Final Scenes From The Location

     This week marks a lot of lasts (for the time being, at least), and this one just might sting a little more than most. Yesterday was my last vegetable distribution day to The Location. God provided more vegetables than I have seen my entire trip, we were able to give to more families than ever before. Our God is great, and greatly to be praised!

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!"

Bread of Life

    *Disclaimer: I have had a case of writer's block the past fews days so this is nothing grand but I just can't seem to get my thoughts on paper.*

     I went to visit our friend Nelokee and her family at their local bread shop today. She actually makes and sells solar cookers, which come in mighty handy for a country that has sun shiny days 95% of the year. In her handy dandy solar cookers, you can cook anything your heart desires. So far I have seen chicken, stew, vegetables, pies, or my favorite, homemade bread. You can buy a roll sized piece of bread for one Namibian dollar, or a loaf for six, which together add up to a whopping one U.S. dollar. Nelokee makes the majority of her living off a bread sells and obviously that is not very much. We have decided to buy all our bread from her (which is far yummier anyway) instead of the local Spar or ShopRite because we want to help support our friend in any way we can. We are able to minister to her and her family simply by buying a one U.S. dollar loaf of bread. But the reality of "is that enough?" hit me today (this reality seems to hit me quite often). Can we buy our bread and call it quits? Of course not, poverty is so rampant here and there is so much physical need everywhere, but it is both and not either or. If we take and take of actual bread but never feed them the Bread of Life, our efforts are in vain.

     It is the same scenario with HIV and AIDS in Namibia. The government will only claim that 40% of pregnant mothers carry the disease because in reality the true numbers are astronomical. And that watered down 40% is only taken from mothers that actually have their babies in a hospital, so needless to say, many would estimate a percentage closer to 80%. Many people simply do not know the simple precautions they could take to at least help in the prevention of such a deadly disease. For instance, many witchcraft rituals involve cutting in some way or another and a witchdoctor will use a single knife to complete this practice on all twelve year old girls in the entire village. Lives are at stake because of ignorance. They simply need to be educated. Proper hygiene education would literally make a world of a difference. But is providing education enough? Can we just teach them how to physically save their lives and move on with ours? By no means. We must assess both the urgent physical and spiritual need that lurks on every corner. In reality, life with AIDS and with Christ is still eternally greater than no AIDS and no Christ. 


     One other thought: We rant and rave over Nelokee's bread, every time we take a bite we make some joyous comment on it's deliciousness. We tell everyone we can about it and how they too, should get bread from Nelokee. Do we do the same with the Bread of Life? Do we burst with joy and praise every time we feast on the Word of God? Do we tell everyone we come in contact with about the Word that is "sweeter than honey, much pure honey"? Do we offer others the gospel because we want them to experience what we, as believers, have found? Let us live with such a passion!


What do I enjoy even more than the bread when I go to visit Nelokee? Her precious niece and nephew that I get to laugh and play with!

Oh It's Ladies Night

     I just tucked ten of God's most beautiful creations into bed. I'm playing "mom" again for some of the weekend so tonight was officially ladies night (yes, I actually sang them the song..or bits and pieces at least). Our devotion time tonight was lady focused, hence why it was 'ladies night'...I will be honest I have struggled with whether or not to skip over the "girly topics" because these girls need the gospel, the true gospel. God has most definitely taken all the plans I had prepared to teach them and totally turned them upside down. After seeing the massive confusion of truth and scripture these girls are constantly bombarded with, I felt strongly that every night we should study a different passage that clearly explains God's redemptive power, because in my opinion, you can never get enough of the gospel. With that said, tonight I felt the Lord leading to have girl talk, and by His might alone, He completely turned girl talk into full fledged gospel talk. I had print out stick figure girls and got them to draw on the girl what they thought, or what the world considered, beautiful. Favorite answers of the night: "chubby cheeks", "long fingers like rakes" and "bushy eyebrows". After we laughed and giggled like girls do, I made them write across their entire page, PSALM 45:11..that says,

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord."

      We talked about how God didn't mess up with he created you, how He has a plan and purpose for your life. My heart broke when my precious Loide asked, "What do you do when you always feel like you aren't beautiful and that no one loves you?" I told her that the only true comfort comes from Christ, how even if not a single person on this earth ever loved or cherished us, that God's love is greater. He is enough. Enough to fill every void. Every longing. Every desire. I shared with the girls possibly the most comforting verse in my life personally, a verse that brings me great joy, one that I clung to in some of the hardest times.

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."

-Psalm 107:9

     We talked about 1 Peter 3:3-4 and how true beauty is found in the person of the heart. That desiring eternal things, that is what God finds precious.

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious."

     We concluded our time before bed with the gospel...that far more than all the beauty tricks this world has to offer, Jesus offers an everlasting remedy for the heart. And that is salvation in Him...God is truly at work here, that I am confident of.

A few more questions from the night were:

"Can we really ask whatever we wish in His name and it will be given to us?"

"Does God punish His children?"

"If God really does plan all things, can I blame Him for the death of a loved one?"

     Tough questions, but God is stirring up questions in their hearts. Thank you Father for drawing your children to yourself.

Scenes From The Location

     Wednesday is our weekly vegetable distribution day for families in The Location and here are some pictures from that outing:

"learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow's cause."

Isaiah 1:17

To see last week's post on vegetable distribution go here: The Location

Two Weeks...

     Here marks the two week descent till my journey home...at moments it feels like I have just gotten here, and then at others, it feels as though I have been here for ages (in a wonderful, comfortable, relational way...with a little missing home here and there). I have been wrestling with the two week mark and praying through some challenges I believe the Lord has set before me. With my days in Tsumeb dwindling down, I feel a constant reminder from my Savior to, "Make it count" "Seize the moment". I am continually blown away by the abundant opportunities He has set before me and am confident that, if I am open and willing to be completely led by the Spirit, He will provide many more in my last two weeks. 

     Lord, open my eyes and heart to hold fast to every opportunity that you alone give to boldly share your gospel.

     Yesterday, in preparation to teach the girls the gospel through Acts 8:21-40, God revealed something new, something I had never taken away from this passage before. A challenge for my own life, a challenge that doesn't end when I get on a plane in two weeks but one that should radically transform my everyday life. Maybe it's just me, but when I read and study Acts 8 I focus on verse 35, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus." I tend to only focus on how exciting and powerful the Word of God is. How comforting it is to know that God will empower His followers to preach the good news. While all that is true and awe inspiring, I too often skip right over verse 40 and the implications and motivation it should have on the lives of the church. "But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea." He seized every opportunity to share. Philip could have easily thought, "I did my work for the day or even the week, I not only got to lead someone to saving faith in Christ, but I got to baptize him as well." *Pats himself of the back* and moves on with his life. But instead, he "made it count", "he preached the gospel to ALL the town until he came to Caesarea." He didn't let it stop once he checked his sharing box, like so many of us work to do for the sake of a simple check mark on our Christian walk. He was obedient to the task the Lord has set before all who have put their faith in Christ. His overriding life focus was God's mission. 

     I want to have a fire like Philip to never stop sharing. Just because I leave Africa doesn't mean I'm off duty. As believers, we are never off duty. Jesus Christ is both Savior in African and Alabama. When I return home, I desire to continue to follow the Lord's leading and make every opportunity count. 

Lord, guard my heart from complacency. Keep me from falling back into my normal, everyday, routine and thinking that I've done my part for the summer, how sinful that would be. Create in me a new normal. A normal of boldly proclaiming your Word in every conversation. Give me a drive like Philip. One that never gives up, one that lays down it's pride for the sake of the gospel in Africa, Alabama, and everywhere in between.

P.S. The saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" has never been more literal in my life. We squeezed two huge buckets of lemons yesterday. Scott says they should start doing it in prisons as punishment. It might do the trick.

Just One Of Those Days

Honestly, today I woke up feeling like this...

It was just one of those mornings.

    

 I could have curled into the fettle position and stayed there all day. Then, in the midst of my three minute wallowing session, God so graciously reminded me that I have approximately eighteen days left to pour every bit of Christ in me into these girls. There is no time to waste.

     With all the time consuming responsibility that today held, I hit the ground running without concentrated time in the Word. I must say I have never felt the lack of strength that flows from missing a morning like I did today. I made myself take a few minutes alone to eat a little lunch and feast on the Word of God. Let me tell you...best turn around to a day yet! Complete 180.

     To add to the stress of "one of those days" I moved into the hostel to play "mom" for the weekend because Gertrude (their houseparent) went to visit family. Responsibility overload...but at the same time, opportunity overload. Sometimes I seem to forget how God has this whole thing rigged (to quote one of my favorite pastors)!


Two events that made my day:


1) One of the girls brought me these flowers. She said one was for "I", one for "love" and the other "you". Being a girl and all, it was the perfect pick-me-up!

2) Then, as playing "mom" time began, we were sitting around on the porch talking when one of the girls asked me if I was married. WHAT?? Is the African sun doing some intense damage because last time I looked, I was still seventeen. Don't worry Dad, I set them straight. I asked her why she thought that and she said because I wore a ring on my left hand (opportunity light bulb burning). I was able to explain the commitment I have to both Christ and my future husband, what I believe the Bible says about purity, and implore them to consider doing the same. While having this conversation I realized that she too wore a ring on her left hand. Jokingly I asked her if she was married or engaged to be married and if I could be in the wedding..now wait for it. This was her response: "No mam, I am not married. I saw that you wore a ring and wanted to wear one also, to be like you." To say the least, I was taken aback. Flattered? Without a doubt. But a reminder to live above reproach? Slightly overwhelming. They notice everything, they are watching every little detail. Every response, every action, everything I wear, everything I say. Lord, be glorified in my every breath.


 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in 
conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. -1 Timothy 4:12

   
  That conversation opened the door for a night full of questions on marriage, purity, men, women's responsibility etc..and though I am no expert on the subject, I was able to drive them straight to the Word. In one conversation, I asked them to name three qualities they look for in a man. Handsome, smart, respectful towards women, morals, good smile..are just to name a few. Not a single one said a God fearing man. I told them that they will never be loved the way God intended love to be if they do not first seek to find a man the has submitted His life to Christ. How Ephesians 5 talks about a man loving His wife as Christ loves the church and what that looks like in action. Thank you dad, for actively displaying what true, godly love really looks like. Thank you for daily laying down your life for mom and for our family. You and mom have taught me what Biblical marriage looks like and now, because of your obedience, I am able to teach girls to follow your example. (Happy Father's Day!)

The Location

     Today, some of the girls and I delivered fruits and veggies to people in "The Location". What is "The Location", you might ask? While the majority of Namibia is impoverished, this is the area in Tsumeb of severe, unfathomable (insert whatever extreme adjective you would like here) poverty. Over 80% of children in the country of Namibia are considered malnourished under "normal" circumstances, but considering the recent loss of crops, lack of food supply is through the roof.

     This precious baby girl had recently been burnt my boiling water, her entire neck and back are covered in burns that are not being treated properly. Her wounds are open and bleeding. Pray for an avenue to get her medical attention.

P.S. It is actually called "The Location", that is not just the name I dubbed it.

Everyday Happenings

     I know how people are about pictures..the more the merrier. I myself would agree. So, here is a picture overview of the last weekend...with a little commentary here and there, you know me, have to get a word in somewhere.

Braai on Saturday night (just like a cookout/bonfire with a snazzy African name)

     Sunday school on Sunday (duh) morning. 93 children came to hear the gospel and make Father's Day cards. Such a joy to teach them. The heart wrenching reality is the majority of these precious kids and teenagers have no father or male role model in their lives at all. So, we talked a lot about God being our Heavenly Father and as John 1 says, "to all who believes He gives the right to become children of God"!

 So very thankful to be a part of His great mission. So so very thankful.