Walkers.in.Africa

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

The Journey Begins:

I am so small and God is so big! I was reminded

of that fact when I gazed out of the airplane window. The football fields were tiny, the waves of the ocean slow and small. “As the heavens for height and earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.” -Proverbs 25:3

I was having my quiet time on the airplane and these verses stood out to me: “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He himself was about to go . . . Then the seventy returned with joy saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.' And He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, nothing sh

all by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because you names are written in heaven.'” Luke 10:11, 17-20. What a comfort to know that we go before His face, to the places where He himself is about to go. We can return with joy in the power of the LORD, rejoicing that our names

are written in heaven. It reminds me of a verse from one of Leeland's songs “I'll follow You into the homes of the broken, follow You into the world, meet the needs of the poor and the needy God, I'll follow You into the world.”

Needless to say I was SO HAPPY to get off of that airplane. Though we did have a few good laughs on the plane, we were quite delirious and the people snoring exceptionally loud was funny. Thank God we made it through customs quickly. I must admit that I enjoy to study people: it was fun seeing all the different cultures in a foreign airport and listen to the variety of languages.

SOUTH AFRICA:

Am I really here? That thought flashes through my mind often. Africa is BEAUTIFUL - the landscape is full of brilliant, lush green colors. Our little cottage is in the country and I am lovin' the peace and quite (though there are some really loud, interesting sounding birds!). It is fun to suddenly be in summer when it is winter back home. The days are longer (especially when you are wide awake at 4am as your body is wondering what the heck is going on with the time change).

Johannesburg is overflowing with people. Highways and streets are full of a constant stream of pedestrians attempting to weave through traffic. It is common to see people cruising around in the back of pickups. The contrast of the poor and the wealthy is shocking, they literally live right next to one another.

We did our first shopping trip yesterday, haha, and I thought I was bad at shopping in the states (!) You should see me in a store that is in a totally different layout then I'm use to, everything is in a different currency, and I don't recognize half of the names or brands of things … it was fun though :D.

In a few days we will begin ministry in the squatter camps and start teaching the kids at the preschool - so exciting!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to pop in with a quick hello from Africa :). We arrived after our long flight to greet the beautiful lush green country. Our little cottage is located in the country not very far from one of the squatter camps.

Living the countryside is so nice and quite. I was wide awake at 4am this morning, who would have thought!?!?

Anyways, I am enjoying the fellowship of meeting the team and discovering the new sights. We will begin ministry in a few days (exciting!)

El Roi, The God Who Sees Me

A few days ago I was reading Luke. Luke 6 tells the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue and how there was a man there whose right hand was withered. Big deal, right? I mean, it is just a small annoying injury to no one in particular (though if it had been me or a loved one, I'm sure I would have thought otherwise). I read on. The scribes were watching Jesus closely. They knew of His healing character and love for everyone; would He heal on the sabbath? They were itching to accuse Him. Then Jesus, who knows all things, who came to fulfill the prophesy spoken of in Isaiah 40: “Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God,” called out to the man, the man of no seeming consequence, and told him to stretch out his hand. “And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.”

What love! The man didn't even ask, yet Jesus saw the need, singled him out and healed him. I'm so thankful that Jesus doesn't think like my selfish thoughts, that He cares about EVERYONE. He cares about me, even when I'm selfish. LORD, help me to love as You love, help me to reach out and see everyone as you see them! God thank you for loving me.

Well, I went on with my day not thinking of my earlier devotion time until I found out that my brother, Ryan, was involved in an accident with the lawn mower. He lost the tip of his right pointer finger and mangled two other fingers. Now this may seem of no consequence to you, but this was my little brother and he was hurting! Suddenly I remembered the story in Luke 6 and I prayed, “God, You love Ryan way more than I possibly can. You know how to comfort him. You know all things. You took our burdens on the cross. Father may he feel Your presence and arms. Father comfort Him because You see him now; You know exactly how he feels and what he needs!” I was met with a beautiful sense of peace.

The next day Ryan was home from the hospital. Soon after he was pale, shaking, sweating, and moaning in pain. We turned on some healing scriptures and began to pray them over him. Within a few minutes the shaking had subsided leaving only silent tears rolling down his cheeks. I turned on the song Healer by Kari Jobe and watched in wonder as he slipped into a peaceful sleep. Is God good or what? He comforted Ryan, and it was awesome to behold.

I am reminded by the scripture in Isaiah 43:1-2 “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.'” He doesn't promise that there will be never be rivers or fire to go through in life, but He does promise to go through them with us. And one day, He will make all things new.

Ryan is in good spirits, Jesus is holding his hand as he walks through this. Our family and friends are praying, our home church is praying, Lakeside church is praying, Ryan's school is praying, our friends in Africa are praying. God hears, He is here, He cares, and it is beautiful to behold.

Healer, by Kari Jobe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzejd6r9DwE

Healing Scriptures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIPhEwUvwOI