For this shorter story, I wanted to explain more to you about e3 Partners Ministry.
Their name is derived from their mission statement and their purpose.
1) Equip.
e3 Partners does not make it their goal to enter into a foreign country and take over Christianity ministry there. Instead, the goal is to equip nationals, the people of the country, to minister to their own people. e3 strives to build up the national church by raising up national leaders who head up e3 in that country. Also, about six months before each mission trip, American e3 leaders join together with e3 leaders from the other nation to train other nationals to be pastors.
2) Evangelize.
e3 Partners next sends teams from the US on short-term mission trips (and other countries too--a team from Venezuela joined with Americans on a mission trip to Tanzania last year). Team members are partnered and then each member is matched with a national translator, a national missionary, and a pastor of a new church. The purpose of these trips is to help the new pastors to plant their new churches. As I have mentioned before, each day consists of door-to-door evangelism. When people put their faith in Christ, the pastor writes their name and other important information (i.e. age, address, best time and day for visit) down on a piece of paper. The pastor keeps the information so that he or she can follow up with them in the future, after the mission team has gone. Also, the teams invite all people to the new church that afternoon for worship, teaching, and discipleship.
3) Establish.
The establishment of new churches by e3 begins in the afternoon during the discipleship time. There is worship, and then the mission team will teach lessons about what it means to be saved or about being secure in their new faith. The pastor then follows up with the people and is encouraged to continue sharing the gospel in the area around the church.
Equip. Evangelize. Establish.
Check out their website for more info! www.e3Partners.org
More interesting stories to come...
Love in Christ!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
trust=confidence.
"But BLESSED is the man
who TRUSTS in the LORD,
whose CONFIDENCE
is in HIM."
Jeremiah 17:7
It is that simple.
Trust. Abide.
In Him, Confide.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Iff and Butt...
At the end of my Children's Literature class, my professor, Dr. Tom Hanks, asked us for suggestions of children's literature that we might add to the course for next year. One student suggested Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie. She said it would fit perfectly with the theme of our course. Everyone in the class was quick to write it down, hoping to someday make it part of their own, personal reading repertoire.
When I came home this summer, my brother, Colin, said that the only good book he read this past semester in British Literature was none other than Haroun and the Sea of Stories. And when Colin says he likes a book, it is, without a doubt, a book worth reading.
So I read it. And it is good! The following are some of my favorite quotes from Haroun. Enjoy!
" 'A person may choose what he cannot see,' he said, as if explaining something very obvious to a very foolish individual. 'A person may mention a bird's name even if the creature is not present and correct: crow, quail, hummingbird, bulbul, mynah, parrot, kite. A person may even select a flying creature of his own invention, for example winged horse, flying turtle, airborne whale, space serpent, aeromouse.
To give a thing a name, a label, a handle; to rescue it from anonymity, to pluck it out of the Place of Namelessness, in short to identify it - well, that's a way of bringing the said thing into being. Or, in this case, the said bird or Imaginary Flying Organism.' "
-page 63
"He looked into the water and saw that it was made up of a thousand thousand thousand and one different currents, each one a different colour, weaving in and out of one another like a liquid tapestry of breathtaking complexity; and Iff explained that these were the Streams of Story, that each coloured strand represented and contained a single tale."
-page 71-2
" 'I always thought storytelling was like juggling,' he finally found the voice to say. 'You keep a lot of different tales in the air, and juggle them up and down, and if you're good you don't drop any. So maybe juggling is a kind of storytelling, too.' "
-page 109
" 'But but but what is the point of giving persons Freedom of Speech,' declaimed Butt the Hoopoe, 'if you then say they must not utilize same? And is not the Power of Speech the greatest Power of all? Then surely it must be exercised to the full?' "
-page 119
" 'But it's not as simple as that,' he told himself, because the dance of the Shadow Warrior showed him that silence had its own grace and beauty (just as speech could be graceless and ugly); and that Action could be as lovely as the children of the light. 'If Guppees and Chupwalas didn't hate each other so,' he thought, 'they might actually find each other pretty interesting. Opposites attract, as they say.' "
-page 125
The evil Khattam-Shud: " 'Your world, my world, all worlds,' came the reply. 'They are all there to be Ruled. And inside every single story, inside every Stream in the Ocean, there lies a world, a story-world, that I cannot Rule at all. And that is the reason why.' "
-page 161
" 'Happy endings must come at the end of something,' the Walrus pointed out. 'If they happen in the middle of a story, of an adventure, of the like, all they do is cheer things up for a while.'
'That'll do,' said Haroun.
Then it was time to go home.
-page 202
Hope this has whet your appetite!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Africa Story #5: Third Day - Part III
This is the end of that wonderful, interesting, super-long third day. :)
6th house: In this home were two beautiful Maasai women, Mama Gunena and Mama Sawa. I will never forget their faces. Mama Sawa was 22 years old, just like me. They are called Mama, followed by the name of their eldest child.
I shared the gospel with them in Swahili (through Jonathon) using the Evangecube. Mama Gunena loved the story. She told Jonathon and Pastor Pius that she wanted to believe, but she and her family worship other gods. She explained that when the full moon comes out they offer sacrifices and worship the moon. I told Jonathon to tell her that God created the moon, and that He has power over and above and beyond it. Jonathon also explained to her how the Israelites offered sacrifices for their sin but now are no longer required to do so.
Next, he wanted to read from Acts in the Bible, more about sacrifices and the almighty power of God. Mama Gunena told him that they had a Bible. She sent her young son, probably 8 or 9, to get the Bible. He returned quickly. They told us they received the Bible a long time ago but do not spend time reading it (none of them know how to read except for this boy). Jonathon wanted to read to them from their Bible, so they would know that we did not have some special, fixed version that fit our beliefs. But before he started reading, he decided to ask the young boy to read it instead. The little boy was so excited! He read aloud 7-8 verses about offering sacrifices of praise to God alone. He wanted to keep reading and asked Jonathon what he should read. Jonathon told him to keep reading in Chapter 17 of Acts. Jonathon also encouraged him to look up and read to his family the verses on the tracts we were handing out, verses that go throughout the gospel and bring words to the pictures on the Evangecube. He was so excited; he returned to where he was sitting on the ground and took the Bible with him.
After the explanation and hearing the truth from their own Bible, Mama Gunena wanted to accept Jesus! But, she said she could not do so until she had explained everything to Mama Sawa who, as it turns out, only spoke Maasai. We had no idea that as we were sitting there and talking, that she could not understand. So without hesitation, Mama Gunena began sharing the gospel with Mama Sawa. She asked me to show the pictures while she told the story. She did the cube perfectly! No, I could not understand what she was saying, but somehow I could understand that she understood and that truth was being spoken in and through her to Mama Sawa.
After hearing and understanding, Mama Sawa also wanted to make Jesus her Lord and Savior. When we prayed the prayer for them to accept Jesus, I spoke in English, Jonathon in Swahili, Mama Gunena repeated in Maasai, and then Mama Sawa would repeat after Mama Gunena. Even language is not a barrier to the light of the truth of the gospel of Christ. God knew we didn't speak Maasai, so He provided someone, who also needed Jesus, to serve as translator to reach Mama Sawa. Beautiful. Nothing is impossible for God.
After we prayed together, God gave me an idea. In my backpack, I had small, flat evangecubes (basically, stiff paper that also had the pictures of the gospel on them and also flipped from picture to picture). I thought that since Mama Gunena could already repeat and share the gospel using the cube, I would give one to her. I did! I had Jonathon explain that I saw her share so beautifully and encouraged her to use this smaller one to tell everyone she knows, in Swahili and Maasai.
It was so cool. She was grateful and excited, and Mama Sawa looked at peace. After we left that house to head back to the church for lunch, Jonathon and Pastor Pius both told me how joyful they were. "You left yourself behind," Jonathon told me.
Pray for Mama Gunena and Mama Sawa. That God would use them mightily to touch the lives of the people around them. Pray for Mama Gunena's son. That he would find truth in the Bible, God's Word, and be able to share it with his family and others as well.
Love in Unstoppable God!
6th house: In this home were two beautiful Maasai women, Mama Gunena and Mama Sawa. I will never forget their faces. Mama Sawa was 22 years old, just like me. They are called Mama, followed by the name of their eldest child.
I shared the gospel with them in Swahili (through Jonathon) using the Evangecube. Mama Gunena loved the story. She told Jonathon and Pastor Pius that she wanted to believe, but she and her family worship other gods. She explained that when the full moon comes out they offer sacrifices and worship the moon. I told Jonathon to tell her that God created the moon, and that He has power over and above and beyond it. Jonathon also explained to her how the Israelites offered sacrifices for their sin but now are no longer required to do so.
Next, he wanted to read from Acts in the Bible, more about sacrifices and the almighty power of God. Mama Gunena told him that they had a Bible. She sent her young son, probably 8 or 9, to get the Bible. He returned quickly. They told us they received the Bible a long time ago but do not spend time reading it (none of them know how to read except for this boy). Jonathon wanted to read to them from their Bible, so they would know that we did not have some special, fixed version that fit our beliefs. But before he started reading, he decided to ask the young boy to read it instead. The little boy was so excited! He read aloud 7-8 verses about offering sacrifices of praise to God alone. He wanted to keep reading and asked Jonathon what he should read. Jonathon told him to keep reading in Chapter 17 of Acts. Jonathon also encouraged him to look up and read to his family the verses on the tracts we were handing out, verses that go throughout the gospel and bring words to the pictures on the Evangecube. He was so excited; he returned to where he was sitting on the ground and took the Bible with him.
After the explanation and hearing the truth from their own Bible, Mama Gunena wanted to accept Jesus! But, she said she could not do so until she had explained everything to Mama Sawa who, as it turns out, only spoke Maasai. We had no idea that as we were sitting there and talking, that she could not understand. So without hesitation, Mama Gunena began sharing the gospel with Mama Sawa. She asked me to show the pictures while she told the story. She did the cube perfectly! No, I could not understand what she was saying, but somehow I could understand that she understood and that truth was being spoken in and through her to Mama Sawa.
After hearing and understanding, Mama Sawa also wanted to make Jesus her Lord and Savior. When we prayed the prayer for them to accept Jesus, I spoke in English, Jonathon in Swahili, Mama Gunena repeated in Maasai, and then Mama Sawa would repeat after Mama Gunena. Even language is not a barrier to the light of the truth of the gospel of Christ. God knew we didn't speak Maasai, so He provided someone, who also needed Jesus, to serve as translator to reach Mama Sawa. Beautiful. Nothing is impossible for God.
After we prayed together, God gave me an idea. In my backpack, I had small, flat evangecubes (basically, stiff paper that also had the pictures of the gospel on them and also flipped from picture to picture). I thought that since Mama Gunena could already repeat and share the gospel using the cube, I would give one to her. I did! I had Jonathon explain that I saw her share so beautifully and encouraged her to use this smaller one to tell everyone she knows, in Swahili and Maasai.
It was so cool. She was grateful and excited, and Mama Sawa looked at peace. After we left that house to head back to the church for lunch, Jonathon and Pastor Pius both told me how joyful they were. "You left yourself behind," Jonathon told me.
Pray for Mama Gunena and Mama Sawa. That God would use them mightily to touch the lives of the people around them. Pray for Mama Gunena's son. That he would find truth in the Bible, God's Word, and be able to share it with his family and others as well.
Love in Unstoppable God!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Hannah.
So here is an ode to my precious Hannah.
My Hannah
Who was the greatest dog in town?
Well, Hannah Henrietta Brown
She was the prettiest in brown and black
With, in fur, a figure eight on her back
We called her frisky, some even said like a fox
She was agile, could jump over stairs and a box
She was faster than any other dog
And quite the priss, worthy of this blog
She would sit on our porch, cross her front paws
And sometimes, she'd run away, without cause
It would take forever, just to get her home
She failed obedience school, never listened to "Come."
She was the best guard dog, despite her small size
The smartest dog I've met, maybe even wise
Never was she a mother
But she cared unlike any other
I used to sit and tell her things
I could not tell to human beings
In younger days, she would jump on me
But then we made it a daily routine
I would pat my thighs
She jump up, I'd sigh
I would kiss her head
She'd kiss my cheek instead
I'd hold her close and pat her side
She'd lick and love and in me confide
She didn't like water, not one bit
She loved digging holes, hiding stuff in it
My dad always gave her scraps of our food
Mom always told him that's not good
She enjoyed playing tag, barking at passers-by
Once she nipped at and bit the pool guy
He's okay, she didn't draw blood
She was just over-protecting us
She also, on her head, had a spot
It was there Char would kiss her a lot
It was a hard thing to let her go
But it was the best thing, we know
She is now at peace, no more suffering
Resting at last, she's finally free
We kept all her dog tags and her colorful collar
Every time we hear it shake, we all think of her
Because she truly was the best dog in town
My precious Hannah Henrietta Brown.
Africa Story #4: Third Day - Part II
Let's see...where was I....
4th house: Maasai lived in this house. We talked to two brothers and their two wives. The elder brother did not want to hear any of what we had come to say. I had only started sharing when he began talking in Swahili to Jonathon and Pastor Pius. The elder brother was explaining to them how they, as a family, worship spirits, and they don't want Jesus. Then, when the elder brother left for a second, because he didn't want to hear more, the younger brother said (and the two wives agreed from their places in the background of the house) that he was interested and wanted to hear. But, the younger brother explained, their father had just died, and especially now, the elder brother had more control over the home and the grounds and the family. The younger brother did ask Pastor Pius if he would try to come another time, when the elder brother would be away, and then they could listen and maybe accept.
Please join me in praying for these brothers and their wives. That Pastor Pius would find a time to return to talk to the younger brother and the wives in the absence of the elder brother. And then, that through the faith of the rest of his family, the elder brother would also come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
5th house: When we cried, "Hodi! Hodi!", as is the custom when entering someone's yard, (which translated basically means, we are here!, we are here!, can we come in?), a grandmother answered, "Karibuni" ("You are all welcome."). We began to explain what we were doing there, she listened. Several of her grandchildren were home, and they peeked out just their heads from behind curtains to other rooms. If I looked them in the eyes, they would retreat, only to peek their heads out again seconds later. I shared the gospel with the grandmother. She continued to listen intently. I noticed she was wearing a lot of bracelets; this sometimes indicates the person wearing the bracelets believes in the presence of evil spirits and maintains that he or she must wear bracelets to ward them off and to protect themselves.
After I finished telling her the story of Jesus using the cube, she began to talk very strongly to Jonathon and Pastor Pius. They didn't explain to me what was going on until afterward. Apparently, I was right about her beliefs and her bracelets. She believed strongly in the power of evil spirits. She could not understand how spirits could go to live with God forever, when I explained eternal life with God. She believes that when people die, their spirits remain with the family after briefly going to either the good or the bad spirit place (based on their deeds in life). Jonathon explained the grace of God, the futility of works, and the impossibility of gaining access to God simply by being good. She excused herself to go get water, very obviously gesturing that she was tired of listening to us.
Just as she was getting up to leave, a man entered the house and sat in a chair near me. She explained to Jonathon and Pastor Pius that he was a homeless man who wanders around. She left, and we were alone with this man (and of course the peeking grandchildren). Jonathon began to talk to the man asking if we could share with him about Jesus. I assumed from his gestures that he did not want to listen, and shortly afterward, Jonathon and the pastor said, "Let's go." As it turns out, it was not apparent to me, the man was angry, truly furious, that we were there talking about Jesus. And, even though this was not his house, he wanted us to leave and not come back.
Please pray that God's Truth finds this man wherever he may be. And that Pastor Pius can return to the house and talk again with the grandmother about God's almighty power over evil spirits.
So many interesting people in this world...so many who need Jesus.
One more house...but that will have to wait for another story. :)
Love in King of Kings!
4th house: Maasai lived in this house. We talked to two brothers and their two wives. The elder brother did not want to hear any of what we had come to say. I had only started sharing when he began talking in Swahili to Jonathon and Pastor Pius. The elder brother was explaining to them how they, as a family, worship spirits, and they don't want Jesus. Then, when the elder brother left for a second, because he didn't want to hear more, the younger brother said (and the two wives agreed from their places in the background of the house) that he was interested and wanted to hear. But, the younger brother explained, their father had just died, and especially now, the elder brother had more control over the home and the grounds and the family. The younger brother did ask Pastor Pius if he would try to come another time, when the elder brother would be away, and then they could listen and maybe accept.
Please join me in praying for these brothers and their wives. That Pastor Pius would find a time to return to talk to the younger brother and the wives in the absence of the elder brother. And then, that through the faith of the rest of his family, the elder brother would also come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
5th house: When we cried, "Hodi! Hodi!", as is the custom when entering someone's yard, (which translated basically means, we are here!, we are here!, can we come in?), a grandmother answered, "Karibuni" ("You are all welcome."). We began to explain what we were doing there, she listened. Several of her grandchildren were home, and they peeked out just their heads from behind curtains to other rooms. If I looked them in the eyes, they would retreat, only to peek their heads out again seconds later. I shared the gospel with the grandmother. She continued to listen intently. I noticed she was wearing a lot of bracelets; this sometimes indicates the person wearing the bracelets believes in the presence of evil spirits and maintains that he or she must wear bracelets to ward them off and to protect themselves.
After I finished telling her the story of Jesus using the cube, she began to talk very strongly to Jonathon and Pastor Pius. They didn't explain to me what was going on until afterward. Apparently, I was right about her beliefs and her bracelets. She believed strongly in the power of evil spirits. She could not understand how spirits could go to live with God forever, when I explained eternal life with God. She believes that when people die, their spirits remain with the family after briefly going to either the good or the bad spirit place (based on their deeds in life). Jonathon explained the grace of God, the futility of works, and the impossibility of gaining access to God simply by being good. She excused herself to go get water, very obviously gesturing that she was tired of listening to us.
Just as she was getting up to leave, a man entered the house and sat in a chair near me. She explained to Jonathon and Pastor Pius that he was a homeless man who wanders around. She left, and we were alone with this man (and of course the peeking grandchildren). Jonathon began to talk to the man asking if we could share with him about Jesus. I assumed from his gestures that he did not want to listen, and shortly afterward, Jonathon and the pastor said, "Let's go." As it turns out, it was not apparent to me, the man was angry, truly furious, that we were there talking about Jesus. And, even though this was not his house, he wanted us to leave and not come back.
Please pray that God's Truth finds this man wherever he may be. And that Pastor Pius can return to the house and talk again with the grandmother about God's almighty power over evil spirits.
So many interesting people in this world...so many who need Jesus.
One more house...but that will have to wait for another story. :)
Love in King of Kings!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Africa Story #3: Third Day - Part I
On our third day of ministry in Mang'ola, Sheila and I moved to a second church where Pastor Pius Reumi was pastor. On this third day of ministry, I encountered many interesting people. So many, in fact, that I am going to split up their stories in a few Africa Stories. :)
1st house: The people here were not ready to accept Jesus. I asked if I could pray for them. They said yes! I prayed for provision and blessing for their house, and then that God would open their hearts, that they might see Him.
2nd house: First, I shared the truth of Christ with an mzee, an elderly man, who was sick and lying down in his bed. He could barely see, so Jonathon and I got very close to him so that he could see the Evangecube (this is a small box that changes like a rubix cube, showing pictures of the story of Jesus-we use this as a tool to help the people, who learn aurally and visually, grasp the gospel as we share it with them). After a while, he said that he still needs to think about it and then he promised he would trust in Jesus if the pastor would come back another day. Pastor Pius said that he would.
Next, I walked around his bed to where a Christian woman had gathered the rest of the women of the house, including the mzee's first and second wives, around another bed, because she wanted them to all hear about Jesus. I presented the gospel to them, explaining the grace of God and how Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life. All of them accepted Christ! They were so excited.
Then, they took me outside and then inside another house, where the newest third wife lived. The first wife went in the back and returned with a week-old baby. She placed the baby in my arms. So precious. I could not believe the little life in my arms. Next thing I know, this first wife brings out a cloth and puts it on my shoulders and wants me to nurse this baby! Ha! I emphatically said no, wishing I could explain that there was NO way, that it was truly impossible for me to do so. Jonathon handled the situation nicely, with hints of laughter, and told her I would not and could not nurse this little baby. After a little while, the fifteen-year-old mother of the baby and third wife, Mndulan, came out from the back room. The first wife urged me to share with her. I began telling her the story. She was so shy. She would not look at me or Jonathon or the Evangecube. Imagine being a mother at 15. And a third wife of an elderly man. And not knowing how to care for a baby, and having to trust other wives to help you do so. And having to greet guests after having a baby at home a week ago. Still, she wanted to put her faith in Jesus in the end. She finally prayed, though very quietly, to accept Jesus.
Join me in praying for this household. For the Mzee, that Pastor Pius goes and that the Mzee opens his heart to the truth of Jesus. For the wives and other women, that they continue in their walk with Christ. For Mndulan, that she finds peace and strength in her Heavenly Father, who loves her more than she can ever imagine.
3rd stop: As we were walking a distance to another house, we encountered a man on the road. Gaga was excited to hear what I had to say. I shared the gospel with him, and as I did, I noticed that he was really listening. His eyes were studying the cube, he was shaking his head, and I could tell that he was taking it all in. After sharing, he decided to trust in Jesus for his salvation!
Later in the afternoon, Sheila and I were back at the church leading a discipleship time. Every afternoon, we invited all the new believers to join us and other church members at the church for worship and teachings about what it means to be saved and security in faith. Sometimes the believers come and sometimes they don't. Some of them are already busy preparing the evening meal, and others have to far to walk. But for whatever reason, no new believers came this afternoon. As we were in the middle of singing, however, Gaga walked through the door. He asked to share a moment after we finish the song. Then, he proceeded to tell us, to tell me, that he was a witch doctor. A witch doctor! But after hearing the truth of Jesus Christ, he wanted to follow Him, leaving all the witch doctor stuff behind!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!
More to come about this third day...
Love in Compassionate God!
1st house: The people here were not ready to accept Jesus. I asked if I could pray for them. They said yes! I prayed for provision and blessing for their house, and then that God would open their hearts, that they might see Him.
2nd house: First, I shared the truth of Christ with an mzee, an elderly man, who was sick and lying down in his bed. He could barely see, so Jonathon and I got very close to him so that he could see the Evangecube (this is a small box that changes like a rubix cube, showing pictures of the story of Jesus-we use this as a tool to help the people, who learn aurally and visually, grasp the gospel as we share it with them). After a while, he said that he still needs to think about it and then he promised he would trust in Jesus if the pastor would come back another day. Pastor Pius said that he would.
Next, I walked around his bed to where a Christian woman had gathered the rest of the women of the house, including the mzee's first and second wives, around another bed, because she wanted them to all hear about Jesus. I presented the gospel to them, explaining the grace of God and how Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life. All of them accepted Christ! They were so excited.
Then, they took me outside and then inside another house, where the newest third wife lived. The first wife went in the back and returned with a week-old baby. She placed the baby in my arms. So precious. I could not believe the little life in my arms. Next thing I know, this first wife brings out a cloth and puts it on my shoulders and wants me to nurse this baby! Ha! I emphatically said no, wishing I could explain that there was NO way, that it was truly impossible for me to do so. Jonathon handled the situation nicely, with hints of laughter, and told her I would not and could not nurse this little baby. After a little while, the fifteen-year-old mother of the baby and third wife, Mndulan, came out from the back room. The first wife urged me to share with her. I began telling her the story. She was so shy. She would not look at me or Jonathon or the Evangecube. Imagine being a mother at 15. And a third wife of an elderly man. And not knowing how to care for a baby, and having to trust other wives to help you do so. And having to greet guests after having a baby at home a week ago. Still, she wanted to put her faith in Jesus in the end. She finally prayed, though very quietly, to accept Jesus.
Join me in praying for this household. For the Mzee, that Pastor Pius goes and that the Mzee opens his heart to the truth of Jesus. For the wives and other women, that they continue in their walk with Christ. For Mndulan, that she finds peace and strength in her Heavenly Father, who loves her more than she can ever imagine.
3rd stop: As we were walking a distance to another house, we encountered a man on the road. Gaga was excited to hear what I had to say. I shared the gospel with him, and as I did, I noticed that he was really listening. His eyes were studying the cube, he was shaking his head, and I could tell that he was taking it all in. After sharing, he decided to trust in Jesus for his salvation!
Later in the afternoon, Sheila and I were back at the church leading a discipleship time. Every afternoon, we invited all the new believers to join us and other church members at the church for worship and teachings about what it means to be saved and security in faith. Sometimes the believers come and sometimes they don't. Some of them are already busy preparing the evening meal, and others have to far to walk. But for whatever reason, no new believers came this afternoon. As we were in the middle of singing, however, Gaga walked through the door. He asked to share a moment after we finish the song. Then, he proceeded to tell us, to tell me, that he was a witch doctor. A witch doctor! But after hearing the truth of Jesus Christ, he wanted to follow Him, leaving all the witch doctor stuff behind!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!
More to come about this third day...
Love in Compassionate God!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Africa Story #2: Neema (Grace)
On the second day of ministry in Mang'ola, my partner, Sheila, and I along with our translators, Christopher and Jonathon, and Pastor Tajaeli (or MentionGod) Sula went to a secondary school. Pastor Tajaeli wanted us to pray for some students. We first met the staff and learned that the seventh year students (aged anywhere from 13-20) needed prayer as they faced upcoming exit exams. The headmaster of the school also let us know that some of the children had fainted recently due to attacks by demons.
We were ready to pray! Our translators led us into the seventh year classroom full of about 40 students. It was so cool in that instant to realize that God had even planned this trip to this school. It was so fitting that it was Sheila and I who were given the opportunity to pray. I stepped forward and told the class, with Jonathon's help, that I had recently finished major exams. I told them I had doubts that were not of myself and that, when I prayed and gave them to God, He freed me from them. I told them that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Then, Sheila stepped forward with Christopher and shared how she used to be a teacher and how she understands their desire to succeed as well as their uneasy nerves regarding the exam. We both said we would pray for fears and worries to cease and that they would turn to Jesus in the stressful times. We also told them we would pray for peace. God has plans for them, we said, and He will help them with the exams.
Then, we begin to pray. The five of us stood in the front of the classroom, raised our hands toward the students, and all begin to pray out loud, at the same time, in our own languages. As we prayed, a girl in the middle of the classroom fell crashing down, shaking uncontrollably and convulsing unnaturally. Immediately, the four girls around her, probably her close friends, tied her feet together with a cloth and tried to steady her as she convulsed. Students scattered as we headed to the middle of the classroom to pray over her. Last year I witnessed a woman who was demon possessed be freed by the power of Christ. I understood what was occurring and began praying fervently. Still, I was crying. It breaks my heart to see someone tormented by someone out of their control, especially when it is by forces of evil. As I cried, I prayed. Prayed the authority of Jesus over demons, sins, death, Satan. Prayed for freedom. Prayer that the demons would leave in the name of Christ. Prayed that God would enable her to speak.
She would stop shaking, and then Christopher would ask her friends to lay her flat on the ground. As she lay still, we continued to pray. Then, he would tell the girls to help her sit up. (She is completely unconscious at this point.) While sitting up with the help of her friends, we prayed that she would claim the name of Jesus. Her friends called her name. No response. And then, she would start convulsing again. This happened several times.
The atmosphere was so intense. Students crowded around in the classroom and then outside from other classrooms. Prayers being offered up all around me. I was still crying. So, I headed back to my backpack for a second. Grabbed Kleenex and my Bible. I could not think of anything else to pray so instead I read His Word. Verses that claimed Christ's authority. Verses of freedom. Verses about God as creator. And then, I was singing. And then, Christopher led songs in Swahili, and all the children joined in.
After about an hour and a half, a teacher came in and told us to carry the girl to a house nearby. Her four friends carried her and gently placed her on a mat in this house. They returned to school. The girl was still now, and Sheila and I got on the ground and began praying again. Our translators and the pastor also prayed.
She finally looked at peace, even though she was still unconscious. Christopher told us we needed to go. We had walked a long way to reach the school, and it was necessary for us to head back so we would have time to eat and then catch the bus. I did not want to leave her. Sheila didn't either. Christopher told us that her body was tired from the physical attack, and that after resting a little while, she would wake up. He said that they were bringing several younger children to come and sing quietly over her until she did. Then, there would be adult believers to talk to her about what may have caused the demon possession, did she do something to let them in (go to a witch doctor, for example), and then to talk to her about Jesus.
I did not talk for a while as we walked down the long road. Finally, I asked Sheila if she ever caught what the girl's name was in the midst of the intense prayer time. Yes. It was Neema.
Grace. Does she know the meaning of her name? Did she know before this day all that Christ did for her? Did she know that Christ gave His life and took her place that someday she might choose to follow Him and then live forever with Him? Join me in praying for Neema today. That those adults, that God, opened Neema's eyes to see His marvelous grace. That her testimony, how God freed her from demons, how His grace is sufficient, will touch so many other lives, leading them to Jesus Christ.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Love in Most Powerful God!
We were ready to pray! Our translators led us into the seventh year classroom full of about 40 students. It was so cool in that instant to realize that God had even planned this trip to this school. It was so fitting that it was Sheila and I who were given the opportunity to pray. I stepped forward and told the class, with Jonathon's help, that I had recently finished major exams. I told them I had doubts that were not of myself and that, when I prayed and gave them to God, He freed me from them. I told them that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Then, Sheila stepped forward with Christopher and shared how she used to be a teacher and how she understands their desire to succeed as well as their uneasy nerves regarding the exam. We both said we would pray for fears and worries to cease and that they would turn to Jesus in the stressful times. We also told them we would pray for peace. God has plans for them, we said, and He will help them with the exams.
Then, we begin to pray. The five of us stood in the front of the classroom, raised our hands toward the students, and all begin to pray out loud, at the same time, in our own languages. As we prayed, a girl in the middle of the classroom fell crashing down, shaking uncontrollably and convulsing unnaturally. Immediately, the four girls around her, probably her close friends, tied her feet together with a cloth and tried to steady her as she convulsed. Students scattered as we headed to the middle of the classroom to pray over her. Last year I witnessed a woman who was demon possessed be freed by the power of Christ. I understood what was occurring and began praying fervently. Still, I was crying. It breaks my heart to see someone tormented by someone out of their control, especially when it is by forces of evil. As I cried, I prayed. Prayed the authority of Jesus over demons, sins, death, Satan. Prayed for freedom. Prayer that the demons would leave in the name of Christ. Prayed that God would enable her to speak.
She would stop shaking, and then Christopher would ask her friends to lay her flat on the ground. As she lay still, we continued to pray. Then, he would tell the girls to help her sit up. (She is completely unconscious at this point.) While sitting up with the help of her friends, we prayed that she would claim the name of Jesus. Her friends called her name. No response. And then, she would start convulsing again. This happened several times.
The atmosphere was so intense. Students crowded around in the classroom and then outside from other classrooms. Prayers being offered up all around me. I was still crying. So, I headed back to my backpack for a second. Grabbed Kleenex and my Bible. I could not think of anything else to pray so instead I read His Word. Verses that claimed Christ's authority. Verses of freedom. Verses about God as creator. And then, I was singing. And then, Christopher led songs in Swahili, and all the children joined in.
After about an hour and a half, a teacher came in and told us to carry the girl to a house nearby. Her four friends carried her and gently placed her on a mat in this house. They returned to school. The girl was still now, and Sheila and I got on the ground and began praying again. Our translators and the pastor also prayed.
She finally looked at peace, even though she was still unconscious. Christopher told us we needed to go. We had walked a long way to reach the school, and it was necessary for us to head back so we would have time to eat and then catch the bus. I did not want to leave her. Sheila didn't either. Christopher told us that her body was tired from the physical attack, and that after resting a little while, she would wake up. He said that they were bringing several younger children to come and sing quietly over her until she did. Then, there would be adult believers to talk to her about what may have caused the demon possession, did she do something to let them in (go to a witch doctor, for example), and then to talk to her about Jesus.
I did not talk for a while as we walked down the long road. Finally, I asked Sheila if she ever caught what the girl's name was in the midst of the intense prayer time. Yes. It was Neema.
Grace. Does she know the meaning of her name? Did she know before this day all that Christ did for her? Did she know that Christ gave His life and took her place that someday she might choose to follow Him and then live forever with Him? Join me in praying for Neema today. That those adults, that God, opened Neema's eyes to see His marvelous grace. That her testimony, how God freed her from demons, how His grace is sufficient, will touch so many other lives, leading them to Jesus Christ.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Love in Most Powerful God!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Africa Story #1: Victory!
My brother Colin and I arrived home safely from Tanzania on Tuesday, June 1st. The trip was amazing. Thanks for all your prayers and support! I felt so covered in prayer the whole trip. When things would get quiet, and I was too tired to even think, it was such a comfort to know that people were praying for me and Colin and the whole team. Thank you so much.
The phrase God has put in my heart to declare as the phrase for the trip is this:
God did incredible things to make His name famous.
As I head on to the overseas mission field, I always go expecting great things from God. He always shows up and shows off. :) As I go expecting great things from God, I have also learned to expect attacks from the devil. Satan does not want more people to come to know God. But he always fails, no matter how many attempts he makes to stop God's people from sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with others.
Before the trip, I personally was attacked by doubts. This happened last year too. Finals week was stressful, but along with lots of studying time came many doubts. About finals and the trip and graduation and then even about my image and my ability to share the gospel. My roommates opened my eyes to these ridiculous and outrageous doubts, and I realized I myself did not believe any of these thoughts. Ah! The devil was trying to bring me down before the trip. I prayed and read and recited truth from God's Word. Goodbye, doubts.
Then, the Monday before the Sunday I was leaving, I woke up sick. I did not hesitate. No freaking out or worrying or questioning if I should go on the trip. I have been sick before EVERY mission trip, and I know that, again, it is only the devil trying to stop me from going. I went to the doctor, got some meds, and continued on with my packing and preparing. I felt almost well as I got on the plane on Sunday.
Finally, we were on the plane headed to Tanzania! And then...
The volcano in Iceland erupted again. I was watching a movie when a little notice popped up saying we were not headed to Amsterdam any longer. Instead, we were going to Dusseldorf. Dusseldorf? Yes, Dusseldorf, Germany. Now I have a Germany stamp on my passport. Then, we had to take a three-hour bus ride from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam. But we played cards, and thanks to Michael Talley from Dallas, we laughed a lot.
Next, we had to stand in the longest line in the world. Much, much, much longer than DisneyWorld. For three and a half hours. And no one, including the Amsterdam airport employees, knew what was going on. I was glad to be in charge of moving Michael's guitar inch by inch as the lined moved forward. It gave me something to focus on and be distracted by. And then, when we thought that maybe we could glimpse the end of the line, a man told Steve that our plane was waiting for us, and we did not have to stand in line. We ran very fast to some sneaky way through security and caught our plane to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Praise God!
Satan still tried to stop us. A group from Alabama was stuck in Paris for two days because of the volcano, but, after an additional three flights, they made it safely to Tanzania. During the two weeks in Tanzania, there was no shortage of flat tires and delays and broken down buses and fishtailing vans. Lots of waiting and wondering. Much confusion as, many times, no one knew what was going on. There was problems with hotels as people were split up or had to share rooms.
Above that, there was trouble the second week as the group tried to get permission to go into the Ngorongoro Conservation to talk to the Maasai people about Jesus. The government wanted each member of our team to pay $100 per day. Our budget would not allow for this. Finally, Keith Screws, the e3 leader from the states for our team, and Michael Silas, the second-in-command for e3 in Tanzania, after much debate with the person in charge, were able to get the price lowered to only $25 per day per US team member and $1.50 per Tanzanian team member. Praise God! We only were able to stay in the conservation for 4 days, but that was more than enough.
Other e3 campaigns had troubles too. One team never made it to their final destination, but instead were able to go to a different city. There was a trip originally planned to this city, Morogoro, but not enough people signed up. But because of the volcano, half of the Tabora team ended up in Morogoro! Churches got to be planted there, and people heard the name of Christ!
Satan may think that even as I share these stories with you, he will get some credit. He tried really hard to stop us from getting to Tanzania and from getting to the conservation. But he failed. And failed miserably.
After five campaigns in five cities, including the ones where I was in Mang'ola and Ngorongoro, over 23,000 people heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and over 13,000 people prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God deserves all the glory. Despite the devil's attempts, God blew away all my expectations and exceeded them beyond my imagination!!!!!!!!!!!! His power is inconceivable. The great thing is that though our plans were thwarted and turned on their heads and shattered, His plan played out perfectly just the way He planned and purposed from the beginning of time. I loved what my friend, Kala, said when we shared testimonies from the two weeks. She said, "I always knew God was good. But these weeks really God really showed me that He is perfect. And so is His timing."
Join me in worshipping the Victorious One. In Him, we always have the victory. Despite the circumstances. Despite every attempt made by the devil. God is always victorious!!!!
"With God we will gain the victory..." Psalm 60:12
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57
"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4
Love in The Victorious One!!!
The phrase God has put in my heart to declare as the phrase for the trip is this:
God did incredible things to make His name famous.
As I head on to the overseas mission field, I always go expecting great things from God. He always shows up and shows off. :) As I go expecting great things from God, I have also learned to expect attacks from the devil. Satan does not want more people to come to know God. But he always fails, no matter how many attempts he makes to stop God's people from sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with others.
Before the trip, I personally was attacked by doubts. This happened last year too. Finals week was stressful, but along with lots of studying time came many doubts. About finals and the trip and graduation and then even about my image and my ability to share the gospel. My roommates opened my eyes to these ridiculous and outrageous doubts, and I realized I myself did not believe any of these thoughts. Ah! The devil was trying to bring me down before the trip. I prayed and read and recited truth from God's Word. Goodbye, doubts.
Then, the Monday before the Sunday I was leaving, I woke up sick. I did not hesitate. No freaking out or worrying or questioning if I should go on the trip. I have been sick before EVERY mission trip, and I know that, again, it is only the devil trying to stop me from going. I went to the doctor, got some meds, and continued on with my packing and preparing. I felt almost well as I got on the plane on Sunday.
Finally, we were on the plane headed to Tanzania! And then...
The volcano in Iceland erupted again. I was watching a movie when a little notice popped up saying we were not headed to Amsterdam any longer. Instead, we were going to Dusseldorf. Dusseldorf? Yes, Dusseldorf, Germany. Now I have a Germany stamp on my passport. Then, we had to take a three-hour bus ride from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam. But we played cards, and thanks to Michael Talley from Dallas, we laughed a lot.
Next, we had to stand in the longest line in the world. Much, much, much longer than DisneyWorld. For three and a half hours. And no one, including the Amsterdam airport employees, knew what was going on. I was glad to be in charge of moving Michael's guitar inch by inch as the lined moved forward. It gave me something to focus on and be distracted by. And then, when we thought that maybe we could glimpse the end of the line, a man told Steve that our plane was waiting for us, and we did not have to stand in line. We ran very fast to some sneaky way through security and caught our plane to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Praise God!
Satan still tried to stop us. A group from Alabama was stuck in Paris for two days because of the volcano, but, after an additional three flights, they made it safely to Tanzania. During the two weeks in Tanzania, there was no shortage of flat tires and delays and broken down buses and fishtailing vans. Lots of waiting and wondering. Much confusion as, many times, no one knew what was going on. There was problems with hotels as people were split up or had to share rooms.
Above that, there was trouble the second week as the group tried to get permission to go into the Ngorongoro Conservation to talk to the Maasai people about Jesus. The government wanted each member of our team to pay $100 per day. Our budget would not allow for this. Finally, Keith Screws, the e3 leader from the states for our team, and Michael Silas, the second-in-command for e3 in Tanzania, after much debate with the person in charge, were able to get the price lowered to only $25 per day per US team member and $1.50 per Tanzanian team member. Praise God! We only were able to stay in the conservation for 4 days, but that was more than enough.
Other e3 campaigns had troubles too. One team never made it to their final destination, but instead were able to go to a different city. There was a trip originally planned to this city, Morogoro, but not enough people signed up. But because of the volcano, half of the Tabora team ended up in Morogoro! Churches got to be planted there, and people heard the name of Christ!
Satan may think that even as I share these stories with you, he will get some credit. He tried really hard to stop us from getting to Tanzania and from getting to the conservation. But he failed. And failed miserably.
After five campaigns in five cities, including the ones where I was in Mang'ola and Ngorongoro, over 23,000 people heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and over 13,000 people prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God deserves all the glory. Despite the devil's attempts, God blew away all my expectations and exceeded them beyond my imagination!!!!!!!!!!!! His power is inconceivable. The great thing is that though our plans were thwarted and turned on their heads and shattered, His plan played out perfectly just the way He planned and purposed from the beginning of time. I loved what my friend, Kala, said when we shared testimonies from the two weeks. She said, "I always knew God was good. But these weeks really God really showed me that He is perfect. And so is His timing."
Join me in worshipping the Victorious One. In Him, we always have the victory. Despite the circumstances. Despite every attempt made by the devil. God is always victorious!!!!
"With God we will gain the victory..." Psalm 60:12
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57
"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4
Love in The Victorious One!!!
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