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.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Kenya (Part 1)
New Things: Went to Kenya, went on a safari, got the name Nosime which means "one you sit with and not be bored", ate different things at the Carnivore (camel, bull's reproductive parts, ostrich, goat, ugali), went to the Masaai market, learned some Maa and Swahili, saw zebras giraffes monkeys donkeys cows sheep ostrich on the way to speak to the Masaai women, I saw a one year drought end.
There is way too much to say about my trip to Kenya. The only thing I can say is God is amazing in every small detail. The preparation, the experience, and the processing of the trip were all under God's sovereignty. I can't tell you everything because I don't think I've been able to fathom what God has done to me yet but I'd like to share the things I know.
Preparation:
I have been at BayLeaf Baptist Church for 4 years now. It is not new that BayLeaf goes on many mission trips a year and even makes it possible, financially and schedule wise, for students to go on trips. My college pastor every year has approached me and asked why I haven't signed up for a trip and challenged the fear of money or ability. Every time my response was I didn't feel called. I knew it would be a good experience, I knew God could provide, I knew I can tell others about Christ, and I knew I needed to do it, but not now. The church goes all over the world but for our ministry Asia and Poland have been the most convenient because they are during school breaks. I've prayed often about trips, careers, places, timing but it had never seemed right. Then last March I was driving to church on a Wednesday night and I knew God was telling me to prepare to say "yes" to wherever God led me. I remember at the age of 13 telling my parents I might one day go to Africa. My mom gets hysterical and my dad tells me to follow God. In college I tell my parents I want to go to seminary because I'd like to work in urban ministry, possibly Chicago with the gangs. My mom gets hysterical (about Chicago) and my dad says follow God. In seminary I tell my parents I want to go to New York or Chicago. Mom begs and pleads dad says follow God. Then March happens... so I get to church and Billy decides to challenge the group to put their "yes" on the table for one of the trips this year. He hands us a list of places the church is going. I look through it and without question my "yes" is for Kenya. Unfortunately, it was the least convenient trip I could have chosen. It was the most expensive trip in the middle of a semester of school, and both my mom's brother and mom's mother's health were fading fast. Some might see that as a sign that I shouldn't go but no one protested my choice, not even mom. It took me a couple of weeks to get my courage up to tell my mom that I signed up to go to Kenya for 2 weeks. She was my biggest supporter. Over the next few months I raised money by an art show. I'm not exactly an artist but I like to paint and I would say I'm decent. But God showed up and I raised more than half the money I needed by selling 8 pieces of art. People gave 2-3Xs more than I asked for and others just wanted to support me. This is called the Church! They were just as much a part of this mission as those that went. Time went on, my professors allowed me to go, prayer infilterated me, and then the day finally came.
The Mission:
I'm with 18 virtual strangers as I step out of the plane onto Niarobi territory. There was an instant recognition that although nothing seemed familiar, I belonged there. A new currency, language, smell, temperature, culture, taste, appreciation overwhelmed me. I'm trying to keep my excitement in as I wait in line for my visa. The first person I talked to in the new place was the woman handing me my visa, and yet not very polite. Great... what have I gotten myself into. I'm rushed down to the luggage. I don't know how to use the carts. My baggage is checked. I'm rushed to the out doors where hundreds of men and women are forced behind a line as they are yelling and screaming into the automatic doors to the airport. A strangers hand grabs my arm and leads me to the parking lot where the rest of my team are hurriedly shoving their luggage into white vans and getting in. The stranger announces his name is Martin and tells me to get in the van. As we drive off into the darkness all I can think is "I need sleep".
There is way too much to say about my trip to Kenya. The only thing I can say is God is amazing in every small detail. The preparation, the experience, and the processing of the trip were all under God's sovereignty. I can't tell you everything because I don't think I've been able to fathom what God has done to me yet but I'd like to share the things I know.
Preparation:
I have been at BayLeaf Baptist Church for 4 years now. It is not new that BayLeaf goes on many mission trips a year and even makes it possible, financially and schedule wise, for students to go on trips. My college pastor every year has approached me and asked why I haven't signed up for a trip and challenged the fear of money or ability. Every time my response was I didn't feel called. I knew it would be a good experience, I knew God could provide, I knew I can tell others about Christ, and I knew I needed to do it, but not now. The church goes all over the world but for our ministry Asia and Poland have been the most convenient because they are during school breaks. I've prayed often about trips, careers, places, timing but it had never seemed right. Then last March I was driving to church on a Wednesday night and I knew God was telling me to prepare to say "yes" to wherever God led me. I remember at the age of 13 telling my parents I might one day go to Africa. My mom gets hysterical and my dad tells me to follow God. In college I tell my parents I want to go to seminary because I'd like to work in urban ministry, possibly Chicago with the gangs. My mom gets hysterical (about Chicago) and my dad says follow God. In seminary I tell my parents I want to go to New York or Chicago. Mom begs and pleads dad says follow God. Then March happens... so I get to church and Billy decides to challenge the group to put their "yes" on the table for one of the trips this year. He hands us a list of places the church is going. I look through it and without question my "yes" is for Kenya. Unfortunately, it was the least convenient trip I could have chosen. It was the most expensive trip in the middle of a semester of school, and both my mom's brother and mom's mother's health were fading fast. Some might see that as a sign that I shouldn't go but no one protested my choice, not even mom. It took me a couple of weeks to get my courage up to tell my mom that I signed up to go to Kenya for 2 weeks. She was my biggest supporter. Over the next few months I raised money by an art show. I'm not exactly an artist but I like to paint and I would say I'm decent. But God showed up and I raised more than half the money I needed by selling 8 pieces of art. People gave 2-3Xs more than I asked for and others just wanted to support me. This is called the Church! They were just as much a part of this mission as those that went. Time went on, my professors allowed me to go, prayer infilterated me, and then the day finally came.
The Mission:
I'm with 18 virtual strangers as I step out of the plane onto Niarobi territory. There was an instant recognition that although nothing seemed familiar, I belonged there. A new currency, language, smell, temperature, culture, taste, appreciation overwhelmed me. I'm trying to keep my excitement in as I wait in line for my visa. The first person I talked to in the new place was the woman handing me my visa, and yet not very polite. Great... what have I gotten myself into. I'm rushed down to the luggage. I don't know how to use the carts. My baggage is checked. I'm rushed to the out doors where hundreds of men and women are forced behind a line as they are yelling and screaming into the automatic doors to the airport. A strangers hand grabs my arm and leads me to the parking lot where the rest of my team are hurriedly shoving their luggage into white vans and getting in. The stranger announces his name is Martin and tells me to get in the van. As we drive off into the darkness all I can think is "I need sleep".
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Don't tell me you love me
(For you Kid Rock fans out there)
New things: Salsa dancing
The other day I had to take my car in to get looked at. I took it to Co Line Auto Service (CLAS) where they always take care of me and have my best interest. Chris, one of the mechanics, called to advise me one option and ask a few questions. One particular question, he changed his tone. He seemed firm and father-like as he asked "how many miles over had it been before you got your oil changed?" I knew it. He caught me. I had done something I knew I shouldn't have done. I waited at least 2 months. With a gentle rebuke, he made me understand the dangers of leaving it too long. More damage could be had, an accident was possible, more money and labor could be avoided. Then he instructed me to obey the sticker in the window. Don't wait to obey, because that is still disobedience.
Oh Chris cared about me that day. Nothing selfish came from his rebuke. He was gentle, compassionate, yet firm. He taught me instead of judging me. He was selfless and giving. He urged me to obey to avoid the consequences later. He might have even lost financially because I did not have damage for him to repair. He was loving his sister (They are Christians at CLAS)!
I thought about his rebuke today. I have a friend that I have had to rebuke, I pray I was gentle as Chris. But I also was rebuked by a friend today for my own sin. It is hard to give and accept rebukes but when done correctly it is the same as saying "I love you", just without fuzzy feelings inside. More importantly a gentle rebuke keeps the integrity of the Gospel. Don't call yourself a Christian if you walk in darkness. Don't tell me you love me if you don't care how I'm behaving!
"Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed" proverbs 27:5
New things: Salsa dancing
The other day I had to take my car in to get looked at. I took it to Co Line Auto Service (CLAS) where they always take care of me and have my best interest. Chris, one of the mechanics, called to advise me one option and ask a few questions. One particular question, he changed his tone. He seemed firm and father-like as he asked "how many miles over had it been before you got your oil changed?" I knew it. He caught me. I had done something I knew I shouldn't have done. I waited at least 2 months. With a gentle rebuke, he made me understand the dangers of leaving it too long. More damage could be had, an accident was possible, more money and labor could be avoided. Then he instructed me to obey the sticker in the window. Don't wait to obey, because that is still disobedience.
Oh Chris cared about me that day. Nothing selfish came from his rebuke. He was gentle, compassionate, yet firm. He taught me instead of judging me. He was selfless and giving. He urged me to obey to avoid the consequences later. He might have even lost financially because I did not have damage for him to repair. He was loving his sister (They are Christians at CLAS)!
I thought about his rebuke today. I have a friend that I have had to rebuke, I pray I was gentle as Chris. But I also was rebuked by a friend today for my own sin. It is hard to give and accept rebukes but when done correctly it is the same as saying "I love you", just without fuzzy feelings inside. More importantly a gentle rebuke keeps the integrity of the Gospel. Don't call yourself a Christian if you walk in darkness. Don't tell me you love me if you don't care how I'm behaving!
"Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed" proverbs 27:5
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
We are not the chosen one- why don't they understand?
New things: Earthquake, Dancing at North Hills, starting my last year of seminary
A few weeks ago I was at a friend's house watching Bachelorette (no shame) when it was interrupted by a speech by our president informing the nation the financial woes we are facing. We too easily were inconvenienced by the interruption and less worried about the path our nation and leaders are swiftly pursuing. It is a slap in the face to our forefathers and our Heavenly Father by our complacency in money, power, entertainment, romance, and convenience. We are believing that America is invincible and we are blind to the fact that God is the same God of Noah.
America has "In God We Trust" stamped on the currency. What would happen if we didn't have money? Would we still trust God? What would happen if our freedom was taken away? Would there be a church on every corner prepared to face persecution? What if storms blew in destroyed the power industries, buildings, landmarks, banks, trading ports, and homes? Would we believe God is all we need? What if disease spread? Would we survive?
We don't know what will happen but we do have a choice to trust God. But we don't trust God now. Or else we would be praying for our leaders, pastors, parents, children. We don't have God's hand because we have money, we have been blessed by God's hand. We have a stewarship disorder or maybe just a greed sin.
My challenge is for us to start taking serious natural disasters, the national debt, leadership, and the Church's involvement in education and government. God is good and just!
A few weeks ago I was at a friend's house watching Bachelorette (no shame) when it was interrupted by a speech by our president informing the nation the financial woes we are facing. We too easily were inconvenienced by the interruption and less worried about the path our nation and leaders are swiftly pursuing. It is a slap in the face to our forefathers and our Heavenly Father by our complacency in money, power, entertainment, romance, and convenience. We are believing that America is invincible and we are blind to the fact that God is the same God of Noah.
America has "In God We Trust" stamped on the currency. What would happen if we didn't have money? Would we still trust God? What would happen if our freedom was taken away? Would there be a church on every corner prepared to face persecution? What if storms blew in destroyed the power industries, buildings, landmarks, banks, trading ports, and homes? Would we believe God is all we need? What if disease spread? Would we survive?
We don't know what will happen but we do have a choice to trust God. But we don't trust God now. Or else we would be praying for our leaders, pastors, parents, children. We don't have God's hand because we have money, we have been blessed by God's hand. We have a stewarship disorder or maybe just a greed sin.
My challenge is for us to start taking serious natural disasters, the national debt, leadership, and the Church's involvement in education and government. God is good and just!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The Sky is Falling
My uncle Rick is in the hospital. He has tumors and cancer that are pushing against his heart and throat. He can't eat, breathe or stay awake. Treatments have stopped working and he is down to 135lbs. He's a man's man in a fragile weak body.
My grandmother has been my biggest fan since I can remember. As her only granddaughter, she viewed me as someone who could do no wrong. She prays for me without ceasing and brags on me constantly... until she got dementia. Then her brain caused her to believe lies and accuse me and my aunt of stealing from her house. She creates elaborate stories of our immorality. She is becoming violent and the news of her son, Rick's illness exasperates the situation.
My mother is a pieced together wreck. I don't know how she does it. She is a strong woman. She knows life doesn't end and God is in control but her mother is deteriorating, her brother is finalizing his will, and her life is complicated by others' sins.
People come and go in my life with their own problems whether it is job searching, spouse searching, degree seeking, purpose, loss, trust issues, sins, confrontation, financial, disease, or selfishness. Everyone's sky is falling and are having a hard time finding the Sun
My grandmother has been my biggest fan since I can remember. As her only granddaughter, she viewed me as someone who could do no wrong. She prays for me without ceasing and brags on me constantly... until she got dementia. Then her brain caused her to believe lies and accuse me and my aunt of stealing from her house. She creates elaborate stories of our immorality. She is becoming violent and the news of her son, Rick's illness exasperates the situation.
My mother is a pieced together wreck. I don't know how she does it. She is a strong woman. She knows life doesn't end and God is in control but her mother is deteriorating, her brother is finalizing his will, and her life is complicated by others' sins.
People come and go in my life with their own problems whether it is job searching, spouse searching, degree seeking, purpose, loss, trust issues, sins, confrontation, financial, disease, or selfishness. Everyone's sky is falling and are having a hard time finding the Sun
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Baby Genius
New Things: Hosting my big brother, sister in law, and niece here in NC!! Saw a shooting star.
Here is the picture of my new haircut as I promised!!
So my niece Zooey is probably the most intelligent child I know. I'm not even being biased, it is just a fact! At the ripe age of one, she responds to us without our preping her, is figuring out shapes, loves sounds, and recognizes that if I hide behind a wall, I'm still there not really gone. Tonight I cooked dinner for the family and roommates while we all admired Zooey and caught up in life. Zooey of course wanted to scout out the apt which luckily is pretty small. She fed herself with a spoon, put flip flops on my foot when I asked her if I could have them, played hide n seek, said "hey" and "uh oh", and loves to laugh.
I got to give her, her birthday present of a tea set that plays songs and makes noises for pouring tea. Zooey was able to push the button and almost got the cakes in the right shapes. My favorite part of the night was when Jennifer got the video camera out while playing with the toy. Todd and Jennifer told her to say "thank you aunt Lindsay". Zooey got on her hands and knees, crawled around her tea set, climbed into my lap until the song on the teapot was over, as if to say "thank you" in the only way she could, and then crawled back to her playing.
This week we have planned swimming, shopping, Durham Bulls Baseball, see SEBTS campus, Cotton Co., Church and see all my friends and any other suggestions are welcome.
I love this girl!!
Here is the picture of my new haircut as I promised!!
So my niece Zooey is probably the most intelligent child I know. I'm not even being biased, it is just a fact! At the ripe age of one, she responds to us without our preping her, is figuring out shapes, loves sounds, and recognizes that if I hide behind a wall, I'm still there not really gone. Tonight I cooked dinner for the family and roommates while we all admired Zooey and caught up in life. Zooey of course wanted to scout out the apt which luckily is pretty small. She fed herself with a spoon, put flip flops on my foot when I asked her if I could have them, played hide n seek, said "hey" and "uh oh", and loves to laugh.
I got to give her, her birthday present of a tea set that plays songs and makes noises for pouring tea. Zooey was able to push the button and almost got the cakes in the right shapes. My favorite part of the night was when Jennifer got the video camera out while playing with the toy. Todd and Jennifer told her to say "thank you aunt Lindsay". Zooey got on her hands and knees, crawled around her tea set, climbed into my lap until the song on the teapot was over, as if to say "thank you" in the only way she could, and then crawled back to her playing.
This week we have planned swimming, shopping, Durham Bulls Baseball, see SEBTS campus, Cotton Co., Church and see all my friends and any other suggestions are welcome.
I love this girl!!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
From Beer to Bible
New things: Bangs (I'll show a pic soon when I can get a handle on them), latte art competition
I was in a fog tonight. Not really ready for the day; ready to sleep at a moments notice. But the day charges on and so must I. Tonight after work, a group of us went to my friend Andrew's coffee shop, Jubala. There was a latte art competition, (Congratulations Daniel)!
During the competition my friend Elizabeth and I went outside to talk about possible topics to teach on our mission to Kenya. We sat ourselves at a table next to a group of younger guys, smoking and drinking and staring. As we sat down there was a request for us to sit with them, in which we politely passed down their offer in order to discuss the trip. Elizabeth told them we would be willing to talk to them after we talked about the trip. They took it as us blowing them off (which I was fine with), but you know there is always that one guy that doesn't stop!
Elizabeth and I were able to talk about some topics and freely spoke of Christ, the Church, the Gospel, and context of the Kenyans. Eventually the guys next to us started dispersing except that One! Suddenly he just said "Whoo hooo". I just looked at him and asked what he was referring to? He just wanted to join our conversation. So he came to our table and we began explaining what we were discussing about women of the Bible and how we are relating it to the women in Africa we will be meeting. Edwin, my new friend, began sharing with us a metal band that apparently is at least spiritual. Then he shared some of his own music that he has written, which was awesome and a great lead into his own understanding of the spiritual aspect of life. As he began talking of the universe and the god, and our choices, and heaven as a feeling we one day obtain, and hell on earth, humans connecting spiritually, I soon realized that whatever he believes he wants to connect to us somehow and knew the spiritual route was the way to go. It dawned on me that maybe people want the Church's approval. I'm thankful Elizabeth and I had the opportunity to share with Edwin and I got to share the complete Gospel with Lars and Edwin.
I think most people that are unchurched stay unchurched because no one has invited them and on their own they feel out of place. They feel like they have to fit a mold to be accepted. Even Edwin mentioned they we probably come from a place that listens to pretty music with harps and look at pretty pictures of heaven. I can imagine if we stopped judging tattoos, blue hair, piercings, the music, the language, personalities, etc... we might have a chance to get to know the person. Why do we expect people to act like Christians when they don't know Christ? It is not our job to change a person but our job to introduce them to Christ.
My observation has been that when I am sharing the gospel, most people will share whatever they know about God, Church or spiritual life. They want to seem like they know. They want to be in conversation with us. They want to be accepted. It is sooo easy to start gospel centered conversations with people but we prejudge who is willing and miss out on what God can do.
I was in a fog tonight. Not really ready for the day; ready to sleep at a moments notice. But the day charges on and so must I. Tonight after work, a group of us went to my friend Andrew's coffee shop, Jubala. There was a latte art competition, (Congratulations Daniel)!
During the competition my friend Elizabeth and I went outside to talk about possible topics to teach on our mission to Kenya. We sat ourselves at a table next to a group of younger guys, smoking and drinking and staring. As we sat down there was a request for us to sit with them, in which we politely passed down their offer in order to discuss the trip. Elizabeth told them we would be willing to talk to them after we talked about the trip. They took it as us blowing them off (which I was fine with), but you know there is always that one guy that doesn't stop!
Elizabeth and I were able to talk about some topics and freely spoke of Christ, the Church, the Gospel, and context of the Kenyans. Eventually the guys next to us started dispersing except that One! Suddenly he just said "Whoo hooo". I just looked at him and asked what he was referring to? He just wanted to join our conversation. So he came to our table and we began explaining what we were discussing about women of the Bible and how we are relating it to the women in Africa we will be meeting. Edwin, my new friend, began sharing with us a metal band that apparently is at least spiritual. Then he shared some of his own music that he has written, which was awesome and a great lead into his own understanding of the spiritual aspect of life. As he began talking of the universe and the god, and our choices, and heaven as a feeling we one day obtain, and hell on earth, humans connecting spiritually, I soon realized that whatever he believes he wants to connect to us somehow and knew the spiritual route was the way to go. It dawned on me that maybe people want the Church's approval. I'm thankful Elizabeth and I had the opportunity to share with Edwin and I got to share the complete Gospel with Lars and Edwin.
I think most people that are unchurched stay unchurched because no one has invited them and on their own they feel out of place. They feel like they have to fit a mold to be accepted. Even Edwin mentioned they we probably come from a place that listens to pretty music with harps and look at pretty pictures of heaven. I can imagine if we stopped judging tattoos, blue hair, piercings, the music, the language, personalities, etc... we might have a chance to get to know the person. Why do we expect people to act like Christians when they don't know Christ? It is not our job to change a person but our job to introduce them to Christ.
My observation has been that when I am sharing the gospel, most people will share whatever they know about God, Church or spiritual life. They want to seem like they know. They want to be in conversation with us. They want to be accepted. It is sooo easy to start gospel centered conversations with people but we prejudge who is willing and miss out on what God can do.
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