Another week has gone by here in Zambia. As I'm typing this, the lunch preparers are making us fried egg sandwiches! I'm really excited for this lunch! We usually just get PBJ's. We've been back in Livingston for almost two days now. It's been a good time to sit back and just reflect on the week. It has been a good one.
Tuesday, Mike asked me to go with him and Ken to pick up one of the trucks. Little did I know that when we got there he was going to have me drive the truck back. It was really cool though. The truck was a manual and the steering wheel was on the right side of the vehicle and the turn signal and windshield wipers were on opposite sides as well. And they drive on the other side of the street as the States. I was a bit nervous at first but got the hang of it pretty quickly. It was really cool getting to do that.
Wednesday we were praying for where God wanted us to go. We decided to head to Lioka but the lady we had in mind wasn't home so we pressed on to Komanyana village. When we got there we met with some men and just shared our testimonies with them and they talked to us a bit about their lives. We prayed for them and as they were leaving, one of them thanked us and said “today is different than normal days. Today, Jesus has been here.” It was so interesting because we hadn't done a Bible study or anything. Very encouraging. And I will say that, one of the guys from that group we have met with a few more times.
We also went to visit a lady who was sick who had asked us to come and pray for her. When we got there we prayed for her and then her mom showed up and asked for us to pray for her other daughter who has been confused for two years and suffering from seizures. She had a bracelet and necklace on from the witch doctor though. Mike told her that she had to cut them off if we were to pray for her. Her sister, whom we had prayed for already, cut them off. We all prayed for deliverance for her (it felt spiritual). After prayer, we set up a time again to meet the next day.
Long story short, we've met with them three times now and they are both healed! And we've started doing Bible studies with them! One day it had rained hard and in order to get to them we had to cross a fast moving creek that was up to my waist but we went anyway =) It was a good day.
On Friday, Mike and I started clearing out space for a prayer room. We got quite a bit of it done. I'm looking forward to actually starting to build it this week. The time in the village is so great. We get a lot of work done, we spend a lot of time in the village, we have plenty of time to spend with Jesus each day, and we still seem to have time to just relax. It's just been a real blessing.
I do have a new prayer request. I've been a bit ill lately. The last four days it's been progressively getting worse. Just pray for God to heal me and keep me healthy. Other than that just remember us in your prayers. Things are happening and we are all very excited to see what God has next for us.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Village Integration
Today we got back from the villages. Our schedule is going to be Tuesday through Saturday in the villages and then Sunday and Monday we'll be in Livingston. I will say, the last five days have been really good. Between corporate and personal time with the Lord, I've been spending about three hours a day in God's presence. It's been such a blessing.
Here's a little breakdown of daily life in the villages. It gets dark about 7pm so I usually head to bed between 7:30 and 8. I wake up at 6:30 every morning and then spend a little over an hour with Jesus. Then we have breakfast and spend an hour in corporate worship. From there we go out into the villages and just spend time with the people until lunch. After lunch we do chores around the compound. Then we either interact some more with the villagers or just hang out with the kids. Dinner is sometime between 5:30 and 7 depending on when we could get the fire going or what we were having. Last night we had fresh chicken so it took a little longer than usual due to having to pluck and clean it. Usually I take advantage of the down time to slip away and spend some more time with Jesus. I love Africa because everything moves on a different schedule so I'm able to really just pour myself into Jesus.
This last week we were supposed to just listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us to where we are to invest our time while we are here. For me, I met a man named Patrick that I was able to share my testimony with. He's willing to have us back out for Bible Studies so that will be good. I also met a guy named Freddie that works at the compound. He seems to be in love with Jesus and from the short conversations that I've had, he seems to want to learn more about Him and I love talking about Jesus so we'll see if I can maybe meet with him sometime to just talk with him. I also saw a house that I felt drawn to. Come to find out, it was the home of a widow who is raising her grandchildren (her husband and most of her children have died). I really want to see if there's anything I can do to help her.
For me personally, I just finished the book Wild at Heart. This book was just what I've been needing. It has been such a blessing to help me understand more what it means to be a man and how to lead other guys into manhood. One of the chapters talks about how we as men should seek our true name from God. I had actually prayed about it about a month ago and got a very surprising but encouraging name. Then the night I read that chapter, I had a dream where God just confirmed that He had truly given me that name.
Anyway, this book is just another push for me into one of the things I feel the Lord calling me to and that is becoming a spiritual father to people. I got to hang out with some of the boys from the village and we just did stupid stuff that boys do but it was a lot of fun. I would just love to be able to see these boys become Godly men who have a solid foundation in Christ and who are able to lead their generation in radical obedience and a deeply personal relationship with Jesus.
Another thing I've been challenged in lately is intercession. I used to always only just pray for myself but the other day I was walking and something was weighing heavy on my heart and I just cried out to God about how I felt so powerless that all I can do is pray. He just reminded me how much power there truly is in prayer. I'm talking to the Almighty God for crying out loud and He longs to hear what is on my heart. How much more powerful of a weapon can we possibly have! And the book Wild at Heart challenges men that we all have a battle to fight but that it is in the spiritual realm. I feel like I'm being transformed into an effective warrior for God as I intercede. The best part is, as I intercede for others, the Lord just blesses me more than ever with His presence.
Now it's time for prayer requests. I especially need some prayer for spiritual protection. I've been feeling under attack pretty heavily since getting to the villages. Whispers of how I'm worthless and I should just keep quiet and that I can't do anything so I shouldn't try. I know that these are just the enemy pushing against me because he fears me but I don't underestimate him and would love it if you would keep me in your prayers, as well as the rest of the team for the same thing. We'll keep pushing forward and following Jesus. I also want to thank you so much for praying for my personal time with Jesus. This last week has been very good. And please be praying for the Holy Spirit to keep leading us where He wants us to go.
Here's a little breakdown of daily life in the villages. It gets dark about 7pm so I usually head to bed between 7:30 and 8. I wake up at 6:30 every morning and then spend a little over an hour with Jesus. Then we have breakfast and spend an hour in corporate worship. From there we go out into the villages and just spend time with the people until lunch. After lunch we do chores around the compound. Then we either interact some more with the villagers or just hang out with the kids. Dinner is sometime between 5:30 and 7 depending on when we could get the fire going or what we were having. Last night we had fresh chicken so it took a little longer than usual due to having to pluck and clean it. Usually I take advantage of the down time to slip away and spend some more time with Jesus. I love Africa because everything moves on a different schedule so I'm able to really just pour myself into Jesus.
This last week we were supposed to just listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us to where we are to invest our time while we are here. For me, I met a man named Patrick that I was able to share my testimony with. He's willing to have us back out for Bible Studies so that will be good. I also met a guy named Freddie that works at the compound. He seems to be in love with Jesus and from the short conversations that I've had, he seems to want to learn more about Him and I love talking about Jesus so we'll see if I can maybe meet with him sometime to just talk with him. I also saw a house that I felt drawn to. Come to find out, it was the home of a widow who is raising her grandchildren (her husband and most of her children have died). I really want to see if there's anything I can do to help her.
For me personally, I just finished the book Wild at Heart. This book was just what I've been needing. It has been such a blessing to help me understand more what it means to be a man and how to lead other guys into manhood. One of the chapters talks about how we as men should seek our true name from God. I had actually prayed about it about a month ago and got a very surprising but encouraging name. Then the night I read that chapter, I had a dream where God just confirmed that He had truly given me that name.
Anyway, this book is just another push for me into one of the things I feel the Lord calling me to and that is becoming a spiritual father to people. I got to hang out with some of the boys from the village and we just did stupid stuff that boys do but it was a lot of fun. I would just love to be able to see these boys become Godly men who have a solid foundation in Christ and who are able to lead their generation in radical obedience and a deeply personal relationship with Jesus.
Another thing I've been challenged in lately is intercession. I used to always only just pray for myself but the other day I was walking and something was weighing heavy on my heart and I just cried out to God about how I felt so powerless that all I can do is pray. He just reminded me how much power there truly is in prayer. I'm talking to the Almighty God for crying out loud and He longs to hear what is on my heart. How much more powerful of a weapon can we possibly have! And the book Wild at Heart challenges men that we all have a battle to fight but that it is in the spiritual realm. I feel like I'm being transformed into an effective warrior for God as I intercede. The best part is, as I intercede for others, the Lord just blesses me more than ever with His presence.
Now it's time for prayer requests. I especially need some prayer for spiritual protection. I've been feeling under attack pretty heavily since getting to the villages. Whispers of how I'm worthless and I should just keep quiet and that I can't do anything so I shouldn't try. I know that these are just the enemy pushing against me because he fears me but I don't underestimate him and would love it if you would keep me in your prayers, as well as the rest of the team for the same thing. We'll keep pushing forward and following Jesus. I also want to thank you so much for praying for my personal time with Jesus. This last week has been very good. And please be praying for the Holy Spirit to keep leading us where He wants us to go.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Jet-lag is no match for me
Saturday we arrived safely in Livingstone, Zambia. The flights were good but rather uneventful, though I did get to talk to a Jewish shoe salesman who travels all over the world. But as far as the security part goes, we never actually had to go through customs which was nice.
Sunday we had some time in small group. I was in a group with Jake Bumstead and two other guys from Zambia named Mike and Willy. Listening to their prayers and praises was really convicting to me. I could just feel the love and power of the Spirit pouring forth from their lips.
In the evening we did a little scavenger hunt in the city of Livingstone. I was teamed up with Jill. We went to this marketplace in town where there was just a ton of people who were really friendly but trying to sell us things. It was slightly overwhelming. And a lot of the guys would ask if Jill and I were a couple and when I would respond just friends, they would all start flirting with her intensely. One guy named Mad Max said I was too short for her but she was the perfect height for him. She was very uncomfortable but I found it hilarious.
During the Scavenger Hunt, so many people in the town would stop us and just wanted to talk to us and be friends. To walk one block in the city took about forty-five minutes because of all the times we'd have to stop to talk to people. I've never before made so many friends in one day =)
Today I woke up way too early. A side effect of the time change I guess. So I decided to spend some time in Proverbs just really pouring into it. What I focused on today was just so convicting to me. Later, we did two Bible studies, both of which really hit the points that the Lord was speaking to me through Proverbs.
First, I focused on some parts in Proverbs on pride and the first Bible study we did was on the parable of the Good Samaritan. These just point out how I am a horribly proud person. I want to stop being so contentious with people and humble myself. When people falsely accuse me or challenge me in some way, trying to tear me down, I want to run to the Lord instead of stoking the flames of pride and trying to prove my point or defend myself. And I want to be naturally so humble that I honestly think of others better than I do myself.
The second thing was Proverbs 30:7-9 and the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6; the parts about having just enough for today. I know I've been trusting in the Lord for everything that I need lately. It's amazing how He's changed me so much that I truly do trust Him to supply me every need. Things that used to worry me so much are less now. But I was just reminded again today that I need to trust Him with the things most important to me, the deep desires of my heart. These are the things that stress me and worry me still and I need to just rely on Him and place them in His amazingly powerful and loving hands.
Things that are on my heart right now that I can use prayer for are my personal times with Jesus. Just pray that I would be able to have very intimate times with Yahweh regardless of my situation or where I am and that He would be speaking to me clearly and that I would be listening. Also, tomorrow we head into the village for the first time. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the people there and our hearts as well and that He would be directing us as we meet the people and assess the needs.
Sunday we had some time in small group. I was in a group with Jake Bumstead and two other guys from Zambia named Mike and Willy. Listening to their prayers and praises was really convicting to me. I could just feel the love and power of the Spirit pouring forth from their lips.
In the evening we did a little scavenger hunt in the city of Livingstone. I was teamed up with Jill. We went to this marketplace in town where there was just a ton of people who were really friendly but trying to sell us things. It was slightly overwhelming. And a lot of the guys would ask if Jill and I were a couple and when I would respond just friends, they would all start flirting with her intensely. One guy named Mad Max said I was too short for her but she was the perfect height for him. She was very uncomfortable but I found it hilarious.
During the Scavenger Hunt, so many people in the town would stop us and just wanted to talk to us and be friends. To walk one block in the city took about forty-five minutes because of all the times we'd have to stop to talk to people. I've never before made so many friends in one day =)
Today I woke up way too early. A side effect of the time change I guess. So I decided to spend some time in Proverbs just really pouring into it. What I focused on today was just so convicting to me. Later, we did two Bible studies, both of which really hit the points that the Lord was speaking to me through Proverbs.
First, I focused on some parts in Proverbs on pride and the first Bible study we did was on the parable of the Good Samaritan. These just point out how I am a horribly proud person. I want to stop being so contentious with people and humble myself. When people falsely accuse me or challenge me in some way, trying to tear me down, I want to run to the Lord instead of stoking the flames of pride and trying to prove my point or defend myself. And I want to be naturally so humble that I honestly think of others better than I do myself.
The second thing was Proverbs 30:7-9 and the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6; the parts about having just enough for today. I know I've been trusting in the Lord for everything that I need lately. It's amazing how He's changed me so much that I truly do trust Him to supply me every need. Things that used to worry me so much are less now. But I was just reminded again today that I need to trust Him with the things most important to me, the deep desires of my heart. These are the things that stress me and worry me still and I need to just rely on Him and place them in His amazingly powerful and loving hands.
Things that are on my heart right now that I can use prayer for are my personal times with Jesus. Just pray that I would be able to have very intimate times with Yahweh regardless of my situation or where I am and that He would be speaking to me clearly and that I would be listening. Also, tomorrow we head into the village for the first time. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the people there and our hearts as well and that He would be directing us as we meet the people and assess the needs.
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