The next morning I wake up in a bed with a net to protect me from the mosquitoes and geckos. I'm told not to brush my teeth with water to not get sick, careful in the shower, and get ready for breakfast. Breakfast was the only relatively normal thing I experienced. Then it was time to go meet the Masaai people we had come to teach. I climbed back into my van as we traveled about an hour into the valley. On the way we slowed down as cattle and sheep crossed the road; we watched as giraffes, zebra, monkeys and ostrich posed on the side of the road. It didn't seem to phase the natives. Zoos don't exist in Africa. We arrived at Liberty church where pastor Peter and some others welcomed us. Everyday we spent hours of teaching the Bible to the men, women and children. We gathered to worship in song and dance. The people gave with a heart of thanksgiving. It was humbling to receive jewelry as a gift that is usually used to sustain their livlihood and food that is rare for them to receive. They were a people that understood respect and hospitality. They worshipped God with all of their body. But they were sinners that were in need of the Savior as am I.
Their greatest physical need was water. Women would often walk 12 miles one way to get a bucket of water for the day. However, there had been a drought for about a year, so finding water was critical. The chief gathered the people as they discussed the next step and prayed for the water. Our team prayed as we heard stories of illnesses and deaths from the lack of water. BayLeaf was in the process of digging a well, but even that was being put off. Then on Friday we went to evangelize to some of the bomas in the area. Men and women came out of their homes to listen to the Mzungu. They had never met white people that wanted to share Christ. At the end of teaching we had 6 new sisters and 1 new brother in Christ. Then our fearless leader Walter told the team to gather around a baby to pray over her illness. As he began praying, there was an internal struggle I experienced about what to pray. Of course I wanted the baby to be healthy but I prayed for rain. Well, the prayer ended, we went to our van, and ate bread. Suddenly, our translator Emily tells me to look in the distance. I see a grey haze. She says "It's rain!" Our driver pleads with us to enter the van as he dashes off before the rain leaves us stranded in the middle of the valley. It begins pouring down to the point puddles are immediately rising. We make it back to our hotel. I asked Walter what was wrong with the baby? He said, "She needed water". Oh my God, I praise you for your mercy and love. God moved in the face of new believers to confirm their new faith in Him. He provided the rain that we prayed for to affirm our belief outside of coincidence and science. God provided the living water of salvation before he blessed his people with the water of the earth. God is good without the rain!
There are plenty of stories for me to share on this trip. God showed me things that America's entertainment, wealth, and intellectualism clouds. I want what the Maasai have, a clear sense of God's power and goodness. Now that I'm back in the states, I can imagine myself back there. That scares me. I'm not scared of new things or places or losing possessions or not seeing my family, I'm scared of responsibility, accountability, and perseverance. I pray that I have a thirst for God like none other so that wherever I go, it is God I experience and not a thrill. God, I pray you fill me so you may use me.
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