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.
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