Armor of God

I apologize for the delay on the update… I have not been able to fully “shake” this stomach situation I have had.  But I believe it is getting better now and I am thankful for the many lessons that God has taught me through it. 

So, my time with Anna last week was so incredibly fruitful!  Thank you all for your prayers!  I do believe there is great power in prayer and so I ask that you continue to lift Anna (and Nancy) up, and the time God gives us together as you feel led to.  Friday at school, I had invited Anna and two other teachers to my apartment on Saturday to study the Bible together.  In God’s grace, I was able to find 2 more Bibles in English in the same translation Saturday morning so I bought them for the other two women so that we could all have a copy in front of us.  Only Anna and one other teacher, Nancy, showed up.  I was still so thrilled!  The entire morning I spent preparing what I would share with them and really begging the Holy Spirit to speak through me.  I realized that morning that I had never really taught or discipled women from “scratch.”  I soon found out that not only Anna, but Nancy too, knew nothing of God or His Word.  I was in over my head this time.  I prayed throughout the entire time with them that the Holy Spirit would give me the words to speak.  And He did! 

I wanted to give them a foundation of the Bible first – so I started in creation and went through the resurrection of Christ.  This was VERY effective because Lindsey let me borrow an English/Swahili picture book that had the creation, the fall of man, the sacrificial system, the crucifixion of Christ, the resurrection and the reconciliation to God through Jesus, with all of the accompanying verses.  They were able to see the words and verses in English as well as Swahili and they loved the pictures.  I wish I had an entire Bible like this to share with them!  When I got to the crucifixion, Anna stopped and said, “this is very sad”…. I thought she was going to cry.  I was moved by the Holy Spirit that was clearly at work within her!  After we finished the overview of the Bible we opened our Bibles and read together Genesis 1-3 (creation and the fall of man).  Anna and Nancy had so many questions.  Some very difficult questions.  Anna asked, “if there is only one true God, why so many churches?”  She was referring to Catholics, Muslims, Christians, and other religions that exist here in Tanzania.  What a great question and what a profound question!  They also asked all about Moses, Queen Esther and Joshua.  At first I thought that was strange but then I realized that they were wanting more details to the stories than what I had taught the children in their class.  God was using the time I spent with the children to not only teach them but also the teachers about His Word as well!  We serve a brilliant God, don’t we?!

 The questions continued.  “All women liars because Eve?”  So many questions.  So many questions that I did not feel equipped to answer well.  But again, God in His grace spoke through me through His Holy Spirit.  I praise God that we are not left alone to figure out how to share His good news with others!  But instead, he equips us through His Word and by His Holy Spirit! 

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and

profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,

and for training in righteousness, that the man of

God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Ah!  I am so thankful for the Word of God that is profitable for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness!  What more do we need when witnessing and sharing the good news with others?  After 2.5 hours of studying the Bible, answering questions and praying we came to a close on our time together.  I asked if they would like to meet again next week to study God’s Word.  They immediately and excitedly answered, “yes!”  I gave them a homework assignment since they now have their own copies of the Bible.  They were to read Genesis 6-9 (Noah and the flood) and if they had any questions to discuss them with each other until we met again the following week.  Because of my stomach issues, I have had to postpone meeting with them until this afternoon when school is out.  But when I saw Nancy last week by her apartment (also on the ground of the school) I asked her if she had read her assignment yet.  She answered, “Yes.  I have many questions for you.”  Ahhhh!  Praise God for His stirring of our hearts!  I am so expectant of our time together this afternoon… I promise to keep you posted.

Please continue to pray for Anna, Nancy and the other teachers that God has given me relationships and opportunities with.  Pray that they would be receptive to God’s Word and that He would remove the veil from their eyes in order that that may see the truth and trust in Him as their Lord and Savior.  Pray that He would continue to sustain me in His Word and that I would be so grounded in it that nothing I say would be of my own words but only His. 

Every single day that I am here I am more and more aware of the spiritual warfare going on around me and the attacks from the enemy that I feel are constantly upon me.  In his wisdom, Andy gave us these verses to encourage our team in arming ourselves in God’s Word and in prayer prior to leaving Botswana and coming to Dar es Salaam.  Being on the mission field and knowing firsthand the attacks we would endure, I truly believe the Holy Spirit was speaking directly through Andy when he shared this passage with us in an effort to encourage us just as Paul was encouraging the church in Ephesus when he wrote this.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of

His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you

may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against

the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers

over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil

in the heavenly places.

 Therefore take up the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,

 and having done all to stand firm.” 

Ephesians 4:10-13

 Please pray that by God’s grace and provision, I would stay strong in His Word and in communion with Him.  Some days I feel like I can’t take another day of stomach problems, or another day without water or power, or another day apart from Rob or familiar faces that know me and love me.  But the Holy Spirit gently reminds me of my purpose here.  And that is not of comfort and pleasure but rather to share and show Christ to everyone He puts in my path!  Please pray that I would have the wisdom to remember that when I feel incompetent, exhausted or annoyed with the endless frustrations of this place.  I long with everything in me to spend eternity in Heaven with Anna and Nancy and all of these people praising our Lord and Savior!  Will you join with me in that prayer?   

A few of my favorites from the past week....

 the children reading from the storybook Bible

 The children colored me pictures of the people in the Bible that I taught them about.  From left:  Ashiratfu (Adam & Eve), Acqui (Queen Esther), Yusra (Adam & Eve), Brian (baby Jesus & the whale... ha ha), Saimon (Sampson), Asha (Adam & Eve).

 "But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!  Romans 5:8

"Lakini Mungu amethibitisha kwamba anatupenda, maana wakati tulipokuwa bado wenye dhambi, Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yetu."  Warumi 5:8

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6

Yesu alisema, "Mimi ni nija, na ukweli na uzima.  Hakuna awezaye kwenda kwa Baba ila kwa kupitia kwangu."  Yohana 14:6

 If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that GOd raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  With heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.  Romans 10:9-10

Kama ukikiri kwa kinywa chako kwamba Yesu ni Bwana na kuamini moyoni mwako kwamba Mungu alimfufua kutoka wafu, utaokoka.  Maana mtu huamini kwa moyo akafanywa mwadilifu; na hukiri kwa kinywa akaokolewa.  Warumi 10:9-10

It doesn't get much cuter than this  :)  Junior waiting for lunch time.

Our God is greater

As I spent the last 6+ hours in absolute pain, enduring through miserable stomach problems, I was sweetly and quickly reminded of this verse,

“Some trust in chariots and some

in horses, but we trust in

the name of the Lord our God.”  Psalm 20:7

Where is my trust when it comes to pain and sickness?  Is it in medicine? In my own methods of remedy? In doctors?  Or is it in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior?  As I suffered for long hours without air conditioner, half of the time without power, and without the comfort of my Mom or Rob (who I always want and need when I am experiencing sickness), the Holy Spirit taught me a valuable lesson...

“Trust in the Lord with all your

heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

 In ALL your ways

acknowledge Him, and He will

make straight your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I have heard and read this passage what seems to be a million times, but the Holy Spirit never opened my eyes to the truth it holds until today.  This command does not say, in “some” of your ways, or in “most” of your ways, but in ALL of your ways acknowledge Him!  What conviction I was feeling!  I am so so prone to trust in Him with what I deem as the “big” things in life (like the salvation of others, my future marriage, coping with death, etc.) but in the small things, where does my trust lie?  I praise God for His grace to speak to me through His Holy Spirit during my struggle, rather than after my pain had subsided.  He gave me strength to seek healing from the ultimate healer and physician and vulnerability to ask for prayer from others!  Thank you Mom & Dad, Rob, Tinsley, Lindsey and Megan for going to war against the enemy with me!  I am 100% convinced that this was just one more ploy of the enemy’s to try to get me down and destroy what God has me doing in Tanzania.  But you know what?  HE WILL NOT SUCCEED!!!!  For what Satan intends for evil, God intends for good!  Ahhhh!!  Let this resonate and feel the weight of this for a minute…. we serve a God that has power over sickness, natural disasters, demons, and death!!!  The words to the chorus of Chris Tomlin’s song, “Our God is Greater” has been replaying in my mind all day…..

“Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God, you are higher

than any other!

Our God is healer,

Awesome in power,

Our God, Our God!!!!”

Oh that we would “taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8).  As I sit in the same room that I have been in for the past 6 hours and 54 minutes, I can’t help but praise God for His mercy and love to teach me valuable life lessons through my pain.  May I be reminded of this when (not if, but when) I am targeted again by the enemy!!! 

On a lighter note, Happy Valentine’s Day from Tanzania!  I pray that today has been a time for everyone to reflect on the love that God has blessed us all with.  No, not on our spouse or fiancé or significant other, not on our children or grandchildren, but on our one true love….. Jesus Christ!  May this be ever present on our minds and hearts as we strive to do just that…..

“Greater love has no one than this,

that someone lays down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

And that is our greatest love….the love of Jesus Christ.  The love that laid down His life for us… that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8).  Oh God, make us focus on that love today rather than on red roses, chocolates and candied hearts!  Bring us to our knees in thanksgiving as we celebrate the love that allows us to love others in return!

My Valentine from Anna

Even though my Valentine from Rob has not arrived in Dar es Salaam yet, I did receive a Valentine from a new friend!  For those of you who have been praying for Anna's salvation and my time with her..... THANK YOU!  Please keep praying!  I will update you soon on the time we spent together last weekend!  There is power in prayer -- thank you!!

Zaidi ya

I have just returned home from another fulfilling day at the school with the children and the teachers!  Every day that I have to spend with them I am thankful, for every day I learn something new.  I am loving seeing their eagerness to learn about Jesus and to know the stories and all of the people from the Bible.  We have made it to Jonah and the whale already because they are constantly wanting “zaidi ya” (more).  I had originally planned to read one story in the Bible a day to them (from the children’s Bible I bought) but one is never enough!  We always read at least three and then review from the previous days.  Their sweet little voices with their African Swahili accents enthusiastically yelling out “Adam, Eve, Noah, Moses, Jacob, Joshua, David, Sampson, Queen Esther, Jonah” when I point to the person, brings joy to my heart! 

God is convicting me through His Holy Spirit every time I hear them yell out those names so excitedly.  And every time, He whispers “Do you long to know my Word as they do?  Do you get excited learning more about me and how I moved through my people?”  And every time, my answer is not yes.  Some days I long for air conditioner and decent plumbing more than I long for God’s Word.  Some days I long for Rob and his love more than I long for the presence of the Almighty.  Some days I long for rest and time alone more than I long for intimacy and worship of my Savior.  But every time I run after these things above or before Him, I am continuously unsatisfied.  I think my Pastor David Platt said it best, “God has got this thing rigged!  You see… He has given us cravings and desires.  But these cravings and desires cannot be fulfilled apart from Him.  So everything that we run to, to quench those cravings, will never fulfill or satisfy.  And those cravings in turn, drive us to Him!  For satisfaction, for fulfillment and for peace!  Apart from Him, we will always want more and nothing will be good enough for us.” 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst

for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.”  Matthew 5:6

Oh God, thank you for “rigging” this whole thing in such a way that pushes us to you and drives us to seek you and righteousness for satisfaction!   May we be empowered by your Holy Spirit to hunger and thirst after those things rather than the fleeting things of this world!   

Update on Madame Anna:

Last week Anna invited me to come to her house on Saturday (tomorrow).  I was thrilled at the opportunity to use that time alone with her to teach her about God!  However, at the moment, I thought I was going to a village with the rest of the team so I told her I did not think I could come.  In God’s sovereignty, He allowed for me to stay here.   But because I had declined her original offer she has not mentioned the invitation again.  So, after much thought and prayer, I have chosen to invite her (along with 2 other teachers) to my apartment on Saturday afternoon to read and study God’s Word together.  Please pray for this time with the women.  Pray that God would speak through me and that our time together would be fruitful and open many more doors for me to share with them the truth of Jesus Christ!  

P.S.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures… in my absent-mindedness; I forgot to pack my camera cords so the only pictures I can upload are the pictures that I take on my phone.  Bear with me -- Lord-willing, I will have all of the pictures up eventually! 

 

 Abraham loves the camera 

 Zango and Vero napping after a long day of learning 

Zango wiped out from learning about Sampson, Queen Esther and David and Goliath 

Gifts from God

Just a few of my favorites to give you a glimpse of the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me...

 Madame Anna receiving her new Bible from me. Thank you for all of your prayers!  Keep them coming please!  

  

 Sharon, Sharon, Vero and Frazer getting ready to have "Madame Webber" teach from the Bible

 The highlight of my day every week day! 

 Madame Mary cleaning beans to cook for lunch for the children

 Junior and Zango playing outside during one of the breaks

 Sweet primary school children learning in their classroom

My buddy, Junior!  

Second chances

My heart is full of JOY this morning as I walk from the primary school back to my apartment!  I know I say this all of the time but… GOD IS SO GOOD!  I have just had the opportunity to teach children songs about Jesus!  Yesterday I ran outside as soon as I heard the children’s laughter and playful screams.  After being bombarded with hugs and kisses, I was greeted by three female teachers, all of which were in their mid-twenties (24, 25, and 26 years old).  Two of them claimed to be Christians and the other denied Christ as her Lord and Savior.  I wish I could tell you that I spent the rest of my day and night praying for Madame Anna but I didn’t.  My heart hurt for her in the moment but before I knew it, my mind was consumed with other thoughts for the day.  But God, in His goodness and grace, provided me with a second chance.  The teachers invited me to breakfast (porridge and tea) and then asked that I would come to their class the next day to teach the children.  Here was my chance… my chance to share Christ with Anna and invite her into my life in hopes of sharing and showing Christ to her so that she too could come to know Him as her Lord and Savior! 

Praise God for second chances!  Second chances to gain boldness from His Spirit, second chances to share the riches of Christ that we have with others, second chances to show Jesus to the lost, second chances to learn from our mistakes and be sanctified through them!  He pours out His grace upon us so freely and liberally!  Praise the Lord!

“Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I

Have my being.”  Psalm 146:1-2

After spending about an hour in the classroom teaching the children songs about Jesus we were interrupted by the clanging of a triangle to notify the children it was time for breakfast.  As the children ran to the “dining” (cement room with no AC and wooden tables and plastic chairs for them to eat a cup of porridge at) Anna and I walked slowly behind them talking.  She asked me if I could come again tomorrow to teach her classroom.  She then asked if I had a Bible that I could bring with me to teach the children from.  As we stood there talking my mind began brainstorming effective ways in which I could teach the children of Jesus.  Then God gave me my second chance…. Anna turned to me and said, “I would like you to teach me about your God.”  Ohhhhh, my heart literally felt like it was going to jump out of my chest with excitement!  THANK YOU JESUS!!!   I quickly responded, “Anna, I will teach you everything I know about God.” 

I feel renewed!  I feel excitement that I have not felt since I have been in Africa!  Here I thought I was going to spend the morning being fulfilled by the hugs, kisses and laughter of children… but God had greater plans!  Plans to save souls…

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.”  Luke 19:10

My mission here should be that of John the Baptist’s, pointing everyone to Christ so that He may save the lost!  One of my favorite verses in the Bible is John the Baptist’s response to his disciples when they approached him pointing out Jesus’ baptizing people (the act that John the Baptist was known for starting)…. Instead of taking any glory, John the Baptist answered them with…..

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3:30

Oh, that I would have the mindset of John the Baptist… CONSTANTLY pointing to Jesus and giving Him ALL of the glory and honor He alone is due!  I pray that God would save Anna and open her eyes to see His truth!  I pray that through His Spirit, He would grant me grace and wisdom to point her to Christ in everything I do.  I long to spend eternity in Heaven with Anna worshipping our King and Savior!  Please join me in praying for the salvation of Anna.