By Friday night I had finally had a full night's rest. The time difference is 6 hours ahead so most of us were struggling with our sleep habits. As a matter of fact everything was different...no electricity, no hot showers, no mirrors, no make up (this was especially hard for the men Lol), no ice cubes...It was freedom actually. We were freed up to not think about the next text or email... we were freed from looking at ourselves in the mirror, from even really caring what clothes we had on...it was amazing!

Here we didn't diet...we ate gladly whatever was put in front of us. Here we didn't obsess about our shoes and pocketbook matching our outfit, but instead if they would be sturdy enough for the  day's work....it was refreshing to just show up places and be valued for what was on the inside for a change.

I had been having trouble breathing since we had gotten to Malawi ( I used my inhaler regularly) which was a surprise to me because the air smelled so sweet...I later found out that the smoke that rose above Esther's House compound every night was burning trash...In the "burn barrel" they disposed of everything including plastics and Styrofoam...now the heavy feeling in my chest made a lot of sense. As a matter of fact I had to give my inhaler to a team mate who doesn't have asthma because they too were having trouble breathing.

I started today asking God to guide me as I prepared to go into the village. Five of us from my team were going into Madzanje to do Malaria and HIV clinics, but my goal was to share Christ every chance that I got. I told God that I was certain that He would give me opportunities to share about Him...I knew that there were hungry hearts that were ready for Him...souls longing for His presence. I asked Him to give me His words, His guidance through His Spirit, reminding myself at the same time, that I was relying on Him for everything. I thanked Him for allowing me to hear His voice and for loving me so completely.

Lauren, Esimay (our interpreter), and I set out for the village where Esimay grew up. The day before five of us had painted while the rest of the team went into the villages. Today the five of us were going out on foot to a nearby village to give the villagers vital information about Malaria and HIV prevention. It was such a wonderful experience to go with my own daughter and with Esimay who had grown up in this very place.

We arrived at the first hut and I heard God say, "You are welcome here...They want to hear from me", and I felt God draw near to me in power...it was as if the air was charged with electricity...and we began to witness about Jesus Christ. The first woman I spoke with accepted Jesus gladly with complete abandon. We prayed for her and over her new life. As we moved through the village we also met families who already knew Jesus, and told them that you had sent us...that you knew what was in their hearts.

"Lord I love you and praise you, I am your willing servant wanting to do what you require of me...don't stop growing me...I want to reach a multitude for your kingdom", I prayed as we walked. As soon as the words came into my mind I was transported back in time to a prayer that I had prayed with sincerity and power some time ago, "I want to reach multitudes for your kingdom". Some how this trip was the beginning of the answer to that prayer. Whether it was going to be one mission trip at a time or writing a book about my experiences with God and then going around as a speaker (each things that God seems to be suggesting at the moment)...whatever God's plan...He was answering my prayer and I was glad that I had been bold enough to pray it!

I opened my bible and found myself in 2Kings reading about taking the idols out of the temple, and I thought about the things that we secretly leave in our temples...how we rationalize leaving them there just like Saul did, pretending like we don't understand what we have done wrong, or which rules we might have broken....but let's be honest, we know...


Today I got to see my daughter lead people to Christ in strength...I got to lay hands on sick people believing that You would make them well Lord...I got to declare your name and sovereignty and I got to move in the power of Your Holy Spirit...Walking in the intense afternoon sun and dust, my long skirt skimming the ground as I went, all I could think of was what it must have been like to be a disciple in the time of Jesus...walking from village to village in power sharing the truth that would set prisoners free...and this is all that I wanted to do for the rest of my life!

If it were up to me this is how I would most want to live...If this is your will for me Lord I will gladly go to the ends of the earth for you, village by village, walking through the dust in Your power with Your words going where You want me go...but I don't get to choose where I reach a multitude for Your kingdom...I only get to choose to want to reach them! As for me, I will wait for you to show me the next move Lord....waiting and gaining strength for the next assignment from you.

"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." - Psalm 130:5-8