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.

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 Jesus

     **Disclaimer: My heart is broken for a people that are missing the true gospel, bare with my ranting and raving**

     On Wednesday night I went on my first outing alone with the girls...to a church they wanted to visit, there is no better place to go, right? I write this with a heavy heart because I went to a so called gathering of believers and witnessed more darkness and lostness than I possibly ever have before. 


     For me...it's just Jesus. Not Jesus and casting out demons, or yelling out against evil spirits, or "healing" the lame with the touch of a sinful human's hand...just Jesus. My heart is so broken for not only a room of 200 people that are deceived into thinking that rituals and traditions are what it takes to get to Jesus and experience the joys of life in Him, but for 11 girls that I have come to know and love. I understand that their are cultural differences but this wasn't cultural, what was different was that they were missing the gospel. As the man they called a prophet began to lay his hand upon "demon possessed" people, and in the name of Jesus command these spirits to come out..I came to a startling realization. These people are participating in the same acts as witchcraft, just claiming Christ's name on the side of it. In America, it materialism and then let's just add a little of Jesus in here and there...here, it's witchcraft, with a little Jesus. How desperately these people need the gospel, simple as that. They are so convinced that all this hoopla is what it takes to be right before God. If they allow the "fire" or so the preacher said, to come upon them, they would be promoted in heaven. Oh, how contrary the Word of God really is.

 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:21-24

     As the "healing" went on for a number of hours, I was brought to my knees of behalf of my precious girls that think that this is what it looks like to truly seek God. Many of the girls asked me if I was doing okay and thankfully the Holy Spirit put more than just a simple "Mmhmm" in my mouth! I was able to explain that I believe the Word of God teaches that once we truly put our faith in Christ, Satan no longer has a threshold on our lives, we are free from the devil's snare and cannot be possessed by demons. That yes, there is a spiritual battle going on all around us, but how do we flee from sin and temptation? The Word of God!..That is why He gave it to us in the first place, to know Him and make Him known. 

"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." -Romans 8:2

     The girls and I discussed the night over devotion the next day and I wanted to make sure they understood that the same power that that man claimed to have, I have, living inside of me. I do not need a human to get to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is alive and active in the lives of those who believe. 

     God has totally revamped my view of what I am doing here..The biggest tragedy in this country is that their are churches and people that claim to know Christ on every corner. Christians around the world would look at Namibia and many other African countries and think that Christianity is thriving and believers are being trained in truth, but if churches and believers are classified as what I witnessed the other night, boy do we have a long way to go. The Johnson's are here because pastors, those in charge of leading a congregation and training them in the Word, don't even know the truth of the gospel themselves. Pray that this harvest field is not overlook because statistics show that a large number of people are dubbed Christian. Pray that those that do know the truth will not hide it under a bushel. And ultimately, have confidence in the work of the Holy Spirit that is truly active here.

Look at these faces, they will grow up confused on what is truth and what is not if we, the church, don't get out there and share the Word!

     

Going And Telling

     Sunday mornings in Tsumeb might possibly be my favorite time of the week. This past Sunday over 80 children walked for miles to cram into a tiny building where they feasted on the Word of our living Savior. We sang song after song and dove deep into the last seven days of Jesus' life on earth. We focused on The Great Commission and the importance of telling our friends about the love Jesus has for them. I got to lead the kids in an activity of going and telling...if you can't tell, it was a hit! These kids know their stuff, they were throwing out answers left and right. I was super impressed. My prayer is that it is not just head knowledge but the Spirit that motivates studying the Word in this way. God is definitely at work in these kids lives. I am so excited to be a part of it.

Here are a few pictures from Tori:

And here are a few of mine:

Afternoons On The Compound

     One of the many avenues By Provision uses to share the gospel and create a safe environment for children is having a community pool. Everyday, despite the fact that the pool water is freezing this time of year, dozens of kids line the gate waiting to swim. On Friday, (I know I am behind on blogging but time with these kiddos is just too good to pass up) I got to play lifeguard and spend the entire afternoon just loving on kids that desperately need Jesus. Nothing brings me more joy! The majority of the children are from an orphanage three blocks away so this wonderful treat is just what they need. I have been blown away with all the opportunities God has given me to just pour His Word into them..just sitting by the pool and chatting. 

A For Africa

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,

   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
 He does not faint or grow weary;

    his understanding is unsearchable.  

He gives power to the faint,

   and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

   and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

   they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

   they shall walk and not faint.

     I have been fighting off the funk the past few days but it woke me up this morning..and I think it won. I refuse to let my days here be wasted in bed. All my vitamins and antibiotics are in my other suitcase, go figure! That means lots of water, especially the Living kind! (Yes, I just used a cheesy biblical reference!)

     Not to be a complete Debbie downer...I met the girls yesterday, and it was WONDERFUL! God is already breaking down barriers. Robert Scott (Scott and Tori's oldest) told one of the girls that he was baptized on Sunday and she came to me and asked why he waited till he was older to be baptized instead of getting sprinkled as a baby like they have always known and done..I was able to explain that we believe baptism is a public profession to the church and the whole world that we have put our faith in Christ and made Him the Lord of our lives. That the Bible teaches that baptism comes after salvation, to show a decision that we have made in our own lives, not one our parents or denomination made for us! I know, hardcore theology day ONE! God doesn't wait around to share His good news..and we shouldn't either!

May God Be Glorified In Our Coffee Dates..

     After seemingly forever in the car, seeing nothing but bushes and dirt (and a few animals here and there), we finally made it to Tsumeb. During our journey here, I was debriefed on the situation with each of the girls living on the hostage and arrived feeling slightly overwhelmed. There is so much need, and I am insufficient, but one thing I know is true, the God of the universe conquered sin and death and can most definitely draw these girls to Himself and radically transform their lives. He is where my hope is found. The set up is a little different than I had previously anticipated but I am all the more excited for what God has in store. I had originally planned to spend a set time with all the girls as a whole during the week. Teaching "life skills" and simply pouring into their lives, but because of extra afternoon classes to help bring up the girls grades, I will not be given that specific time. Instead, I will be working around their schedules and investing in two to three girls at a time. Basically, lunch or coffee dates (which are my favorite, anyway)! The desperate need for positive attention and care was expressed to me and even though I hate that those have been areas of neglect in the girls lives I am super excited, hopefully I am pretty good at being a friend by now! 

Please pray as these relationships begin to develop. May God be glorified in our coffee dates!

Let's Take A Walk

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."  -Ephesians 4:1-3


     My heart aches because of a generation that claims Christ, and wants to experience the benefits of the Holy Spirit, but fails in walking in such a manner worthy of the calling to which they have been called. They have been called, even COMMANDED, to honor God and obey his precepts but daily rebel and shame the name of God.

But, at some point, didn't we all?

I catch myself thinking, "How can I measure up?"

"How can I walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called?"

"I continually fall short!"

     I think that's the beauty of it, I can't! That's when God's Word in 2 Corinthians 12:9 sweeps in and gives me hope!

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."

     His grace is sufficient, for me, for a generation of students who are constantly searching for satisfaction in all (which in reality, is so little) this world has to offer, and for every man and woman, here, there, and to...the ends of the earth!

     Could you imagine the impact that this generation could have for the sake of the gospel if we started walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called? If we not only claimed Christ, but desired humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, and striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit?

Oh, how I long for that day!

Faith compels action.

And I will be active.

Photo Credits: Whitney Pritchett (www.whimsicalharmony.blogspot.com)