Oh heyyyyy! So many things have happened since I’ve last blogged! God is working in our hearts as a team and individually.
I came here expected big, tangible changes of the Holy Spirit. Now I’m sitting in Africa seeing big, subtle changes. Through door-to-door, relationships with our African brothers and sisters, interacting with the kids, and learning to seek Christ as a group, God has taught me that a relationship with Him requires discipline, patience, and a focused ear to hear His gentle voice.
Last week, Devan, Victoria, James, and I met an old man named Joseph. He has blue eyes, a quiet spirit, a crooked back, and a newfound love for his personal Savior Jesus Christ! The first time we met him, he told us about spirits that bothered him at night and we learned that it was because of those spirits that he stopped going to church. In Jesus name, we prayed that those spirits would leave and that he would get a great night’s rest. We left by asking him if he would come to church with us to which he agreed. The next time we went to visit him, we learned that he has been sleeping great ever since we came and he excitedly confirmed that he was coming to church with us. He told James, our interpreter that he was shy going to church because he didn’t have shoes. It made my heart melt to hear such a simple problem that could be so easily fixed. Our group made our way to town and picked up a pair of shoes, two nice shirts, coke, and some bananas (he has no teeth) and surprised him. That Sunday, he accepted Christ into his heart. I praise God that He has allowed us to be a part of Joseph’s story and let us experience the joy of watching Him work in the sidelines!
I know, I’m like putting together first grade sentences. In an effort to communicate better with my African friends, I’ve had to change my English a little bit. Hopefully, I won’t come back speaking super slow and with incorrect grammar. They love it when we try to learn Swahilli, so its been fun having picked up a few phrases. I’m also the only moochina (Chinese) in sight, so I’ve received many requests to teach Chinese. Its awesome how Kenyans are so eager to learn and teach about their own culture!
I LOVE the people here so much, and its been awesome getting to get closer with the friends we are working with, the sisters in Christ who are serving us at the place where we stay, and the local people in town. Even though its only been 2 weeks since we’ve arrived in Mpeketoni, its people have already stolen part of my heart.
