! It was truly mind blowing, the other lions were having "lunch" on a buffalo.
The entire safari our keeps sang and had a great time, singing Lion King songs and Veggie Tales songs! We are supposed to be adults! Haha.
We were privileged to see many different animals like zebras and baboons and lions. It was such an adventure!
The adventure did not stop there! On the way to the Camp the day before the Safari we pulled over on the side of the road because we saw one of our jeeps pulled over. We all turned around to see out the back window, concerned for our other jeep.
We saw a Masai warrior yelling at the jeep's driver. When we turned to the front window we saw about 15 Masai warriors running full speed towards our jeep with spears in hand! Needless to say, we took off!
What had happen was a girl took a picture of the warrior, which is frowned upon, a. He threw a spear at the jeep. Basically, his buddies came running to back him up while he was getting yelled at by the driver. Crazy experience! Definitely terrifying!
We had such an amazing time at the Nature Haven Camp and Lodge, although it wasn't what we thought, we camped outside in tents, it was still a fun adventure!
One morning a trip mate named Jessica Graham came up to us and told her own personal experience of her room. That morning she encountered a Scorpion in the bathroom, in her defense she grabbed the toilet scrubber and killed it! I couldn't imagine!
Several had lizards and bugs galore around them at the Camp and Lodge! It was not fun at the time but reflecting back, it was quite entertaining!
Believe it or not, the group who was in tents at the lodge had it better than those who stayed in rooms! We didn't have any bug or animal problems and our shower was warm!
I cannot express the awesome things about those few days at the Camp and Lodge. Gettin to dance with a tribe as they sang in Kiswahili and seeing all the animals and making memories was such an experience in itself.
I'll blog ya later!
:)
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Iguana
How awesome this trip has been!!
Tonight we are at a Chinese restaurant and it's been quite interesting already!
The waiter came up to me and asked me my drink order, he said to me "you look smart!" and I responded "I am smart!"
After that exchange Sister Johnson From Rwanda told me that in Africa that means I look very nice. Haha oops!
Later he asked if me and Brandi were twins! Oh Lord!
Well there's so much to blog I don't know where to start!
Monday early evening we arrived in Nature Haven Camp and Lodge, we were so excited! Ready to stay at the lodge and go to the Crater Safari the next day. What we didn't know was that it was definitely a Nature Haven! We slept in tents for two nights!!!
It was freezing every night!
We went to the showers and we found that the showers were outside! There was a low wall where the sink was, we could see out into the bush as we brushed our teeth every morning! Although that was cool, it was weird when we showered!
After dinner that evening we had a Masai tribe do a dance and performance for us! They sang the Jambo song for us. (Hello song) we got to dance an sing with them on stage, it was so fun and hilarious!
We were very entertained!
The next day we had a very long day of Safari and believe me, it was quite entertaining!
We split up in groups that day. In my jeep it was Gordon Smoak, Brandi Young, Jen Short, Zach Davie, Jessica Graham, Tabitha Hoenig, and Julianne Smoak. It was a blast and we love our driver, Dula.
We had such a good time pushing the top of the jeep up and standin on the seats as we drive around the inside of the crater. It was definitely an amazing safari, we got to see so many amazing animals at arms reach!
That's all I can say for now, tomorrow evening I'll have more time to blog. Love ya all!
Tonight we are at a Chinese restaurant and it's been quite interesting already!
The waiter came up to me and asked me my drink order, he said to me "you look smart!" and I responded "I am smart!"
After that exchange Sister Johnson From Rwanda told me that in Africa that means I look very nice. Haha oops!
Later he asked if me and Brandi were twins! Oh Lord!
Well there's so much to blog I don't know where to start!
Monday early evening we arrived in Nature Haven Camp and Lodge, we were so excited! Ready to stay at the lodge and go to the Crater Safari the next day. What we didn't know was that it was definitely a Nature Haven! We slept in tents for two nights!!!
It was freezing every night!
We went to the showers and we found that the showers were outside! There was a low wall where the sink was, we could see out into the bush as we brushed our teeth every morning! Although that was cool, it was weird when we showered!
After dinner that evening we had a Masai tribe do a dance and performance for us! They sang the Jambo song for us. (Hello song) we got to dance an sing with them on stage, it was so fun and hilarious!
We were very entertained!
The next day we had a very long day of Safari and believe me, it was quite entertaining!
We split up in groups that day. In my jeep it was Gordon Smoak, Brandi Young, Jen Short, Zach Davie, Jessica Graham, Tabitha Hoenig, and Julianne Smoak. It was a blast and we love our driver, Dula.
We had such a good time pushing the top of the jeep up and standin on the seats as we drive around the inside of the crater. It was definitely an amazing safari, we got to see so many amazing animals at arms reach!
That's all I can say for now, tomorrow evening I'll have more time to blog. Love ya all!
Bwanas Asifewe!
Praise te Lord!
The wifi has been giving me fits but I will try to write a quick update before we go to go church!
About ten minutes ago we baptized a woman in our hotel pool in the name of Jesus!!! Praise God!
I'll share a few highlights of the trip quickly.
Yesterday at church in Esso we had many be delivered by demons in the name of Jesus! One Muslim girl me and a few others prayed for was delivered from witchcraft and demons. She would have nightmares that she was going to be killed, dreams are held highly in the Muslim faith, she was delivered! She went home to tell her mother what God had done and hoping to bring her to church!
Several had demons and was bound by the darkness of witchcraft a d they have been delivered by Jesus!
Praise God!
Blog ya later, church time!
The wifi has been giving me fits but I will try to write a quick update before we go to go church!
About ten minutes ago we baptized a woman in our hotel pool in the name of Jesus!!! Praise God!
I'll share a few highlights of the trip quickly.
Yesterday at church in Esso we had many be delivered by demons in the name of Jesus! One Muslim girl me and a few others prayed for was delivered from witchcraft and demons. She would have nightmares that she was going to be killed, dreams are held highly in the Muslim faith, she was delivered! She went home to tell her mother what God had done and hoping to bring her to church!
Several had demons and was bound by the darkness of witchcraft a d they have been delivered by Jesus!
Praise God!
Blog ya later, church time!
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