Africa Story #10: Summary in a Poem

Here is my final story from the trip.  And it is not a story.  It's a poem written throughout the trip of the moments and main events that happened here and there, all leading up to the end of the trip.  Thank you for praying for me while I was there, and thanks for reading these stories of all that God did while we were there!  Enjoy!

Travel was wild

'Cause part of the team

Stayed in Paris a while

Oh volcano, why'd you erupt

Problems you caused

So many people stuck.

Some went ahead

Set up the campsite

Made up the beds

Opening rally welcome

Food and early sleep and

Saw Vincent, our chum.

Got partnered up

Went to first mission point

Shared about God

Other team arrived

All showed "Jesus" film to Hadzabe

In Him alone we thrive.

Rocked the area

Outside Karatu and Lake Eyasi

No one with malaria

Here He told us to go

Sharing the cube, planting churches

That all may hear and know.

Witch doctors freed

31 churches started, 55 baptized

God met a need

His name made famous

While Americans and Tanzanians camped

Dirt on our epidermis.

A long ride in rain

Fishtailing vehicles, muddy shoes

As people pushed the van

Back in Karatu

Met up with Shanna and Justin

And what did we do?

As we debriefed

We shared all God did

And ate goat meat

A day of rest

Food, cards, talks, and shopping

As Obeja Inn guests.

Waited and waited

Vets, US team, and Keith arrived

We were elated

Final team meeting

Bag, car, and people separation

After eating.

Broke down on the road

After getting permission

Into Ngorongoro

God's at work

Many opened hearts to the gospel 

As we sat in the dirt.

Maasai on the hills

Called on His name and decided

Pray for them I will

Two days it took

Started the work of churches

Darkness shook.

Issues with transportation

God still shared and glorified

Despite miscommunication

Finally got chapati

Some to Jesus film, Col got sick

Not in the squatty potty.

Had the closing rally

After evangelizing close and having tea

For lunch? More wali!

4000 heard

And over 3000 accepted Jesus

God gave us words.

Another long drive

Out of the conservation

To Karatu we ride

Split up in hotels

We're finally all cleaned up

Col is doing well.

Another bus ride

To Arusha we go to stay

Many changed inside

Heard testimonies - God glorified

God made famous

That ain't no lie.

In these two weeks

Over 6000 entered the kingdom

And we are meek

God did it all

He moved and spoke in and through us

Though we're small.

To God be the glory

He alone deserves our praise

And we bend our knees

Tanzania changed

In May 2010, God moved again

And more call on His name!

May God richly bless you!

Love in Jesus Christ!

Africa Story #9: Forgiveness

On our last day of ministry, Tom, Ortha, our translators, Pastor Thaddeus, and I went to a village that was very far from our camp.  We drove about an hour and 45 minutes from camp on rough roads and then walked about 15 minutes to a school.  After talking to the headmaster and the staff, we were invited to talk to two classrooms (each of over 100) about Christ.  Tom and I tag-teamed it...I shared the reason we were there, he told the story of creation using the kids as characters in the story, I shared the gospel using the cube, he prayed the prayer with those who raised their hands and wanted to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. I trained kids in the evangecube and gave ones away to those who could recite it back to me, and he told the story of the possessed man who Jesus freed (again using kids as characters).  Many of the kids put their faith in Christ.

 

Then, we went to the houses just up on the hill behind the school.  I started sharing with a family, but they interrupted to tell me that they did not want to hear about Jesus.  I asked if I could pray with them; they said no.  So we left, and I prayed for them silently as we walked away.  Then, we walked for a long time.  It was gorgeous.  Hills of yellow and purple and green.  Grayish blue sky.  Slight breeze.  Small trails through the tall flowers and grasses.  Then, we walked past the school and back to the car.

 

From there we drove to where three of our team members (Keith, Kala, and Beth) spent the night.  They stayed with their village, sleeping in tents on the side of a hill, because of the long drive each day it was taking them to get there.  When we met up with them, Beth introduced me to Luca, his brother, and his cousin.  And then she told me this story...

 

Beth and Kala went to Luca's home on the first day of ministry in that village.  They were surprised when they began sharing with him and discovered that he could speak English very well.  They told him about Jesus in English, and he immediately wanted to put his faith in Christ.  He became their translator for the next three days, as it was easier to share with people directly from English to Maasai (instead of having the in between Swahili translation).

 

When Keith and Beth and Kala decided to camp out near these villages, they wanted to invite Luca, hi brother, and his cousin to stay with them in another tent.  Luca's village was over a large hill from the place they had chosen to camp for the night, and they thought it would be easier for Luca to stay the night instead of traveling such a long distance the next day to translate for them.  But a couple of the leaders from the church in the area were quick to say "no" to this idea.  They told the team that Luca was a thief, and that they were sure he would clean them out of everything they had brought to the campsite.  The team did not propose the idea to Luca.

 

The next day after sharing the gospel with another village, Beth and Kala turned around to see Luca, his brother, and his cousin.  They arrived around 2:00pm and had been walking since 8:00am that morning.  Again, one of the church leaders approached Keith and told him that this village, where they stayed the night, was one from which Luca had stolen.  Keith rushed to Beth and Kala and had to tell them that if something big happened, like a fight, they should just stand away and not interfere.

 

Forgiveness is not a concept for the Maasai.  The punishment for thieves is death.  There is no other option. 

 

Beth and Kala were nervous but tried not to show it.  No one knew what was going to happen. 

 

It was about this time that my team arrived for lunch.  Beth and Kala shared with me what was going on.  Kala, Tom, Ortha, and I walked away to take some pictures on top of a nearby hill.  When we returned, Beth had joyous news to share with us!

 

The head of the village, who also had recently become a Christian, walked up to Luca and stuck out his hand.  Instead of giving him what he deserved, he was welcoming him to the village!  They exchanged a few words, and the leader forgave Luca.  Can you believe it? 

 

And that's not the end!  After that happened, the church leaders who had prohibited Luca from camping for fear he would steal something, also walked up to Luca and asked his forgiveness for assuming he would steal.  He forgave them, telling them that he had changed because of Jesus.  He will never steal again.

 

Praise God for His grace!  Praise God for His forgiveness!

Love in Gracious God!

the little things.

One thing that I have learned about myself through the years is that I love memories.  Making them and then looking back years later and treasuring them again.  And the reason why I love memories is because they allow me to experience special moments over and over.

Like going through photos and videos from my freshman year of college.  The bathroom song will forever invoke feelings of anger and frustration and yet always remind me that the little things like clogged and overflowed toilets make for great bonding moments between suite mates and for lots of laughter.

Or like searching through my "under-the-bed" box and finding crazy and embarrassing items like my bright pink soccer goggles.  And remembering that the little things like being the only person on the undefeated team that never scored a goal on the Saturday before Mother's Day was still okay because at least I could see.

Or like spending this evening with my grandmother and my sister and my two cousins, Kels and Lina, and ending up singing songs we wrote in Puerto Rico nine years ago at the top of our lungs.  "My Little Girl," "Morning is Here," and "Because You're Special" are the little things that make me smile.

Don't be afraid to look back at memories.  I have learned that even bad ones make you a better person today.  Yes, we all have those pictures in extremely hideous outfits or ones where our smiles are just plain weird.  But, trust me, the laughter of looking back is so worth it.

The little things turn out being so much bigger when they are cherished.  I look back and come to this conclusion: it is the little things that make the best memories.

Africa Story #8: The Man with Questions

On our first day of ministry in Ngorongoro, I was partnered with Tom and Ortha. We went to a small village called Maasai Park. Tom and I started off sharing the gospel together, taking turns with one translator until my translator showed up. He did not come until later. Fortunately, we ran into the pastor of the church there in the village, the one we were helping to plant. Her name is Selena, and she speaks English, Swahili, and Maasai. She headed one way with Tom, while Bwire stayed to translate for me.

Bwire stopped at a small shop window and asked the man and woman inside if they had time to listen to what we had come to say about Jesus. The man quickly came out of the shop, and his wife listened at the window. As I shared the gospel, he listened very intently. When I got to the part of the story where Jesus rises from the dead, he smiled and was very excited!

When I finished, he told me that he was happy and excited, but he wanted to know an easier way to follow Christ. I told him that following Christ is not an easier life; it is a better one. I explained that Jesus told His followers that the reason He came was to bring life, abundant life.

Then, the man said that he was good, and he asked why he should go to church if he is already a good person. I said that it is good that he is good. "But," I asked, "have you ever lied?" He quickly responded, "No." But then, after waiting a couple of seconds, he said, "Oh wait, yes. I lied once when I was young." I explained to him that even that one time when he was young was a moment of disobedience against the Lord. And when one disobeys and sins against God, one is separated from God forever. I showed him the picture of Jesus on the cross from the Evangecube and further explained that through belief in Jesus, one can be reunited with God and forgiven of all sin.

Without hesitating, the Man with Questions declared, "Oh! I want to accept Jesus!" We prayed together, and he called upon Jesus as his Lord and Savior for the first time. He was so excited and grateful that me, an American, had come from so far away to Tanzania, to Ngorongoro, and then to Maasai Park to tell him about Jesus. As he continued, tears filled my eyes. He said that he had been waiting for such a long time for someone to tell him how to accept Jesus and follow Him the easy way (by just believing and trusting God for salvation and not by living a perfect life). He was blessed and excited!

I love when people ask questions. It means they are really processing what I am saying. God gave me words to answer the Man with Questions. Now, he no longer waits wondering. Instead, he is the Man with The Answer. He has Jesus in his heart and a full life before Him.

Love in The Answer!

Africa Story #7: Lightness

After getting permission to go into Ngorongoro Conservation, where we would help to plant and encourage churches among the Maasai people, we loaded onto a bus with all of our bags and headed toward the conservation. Just when we got beyond Karatu, our bus broke down. We were already late and had to make it into the conservation by a certain time before the gate closed for the evening. Quickly, we split up into various land rovers and threw some of our stuff on the top of the cars. The rest of our bags were to follow later on other cars. By God's grace and provision, we (and our bags) made it into the conservation just in the nick of time.

Because we were late, the little over two hours on the windy roads in the mountain to the place where we would be staying ended up being mostly in the dark as the sun set just as we entered the conservation. The curves were a little nauseating. The air was cool. The scenery breathtaking. Right now, I cannot think of a more beautiful place on this earth.

When we made it to Jehoshophat's church (where we would be staying), we unloaded our bags and tried to get situated in the church. All of the men (pastors, national missionaries, and members of our American team) slept on the floor of the church, where the chairs are normally set in place for Bible study and services. The women from the American team (aka me!) slept on the stage just behind the podium where the pastor stands. The Tanzanian women, wives of some of the men, and the cooks slept inside Jehoshophat's home.

As we waited around in the dark for dinner to be prepared (by the way, the precious cooks provided delicious, filling, wonderful meals for us everyday--praise God for them!), some of us realized we needed to, how should I say, relieve ourselves. Jehoshophat led us into his home and told us that the women could use his bathroom in his home for the week! The men had to use the outdoor bathroom, a hole in the ground outside in a dark little outhouse which was near an area that was often frequented by huge wild hogs and cape buffalos. :)

It was when I went into Jehoshophat's home that I met his granddaughter, Lightness. She was precious. I think she is 11 years old. She spoke English beautifully. After meeting her, she took my hand, and we walked back to the church together. She started telling me everything about the church. And then I asked questions. And she would answer. And then she led me up onto the stage, my soon-to-be bedroom for the next week, and showed me the drums.

I have learned that the most precious moments in life are the small ones. Memories are treasures to me, and, looking back on my life, I realize that I treasure small specific instances, those that maybe other people who were there with me may never remember.

I will never forget Lightness. She demonstrated her drum playing and then asked me to play. She would tap out a rhythm, and I would mimic her. She said she could sing too. She sang a beautiful song in Swahili and beat the drums in a rhythm at the same time. And then we pulled out a second drum, and we sang and drummed together to a Swahili song that I knew.

After a while of drumming, Lightness told me a little more about her life. I am pretty sure that her mother and father passed away when she was young. She told me that she knows and loves Jesus very much. She also told me to pray for her sister, Lovegood, who had ran away. Please pray with me for her.

This story is not too involved, but it is one of my favorites. A lot of things happened in the two weeks while I was in Tanzania, but the moments in this late evening with Lightness and the drums are ones that I will remember always. Throughout the week, Lightness would find me or I would find Lightness and would talk about our days or just sit and hold hands.

I have a friend, rafiki yangu, in the middle of Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Lightness was a light in my life, and I pray that she may continue to be a light to every one she meets.

Love in Light of the World!

Lightness and me...