Tuesday
I laughed as I heard Swahili fly from June’s lips faster
than I ever had before this morning. She
ran from the water bucket with Madame Beatrice bent over in laughter. Why? Her biggest fear. A rat.
Last night, a rat had gotten into the 100 liter bucket and died
there. She ran out of the kit hen as
fast as her legs could carry her, leaving the rest of us laughing. In the few breaths I could get out, I asked
her if she wanted me to take care of it.
She barely got out “yes,” so I got a collinder and dipped it out. I brought it to the “toilet,” which is really
just as hole in the ground. The kids
just stared and gave crazed looks as I walked by them holding a bowl with a
dead rat inside, trying the contain my laughter. Welcome to the everyday experiences of living
in Africa. And I wouldn’t trade it for
anything. I mean, it ain’t a party going
to the bathroom in a stinky hole. But
the simplicity of life here makes it all worth it. Things we forget we even have are nowhere to
be seen. Washers and dryers, paper
towels, CLEAN WATER FROM A FAUCET. Every
morning I wake up and filter my water for the day. This includes drinking water and water for
brushing my teeth and taking my malaria meds.
Having the chicken I saw running in the yard earlier for dinner. The beauty of the countryside. The red dirt roads that make tons of dust to
drive my nose crazy. All our fruit
bought from the market in the square. You
know, God is an extremely complex God.
He is omnipotent and omniscient.
He knows all. But sometimes He
chooses to make His voice and commands simple.
And we simple say yes. We are to
be like Isaiah and say “Here I am. Send
me.” Simply following His Will. He is waiting for us to fall into surrender
and rest. All we have to do is simply
reply yes and follow the incredible purpose He has for our life.
Thursday
Today was one of those days I just wanted to stay in
bed. I was tired and my bed was so
warm. Besides, they could do without me
for a day, right? These days come. I work very hard every day and barely fall
into bed at night. I then felt in this
moment that I needed to get up. To do
this. To do that. Work, work, work. And God said “stop.” He slowly breathed on me and said “it’s not
about doing; it’s about me. You’re tired
so you can further put your trust in me.” See, if we continue doing and forget
what we are doing it for, then our doing is completely worthless. My hope is not on my body to continue because
obviously that’s not happening. My
worthless body points me to one thing.
Him. Why? Because He is enough. He is all I need. I don’t need to do, but I just need to be
still and know He is God. Sometimes He
speaks in the still, small voice that can barely be heard. Sometimes He speaks and dry bones grow flesh
and breathe. There is nothing I can do
for God. He has done it all and just
chooses to allow me to join in. He does
it all for me. So I don’t trust in
myself or anyone else, because He is enough.
He wraps His arms around me and guides me where I’m to go. I just have to reside in His presence. He is there expecting my worship. He is my light, my salvation, my strong
tower, my refuge, my rock. And if He is
all that, I can trust Him to wake me up in the morning and rejoice because He
made this day for me to enjoy to the fullest.
It is He and He alone. I just
stay close and abide. It reminds me of
such a good song…
“Draw me closer, Oh My Lord.
Draw me closer, Lord, to thee.
And captivate us, Lord Jesus. Set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence, falling down.
And rushing river, draw us nearer. Holy fountain, consume us with you.
And captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.”
Friday
Well, I’ve been here 25 days now. My halfway point in Kenya. Sad face.
But the things I’ve learned and experienced here will last for the rest of my
life. This place has changed me so
much. I would not be the person I am
today had I never set foot here 3 years ago.
So I want to take a second and thank my sister for the person she is. Around 7 years ago, Katie heard Mike Curry
talk about this place in Africa called Kenya, and God started stirring
something in her heart. She took a huge
step of faith and asked Mom and Dad if she could go, and they took a step of
faith and agreed. Well, obviously it
changed Katie’s life. And now, 7 years
later, our whole family has been affected by our experiences in Kenya, and
nothing has been the same. All because
my sister took one leap of faith. And I
am forever thankful. Besides my parents,
Katie is the person I look up to most in life.
The way she selflessly serves others humbly and lives her life on
mission inspires me so much. She is
always there to encourage me or give me advice.
She is there for me even though we live 4 hours away from each other. Not to mention she’s pretty cool too, and can
still beat all of us up. She’s got jokes
too, and can deal with my corniness. I
love her so much. My whole life is
directed now from what I’ve experienced in Kenya. Everything that I am doing and working
towards was changed and set into motion because of this place. And without her, none of that would probably
be happening. So I am forever thankful
for her. She’s not just my sister. She’s my best friend.
Saturday
Today a medical team was at the orphanage to test for
HIV. I asked Hellen how big of a deal
HIV was in this area. And how she
replied shocked me. She said that it was
the #1 killer; that 70% of the people here are HIV positive. Seventy percent. That almost everyone in the slum is affected,
and that people just don’t care or are in denial. So it spreads through the sinful lifestyle
that is everywhere there. And I was just
brought to my knees. My mind cannot
fully comprehend it. If they even got
some proper medication and ate a good diet, it could greatly be helped. But because of their situation, it’s impossible. How can I live while so many around me are
dying? Why do I get to have food
tonight? Why is it me? I’m on my knees and the understanding is hard
to come by. This is life here. It’s hard.
HIV kills. Bottom line. And people suffer because of it. Children live in fear when they find they’re
infected. This is not a story on the
internet. This is reality. My friends are affected by it. But at school, they are taught how to deal
with it. We are bringing up a generation
who will not only live for Christ, but will affect Kipsongo for Him. Because if people won’t listen, I can at
least help those who will. God has these
people. They are HIS. He heals.
One kid who was HIV positive no longer shows it. He cares for His own. He protects.
I am His, and so are many of these sick people. I still don’t know how to handle the fact
that 70 % of the people around me possibly have a death sentence. That’s hard for anyone to handle. But my God is good. He is there and at work. He is the one to put trust in. And I pray that my friends put their hope in
THE ultimate hope. It is for His glory
and His glory alone.
Sunday
God works through weakness.
I woke up today not feeling any better. While in the shower, I prayed that God would
at least heal me just when I was preaching today. But He had other plans. When I got up to preach, I was still feeling
sick. My sore throat was there and my
nose was running the whole time. But the
Holy Spirit came upon me. Where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And in my weakness of sickness, He held
me. I preached for an hour today!! I have never felt the Spirit of the Lord
before like I did today. And it all came
from putting all of my trust in Him. And
through it all, HE was glorified through my sickness. And me, being stubborn, was just in awe of
His goodness. Today marks the end of my
fourth week here. I have seen and
experienced so many blessings this week, but it has also come with tiredness
and sickness. But through it all, I have
been able to see God like never before. He just wants us to rest in Him. It is not by our own doing we live in this
world. When I am helpless and put my
faith in Him, He works through me. All
of my pride and selfishness goes away, and it is only Him. Everything is stripped away, but He remains faithful. If there is anything I’ve learned here, it’s
that I can do nothing apart from Him. I
work in hard areas, but He is so good and sustains me through it all. Every day, I get a runny nose or something
because my immune system is in overdrive to fight off stuff from just holding
hands and being the victim of a few coughs. This is the cost of working with the least of
these. There is no such thing as
clean. Dirtiness is everywhere. But this is also the wonder of it all. I don’t want to be clean. I want to feel the dirt. The grime.
I want to know how it feels. I want
my life to be filled with the “dirtiness” of Africa. Because if I wash it off, I’m just a normal,
average American. And I don’t want to be
normal. I want to change the world.
God is still working here. He is teaching me so much. And I have so much more to learn. Keep me in your prayers, but not just me, but all of my friends here. I love you all and I miss you. Mungu Akubariki (God Bless You)!
-Sam
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