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.
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