The other morning we went to a school to encourage the
students and teach them about Christ and also the importance of education (of
course this is the plug that the teachers wanted us to make).
We walk on the grounds and hundreds of giggling elementary
school children race by to catch a glimpse of the mzungus (white people). After
the teachers gather them into an assembly outside then we traipse out in order
to talk about education and our hearts. We introduce ourselves and sing some
songs. Then, Chad teaches on wisdom and God while the children listen
attentively.
After the scheduled events we asked the students if they had
any questions. They asked about the burning bush and other bible knowledge.
Then, the teachers asked their questions. They weren't as easy and lighthearted
to answer as the ones that the children asked.
"What do you do with orphaned children in education?"
"How do you deal with the issue of AIDS in school?"
We answer the questions as best we can with the limited
knowledge we have on these issues. And I'm disconcerted and they prompt me to
ask questions. I ask one of the teachers in a whisper, "How many children are
there at the school". "350" is the response. "How many of them are orphans", I
ask. "Over 100", she replies. "And how many of them have AIDS?" "Many, many
have AIDS", she says matter-of-factly with a frown.
Many have aids. Many are orphans.
So many children in the US deal with loads of issues daily
as elementary school students, but how many deal with the reality of AIDS? How
often do we complain about how our parents react to situations when we should
be grateful that we have parents we can complain about?
I don't have a lot to vocalize on these issues. Just that I
am astounded at the truth of the statistics and knowing that there needs to be
a change. Am I willing to be the impetus that promotes the change if God calls
me to?
I
encourage churches around the world to stop competing with one another for
numbers and supposed holiness but work together hand in hand. Do we not have a
common goal? Is not the purpose to raise the church and add to its numbers
daily?
Why do
we live with such low expectations? Are we not equipped with the same spirit
who guided in healing, feeding the five thousand, casting out demons, and
raising the dead? The spirit isn't absent. No, we are just stagnant. We have to
release the spirit within. Are we trying to limit the spirit? Pressing it down
unto submission by our flesh? Awake oh sleeper and engage in Him! He's what we
need. He's all we need.
Do we
really think there are things outside of him that can quench our thirst and
satisfy our souls? That's like trying to feed a flame with water. It doesn't
bring life it douses it. Draw near to Him. It's not too late. He weeps for his
wayward brides. He wants true intimate relationships. And if you think for one
pure moment that's all you want too. What does he offer? The question is what
thing that is good does he NOT offer? He gives abundantly unwavering,
unconditional love. He is consistent. He is perfect. He gives blessings and
provision, peace and forgiveness.
Embrace
them. Just step in and breathe. If you are empty allow the spirit of God to
rush in and fill every space, every crevice, every molecule of you with Him. If
you think on it... Haven't you heard His knock? It's somehow familiar? It's
that whisper that comforts you when you're sad and presumably alone. He's the
power that supports you when you think you can't make it any longer. What are
you waiting for? Just jump into His arms and accept His embrace.
I'm not a great writer and I get nervous when people read my
thoughts. There is something vulnerable about it that makes me squirm but its
unfair to leave things unsaid and unshared. Here are some new blogs from Kenya.
Enjoy and feel free to comment or question. I know my words can go on and on or
meander around the point so let me thank you in advance for your patience.
I'm sorry that I tend to write more about what God's
teaching me than actual tangible events-So here are three stories from Kenya:
Entitled "God Can Heal", "White Wash", and "Elementary My Dear Watson."
As Chad has mentioned, we worked this month evangelizing
house to house. Our objective was to bring the kingdom whether that means
salvation, healing, prayer and more. This particular story is emotional for me
and I know I'm growing and learning through this situation.
My team, Jen, several churchwomen, and I, find ourselves in
a mud-hut home. It is remarkably cooler than the sweltering sun of midday. The
thatched roof creates this breezy atmosphere. After doing a tiny "Yay I'm
cooler now" dance I look around to adjust to my surroundings. About ten women
meet my gaze with a look of expectancy and await the words that we are going to
share. I gulp. After some introductions we tell why we've come from America: to
share the word of Christ, to invite people to have a relationship with Him, to
encourage and pray for those who already do. They listen attentively and
entrust us with prayer needs after assuring us that they were also believers.
After several prayers are requested she gives us the big one. She drops the
healing bomb.
My stomach leaps to my chest and begins thumping wildly off
beat with my heart. I gulp again. You've got this God. I know you can do this.
I push up my spiritual sleeves and walk hand in hand into the room where the
daughter who needs healing is lying. I exhale. I didn't realize I had been
holding my breath.
The woman had frail limbs, thin, and lacking muscle. Her arm
was covering her eyes but I recognized the tear stains streaking her dirty
cheeks. I feel really conscious of my breathing and how it breaks the silence.
And then the issue at hand---My eyes linger on her cause for pain: a protruding
belly. Her stomach was round and disturbing in contrast with her fragile body
as delicate and breakable as porcelain. It looked as though if I touched her
limbs that they would crumble like a relic or artifact discovered by an amateur
archeologist.
I struggle between touching and not and then quickly decide
that in laying hands I feel like God can use me better. Perhaps his power could
drip from my fingertips. I know it sounds as if I was nervous and the truth was
that I was nervous with expectancy and excitement not with doubt. I turn to
Jen, my partner in crime and we begin praying. We don't know what is wrong
aside from what we see. She's not pregnant because her belly is of a different
type. As we pray there are about ten Africans praying aloud with us at the same
time. It is very INTENSE in a great way.
It's obvious that everyone in that hut wanted her to be
healed, and expected it to happen. Everyone was weeping and interceding on her
behalf. I found myself with tears flowing freely on my own face. After what
could have been anywhere from five minutes to five hours we stop praying.
During the prayer we could feel movement similar to an
intense grumble dancing around. Surely, the Holy Spirit was moving within her
body setting things straight and bringing kingdom into her body in ways of
health, wholeness, and restoration. It's not that her stomach moved to normal
size when we opened our eyes but I'm also suggesting that even though we
couldn't see the healing manifested in front of us that He still did a
redemptive work in her body.
This is one of many stories this month of praying for
healing in a person. And it's not about receiving fame unto us and I frankly
hope that they don't put weight in those two white girls but in their heavenly
father with whom everything is possible. It's all about giving God the glory.
Despite the fact that after praying for many people for different sicknesses
and there wasn't an immediate result that was visible to us in the natural, I
still believe that things are being done. I still believe that God is able and
willing. I won't give up. God calls us to obedience in Him and faith in Him
even when we can't see. I plan to keep praying with the expectancy of healing
and to trust God because he's trustworthy.
Last week I met a young girl. She couldn't have been any
older than four or five. She had never seen a "white" person. This made for an
interesting, and unique experience, which made me contemplate how we view race
and how we should all approach it with the humor, compassion, and acceptance of
a child.
While we were chatting with this young girl's grandfather
(in Kenya) several things happen instantaneously; she plops down right next to
me, grabs my hand, scrutinizes it like an unknown insect in the grass, and she
makes a decision and theory about what's wrong with me. I'm dirty. I'm white.
I'm a white washed African. She looks into my eyes imploring and then it
changes to sympathy. She looks eager to fix me so I nod in agreement that it's
worth a try.
First, she rubs my skin vigorously- like a carpet burn. She
closes her eyes for affect and when she opens them a look of indignant surprise
lingers on her face just moments before determination is newly etched in. She
takes a new approach-wiping the top of her hand onto my arm as if to wipe the
brown onto my desperately pale skin. My skin looks promisingly pinker. We meet
eyes and snigger for a couple of minutes.
Her grandfather and my translator obviously missed the
endeavor at hand: "cure my whiteness". They were not amused. We immediately
stopped laughing out loud but our continued sloppy grins revealed the
mischievous giggles we were hiding. Despite her efforts I'm still white although I
have acquired a minor tan from hours of scuffling down the road in the sun.
Ok, so it is time again. We are coming to everyone and sending out a new blog asking for financial support!!
SOOOO.... first off, THANK YOU! to all of our current supporters and all of those who have ever given to us financially and prayer!!! We couldn't be here without you!!
NOW to the good stuff....
We have ONLY $9,400.00 to go!!!!! So, here is your chance! If you have already given then PLEASE pray about giving again. If you have not given yet, then PLEASE pray about giving.
We have only 5 short months left to go. Our squadmates and teammates helped in creating this video with us to show our journey so far and to show what we mean to them and that God has us on this Race for a reason. We have been very touched by each of these people who gave testimony to our presence and friendship with them thus far on the Race.
Not only have they mentioned that they have been influenced by us but we have been greatly influenced and blessed by them. We were unable to fit all of the videos in, so we are sorry about that, but know that there were many who testified about us being on this trip.
We love you all and are praying blessings and God's will sovereignly over your lives!
Soli Deo Gloria!
chad and les
P.S. - PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!!
THIS BLOG POST IS BEING POSTED EARLY BECAUSE WE WILL NOT HAVE INTERNET NEXT MONTH IN PODER, UGANDA!!!
SOOOO....
you guys remember Brooke and Nathan? well, they have the most awesome little sister and her name is Sarah! And, on February 16 (today), she gets another year older!!!
Soooo... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! Sarah, you are soooo awesome. You are funny and witty and you always make the greatest of faces!!! And, you are one of our favorite girls in the whole world!!
I'm in Africa! Wooo hooo! I'm flabbergasted to say the least and
honestly Deja Vu finessed. I'll explain. Story time: me, age 8, hanging
out in my bedroom. Here's how the story goes. It's not a tall tale but
take it, as you will.
I'm a lanky little girl with knobby over-sized knees and the
clumsiness to match my awkwardness (think baby camel taking it's first
steps.). PS: This has nothing to do with the story, but it makes for a
funny mental picture? So, there I am a fresh Christian (as far as my
mind could grasp) and I'm flipping through the channels on the TV.
I'll add some background info so it makes more sense why I'm doing
what I'm doing in this story. To be frank, I was a weird kid. I had
been cooking on the stove since I was six. During the summers (when
this story takes place), I would occupy myself with the usual reading
and games but I also just as often used my creative gene. I liked to
draw, paint, and make stuffed animals by sewing with scrap fabric I had
found. I turned dryer lint into paper mache. I actually got into
trouble a lot for using "trash" (It was clean, people) as an invention.
All these projects usually began when my A.D.D., distractible mind
would get off task (of cleaning something) and find something obscure
to have fun with-thus my existence as a child.
All this to say, I was supposed to be dusting my room or something
of the sort when I happened across the TV in my effort for background
noise. It was probably some Martha-Stewartish (judge me later, and
keep reading) tutorial on how to sew something so I naturally got
distracted and went to work immediately on my project completely
forgetting
the one I'd left behind. While working (here the REAL story
begins) I glance up at the TV as it goes to a commercial. It's one of
those commercials about helping children in Africa. It instantly
breaks my emotional, tender, 8 year old heart. I literally hear-not
audibly but in my being "One day you'll go there. If you'll go, I'll
send you." The following sixteen years I waver from closeness to God in
distancing myself because of broken promises and pain from people.
Through it all, through my varied intimacy with my heavenly Daddy...He
didn't give up.
Here I am. Right here in eastern Africa-Kenya. Where not only
Swahili and giraffes are free but where those orphaned children I cried
over could be adults as I am. God has commanded for us to take care of
the widows and orphans and I intend to do so. As I ride to our location
for the month I remember this promise God made me. Here I am in the
fruition of that promise. Every time I think I can get my arms around
how great God is He stretches me and I learn that I'll never know the
vastness of His greatness, but I do know that I love and trust Him.
These thoughts come from Christmas Eve and my journal and I
think it's imperative that this comes before the blogs to come.
One of the best ways for me to get to an understanding is to
write it and read it and work through my thoughts. Thus, this tangent is
available for your reading pleasure.
I've been contemplating on who God says that I am. There has
been some emphasis on embracing who God says that we are. I imagine the first
step of embracing it would be to actually know what He says. So, what is my
identity? Hmmm. Well, I can always glean some information of who His children
are and who God is-considering we are made in His image–. Slowly I'm accepting
those traits yet I also am thirsty to find in what ways I'm unique-in which
ways am I special? Fundamentally we are all made of the same "stuff" as all
snowflakes are made of snow. The substance is the same yet it's the fringes
–the outer layers that expose the differences. Similarly with us, we have
"fringes" which show our differences, our callings, our gifts, and our skills.
So, I must ask myself-What does the outer layer of my being reveal? I don't
mean human skin or looks which reveals only vain comparisons. No, something
deeper.
God describes Himself as " I Am". Sometimes I think it would
be funny to get to ask God twenty questions and include "Why do I look Asian?"
among others and "Are you Awesome?" and have his reply be "I Am". Well, whether
you laughed at that or not there is a lot of purpose in those two words. "I" is
self explanatory-epitome of self. "Am" is present. "Alpha and Omega" covers the
past and future. But I think even that is suggested because He wants to show
Himself in terms that we can understand or grasp in our understanding of time.
Could I squander a few moments of your time to suggest that God is present? God
is simply "am". He "is" eternally. I can't even begin to contemplate the core
of God, or how he comprehends time.
I find peace and a bit of relief in not knowing everything
and knowing that it's not possible anyway. Besides, the God I long to follow,
and to guide me, and to indwell within me-is HUGE. Not only large but deep, and
vast, and multi-faceted. He is a prism of colors and depth of perception-not
limited by our paper and pen, 2-D world like the books we try to bind Him to.
No, He's multi-dimensional, a chasm of love like the absence of darkness.
So, if I am to live within, and around Him and He the "Great
I Am" with me-then, "I am" shines through me like a star radiating in the night
sky (ideally of course). So in these moments (As fleeting as those moments may
be )"I am" too. I pray that God would reveal me through Him and that I would be
ever long, everlasting in God and His will.
God, may I be a star that worships you by being who you've
called me to be-a light to places of darkness-you through me. I love you abba,
daddy, papa, and friend.
Keep an eye out for blogs that will follow and expound upon the new things that God is teaching me.
As I am sitting here writing this blog, I am watching two small Kenyan boys jumping off of a two foot little bank onto the ground while I'm eating sugar cane right off the cane and like a true Kenyan. I am truly in awe of how slow-paced the society is in Africa. I have found myself enjoying the days which seem longer, savoring the times with the new family and friends, and seeking more worship times when we have them each night.
Everywhere we go, the locals come up to us and ask us questions. Just yesterday, I was riding on a Boda-Boda (a bike driver where I sit on the back in order to travel from one destination to the next) and people were calling out my name as I was riding down the road. It was crazy how EVERYONE knew our names. You feel like a celebrity... a Jesus-loving celebrity, haha. That's how they know us. And they are so thankful that we are here to spread the love that we have from God.
We have even started training for future races with the locals. We run only about 5 km right now around Malanga with a couple of Kenyans. Sometimes we get stopped to be asked questions or sometimes children and others will just start running with us.
I love it when I get to play with the kids. One of the kids we live with is named George Malanga. He is the pastor's son and is hilarious, smart, and is going to be an awesome warrior of the Lord. He is incredible. Here we are "hanging out."
Kenya so far has been amazing. DAILY, we go out into the various villages in groups of two from the team and two from the church, called Truth Celebration Center. We have been going to people's homes and praying for them if they have prayer requests and know Jesus. If they do not know Jesus, then we witness to them and talk to them about who we are and why God called us to this place. Some have been very open. Some have some extensive questions which God has provided EVERY answer, miraculously, and then they will either come to know Christ or they consider it and we go and talk more later. We have also been going to every school in the area and leading worship and speaking to the youth and children. The teachers have been blessed by that as well. Just for them to see a white person that loves Jesus is a big deal and gives them so much hope.
So, with all of this, we have been getting very spiritually drained here because we constantly are in move with God and what He is asking of us. I know that I for a fact have just wanted to rest but God has kept me going.
Some major things to keep in mind about this area is that there are many types of religions here. They all claim to be part of Christianity, but just like in America there are problems with this. Anyone can claim to be a Christian but that does not mean that they have Jesus in their heart.
I have realized over the past few years since becoming a believer in Christ that I do not like the term Christian anymore. Now, this does not mean that I do not believe in Jesus or that I am actually not a Christian by the world's definition... what it simply means is that I like to be called something other than a Christian lately. Please, do NOT take me wrong in this point. Many people take the term "Christian" and use it and abuse it for whatever they want to now. We see cults and people claiming to know Jesus, but they show no fruits or Kingdom in their hearts or life, NOR do they truly have Him in their hearts. 1 John makes claim over and over again that those chosen in Christ must show fruits; otherwise, like in Matthew, they are not a part of God's vine. We were grafted into Jesus. Jesus came to break man of all of that he is. What Christ has asked us for is a personal relationship with Him, NOT a practice that we can stand by and wait for people to notice. Christ brought grace, not works. He wants us to DO works for Him, but not for salvation. He fulfilled the Law. He won!!! Now, I can surely go more into that later but for now I will just say that I like to go by the term "Jesus-lover." I am in love with a Man-God names Jesus. He saved me. So, now it's my turn to give up my life and show that love back.
So, how does that apply to Africa? As my new Kenyan friend Jefte Mwinesi told me the other night, "Jesus brought salvation, satan brought religion." Here in Africa, religion is a big deal. You cannot find people who are not religious. In fact, it is best to try and find people who aren't religious. Normally, those are the true Christians. Those are the ones who worship Jesus and not the concept. Christianity is a religion by what the world says, but Jesus is not. Jesus is not a concept. He is God. He died for us. He lived as us. He chose, adopted, sealed us with the Holy Spirit, and called us Heirs from that point on. Jesus is life!
Please be in prayer for the people here in Malanga Village and adjoining villages and all of Africa for these things:
1) First and foremost, for the hearts of these people. The cults are getting bigger and satan knows what he's doing around these parts. he has used and abused his power with the older generations and is now reaping what they are sowing. They believe in works and self-proclamation in order to be saved. They hold to a physicality of being saved rather than a GRACE for being saved. It truly is a horrific sight because they claim to know who Jesus is but not know Him in their hearts yet... especially when we thought we were coming into a generally Jesus believing continent. There is evil everywhere, of course... but we never expected it to be this bad here with the hearts... moreso with the physical needs. Most of them care not about the physicals but more on the cult practices.
2) Here is the kicker that REALLY got me a few days ago. We were sitting and praying for a young man named Solomon and his mother when he asked us to pray for something that the Government was doing to their church. He said that his pastor received a letter saying that they MUST cease all worship and loud noises and even loud preaching in the church from this point on or else pay a fine each month or so. The government is trying to make the churches stop singing and worshiping because they are saying it is a noise problem and they want to control it. It's just another thing from the enemy. Satan was created to worship God and bring music to God. What is he doing now? Taking that same music away from God by using the Kenyan Government to stop the music and praise to our awesome God. So we are praying that God will use this to glorify Him and turn this around. The churches have to pay fines if they go beyond a certain kilometer of noise. We are praying that if they do not stop this, then God will provide the amount of money for the fees so that they can praise and preach as loud as they want to. satan is good at what he does because he was once an angel of the most High God. But now, he is dealing with the Saints of God and satan cannot afford that.
3) For our team to not get physically or spiritually drained. I find myself constantly getting drained and just needing to be rejuvenated by the Lord. That's when we normally all go our separate ways and just read and soak up the Lord in our spare times.
4) For the orphanage that is about to be built for all of the children that have been left out there without anyone. This area, in each school, we have asked and been answered that MORE THAN HALF of the children in these schools (about 100-200 in each school) are orphans and have HIV/AIDS. We are praying for all of these children and for their lives and for God to raise them up and use them for His glory.
5) Our church here, Truth Celebration Center, is creating a school for children until they get to primary schools and they are needing funds and help to get it started. Our team is trying to help with this and create a beginning for the church while YOU out there can help after we leave, along with other churches and many other missionaries.
So we ask all of YOU! All of the Saints of God to pray! Pray because the enemy cannot stop ALL of us praying against him to God.
Soli Deo Gloria! Glory to God alone!!!
Bwana Asifiwe!!!!! That is Swahili for PRAISE THE LORD!!!
January 14 & 15 are some of the coolest days of the year. Why, you ask? Because our niece and nephew were born on those days!!! Brooke and Nathan!!! WOO HOOO!!!
So, here is to you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!! CAN'T WAIT TO BE HOME AND CELEBRATE THE NEXT ONE!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!