I am learning so much here in Africa. First I learned that the people cannot say Brad so my name here is now Bryan. I also learned that we wait and then we wait, and then we wait some more. Patience is a virtue I am learning. I learned that when in Rome do as the Romans do, but when in Africa, you make it work. That is my new motto. God is teaching me so much about who he is.
First he is teaching me how to listen to his voice and it definitely gets louder everyday. I really learned this through my time with a lady named Beatrice during one of our hospital visits. We were praying for her and all I could feel my heart saying was help her out. I really had a desire to help this woman out, but I wanted to make sure that is what God desired for me to do. I prayed about it and sure enough, I heard God speak to me and tell me to help her out. After I helped her I really felt a peace about what I did to help and I knew in that moment, it was what God desired for me to do.
God also teaches me about his love everyday through the kids we come into contact with. the kids absolutely love us mzungus, that's what they call us, which translates to white people. When we walk down the street, all we hear is how are you, how are you, how are you. They love to greet us and many times before we can ask them how they are doing, they have already replied with I'm fine. It's so cute. They are always smiling. Everyday we work with the kids at the school that is at the church we are working with. There are four boys, Alex, Byron, Shadrack, and Dereck, who have quickly become my best friends. If I am sitting inside the church, they stand outside the door and stare at me until I come out. We don't really do that much because there is a language barrier and they don't really know how to tell me what they want to do. So they drag me around the yard, hold onto my arms, and feel on my arm hair, they are mesmerized by my hair for some reason. Even though we don't do a whole lot, God's love for me come through the fact that they just want to be with me and hang out. I love that.
This is definitely on of the best experiences of my life. I am learning so much about who I am and who God wants me to be, and I find freedom in that. I can't wait to see what else God has in store for me.
"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30
