Day 8 - Better LATE than never!

So I started my new job and have not had a chance to finish posting my Africa journal entries! Just a few more posts to go... :)

June 12

I'm finally on Kenya Airways heading for Nairobi. Thank you God for letting me go to Kenya while I'm on this side of the world! I miss the boys already, especially sweet Samuel. Thank you God for his worm treatment this week! His head was completely free of the white spots that were there at the beginning of the week! First thing yesterday morning I made the boys blessing boxes. We took lots of pictures and videos with the boys and then had the joy party where we danced and sang for 2 hours. I woke up yesterday feeling terrible...I broke into a cold sweat 3 times while getting ready and had to collapse on my bed so I didn't throw up or pass out. My throat hurt and I felt awful. Christa felt the same way and we both rebuked Satan and told him we were going to camp whether sick or well. I was glad Christa pointed out that it could be Satan at work because I was tempted to give up and not go. Thank you Jesus for winning that victory and letting me have one last time with my boys! When entering the Go Centre, I kept wondering how I was going to jump and dance around for 2 hours feeling so terrible. God, you are faithful. As I started dancing with my boys, the sickness faded. A day later it's almost gone. Thank you! Thank you for teaching me how Satan works this week and for protecting me through every mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical attack. Satan tried to get at me from every possible angle, but through Jesus Christ, I prevailed a victorious child of God. I loved dancing with each boy down my line and then watching Sam, Dickson, Steven, David and Emmanuel dance in the isle. We went back outside for our last lunch together and to distribute blessing boxes. During lunch, David asked me so many deep questions that I was able to disciple him on regarding salvation, people who believe but are mean, people that only believe because their parents do...he asked for my evangicube and I had already been prompted by the holy spirit to give it to him, so I joyfully did. I made him promise to put it to good use. He said it would not sit around, that he would preach. He also tried some of my leftover PB&J for the first time - he seemed to like it. It's so funny to think an 18 year old has never had such a staple food for American children. Blessing Box time was so fun. The boys prayed and thanked God for the gifts they were receiving. Then I passed out the Michael's bags with the boxes, the meale-meal, oil, and sugar. They all wanted pictures with their new stuff. Jeremiah threw his bag over his shoulder and said, "Look Auntie Shannon, I'm on the go!" They felt so important and I pray God continues to bless their new gifts. They enjoyed the pictures of my family and friends. David got Connie's letter. He said to tell her thank you and for God to bless her. He was so sweet and sincerely grateful. Saying goodbye to my boys was so hard. Dickson hugged and kissed me. Samuel held me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. I'll miss him kissing my hands as we walk together. He told me he loved me and then I hugged, kissed and told each boy that I love them. I waved goodbye as the buses left and then spent final time with Mahlati and Michael. Mahlati so desires to love God more and to be closer to Him. He is so passionate. Michael asked prayer that he would stay energized and joyful for the remaining camps this summer. I pray God would fill him, grow him, and use him to reach children. I told Mahlati that I loved to hear Zambians pray because they are so passionate. He said they have experienced being so dry that now they love God and when they pray, they are filled with an overwhelming, indescribable feeling so that they feel they might explode when praying to God. Oh how I want to experience that sensation each time I come before the Throne! Mahlati decreed that I mist come back to Zambia. :) He is such a gentleman and I enjoyed him very much. We're about to land in Kenya now. It's been more than interesting sharing my trail mix & trying to talk to the French woman on this plane ride next to me!
God, you are so good and you fill me so! I love adventures with you and experiencing all the new things we've encountered this week. All my boys were eager to accept You this week because they wanted freedom, fresh starts, protection, and they had nothing else. I remember thinking that I wish it was that easy to lead Americans to Christ, but people in America are so busy, so preoccupied...they lack the brokenness and desperate need for you that I saw in Zambia. Make my home country crave you as well. Lead me to the people that need you and fill their needs with Your love.

Day 7

June 11

It's my last night in Zambia and I so do not want to leave. I want to be here in Africa. It feels so natural to be here, like part of me has come home. I love the people and I will miss my sweet boys so much. God, you have changed me through them. Again, I fell asleep last night before I could journal, so I need to backtrack and record yesterday's events...

Yesterday was show day - WOW! New socks, shoes, t-shirts and bandannas for my boys and 900 other Zambian kids in 3 hours. Such a rush and so incredible. I prayed over each of my boys as I fitted their feet with new shoes. My prayer is still that You would anoint these boys new shoes to be the beautiful feet that spread the Good News. I saw such a transformation in these boys from wearing the same outfit I had seen them in all week to placing them in new, crisp, clean clothes and shoes. And then, my favorite part of the trip - going to their village! So amazing! We stopped at Jeremiah's grandmother's house. She is nearly blind and very elderly. She was already saved and sang to us and shared Micah 6 with the boys. We left her with a bag full of cooking oil, meale-meal, and sugar. She was so grateful. We then visited a grandmother with at least a dozen grandchildren running around. Half the boys went to the back of the house to witness and half of us stayed at the front of the house as the woman found seats for us. The boys unashamedly shared the gospel through the evangi-cube with her. The last woman invited us to sit on a shaded mat while Moses shared the gospel with her. She was already saved as well and said a prayer over us. It was interesting to watch her breastfeed in front of 20 boys! They didn't care...I think I was the only embarrassed one there. :) I was SO proud of my older boys for being so bold in their preaching. They lit up and loved evangelizing with a passion. I sent them back out to keep preaching even after I left and they reported today that they did visit some other houses and will continue to do so. On our way to the bus the boys stopped to witness to a man and some other men started to flirt with me. My boys were so protective - they all surrounded me and threw their arms around me. Samuel held me around the waist so tight. He claims he is always angry and a bully, but I've seen him love all over me, be so protective and cling to me, and also be afraid of certain thing, like when he ducked and covered during the joy party when the confetti machines made a loud sound. Lord protect your Samuel, deliver him from fear and evil. I have learned so much about spirits and evil this week...fill me with the Holy Spirit. The man flirting with me wanted me to take a picture with his youngest daughter. She never smiled and her eyes were dark and scared. I put Samuel down so I could love on her, hold her, kiss her, and tell her how pretty she was. I have such a bad feeling about that man and pray protection over that little girl and his other children from him and his friends.

Day 6

June 9

I was a slacker last night and chose sleep over journaling...I'm regretting not writing down the thoughts of the day while they were so fresh! Yesterday I was able to start Samuel (age 10) on treatment for his worms and he will finish FREE treatment tomorrow. Thank you God! I am worried for his salvation and pray for a miracle to ensure that he and all my boys know the Lord by the end of the week. 3 of my boys were saved yesterday and Brighton was saved today! I thank God for my partner Michael and how he teaches the boys the gospel while I am having one on one time with each of them. I'm also thankful for my new translator Mahlati. Zackie was fired today. It was a necessary move, but I feel badly for him and was shaken up by the whole incident. God was so good to calm my nerves when all of this was happening. I talked to mom earlier who said she woke up at 3:30 in the morning U.S. time to pray for me...that was 10:30 am Zambia time which is EXACTLY when Zackie was getting fired! Mom also told me before I left that Wednesday would be a powerful day and that she would be praying extra hard on this day. I found out this morning that I would have to share my testimony with the boys...I was so glad to know mom was praying specifically for this day. Thank you God for speaking through my testimony and for all the questions the boys had, especially about marriage. They so desire to be godly men. Tomorrow I will go with the boys to their village so that they can share the gospel with their neighbors. God, prepare the hearts of those we will encounter and use the boys in a powerful way. Let them be bold and confident as they present the gospel. Work in a God-sized way to change this community.

Day 5

June 7

Father, I love you. I humbly come to you confessing that I cannot continue without you. You are SO big and there are so many sides to you - how can I know them all? I am so small. Teach me to see your face, show me who You are. Let me feel your nearness as you rid me of myself and fill me with you. Thank you for protection today and for introducing me to the boys that I have been praying for since January. Thank you for protecting my boys from the enemy. I feel like I have it so easy - all of my boys claim to be born again, none of them appear to be sick or possessed...as I dig deeper, I know I will uncover what you already know about their circumstances. Please make them feel comfortable enough with me to share their story, give me discernment that passes through language barriers and give me words to speak to them. Thank you for blessing me with 13 amazing boys. I already love them all. I pray their hearts would be open, their minds focused, and that you would be at work through me showing them truth and love. I pray that when I smile, dance, love and hug Samuel or any of the boys that they would see and feel you in all of it. Help me to reach them through your power - let them understand. Don't allow me to get in the way of your work and what you want to accomplish. Thank you for Jeremiah's salvation this morning. I love serving you, I love loving you, I love doing your work. May everything else in life seem insignificant and float away as I become consumed by my God. You are real, alive and at work. Let's keep going! I love you!

"And my God will supply every need according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ." ~Philippians 4:19

Day 4

June 6

What a day! First thing this morning I met Beauty who has played such an important role in breaking my heart for orphans. She is a few years older than she was in the video, but still so beautiful. She sat behind me in church and I loved turning around to see her there. All the orphans were beyond precious. I didn't know any of the Zambian worship songs, except for one that was on the CD I got prior to the trip out here, but I LOVED hearing the Zambians worship! When they worship, they do not hold back, they sing at the top of their lungs, smile, dance, clap and lift their hands. How refreshing to experience true, undefiled worship. Pastor Eric spoke from Exodus 3 on Moses. He pointed out that the order of JOY must be Jesus, Others, You - no matter how much compassion I have, others cannot come before Jesus and neither can I.
After lunch was shopping at the market - so fun and such friendly people! I enjoyed getting to know Anne and Rachel better, we have a lot in common. Finally this afternoon I met my Zambian partner/evangelist/translator, Zackie (short for Zacchaeus). He is only 17, but I have so much to learn from him. We got to know one another for 30 minutes and prayed over the week. He likes that I'm real with him and not fake - I consider that a great compliment. Zackie has 5 brothers and sisters of which he is the oldest. His parents were separated, but his dad died when he was 1. He lives with his mom now, just finished high school, and plans to attend the University of Zambia just up the road to study IT. He loves rap and knew many American artists including Flame, Toby Mac, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Michael W. Smith, and others I have not heard of. He even rapped for me! Zackie asked me how many people I had led to Christ this year - my answer was none, but that I had prayed with and shared the gospel with a few people. He answer - he has led 50 people to Christ just this year. I tried to come up with excuses like things are just different in America, it's not that easy...but all Zackie does is take his Bible to the streets and when someone believes, he leads them to Christ and they start attending church. I have been so convicted all evening. Father, am I a lukewarm Christian? In the States I would say no way, but here, embarrassingly yes. Father, I pray you would change my heart to share the gospel everywhere, especially in America. How can my purpose really be to glorify you if I'm not sharing you with everyone I meet? Make me bold and proud of you in my life.

Day 3

June 5

I'm here! We're finally in Africa together and God, You are so alive and at work! I don't feel homesick at all, actually the opposite. I feel like my heart has been divided between the home I was born in and Africa to which it was called at the age of 8 - and that part of my heart feels completely and indescribably at home! In London I felt so lost, disoriented, and anxious. I don't feel any of those emotions here. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, without a doubt. Father, why have you called me here? What is my specific purpose? Please reveal what you have for me here. Open my heart to see you clearly, to know you deeper, and to fall even deeper in love with you. Use this trip to bind us together so closely that even in the states you are my desire and nothing else can come before you. Father, give me a heart for these orphans. Help them to open up to me and as they do, speak through me to directly communicate to them yourself - I am your vessel, use me. I don't know what this week holds, but I know it's big, good, and something you couldn't tell me in America. I trust you and anxiously await for you to speak to my heart here.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Day 2

June 4

Father, I am sooo tired. I got 4 hours of sleep last night and walked at least 5 miles sightseeing London. I loved London, but now I'm exhausted, I stink, my feet are blistered and I'm sunburned. Oh Father, protect my emotions from the enemy. Thank you for providing Christa to tour London with. I pray you would bless our new friendship. Protect me from the enemy fully and prepare my heart for the week ahead in Africa. You are so good - let me feel your nearness. Speak through my life and be more than enough. Be glorified in my life!

Day 1

June 3, 2010 - 5:45 pm

And we're off! The plane is in the air and it's just you and me God. What an awesome adventure! Have I ever been this at peace? ALL my fears have been put to rest, from the minute my family left me at baggage check. They are such an awesome family. Father, thank you for being near. Let my life glorify You. Be my focus, my joy, my all. Help me to be protected from Satan's distractions. Be more than enough for me Lord. Consume me in your love, and in Your embrace. Speak clearly to my heart. I love You!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!" ~Joshua 1:9

Home from Africa!

I'm back! This trip was the absolute best thing I have ever experienced. I'll be working on posting my daily journal entries to the blog soon...there is so much to share.

In the meantime, pray for my boys, ages 10-18. Seven of them received Christ this past week and the others claim to already be born again! All of my boys can be sponsored for $40 dollars a month through a program very similar to World Vision or Compassion. Your sponsorship helps pay for food, clothes, and school fees as well as potentially removing them from abusive home situations. Please pray & get in touch with me if you are able to support one of these precious boys!

Pray for me as I'm still recovering from jet lag and trying to gain control of my allergies...I lived in a dust bowl in Africa and I'm trying to not get sick now that I'm home! Haven't felt well at all today...

ALSO, I start my new job at Catholic Charities at the end of this week! Praise God! Very excited about this...I'll be working as a Case Manager for the Homeless.

So much to praise our Wonderful Maker for!

Please Pray

I leave for Africa in 2 days! And no, it still hasn't hit me just how real all of this is becoming. I feel so bogged down my details of packing and making sure everything is in order that it's challenging to find time to relax and soak in all that's about to happen. However, Satan is totally aware that I leave in just 2 days and is attacking me in every way non-stop. I'm so thankful for a victory in Jesus that allows me to overcome these attacks, but I feel such a desperate need for prayer from my family & friends. While I know I have so many people praying over me, I wanted to share a few specific prayer requests before I leave...

Please pray:
That God would remove all fears and confusion in my heart and mind - this is a HUGE form of attack in my life right now.
That as I continually feel so inadequate to go on this trip and do this work, that God would overcome that lie and that His power would be displayed through me to make me adequate and to do His good work.
That I would not be distracted by trivial, insignificant things in life.
That I would not be burdened by worrying what other people think of me or how they treat me.
That Satan would NOT be able to steal any of my joy, excitement or peace about this trip.
That God would protect my mind, my heart, my spirit, and my body at all times.
That God would protect all my personal weaknesses that Satan seems to delight in using against me.
That I would be protected from Satan's continual lies and discouragement.
Protection as I travel internationally by myself for the the first time.
That all the packing and errands I need to run would get done.
For my family, that God would protect them while I'm gone both physically and from any spiritual attack they may face while I'm gone.
For the Zambian orphans that I'll be ministering too - that God would already be delivering them from evil circumstances and preparing their sweet little hearts for what He wants to do in their life.
That God would speak through me into these lives.
That God would convict me while I'm gone - that He would let me know Him in a new & fresh way, that He would reveal what He has planned for me after Africa, and that my heart would be changed as I encounter Him.
That I would feel God's closeness these next 2 days before I leave, and know that I am not going alone.
That I would be willing to be obedient and surrender to whatever He calls me to next.
That first & foremost, God would be glorified in everything, that I would constantly remember this life is not about me, it's all about Him.

Thank you for all your prayers, love, support, and encouragement throughout the past several months. I have been so blessed by all of you as I've prepared to go. And now it's time to actually go. I can't wait to share the great things I know our God will accomplish.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ~Acts 1:8