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