Another Summer, Another Internship

Last summer God changed my life forever with letting me go to Turkana, Kenya. I was able to grow spiritually and my eyes were opened to a great need in the world. I was already passionate about the water crisis and how the lack of clean drinking water affects the world and individual people. This has transitioned me to get involved in another way.

In Kenya, drilling wells was about providing physical water and the gift of life through that water, which would open doors for the living water of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This summer I have gone back to the roots of what caused and introduced me to this passion, Christ in Youth.

My philosophy has always been "Where You Go I'll Go." This summer God has got me on an incredible adventure with Christ in Youth. This is something that is also near and dear to my heart because attending CIY is what changed my life forever. At CIY I was introduced to the water crisis. At CIY I experienced God in a way I never had before. And lastly, at CIY God called me into full time ministry, something I had rejected once before. I feel privileged this summer to be interning at Christ in Youth specifically because I feel that I am able to give back and help change lives of students as my life was changed.

I have spent a week here in Joplin and I have already learned so much that I don't think that I could even begin to explain. I'll start with what I am doing this summer and some highlights of this past week.

I will be the Backstage Manager for six MOVE events this summer. I will be at Johnson University, Milligan College, Panama City, and in the Ozarks of Missouri. I will be helping set-up, tear down, manage who comes on and off stage, the major props, facilitation and direction of speakers and bands on and off stage. My job is crucial because I will never be seen, but what I am responsible for is always seen.

MOVE's summer theme is "When Heaven and Earth Collide," pulling from the Sermon on the Mount. I think this is awesome because something that I have learned this past year is that EVERYTHING Jesus said or did pertains to this Sermon. I have come to know it as Jesus' Manifesto, meaning that this is the core of what Jesus thought became application. It is practical. It is the way we are supposed to think and act. It goes deeper than just meaningless actions, and is more than just philosophical thought. In order to be like Jesus, we must live out and think in the terms of every aspect within the Sermon on the Mount.

These thought have already been a challenge for me this week with this past working week. I spoke of the challenges it took to adapt in Kenya, during my first blog entry, but these challenges are similar but different. In Kenya they simply didn't have, so it was easy to focus on what we were doing and the physical nature of water we aimed to provide. This summer is an aim to focus on the spiritual, I must constantly attempt to have the mind of Christ. His attitude was never poor even when persecuted. He prayed for them. The long hours and the tough work, with everything provided for me, is a mental battle to keep in good spirits and think positively and not complain or negatively think of others and the way in which we may do things differently. This is just some of the challenges have posed the first week of learning and adapting here in Joplin, MO.

I have a great team and I am thankful for them. I am thankful for my fiancee Ruth because after one month of being engaged I have taken off to do this internship. Lastly I am incredibly thankful that God has allowed me to be apart of something again that is bigger than myself and that He has chosen me to be apart of impacting the lives of students all across the country. I am blessed.

Prayer Requests

• Have the mind of Christ- do not get down, but focus on the mission of the Gospel
• For me to relinquish control
• Know that God's ways of doing things is better than my own
• Be open to being taught and molded by experts
• Grow spiritually
• Love those who I may not get along with

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Where Did the Summer Go?

Lions at the Nairobi Game Park

Wow, I can’t believe it is already August and I leave for school in a few short days. Where did the summer go? I feels like yesterday I was just packing to leave. These past couple days I have been catching up with friends, family, and pondering a way to really sum up my summer. How can I impact the people the most? What is the thing that impacted me most? What was the best part? What did we accomplish? What has been amazing and mind boggling to me has been, that I can't sum up my summer in a few short sentences. There are too many stories, too many experiences, and too many people that have forever shaped the way I think.

           

Mathare Valley Slums

The last few days in Nairobi flew by and Debrief was a blur. It was great getting to see the Game Park with all the animals, see the Mathare Valley slums and the work that is going on there, even catch up with other interns and hear their stories at Debrief. However, it really hasn’t been until I’ve gotten home and began to share stories, how much my summer has impacted me and that I’ve really been able to process this what happened this summer.

           

The Re-entry into day-to-day life has been a bigger culture shock than going to Kenya. The life of luxury that we have is remarkable. I just think of Sammy and how he’d say “whoa” and be blown away by how much we have. Shoot, I’m blown away by how much we have after only being gone two months. After living out of a backpack this summer you realize what you really need, what the essentials are. How church is more than somewhere we go, but somewhere we long to be. Church is somewhere to sing and dance because we are happy about what Christ did for us. Life is more than deadlines; it’s about the relationships that you make along the way.

           

As I’ve shared so many stories about the people and what God is doing, I’ve realized there is so much to tell. The Gospel is being spread to those who are “hungry” for it. My heart breaks every time I think about Sammy or Ekai, but then its always followed by a smile because I know they are smiling. I think about the wonderful work that Gene and Melba are doing and then their needs to further the work. My thoughts always come back to the essentials:

I have many stories about what I did this summer or thought I did, but the bigger story is about what God is doing through people in the world to make a difference. God is good and He has blessed me greatly this summer. Here is what He has put on my heart to say.

God forever will have a heart for the poor. There are people who are starving in the world, who need clean water. They don’t even have an opportunity, to work to get these to survive. The church has a responsibility to these people, not just to the Turkana, but to all who are poor in the world, spiritually and physically.  What are you doing about it? You don't have to go all the way to Africa. There are poor people in your own neighborhood.

One of the largest and severe famines is currently going on in Turkana. Families are starving and dying. The need is for water. Water brings a chance to irrigate a garden to feed families. There are currently 76 wells and the need is for 2200. The drilling crew needs a powered drill. With this, they can finish a well a day and save thousands of people.

Garden Irrigated by a Well

If you would like to help, contact me and I will gladly share some steps that are being taken to help the Turkana or even share stories. I would like to raise money so that Gene and them could get a powered drill and save lives. That is my current vision that I believe God has placed in my heart. 

Their Story

So my last week with the drilling crew was bittersweet, but the lasting effects of spending the summer with those guys will be eternal.

After our walk home Friday morning, we had said goodbye to all of the guys on the drilling crew and had anticipated saying goodbye to our national friends around town Saturday morning before we hopped on a plane to Lodwar.

What I didn’t expect, however, is Ekai to walk THREE hours Friday night after working ALL day just to see us off. He stopped by the house to let us know that he had come to “push the plane” as we takeoff. We knew Saturday morning was going to be emotional leaving Lodwar. We may never be back again, but that is up to God. We didn’t anticipate having Ekai spend about an hour talking to us and sharing his feelings about the summer and how much we mean to him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he poured out his heart to us. He made us feel like we had changed the world and touched so many peoples’ lives in the name of Jesus. He sends his greeting to the brothers and sisters in Christ in America and let you know that he will be praying for you, as we witnessed him do many times this summer. He is such a great guy, always smiling, joking, laughing, or calling us “American Boys” in his Yoda like voice. 

His dream is to become an Engineer, be in charge of multiple drill crews, and operating a gas powered well driller, drilling one well a day because almost 2000 more wells are needed in Turkana. That is his dream and prayer. He wants to be able to help the thousands upon thousands of dying Turkana and give them life through water both the natural and the “living.” His heart is as big as an ocean. Saying bye to him wasn’t easy Saturday morning. When our plane landed, before we were waiting to board my eyes began to well up with tears. But what really got me was, as soon as I got that sad look in my eyes, I felt a hand pat and rub the back off my shoulder and hearing the words of Ekai, in his soft Yoda voice, “Emoru, it will be ok, it will be ok.” I almost lost it then and there. Later, we embraced and his last words to me were, "God bless you Moru."

Saturday morning, Todd and I also had to say goodbye to Sammy our translator, teacher, but most important one of our closest friends. Saying goodbye to Sammy was especially tough. We had almost spent everyday for two months with Sammy, from the time we woke wake up until bedtime. He took care of us and helped us all summer. Whatever we needed, he was the first one always wanting to do it, whether it was crossing a river to get us water to fill up our empty water bottles, simply bringing us our chai (tea) each morning as we were waking up, or showing us the new bush we were going to take a bath behind. Without Sammy it would have been a difficult summer. I will miss his patented phrases, “maybe,” “take care,” and “Kyle, Kyle, don’t do that.”

What is unique about Sammy is that he is very very smart. He knows his math and science. He always wants to test out his English reading during bible study or tell us some random fact that we aren’t even sure how he knows. Before helping us this summer, Sammy helped volunteer teach at a Primary School. His dream is to become a teacher.

On our walk to town Friday morning, we spent some time talking to Sammy on the way. Here our some of the things we learned:

• ·      It takes him 7 hours to walk from his home in the Bush to town
• ·      Sammy gets paid weekly by CMF
• ·      His sister walks 7 hours each way on the weekend to get that money so his family can have food, which includes immediate family, aunts and uncles, his cousins, and the elderly

His whole family relies on him for survival. As the drought and famine rages on in Turkana they fight for survival. What really hit home was this:

• ·      Sammy gets paid because he has a job working for Todd and I
• ·      Once we leave, his job is done
• ·      Therefore, he loses that income
• ·      He then cannot feed his family
• ·      When he volunteers at the Primary school he gets fed as payment
• ·      The Schools are closed during August, no food
• ·      There is already little to no work available in Turkana

What was tugging at the heart strings, was that one of my closest friends, who had helped us significantly all summer, would not be able to take care of his family, but he would also not be able to feed himself. We asked what he would do for food in August, his plans...

Not eat!

His family and himself were not going to eat all of August. My heart broke for him.

One of the most life changing events of the summer, between all the God time and working, was being able to hand him enough money Saturday morning to comfortably feed his family for the entire month of August. He was not expecting it and was almost speechless as tears welled up around his eyes as he hugged me choking out the phrases, “ Thank you so much! God bless you for what you have done! Thank you so much! Thank you… Thank you... Thank you...”

Ekai, Sammy, Sylvester

Sammy and Ekai are two of the nicest guys you will ever meet. They have big dreams and big hearts. They love helping people and sharing Jesus with the people they meet. They both wanted Todd and I to share their stories. They feel like if their stories are known then something can be done to help the Turkana. They love what they both do, helping people because "it’s what Jesus would do." Watching them stand and wave as our plane took off was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. It has been a blessing getting to meet them, in my life as they have been and will be a blessing to many other people in the name of Jesus. Something both of them kept telling Todd and I the last few weeks, that all things are possible through Jesus. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Famine and drought ravage Northern Kenya. Relief is being sent to other areas in Eastern Africa, such as Somalia and Southern Sudan. However, food and water relief has not been sent to the Turkana in TWO years. It hasn’t rained in many places in THREE years. Food prices have been increased to FIVE times the amount it was just months ago. The Turkana are dying at an alarming rate. Without food and water many more will die. Wells bring gardens, which brings food, which brings life. The faith of the people here is truly inspiring. They have to constantly rely on Jesus for their survival. They are crying out for help that their own government, because of greed, won’t give. They are in need.

Will you be an answer to their prayers?

Prayers are needed the Turkana people. Please pray for: 

• Rain
• That the gardens and wells already in existence will overflow with abundance and feed Turkana
• Their faith, that it will not waiver in these tough times

Bittersweet Ending

Crew the Last Week
Me, Paulo, Ekatorot, Todd, Ekai, Daniel, Loye
First Peter, David
(Missing Danger and 2nd-to-last-born)

This past week was the last week in the Bush for Todd and I. We drove out to a new location Monday morning, hoping and praying to finish a well. Upon our arrival we learned that the current hole in the ground was NUMBER 9!! I wasn’t sure if we were going to get a well finished or not now.  As we began to help, we soon learned why they were having such a tough time digging.

Paulo & Me

Ekai & Me

Each week this summer with the drilling crew, we had faced a new challenge digging, whether it was clay, pressure, the casing getting stuck, or not enough water. Next up, rocks!! In the new location the soil was very rocky. On well NUMBER 9, we soon hit rocks. Ekai then started the water-witching all over again. He found a new spot, which we hoped and prayed would bring us our first completed well. By late Monday, however, we realized that the water the crew was drinking was not clean water. They were getting water out of the river. All summer we had the privilege of having a second pump near to where we were drilling. At this new location, our wish for a more hardcore experience was granted. We were either going to have to drink the river water or dig us a well, so we could get clean water…

Finished Well

Well, Tuesday morning rolled around and 19 feet of digging later God blessed us; we had enough water and depth to the hole for a hand pump. We began pumping out water with a portable gas pump to make sure there was enough water to suffice. We had dug the people of that area their first well. God willing, we also got us some clean drinking water. People from all over the area came to fill their water jugs and take baths. We had reached this point before, but never actually installed and cemented the hand pump, due to the rise of the Kerio River in Week Two.

Momma and her baby getting a drink

Sylvester came late Wednesday morning with all the necessary pipes and metal hand pipe. All morning we mixed sand, gravel, and concrete dust to pour over the base. Ekai took apart and helped us install the hand pump. After four weeks in the Bush drilling wells, at 12 o’clock noon, God blessed us with the completion, from start to finish, in just two days, our very first well. As excited as we were, Todd and I both knew that we had come over here to drill wells, but God had different plans.

Clean drinking water

With only the full completion of one well many people would not consider this summer a success. However, I think this summer has been a huge success. God allowed Todd and I to be apart of His Kingdom Work in Turkana and contribute a piece in His Plan. Personally, God has helped me grow spiritually. I have built relationships that if I do not see these guys in this life, I will in the next. As much as I have learned from the crew and people here about perseverance, hospitality, love, and friendship, I know they have learned from Todd and I also. Maybe it has been challenging in them in their daily bible study, showing them what grace is, or just giving them the shirt off my back, I don’t know, but I definitely feel like I have learned a lot more and been blessed from them than they have from me.

Todd & First Peter

The Turkana send their greeting to their brothers and sisters in Christ in America and they hope to meet you someday. They were adamant that they would be praying for you.

God was here before I got here and He will be here after I leave.

It is sad to be leaving them tomorrow, to head to Nairobi, but God has allowed this summer to be one to remember forever.

WATER!!!!!

However, even though we finished a well, we still had to move on to the next location because it was only Wednesday. We still had another day of work to do. 

The new location proved like the others, we dug all day and no completed well. Todd and I took our last turns spinning the drill as 5 o’clock Thursday rolled around. When five hit, both of us took off our gloves and handed them to Ekai as if to say our time here working is done. We hugged him as we headed back to camp for the night. My stomach knotted up thinking this might be the last time I get to work side by side with these guys.

A Bittersweet Ending

We had completed ONE well this summer and dug more holes than I can count. We met some amazing guys and made some lifelong friends, which we can now stay in touch with because we made them Facebooks and Emails. God is great. He has blessed me so much this summer.

The start of one last time

We said our goodbyes to the crew I was able to let my mind recall everything that we have been able to do as we started on our journey home Friday morning. We have experienced town life, bush life, built desks for schools, spent time with the drilling crew, seen farms, Lake Turkana, Malindi (the coast), taught at TBTI, and then we get to see some of Nairobi and some animals before we leave.

Our journey home wasn’t typical either…

Lodwar Mt. 1 hour into Journey

We decided to walk…from the Bush to Lodwar. Six in the morning we got up and headed out. Three and a half hours of walking later, we arrived successful back in town completing our last week in the Bush.

Lodwar Mt. 2 hours into Journey

Thank you to everyone who helped support me and have been praying for me this summer. 

Spiritual Retreat...and Some Fun!

This past week I was able to attend the AAMC Spiritual Retreat at Turtle Bay in Malindi with Gene and Melba. It was an awesome experience to learn through the speakers and through talking to other missionaries from different countries in Africa. Besides all the kayaking, snorkeling, water polo, disco, windsurfing, and the all you can eat steak and fries 24/7, God really brought the summer together this week. Here is how:

 All summer between Mike, Todd, and I had been debating and discussing almost every aspect of ministry (practical and theological), the Bible, and God’s character. We have also experienced spiritual warfare. There have been talks about whether or not becoming a missionary in another country is where we are called. BUT, what is great about God is…is that He is God. And He blew me away this week with what He taught me, and some things that He let me experience/learn.

Lesson 1: Rules of the Road/ Put away the camera

Traffic in Nairobi

            Driving around Nairobi was a whole new experience. I thought that driving with basically no rules in Lodwar couldn’t get any worse, but it got worse. Just imagine some of the worst traffic you’ve been in when usually it takes 15 minutes to get somewhere and it takes an hour and a half instead. Welcome to Nairobi traffic, except lets throw something else in there too, no road rules, lines, or stop signs/lights. It is the aggressive drivers dream, yes, your dream Dad. In this traffic and driving around Nairobi, Todd and I were able to experience a whole new side of Gene. One of the best stories is when we are trying to literally race this car around a round a bout just to we could make a left turn. Well Gene beats the guy and starts laughing because the guy is now trying to get back over in front of him. Let me say this first, we are in the Land Cruiser, built for the desert fully equipped with ram bars almost everywhere on this thing. The guy is in a luxurious Mercedes SUV. As Gene is laughing he says and I quote, “this guy is trying to Ace Me.” Yeah, it was funny to hear Gene say that, but it was funnier to hear a shout back from the guy, “go ahead,” wanting no piece of us. He had heard Gene! I have video footage of this, priceless.

Kayaking by Turtle Rock

            That leads into my next story. When we were driving around Nairobi, I always had my video camera out taking pictures and videos. Well, Gene decides to take us by the US Embassy. As we are driving by, Gene says you need to put your camera away because you aren’t allowed to take pictures. I’m thinking ok I won’t take pictures. SO I turn off my camera just as we are driving by the first guard. He sees my camera, and radios further up the line. We continue to drive down this road and as we reach the end there is a Kenyan dressed in camo with an AK-47 standing right in the middle of the road signaling for us to pull over. Oh boy, I think I’m in trouble. He comes up to my side and says can I see your camera because you took a picture of the Embassy. I say no sir I did not. He says well we will have to wait and see when my supervisor shows up. About 30 seconds later TWO car fulls of guards and soldiers show up. I think its because of how legit the car we are in looks and how incognito we were trying to be with large CMF letters on it. The supervisor comes up and asks for my passport. I show him it. He says let me see the your camera. I show him that in fact there are no pictures of videos with the US Embassy on it. I am innocent of any crime. BUT, he then proceeds to escort me out of the car. They begin to take pictures of my passport, the car, the license plate, my camera, and then myself inside and outside of the car. By this time I am annoyed because I have no picture and this is wasting our time. The military guys are circling our car with AK-47s trying to intimidate not 1 US citizen, but FOUR. It probably doesn’t help that I have a huge smile on my face and laughing as all of this is happening because this is way over exaggerated. Ok, the finish all of this and let me get back into the car, literally 20 min has gone by. Now, I couldn’t contain it any longer, the smart-butt wouldn’t be held back any longer.

Turtle Bay Pool

I ask, “DO you mind if I take a picture of you guys inspecting everything, just so I have proof that I was detained for being innocent.” Smart move Kyle, right, the supervisor walks over to the window and says sir if you drive back by here with your camera out you will be thrown in jail in the Embassy. Yup, I just got threaten by my own Embassy. He then asks Gene for identification. Gene says no way we didn’t do anything wrong! We are leaving. So he starts the car and begins to drive as 4 soldiers step out of our way. Needless to say after our next stop we had to drive by the Embassy again and of course, I waived. J But the kicker is when we arrived at the house we were staying at someone else took a picture of the Embassy too and deleted it  ;)…

Lesson 2: Our testimony has heavenly implications/Glory

            At the Spiritual Retreat this week we had the leadership team from Heritage Christian Church come and speak. They were awesome! I learned so much between listening to them speak and talking to other missionaries from around Africa.  I wont be able to talk about everything that Doug Fultz talked about, but I will share some of the information and questions that he shared with us. His theme that he was supposed to talk about was Staying Power. Each and every session he built on what he had said before to re-energize and fill up missionaries who get run down. He spoke on how the heart matters, why we are even here, being restored to glory, never giving up and constantly praying, how Satan uses anger for our destruction, and coming to God with Holy Hands.

Some of his thoughts

We exist to praise God...

and to be praised by God.

                                                Why do we

                                                exist for that?

Jason & Kaitlyn Leading Worship

If Lucifer was able to get 1/3 of the angels to outwardly rebel, how many did he get to inwardly wonder?

The ultimate question of the universe is:

Who is worthy of being worshipped?

A tyrant god who rules from the top or a servant god who rules from the bottom?

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:10

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Rev 12:11

The Theodicy Problem

 If God is all powerful and if God is all knowing and if God is good,

 how can he allow such bad things to occur?

Reformed Judaism

 it wasn’t that God wouldn’t save them,

it’s that God couldn’t save them.

The GREAT thing is… We aren’t reformed Jews!!

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10

Another Windsurfing

Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ . . . . if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:17-18

Prayer

There are things God wants to do,

            but He will not do until a human being is involved in it.

We must ask God to do what He has already promised to do.

Have you given up on praying for anyone? Why?

Lesson 3: Being A Missionary isn’t just all Work

            Turtle Bay Resort gets its name from the large rock in the bay that looks like a giant turtle.

One of the fun things we did was kayaking. About once a day we would kayak out to Turtle Rock and try to catch a wave or two. It was exhausting but rewarding each and every time we paddled back to shore. We even raced the girls and of course we won.

            Every day at three o’clock everyone in the pool would clear out to watch the adults play water polo. It was fun to learn and play. The games were always intense and hard fought. Water polo is a full contact sport. After you get dunked 5, 6, or 7 times for having the ball you tend to run out of breath.

            Every other night there was disco at 10. Lets just say dancing to songs in Swahili, put a whole new appreciation on American music. The most recent stuff they had was NOW 1992. It was true disco.

            The events were fun, but really what made Turtle Bay was the people. Meeting all the different missionaries and their kids was one of the best experiences of my life. I liked learning about growing up in another country something I couldn’t even imagine. When I hear that they miss food from Kenya it kinda blows my mind. I don’t know how you miss Ugali and beans n’ corn for every meal.

Water Polo

It was great to see Gene and Melba having fun too. To learn that their life isn’t just all about work, but also play. A few nights they stayed up late and played cards with us. One night Gene even pulled Melba out on the dance floor for a few songs proving they still got it.

            On the last day we went snorkeling out in the bay. I normally don’t like snorkeling, but when there is a chance that sharks will be in the water I couldn’t pass it up. We saw tons of fish and coral, but no sharks. It was fun to go out on a boat and spend time relaxing after a long week. It was the first chance we got to jump into water all week and we made the most of it!

The Coast was pretty awesome! Thanks to Gene and Melba for taking us and for the Heritage Christian Church staff for spreading time with us.

Some Fish From Snokeling

A Humbling Call to Persevere

This past week, I had the privilege of spending another week with the drilling crew. It was another good week as I reflect back on it. It was a week filled with fun, goat, work, laughter, bad food, soccer, and tough ground.

Failed Well #1. Only 4ft. of water, needs 20ft.

Before arrival on Sunday we had heard that the crew had attempted to dig 3 wells in the new area so far, but because of the clay in the soil they were unsuccessful. The plastic casing would not go down enough to produce sustainable water.

Man, to have dug down at least 20 feet 3 times and still no well to show for it! How frustrating that must be! The only thoughts going through my head were that we were going to get a well dug by the time it was for us to leave, whether it was arrogance or pride that made me think this I don’t know. However, God had other plans.

Failed #2

One of the main reasons that I wanted to come to Turkana was to help dig wells; help give people life through water. I figured, 4 maybe 5 wells this summer, would satisfy the reasoning for my internship. I mean that’s the reason people supported me in coming here, I felt like. I was going to help make a change. The status of how successful my trip was going to be on how many wells got dug.

Lets just say that after 3 weeks of digging. We have dug one well, yet to be cemented and finished for use. And not yet completed a second. So, God has brought upon me a harsh reality, that the success of my internship CANNOT and WILL NOT be defined by the quantity of wells that will be dug, but the of the growth spiritually, for me and for those I have been working with.

Failed #3

As I had stated we did not complete a well this past week, so what were we doing? We were digging, digging, digging, and digging some more. We started 3 more wells, each reaching about 20 feet into the ground, hitting clay each time halting the progress of the well.

Failed #4

My emotions rose and fell each time the bit was brought up through the casing. When there was clay inside of the bit, my heart fell. When we hit good sand, my heart sang. Needless to say, it was getting to be a very long week just by Wednesday night. I had little hope that we were EVER going to get a well in this area. Todd had been sick all week. I was physically exhausted—digging is tough physical work here. My shoulder was extremely sore. Tomorrow we were going to start on a SIXTH well. Maybe by some blind luck, the casing would go down and we would hit water. I was just about to give up. We even made a song about how #6 wasn’t going to work and how we’d have to start #7. Well God had another message for me.

PERSEVERANCE 

Failed #5

Each and every day, the crew woke up and was determined to get a well. Whether we hit clay or not, they continued to dig, whether the casing went down or not, they continued to dig. To them it was no big deal if we had to start another well, did they want to, no, but they knew they had to. They continued trekking; there was a continual push forward with vision on the end goal. Before Thursday to have dug a totally of about 130 feet in various spots into the ground, with no success, hitting water, but the casing would be stuck. The perseverance of these guys, wow, they were always laughing, joking, singing, it was just another day at the office.

On Thursday we started well #6. Shortly before lunch break, we reached water AND the casing was going down. After two weeks of digging for the crew, it finally looked like there was going to be some success.

#6- The Winner!

As I reflect on another week and how it has flown by, I realized how American I was this past week. We live in a land full of quick, fast, and easy. Success must be immediate in every aspect of life. Perseverance is many times lost or not spoken about. I admire the perseverance of these guys. It takes guts the live the way they do and always be smiling.

Between the work and the bible studies I am learning perseverance and identity from them, while teaching love and grace. It’s a great joy when the light bulb clicks and its something new and challenging to them. Something that goes against their nature, all the while God is revealing my identity in Him little by little.

For those reading, I just want to encourage you to persevere. There are always tough times, but keep pushing forward as the Hebrew writer employs and put your hope in Christ.

Hebrews 10

 ¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near… ³²But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated…   ³⁵Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  ³⁶For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Training for War

Wow this past week has been crazy awesome! This past week Todd, Mike, and I taught a class on Spiritual Warfare at TBTI (Turkana Bible Training Institute).

For starters, I did not feel anywhere near qualified to teach this class. With only one year of Bible College, one class on teaching, and a curriculum, handed to us two days before we were supposed to teach it, here are some of the thoughts going through my head and yes they were numbered:

1. You want me to teach on what?!?!

2. The Turkana should be the ones teaching me on Spiritual Warfare.

3. Are we going to have to face demons and stuff?

4. How well is this stuff going to get taught with the language barrier?

5. Will they even get what I am trying to say?

6. My prep for teaching is going to be nothing like what I learned in school.

7. How am I going to be able to teach without visual aids? 

8. Oh boy, can we go back out to the BUSH? That seems easier.

Lets just say I was caught up on all the negatives. Then God brought something to my attention.

The power is not in the skill or wisdom of the messenger. But the TRUE power is in the MESSAGE that the messenger brings and root of its power comes from GOD ALONE.

Each and every day I was reminded of this.

1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

On Tuesday we arrived 15 minutes early. I was going to start off the teaching and believe me I was more than nervous. Gene had prepared a written prayer for us to pray before we started. We recited this prayer in unison, that we would recite each morning before teaching:

Lord Jesus, we stand together and affirm the truth that you are with us and you love us, and even as we speak you are preparing a way for healing and forgiveness, deliverance, and freedom. We ask you to speak directly to any parts of all of our minds that you would like to teach and heal today. We pray for your precious blood to cover us and for the Holy Spirit to be with us and to guide us.

As the Prayer guide, we confess that we have sin, wounds, and lies in our lives that hurt our faith in you. We ask for special grace to fulfill the part you want us to play in teaching and healing. Help us listen to you and follow your lead.

In the name of the True Lord Jesus Christ, we take authority over all demonic spirits present; you must be bound in and under the name of the True Lord Jesus Christ. You may not oppose the Lord’s work through us as the prayer guides and the teachers in any. You will manifest only as the True Lord Jesus allows, to further the teaching and healing of everyone here.

In the name of the True Lord Jesus Christ, command all demonic spirits, which Jesus wants to permanently remove to go directly to Jesus feet. He will deal with you as He sees fit. Lord Jesus we ask you to now fill any place that has been left empty or will be empty by the enemy with your Holy Spirit and with Your living presence. May we all experience Your living presence walking beside us each day. Lord Jesus, we ask you to come with any additional blessings you want to deliver to us today. Thank you for being with us Jesus, in Your name, Amen.

Wow, that was the tone setter. Talk about in your face, upfront, taking control of the situation by giving it to Jesus. We were ready to go. Instantly, the nerves calmed and everything just seemed to feel better.

At about 9, we began with singing, granted every song was in Turkana and we could barely piece the meaning together, but it was worship! It felt like the weight had been lifted. I was happy that we did this every morning and throughout the class time.

Starting class about usual Turkana time, half an hour to 45 min after something is supposed to start, I started out the teaching on the general principles of spiritual warfare. Trying to teach was just…wow. Am I going to fast or slow for my translator? Are they understanding? They don’t answer person questions, so do they get how close to home this stuff hits? Instead of visual aids or PowerPoint, I had to use exaggerated hand gestures. High, low, big, small, acting like fighting, whew…cross-cultural teaching is exhausting. We taught extensively each day on the Full Armor of God and what it means for their lives and ours, the power of prayer, and who we are in Christ. We constantly would refer to Ephesians 6:10-20. 

Explaining the Shoes of Peace

Some crazy awesome things were happening though. Each and every time it was my turn to teach I could just feel the Spirit with me. Multiple times the Spirit put verses into my head that weren’t on the script and weren’t prepared to use. It was an awesome feeling not remembering what you said when you stood up to teach because it wasn’t you teaching at all. It was the Holy Spirit using me to share the message Jesus wanted to share. We weren’t sure how much they actually learned until Friday morning rolled around. Gene told them to each prepare a lesson as if they were going to teach it on spiritual warfare. Every person that spoke and gave their lesson plans knew what we had been teaching them all week, even with the language barrier and some of the broken translation. God deserves all of the credit for what happened this week. Apparently, they thought we were good teachers though because they were adamant that we come back as missionaries and teach again.

Each day something new or exciting happened. Here are a few of those stories:

Diviner Story

There was a week when the pastors in the area were praying and fasting specifically for diviners. Diviners are witch-doctors and many times the admit to being in the service of Satan. So on the last day of prayer and fasting a missionary in Lodwar saw a diviner coming to his house. He thought he was going to be wasting his time because he came around regularly and wasted his time, but God said go talk to him and tell him his sin. The missionary walks up to the diviner and tells this diviner that he has sinned. The diviner then, shockingly, admits to his sin, and then confesses even more sins he has committed. They both start weeping as the Spirit comes over them. The diviner said that Satan wanted him to join the missionary’s church, so he would know how to destroy the church from within. BUT, the diviner says that whenever you read from that book Satan doesn’t talk to me for many weeks. He tells the missionary he will feed, shelter, and treat anyone who comes to his house like a son if they read the word of God and teach his family and him the bible. But everyone was too scared to do it. They feared Satan! It took them being reminded about 1 John 4:4. However, the diviner believed in the Word of God and ends up becoming a Christian and people in the class knew who he was.

Simon

So everyday at lunch break I had planned to read or pray or nap just be somewhat productive. That changed when Simon showed up. Simon is crazy. I’m not talking like just normal little kid crazy, he was literally in constant motion. There was never a dull moment with him around. One minute you are just sitting there reading and he will just come up and sit right beside you, get all up in your grill, and smile that goofy smile. Almost as soon as he was there, he was off and running screeching as loud as he could. He definitely wasn't camera shy. Whenever we went to take a picture he wanted to be front and center. After the flash, he would scream, get all excited, and run around in a circle. Probably the most fun we had with him was just chasing him around because he would run away scared, but then sneak back up and peek through the window to see if you’d see him…once you made eye contact he was off and running again. We also tried to teach him some very entertaining English. Most kids know “How are you?” but he now knows… “Where the white women at?” absolutely historical.

To top off a great week, tomorrow we will go get to see Lake Turkana. Hopefully, do some swimming and wrestle a crocodile or two. It’s hard to believe that I only have three weeks left here. This summer is flying by and God is teaching me so much.

Spiritual Warfare class