Jesus, Jesus, Jesus :)

God never let it get mundane! Never let us get used to loving the one in front of us, listening, giving hugs to the unlovable that just might change their lives, sharing the love of Jesus, stopping for the one God tells me to! Never let me forget, get used to the power of this, or get busy, caught up in my own world and not obey You Lord! Never let us get used to Your presence so that we don’t get excited about it anymore! So that we think we already found all there is, there is always so much more in You for us if we seek you hard! If we are hungry You will feed us more and more! Let us stay hungry for You God! “Poor in spirit” that’s how we see God – Matthew 5:3 – when we are desperate for God, like the poor are for food, water, clothing… that’s when He comes through for us in miraculous ways! He needs to see us depend on Him, trusting Him fully! This is scary, it takes risk! We have to have no back up plan, God I will fail if You don’t show up! That’s when He does the stuff, the amazing beautiful stuff! Not when we don’t really need Him (so we think) because we have a plan, we have all we need, we didn’t want to risk depending on Him just in case He didn’t show up! No, comes and multiplies food, when we would go hungry if He didn’t! His presence is thick and moves us when we are desperate and cry out for Him, because we just love and want Him so bad!
We just have to remember that the whole world is the “mission field” and as long as I live the way Jesus lived, as a missionary to earth, from our Daddy in heaven, we will live in His will!
EVERYWHERE I go, Jesus says it doesn’t matter where I go, just that I stay intimate with Him and listen to His voice… that I take Him into the darkness and His light shines! Wow

One thing I learned this week is about being sure not to ever take offense at others… And also never take offense at God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. I know a lot of things are controversial, but whatever you allow to offend you, has separated you from God. Offense comes between us and our close relationship we were intended to have with our God! The Holy Spirit is so real, and it can easily be found offensive to many. Jesus offended many while He walked on earth! In Matthew 11:6 Jesus tells the people blessed are those who does not fall away on account of me, or is not offended by me. Wow! That is powerful! Many people offend us, and even when they are wrong, if you let the offense stay in your heart, it distances you from your heavenly Father! I have been praying away all of my offenses! I do not want anything between me and my God! I want to be as close as I possibly can to Him at all times! There are a lot of strange things that happen when the Holy Spirit shows up, I have simply talked to my Jesus about this and He told me to basically just focus on Him and be open to whatever He wants to do in me! So through doing that I have released all judgment on others, all distractions are gone and I have experienced way more of Gods love and the Holy Spirits power! Just realize that God deals with us all in different ways, and He is very clear that we do not judge others, that is His job alone! We don’t know what any other person is going through, what they have come out of, what they need from God…. We have no idea! And God doesn’t work in normal ways… sorry, His ways are not our ways, they are way higher, and we wont understand them fully! Jesus offended often and so does the Holy Spirit, I personally don’t want to miss out on account of my being offended so I am releasing my offences, judgments and all else that is not of heaven! Most offense is from misunderstanding, fear of the unknown, language, culture, pride, self-righteousness… and much more, so they are simply another stumbling block from the devil himself, and we need to bind those and send them back to hell where they came from! Yay! Offense is selfish – keeps us from intimacy with our creator, lover of our souls, Daddy God!!!


My house mates and I went to get some food at the “Chicken Shack” or the “Cutchu Curo” which is what the Mozambicans calls it which means thank you. It is a close place that you can get a clod drink and something that resembles fries ☺ I don’t go there much because of money but I was there with my friends one day and 2 little girls were there watching us. They looked so pitiful and sad… they looked so hungry! I posted before about soft and hardened hearts of those who have been placed in this culture for 3 months. I have prayed for a soft heart! I was trying to decide if I was going to give them my food, or buy them something… when one of the other girls asked if they were supposed to be in there, and what are we gonna do when our food comes?! I began to speak up when one of my other friends said we should get them some biscuits (which to every other country apparently means cookies, that aren’t that sweet…) so we took the two girls and got them sodas and cookies, I sat with them on the floor and watched their faces light up…. The dramatic difference was insane! They were so genuinely pitiful before and then they were so happy, their countenance was lifted, which if anyone really knows me they know I am pretty grumpy when I am hungry… so I completely understand and relate to these girls! They were so sweet, the began feeding me their precious biscuits! Wanting to give to me, after I had given to them! So sweet! I could have adopted them both… I wish! And they laughed and played with me on the floor… I loved not being afraid of doing that! I am not sure why so many of us are, and why I myself have been at some points… I guess we see this strange picture of all the kids swarming and trampling us if we offer to help one… ha and we do have to be wise about it, but don’t let your hearts get hardened! Same with the poor in Nashville and everywhere else! Don’t harden your hearts… buy them food, talk to them! Listen! Pray for them, and hug them with Jesus love pouring through you… I was more blessed by those two little girls than I ever have been by food, or by being safe by not helping someone…. I felt God moving in our time together and there is nothing better than that! Here’s a couple pictures of these girls!

Pure hearts God!

The pure in heart see God! Wow what a promise! Try it – for 4 or 5 weeks, until I get back maybe ☺ only listen to Christian and worship music (try to fins Cory Asbury’s – do you know the way you move me song!)! Read books about God and His works, His character (compelled by love – Heidi Baker, when heaven invades earth – Bill Johnson, Radical, love has a face…). Only movies focusing on God and His ways and works… (Finger of God, Furious love, anything you can find about missions work and/or the Holy Spirit moving!!). You will feel so clean and pure! You’ll begin to see God more! Its amazing… meditate on His words – both scripture and what He says to you! Let prophetic words encourage you, increase your faith, claim the heritage that is truly yours, the promises of God all through out the Bible! Be who you really are! Know who you are in God and take hold of that! Don’t believe the lies of satin that your not a daughter of the most high God, the King of all the earth, that Jesus is your lover and adores you! That He delights in you and longs to spend more time with you, that even with your little messed up life (that’s how I feel sometimes) He wants all of it and treasures it, knows He can do so much more with it than we could ever think possible! If you give it to Him, He will surprise you! And its amazing and beautiful when your surprised by God!
What you put in is truly what you become….

There are many different trains of thought, or theories when it comes to deciding how to treat the children here and people. Some say things like “don’t teach them that if they follow ‘acunyas’ or white people, that they will get something.” which has its truths. We do not want to create a begging spirit in the children here – often I give things to the ones who do not ask so that it really is a gift, and I don’t let them just take my stuff… if you don’t have enough and you give to one or two yes, you might draw a crowd, you might start a riot… you don’t want to build a relationship on them asking you for stuff or asking you to buy them things or for $ and you giving it… this is not a relationship, but us being used ha that’s us being stupid. Today many of these thoughts came up as we slowly got more and more of the village kids following us as we went to get cheap ice cream – a very special treat we never have! Some said not to buy it for them, because it was teaching them to beg or take advantage of us… but myself and one other felt a lot of compassion for these children! We can not harden our hearts to those brothers and sisters of ours… Gods beloved children who are in poverty! They probably never get a treat like that, not often at least, it didn’t cost much, there were about 10 kids, and we knew them well, had relationships with most of them already! It gave me so much joy to hear Obregado Hannah! From those smiling faces! To play and dance with them and eat a tiny ice cream cone with them! ☺
The boys call me sister and I love that! I love being their sisters in the Lord and having so many “brothers”.

To live a life… that is not “normal”, that isn’t the same thing everybody else does, wants, thinks is best is all I want! I do not know exactly what that means for my life yet, and I see my life coming in different seasons of different things! God is showing me more and more of His heart for my life, the passions, desires He has placed in me for a purpose and some of the things I will do in my life! Why does everyone want a normal successful life? Why do they think its best? I once heard an awesome quote that said something like - if you find yourself in agreement with the majority then its time to check yourself… - I agree, that if we live like everyone else, what fun is that? Also, more importantly how are we living for our Jesus if we are like every other, complacent, take the easy way, wide path, hidden evil, live for God when its good for you person… I believe very much, that I was not made to live normally… and neither are you! To live safely, and not take any risks… what a boring “successful” American life… 1 Corinthians – 3:11 – 15 – says that fire will test the quality of each mans work… seriously! Do we believe the Bible? Take seriously these words?! Where is your treasure going to be stored? (Matt. 6:21) Are you going to enjoy it all here, or store up the much more valuable treasures that do not ever spoil (John 6:27) and last for eternity in heaven! A much more satisfying life full of serving others and showing Jesus powerful love in radical, fun, different, unique truly being me, truly being you in life, not like everyone else but wild and free… My God calls me to live a life full of adventure, excitement, romance, love, peace, trust, a life depending on Him because I am in situations where I couldn’t make it if He didn’t come through! When you truly give God everything, your entire life, “lose it to find it” because if you seek to find it “you lose it”, you feel His love in a way that is hard to explain. Its like the perfect romance, the best Daddy you could imagine, better love than you could ever hope for, and more than you can contain… you can tell that you are unable to take it all so He is taking it easy on you. That if He were to show you how He really truly feels about you, you would die!
God is excited! Did you know He can get excited? He is excited about you trusting Him, He says thank you! I am proud of you! Thank you for trusting me and being faithful! I as your God is even more faithful and will trust YOU with my secrets, my good, good things! He has so much for you than the “American dream” than a normal life… than all that stuff you think you want… that you have seen, been told you should want… open up your mind to God, let Him love on you, show you His Holy Spirit power… and reveal to you the exciting perfect for YOU life that He created you for… God has such a perfect plan, such amazing things in each season of your life that He is just waiting for you to say “YES!!!” and be a willing living sacrifice! Doesn’t sound so exciting, but when you hear the love He has for you! You give it all…. Out of deep intimate romantic love you feel that is unlike any love you’ve ever felt… perfect love… casts out all fear! All fear to go anywhere God wants, or to do anything He tells you to do, say anything He tells you to say… live your life as a radical lover of Jesus! And radically love others the way He would if He were here, through me!!!! When I am doing what He created me to do, I am more satisfied, have more joy and happiness than doing anything else! He is so good and knows our hearts, our desires, He made them and has plans to satisfy them!

Africa time

Africa time – means anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more later ☺ awesome
We often reply to many comments with TIA - “this is Africa” ha I think some of us forget sometimes ;)

Yesterday we took our girls to the beach – each house of people in the school (our house is 10 ladies…) get a room of girls that live here! Adopt a dorm – we got 2 rooms – 18 girls! So we take them 1 room at a time - it was so much fun! To really get more personal time with some of the kids! Usually on the base there are hundreds of kids and most of them are asking for your stuff and it gets hard to keep a soft heart when you see all the begging spirit and orphan spirit, both of which we are told not to encourage… so we try to act towards them as you would your own children. Teach them not to beg or pout, yet they have so little its hard not to just feel sorry for them! Anyways, we took our room of girls to the beach and got them a soda and candy! It was so much fun just to play and talk! To love on them and show them who they are in our God, how He loves them unconditionally!

I just tried out my theory for working out in Africa! I figured that I could use my back pack and put enough big water bottles in it to be heavy enough and use the handle to lift! It actually worked for a few things! Yay! I was able to do front raises, curls, bent over rows and upright rows! Ha ha okay for you who think I am crazy for this, I am sorry, its just part of how God made me! I love to exercise and have missed it a lot!

I am loving all the accents I am surrounded by! How the British call the kids cheeky little monkeys… how my room mates call flash lights a torch, they call candy lollies, and flip flops are either thongs or dandles…
My towels stink like wet dog, and I cant seem to change it no matter how much I soak them in soapy water and wash them by hand, then dry them on the line in the sun… I usually walk away from my laundry thinking something like well… at least maybe it’s a little better than before… or its sooo hot! That’s good enough! Ha, nice! My clothes will probably never be the same, stained with red dirt! I am so thankful now for washing machines, they are surely a gift from God way more than I knew before!
All my meals consist of rice…
The beans usually have some lil black bugs in them… I try to pick them out, but we don’t get much meat so its kinda like our protein!
If I don’t let my clothes fully dry in the sun on the line and take them in damp… the little eggs the mango flies leaves in them will hatch and get into your skin! You then have to squirt them out! A girl here has already gotten them… needless to say I let my clothes dry fully in the sun on the line!
When I leave apparently I will most likely have worms in my stomach! Just from the food we eat… they give us de-worming medication when we leave… this disturbs me a lil…
I had the best trip into town yesterday – we took a couple of the village kids with us! They were so sweet and helpful! I love pouring love into a child who doesn’t get enough other wise!!! Little Tiebu walked with me holding my hand, he would pull on it to guide me away from the giant holes in the sidewalk, the random trees, and the trucks coming at us! It was so sweet! Ha ha I realized what he was doing after a few times and was really touched… God brought to mind how gentle the boy pulled but if I noticed it was for my protection, he knew best… just how God speaks to us and guides us… not by force, but gentle and sweet, we have to want to listen, and to feel Him guiding us… we don’t have to obey, but chose to trust Him to guide me in His best for me!
My hearts desire is to mother children not my own biologically or my own color… to take them in and show them the love of our Father!
I am liking the shower situation ☺ some of you know that even back home I didn’t shower every day! Ha, here we only get about 1 minute of shower each day, so I could take super short shower every day or I can wait a few days and take a 3 minute shower! Ha so that’s what I do! Probably wash my hair every 3 or 4 days! Its amazing! Oh and around my ankles might be permanently stained a brownish red color… ha!
Oh and also, I have received tons of awesome gifts from God! Felt His presence closer and seen Him more and more… dreams, visions, pictures, through prayer and worship… and lots more! I also received the not so nice gift of bed bugs! Ha I had to re-spray my mattress and wash my sheets, it seems to be better!

God keeps reminding me through all the spiritual warfare and attacks from the devil (he hates all were doing here and all Gods doing in us!) that God is bigger, He is bigger than ALL things… God is biggest. Anything were facing, He overcame on the cross… His blood covers it ALL. Wow! That’s so powerful for me! He also keeps reminding me to place my thoughts, my mind, my heart in heaven, in a higher place spiritually! That is so helpful… I love my Jesus!
He reminds me to never question God. What He has said, what I have heard. I remain firm and strong in His will! Not shaken! I am excited to see what is next in my life! I feel like God is telling me that He will show me the next step later on… He wants this to be such a time of intimacy between me and His, so I fall in love with Him so deeply I will never fall out! He wants that secure, deepest, supreme love so that even when I am married I am never tempted to put my husband above my God! He is always so much higher than anyone I love on earth!!! This takes some time to really go deep! I feel like that is what He is doing right now and sometime before I leave He will begin to show me the next step!