Africa Day 14 (The Final Day :( )

Sunday May 23, 2010

Overwhelmed

God has chosen me to deliver His message. It is with great honor that I deliver this glorious message. I can’t believe I thought it was a burden that I was somehow forced into preaching the gospel.

Last day! Sad day. We spent almost the entire day in the airport or on an airplane. I was only supposed to sleep on the second plane from Dakar to DC because of the time change, but I ended up sleeping on the first plane ride as well, only for an hour or so. I got a first class ticket from Livingstone, Zambia to Johannesburg. It was nice. Then I sat next to Dan and George and Michael on the next two plane rides. I watched 4 movies: Invictus, Kicking and Screaming, Extraordinary Measures, and Princess and the Frog. I liked the first 3, but the Princess and the Frog wasn’t that good at all. Pretty disappointed. I tried to sleep but I could only sleep for a couple hours. We arrived in DC about 6:40am, then we hopped on a plane bound for Tampa. I sat next to Libbs. We finally arrived in Tampa. It was sad to see everyone leave, but it truly was an unforgettable experience with an amazing group of people. They all will have a very special place in my heart.

Africa Day 13

Saturday May 22, 2010

Desperation

This world is desperate for deliverance. We must however, be fully surrendered in order to be used by God. It is more than saying it with your mouth. It means believing it with your heart, and acting it out with you life.

We woke up around 6:45. We were supposed to pray but I ran out of time. I gathered all the clothes and stuff to barter. I then went with the team to the 3 star breakfast. On the way we saw giraffes and zebras. My mouth was delighted with the breakfast. We then went to Vic Falls. I had my $1 poncho from Wal-Mart that did what it was designed to do. The walkway was covered in algae so it was difficult to walk on. However, the algae made for a great slide across the bridge. Afterwards we went to the market and had a great day of bartering. I went with 52,000 Kuacha about $10.50. I had some clothes and stuff to barter. For that little amount, I got so much. After that, Kyla and I went to the gorge swing that we missed out on yesterday. Like the bungee, I got pretty nervous when I was up there. But once we jumped it was so fun. Kyla and I were freefalling, like Tom Petty, for 4 seconds. Then we went to Hungry Lion, and I got a jungle burger with cheese. Then we went back to the base for debriefing that took entirely too long. We talked about everything that had happened. Then I helped Libbs, and Michael with some finance hw. The dinner was amazing too. I went to bed closely afterwards. I took a shower then went to bed.

Africa Day 12

Friday May 21, 2010

Abandoned

I no longer live, but Christ who lives in me. This trip I have really realized the authority God has placed on all of our lives. My faith has increased, because I have decreased. My life is abandoned for Christ.

Today I slept in until about 7:30, and read Hebrews 10 and Colossians. God rocked me with his overwhelming supremacy. Then we ate and got on the bus to go to the bungee place. I started getting nervous when I looked out over the gorge from the restaurant above the bridge. I paid and got weighed. So I would have no choice but to do it. Michael, Stephen, and I headed towards the bridge. I got the harness on and started getting really nervous. I was 2^nd to jump after Michael. I was shaking in my little space boots. I came to the edge. He wasted no time. “Head up! Arms out!” He proclaimed. 5-4-3-2-1…BUNGI! I took my last breath and jumped. The first two seconds of freefall I was breathless. The last two I was screaming like a little girl. The bounce back was also a bit scary. But when all was said and done. It was the coolest experience in my life. I didn’t get to go on the gorge swing, because they lost power. But Kyla and I are going tomorrow… maybe I’ll get to go bungee jumping again tomorrow. Then we went to Hungry Lion (KFC) and had a mediocre chicken sandwich. The ice cream tested like frosting through. Pretty good. We then went to one of the most prestigious high schools in Zambia. We played some basketball. We won 2 and lost 1. Then we headed back to base. I tried to help Libbs and Michael with finance. It was a bit frustrating because for the life of me I could not make this stinking balance sheet balance. The dinner was good though, probably the best I had on base. It was this gumbo stuff…

“God doesn’t want your experience, He wants your abandonment.”—Derick (A leader from Overland)

Africa Day 11

Thursday May 20, 2010

Works

I may not know the impact my team and I have left this trip until we get to heaven, but I know we did the will of God. The sick were healed, the possessed were freed, the lost were found. I pray that they would be continually stirred and consumed by the fire living in each of them.

But it is not by works that we are saved, so no man can boast. Rather by grace. Jesus died once for all men. As I was reading Hebrews 11, the chapter on people of great faith, I noticed that they were all justified by faith. Their riches were in heaven. God has been preparing us all for that eternal resting place.

Breakfast was good… the usual, oatmeal and tea. Then I washed my laundry by hand for the first time. The washing part was pretty fun, however hanging the clothes up was quite the task with the wind blowing. I’m just glad to be blessed with a washer and dryer. Then Pastor Mike Metzger from South Africa brought a good word, it was more like a class than a chapel. He made some very good points. After the break I went to the edge of the gorge. I wrote a poem called Moments. It is about not taking opportunities for granted. Libby blessed my socks off today when she paid for me to go on a dinner cruise. It was so much fun. We saw hippos and an amazing sunset. She is such a blessing in my life. There are lots of people in my life that bless me in different ways. I suppose that’s why their in my life. When we got back we had worship for a little while then I said goodnight.

“God loves you not because you are lovely. He loves you because God is love. There is nothing you can do to make him love you less. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more.”

Moments

The wellspring of life passes under my feet

Its purpose blessed, life secure

The grass, tall, feathered, rooted, gently brushes

My leg to show me its existence

Its purpose blessed, life secure

The sun is warming my neck, giving me life

Its purpose blessed, life secure

These unnoticed moments are all around

Take time to reflect, and respond, in these moments.

Every moment is unique, learn to love them

Thank God for these moments

These moments are divine, how can I pass them away?

Like waves flowing through a gorge

Here for a moment, a drop of eternity… Then gone.

Live in these glorious moments from above.

My purpose blessed, my life secured

Our purpose blessed, our life secured

Africa Day 10

Wednesday May 19, 2010

Strength

Will I only know the Lords strength when I am weak? It seems to often that we only seek God in times of weakness. It seems like he is the closest then. The he is always close! On this trip I have really learned a lot on relying on God for my strength. I have also learned a lot about spiritual disciplines. Prayer, journaling, devotional, I have learned a great deal that I will take on for decades.

Today we woke up before the sun was up. I didn’t sleep to well. I had a stick that was under the tent, right in the middle of my back. It made sleeping a bit difficult. We got everything packed up and we were out of simondeli by 8:00. I slept until we got to Nyawa central. We dropped of one of our translators, Veronica. And got some more buns. I slept for most of the remaining trip as well. We stopped at Rhapsodies for lunch. It was a very refreshing treat to eat a cheeseburger and a cold fanta. I got some chocolate. Then we finished the drive back to base. Then we unloaded the trucks then took a SHOWER! The first one in a week. I don’t think that I have ever enjoyed a shower has ever felt so good in my life.

Africa Day 9

Tuesday May 18, 2010

Burdens

We all have burdens. But is it better to hold them in? Of course not, give them to God for His burdens are easy and His yoke is light. We were not made to live this life alone. Rather, live in community. So confide in your brothers or sisters so they will help you out.

This trip has taught me so much about living in community. Not only with my own team, but also the Zambians all live in community sharing each others burdens. They seem much happier and life is so much simpler. By American standards, they were living in poverty, but they had everything they needed. Money can’t buy happiness. Rather, Jesus and community is a perfect recipe for happiness. I am writing this a day late so hopefully I don’t leave out any important details. We woke up a little late, and had some oatmeal. I have grown very fond of oatmeal. We were supposed to leave at 8:00, but didn’t end up leaving until 9:30. We all started down separate paths, but all ended up at the same village. There were only 4 villagers, the rest were in the fields. I spoke on 1John 1:5. It was last minute, but God made it work. I have learned a lot on relying on God, and through we have free will, God really does have a lot of influence whether I realize it or not. It is better to realize it and give God glory than pass it along as coincidence. When we walked to a village about 90 min away we shared with them for about 30 min and prayed for them. Then we opened it up for questions. They had lots of questions on polygamy. The girls got a chance to pray for the women there. Then we started walking for another 90 min back to camp. It was very tiring without water. We got back and had lunch, Tuna salad pasta. It was good. We were scheduled to play at 13:00, but didn’t start until about 15:00. It was probably the best game so far. We went down 1-0, then tied it 1-1. Then they went up 2-1. Then just before half we tied it 2-2. Next we scored and went up 3-2, then they tied it 3-3. Then I scored the winning goal with about 15 min left on a set

piece at the top of the 18. The keeper was leaving far post open so I went for it. Sure enough… GOAL! We ended up winning 4-3. Glory. Then we had a village wide feast. I tried goat, and shima, and pumpkin leafs for the first time. I really only enjoyed the goat. OH the sweet potato chips, YUM I went to bed right after dishes were done. I was wiped out.

Africa Day 8

Monday May 17, 2010

Standards

We are called to a higher standard; a standard not of this world, but a heavenly standard. It is time to start living in this standard

We woke up about 7:00 and I didn’t sleep very well. We packed up our stuff and started driving. We stopped in Nyawa central to pick up some buns and tea. However, we only got buns, which was still delicious. We also got to meet the chief of Nyawa. It was a pretty awesome experience. He was a very important man, everybody, all the village’s headmen reported to him. Meeting him was a real honor. We then got back from our trip around 1:30. WE arrived to Chad and Anna Marie’s smiling faces. It was kind of sad saying goodbye to Chad, but I’m looking forward to seeing him in October. Then I took a serious nap before everybody got back. It was kind of hard to sleep on the truck, but it was needed. We didn’t really get a chance to minister to people yesterday, but we played with the kids for a while. They bring me so much joy. They found out that I was ticklish. They tag-teamed me. I had to make a truce with them which they promptly broke because they couldn’t speak English too well. I played some rocket ship with them. They were obsessed with my headlight. Light at night other than fire was a very rare sight, and light that could be turned on and off was fascinating to them. Then we had an incredible dinner, spaghetti, village chicken (which was a little tougher than normal chicken), sauce, amazing garlic bread and smores for dessert. Ah so good. I had a glorious night sleep as well.