Monday, February 12, 2007

 

Moz. #3 overview




2 months. At least 16 days of driving; 4 to get there, 5 to get back, plus all sorts of driving within and up to Tanzania. 8 days of laying in bed with sickness. 7 days with most the day spent with hassle from government and vehicle maintenance. So, that means one month of ministry, one month stuff. For both months, carrying a bucket of water from a well to wash yourself, and using that same bucket for your laundry. Steady diet of rice and beans, joining in with the Africans and what they eat. Regular cans of sardines and tuna-fish, and lot's of boiled eggs and raisins make good travel food. Corrupt police time and time again. Nearly being attacked by 3 men who were sneaking up on me when I was alone one night, only to quickly drive off. Broken down in the bush. Flat tire, and a flat spare, thank God near the city and a walk into town to borrow a spare saves us. Broken windows in the truck thanks to narrow roads and trees that never know the word trim. Wondering what the noise "tink, tink, tink" is until the rear-wheel drive shaft falls off...leading to the use of 4 wheel drive to get back to South Africa, meaning actually turning on the 4 wheel drive gave us simply the front 2 wheels....and THEN...being hosted in homes with my African family...experiencing their pure love...watching villages readily come to Jesus....Muslims changing their path...preaching in new frontiers...possibly being the first white man kids have ever seen, and laughing that my looks scare people...teaching hundreds and hundreds of pastors and other believers...making disciples...loving orphans...watching the Kingdom come to the earth, and advance, and learning what I need to unlearn in order to allow more...


AND THEN...

Going into one of the dozens of villages we saw...outreach...holding kids in my arms--happy to hold kids. Watching an amazed crowd form around me, only until a man with one blind eye comes to me. I just learned the word for eye in his Makua-tribe tongue that day as I sat with kids and pointed at things while they taught me, so I knew somehow what he was asking me. I just went into His presence, yes, moving my mouth and putting my hands on his eye...but, I was simply waiting upon the Lord...and, I even forgot for a second that it was about even this blind man and what these people would think; I just sat and thought about how good Jesus is, and looked at Him until I knew He was there, and then took my hand off this man's eye to find that both his eyes are now normal! Laughing and dancing with this crowd as we thank the Lord, "Koopi, Koopi, Koopi!!!" (Praise, Praise, Praise!) and me and my brothers and sisters cheer unto the Lord...I walk away knowing that my methods and plans really don't matter, and that Jesus is a lovely interruption into any ministry schedule; the stuff HE does is really cool.

AND NOW....

I finish a plate of chicken-wings and wash it down with an ice cold coke at my favorite pizzeria in South Africa, where they give you free wireless internet if you buy somthing...so, a $2.50 plate of chicken with fries and a coke gives me a chance to get online and not worry about time, and catch up on dozens of emails and try to keep you all posted as best I can...I feel truly clean after a hot shower...I feel well rested after having a real bed to sleep on...suddenly SA might as well be America for me...yet having these things or enjoying rest is almost unfulfilling as I reflect on a life spent in tents, African homes, (you might call them shacks, but I don't call them that anymore now that I sleep in them they look like home, too) a mission base, and wherever we find ourselves that day...and, all to quickly I dream of the next place to go, the need for fathering and discipleship that these young believers now have and a desire already to return to both Namibia and Mozambique and check up on friends...

Yet now for various reasons there will be significant changes coming for me soon. The details aren't exact yet, but more will be posted later. Suffice it to say, even when "at home" (and that's the odd thing, coming back to SA is coming home) I'm really aware right now that "the shelter of the Most High" is really truly the place I want to live. So, your prayers are needed, and my thanks are yours as you've helped me get here and are my partners in the Lord. Let's not stop. Let's continue. Someone is still waiting to hear.

love
Nate

Comments:
Dear Friend in Christ and Fellow Missionary,

I am both encouraged and challenged as I read your most recent entry. The trials you write of facing each day remind me that each of us face giant speed bumps on our daily quest of serving Him. My bumps in the road, however, seem much smaller as I read of your daily struggles in "finding the forgotten". I am also reminded through your writing that in Him we can do all things. Those daily speed bumps are surmountable, so long as we are holding His hand. Keep on keeping on!!
 
Nate,

It's so wonderful to hear from you.. and of the things that occuring in your life. You are in our prayers always, brother. :)
We love you very much.

With love,

Brandon and Liz S.
 
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