"The world to see Your life in me"

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In the fall of 2015, I joined a bible study at my friend Larissa’s house. If you haven’t heard the story, once upon a time I sat in her living room after bible study and said, “I just wanna move to Africa for a year.” And, she told me to do it.

In the spring of 2016, I co-led the same bible study. That fall the college-age pastor at my home church asked if someone would please lead a girls’ bible study (which happened to be the same study I had already done twice in 8 months). Because I have a hard time saying no, I said I’d do it. So, I led this same bible study for the third time in a row during the fall/winter of 2016-2017. I also recall saying, “Please don’t ever make me lead this same bible study again.”

This winter while I was home, I really felt the Lord telling me I need to do this bible study again with the volunteers at Neema Village. At first, I was wondering if this was from the Lord or if I was running back to this same study because I knew it was good and I sure have had some experience leading (HA) this bible study.

I’m not very good at taking time to read the introductions in books. I just want to get right into chapter one. Well, today, after reading chapter one of this bible study, I went back to read the introduction and man am I glad I did!

The first line I read was this, “There is a popular side-dish known as ugali in Kenya and Tanzania.” – Pastor Muriithi Wanjua of Mavuno Church, Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi, if you aren’t aware, is only about five hours from where I live in Tanzania. And, I just so happen to eat ugali every Tuesday for lunch which now I don’t believe is an accident because Tuesdays are also my biggest prayer days for the college ministry in MT where I was introduced to this bible study nearly four years ago.

This bible study which I’ve led time and time again is Rooted by Pastor Kenton Beshore of Mariners Church in California. In the introduction he says he was so impressed by Pastor Wanjua’s bible study called “Mizizi” that Kenton wanted to bring this study to the United States. “Mizizi” means “rooted” in Swahili.

I took my very first trip to Tanzania right after I finished leading Rooted for the third time and I had no recollection of Rooted having anything to do with Africa. I’m pretty sure God knew I’d end up leading this study in its home continent of Africa. No detail is ever over-looked by God. We just have to open up our eyes.

If you haven’t had the chance to go on an African Safari, let me paint ya a little picture of what staying in a tent in the middle of the savanna is like!

Tented lodges have an emergency whistle you can blow incase of animal activity around your tent.  These lodges mean business. They won’t even let you walk yourself from your tent to the dining area after dark due to animals in the area. On my very first Safari, I came within five feet of a hyena. EEWW. GROSS. GO AWAY. You better believe I slept with the emergency whistle around my neck.

Last month, while my family was visiting me in TZ, we went on Safari.  Some in the group were a little worried about animals, but not me! I’ve done this before. I have looked a hyena in eye! I’ll be fine.

My mom and I were sharing a tent which was on the far outskirts of the camp. Again, I’ll be fine because I’ve done this before. Well, while I was brushing my teeth I heard footsteps outside our tent. I’m not kidding! There was something out there and I freaked out. BIG TIME. I started blowing that germ-covered whistle like there was no tomorrow (cause I was convinced I wouldn’t live to see the next morning’s sunrise) aaaaaaand no one came.

There my mom and I sat in the tent totally helpless.  We couldn’t go out to try and find help because whatever was out there would clearly eat us. We couldn’t just go to sleep with an unknown animal out there waiting to rip through the tent and bite our heads off.  So, I blew the whistle again and again. After 15 minutes of sitting in bed under the sheets blowing the whistle, “Emily, who does well under pressure,” came forth with the great idea to shine a flashlight out the tent window towards the rest of camp.  Praise the good Lord this caught someone’s attention! The guard came over to check out everything. He said whatever was there had been scared off by the whistle and to go to bed. HA! I didn’t sleep well that night.

Does that ever sound like your prayer life? Do you ever have the impression that you are blowing a whistle over and over and over again and God doesn’t come to your rescue? Do you feel like you are on the outskirts of camp and there is no way He can hear you? It doesn’t matter where you’ve set up camp, He hears you and He cares. There’s no whistle blowing nor flashlight shining. There’s just our hearts connecting with the creator of the universe through sincere belief and prayer.

Keep blowing your whistle. Keep praying. Keep calling out to God. Unlike the Massai guard who should have heard me blowing my whistle that evening but didn’t, God hears.  Always.

This little love’s mom won’t live past the weekend.  She doesn’t have a name yet.  She weighs 3 lbs. 

Rachel’s mom died during childbirth due to HIV complications. She weighs 2.8 lbs.

Please say a prayer of strength over these little girls.

I sat in the hospital and cried over all they’ve lost. No one should grow up without a mom. A mother is one of the greatest treasures this side of heaven.  Today, I am extra thankful for my mama (blurry picture but who cares!) and every other mom on earth. I know the days are long and hard, but your jobs as “mommy” matter so much. You’ve been given a hard task, but you’ve got this.

Let’s never forget to be thankful for each breath because some aren’t so lucky.

Tanzania has changed me. It is hard for me to express this change in a way you’ll grasp because I don’t believe anyone can fully comprehend what living in Africa is like for me unless they have seen, felt, smelt, tasted, and heard the things I have. I’m not sure human language alone can carry you to a place of understanding all the ways that Tanzania has changed me.

My heart loves Tanzania. That’s the best I can do! Until you come and let your heart be touched by the symmetry of the Serengeti, let your eyes look upon the majestic beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro, and see the triumph of the Tanzanian people, I will continue to write.  I will write about the joys I witness. I will write about the hardships I observe. I will write about our God and how His love is all over the world.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro has got to be one of the most mind-blowing, overwhelming,  physically demanding, enjoyable, mentally draining, rewarding, spiritually provoking, and exhausting feats I’ve ever done.

I know Jesus can move mountains in our lives, but I have always pictured God as being at the top of the mountain because he is God and he belongs at the top.  As I was climbing this mountain, Jesus opened my eyes to the truth that He doesn’t just meet us at the tops of the mountains we are climbing in our lives.  He walks with us each hard step of the way up.

Our lead guide referred to himself as “captain” not boss.  The six of us who were climbing all loved, loved, loved this reference. I had no idea what the heck I was doing the whole eight days.

I’ve never climbed a mountain like this before.

I’ve never slept in a tent for eight nights.

I’ve never been so cold – who hikes so high their water freezes?!

I’m what you would call a “luxury camper.”

I was SO dependent on our captain.  I trusted he knew the best way to get us to the top.  I followed each small step he took as we got closer and closer to 19,341 feet.  I did (or tried to do) everything he told me to do.

“Drink this much water.  Eat this food.  Sleep now.  Keep walking.”

As we walked and walked and walked and walked for eight days in a row, we saw the most amazing landscapes. I am always blown away by creation and the fact that God didn’t have to create such a stunning world for us to live in.  But, He did and this is just one of the ways God shows me how much He loves me.

On summit night, they woke us up at 11:00 p.m. after only four hours of sleep so we would be ready to start hiking by midnight.   They have you summit at night because you have a better chance of making it to the top when you can’t see how far you still need to go.  This is so true in life as well!  With only the light from my headlamp, I followed Captain Kennedy’s every step for seven hours in the dark.  Jesus reminded me to also follow Him one baby step at a time as I try to live my life making sure no one misses out on the grace of God.

Just incase you are wondering, I had on five layers of shirts and four layers of pants.  -15F has never felt colder nor looked better on me.

The picture above was taken after 6.5 hours of hiking just as the sun was starting to rise.

I cried when I heard Kennedy say, “Emmy, do you see the sign?”

Never in my entire life have I been as helpless as I was on summit night.  This was me all the way up to the summit:

“Kennedy, can you please zip my jacket?”

“Batister, can you please hand me my poles?”

“Peter, can you please help me put on my gloves?”

“Kennedy, can you please fix my headlamp?”

“Peter, can you please make sure my hat is over my ears?”

Things our guides knew I couldn’t do for myself:

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“Emmy, take this medication for your headache.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“Let’s make sure your headlamp isn’t too tight.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“Keep moving your feet even when you are sitting so they don’t get cold.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“Let me carry your backpack.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“I’m going to put your sunglasses on you.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“I’m taking off your headlamp.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

“Smile for the picture. Take your big hood off so we can see your face.”

“Here is your water. Sip sip.”

THANK YOU to each of the 28 people who helped me reach the summit.  I couldn’t have done it without each of you!

Batister (photo above) brought coffee to me each morning while I was still in my sleeping bag along with “warm water for washing.”

Peter (photo above) said he’d catch me if I fell off the mountain, laughed at my pants, and told me to put on my layers.

Kennedy (photo above) made sure I had enough oxygen in my blood.  He watched everything I ate and he laughed all the way up the mountain at how gullible I am.

Jeff, Tina, Mariya, Hayden, David, and I all had one thing in mind while we were climbing  – the children at Neema Village.  We did this fund-raiser climb for them and we’d do it 100 X’s over to to raise money for Neema to be able to support these children so they can continue to grow up knowing Jesus will walk beside them no matter the mountains they are facing.

“Jesus, my Captain
My soul’s trusted Lord
All my allegiance is rightfully Yours.”

Song:  “Captain” by Hillsong

 

Babies are beaten because, “they need to learn that life is hard.”

I’ve lived in Tanzania for just over a year now.  Hearing the stories and seeing babies and children being beaten is really taking a toll on my heart and mind.

I am overcome with the needs of Tanzania.  It’s not my desire to bring the western world into Tanzania, but basic human rights – freedom from torture and degrading treatment – are rights which need to make their way into this country.

Everyone stop what you are doing and think of a helpless baby being beaten to “learn a lesson.”  I don’t know how to fix this.  I don’t have the power to change this.  My heart is so broken.  I’ve known full well that kids in TZ are beaten, but it had always been at an arm’s distance.  Before, it was just a story that wasn’t real to me.  Now that it’s a nine-month old baby boy who you’ve held, played with, and rocked to sleep it hits home.  When it’s a little kid you see walking down the road all the time, it hits home.  When it’s the neighbor girl, it hits home.

Last week I bought a couple of plants to keep in my room.  My little succulents live next to my bed to remind me there is no darkness in God and one day He will vanish all pain.

I spent some time out in Massai land last weekend and it was all-consuming.  There is a whole lot of nothin’ out there.  Miles upon miles of land untouched by human hands.  Land with snakes, ants, thorn trees, bugs, ponds, birds, and dirt. Even though I only wandered around away from camp for a couple of hours, I felt like I was on the show “Naked and Afraid.”  I’m not sure I would make it through the first night on that show.  My two hours of exploring the countryside without any water left me longing, with a very dry throat, for a drink of water!

Water is SO vital.  I often drink 80 – 120 oz of water a day. I feel my best when I drink a lot of water because water does so much for your body.  Water helps your liver and kidneys detox waste from your body. Drinking water gives you higher energy levels and healthy brain function along with a lot of other benefits I won’t take time to list.

Something I will be highly passionate about for the rest of my life is everyone having clean drinking water. Everyone.  No one should live without filtered, parasite free drinking water. Along with clean drinking water, everyone should hear the good news of Jesus Christ.  Only He can quench the thirst your soul longs for.

780 million people don’t have clean drinking water and the World Health Organization states that every year more than 3.4 million people die worldwide from diseases caused by unclean water.

It truly amazes me to think about what I can live without.  I take my phone with me everywhere because I’m super sentimental and will take a picture of just about anything, but not once while I was gone did I long for Wi-Fi nor the ability to make a phone call or send a text.  Now, I will say I was only gone for 24 hours and that’s pretty much just a blink of an eye, but when I look back on that weekend and remember the laughs shared with friends and moments of silence taking in all God has created, I believe I am starting to have a better understanding of what Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:12.

“I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

I know I live with much more than I deserve or even need.  There are things of this world that make life a whole lot easier like being able to call home and chat with friends and family. That is literally a blessing from God himself.  But, these comforts should never take away from Jesus sustaining you.

The picture below is what got me thinking about all of this in the first place.  A simple white bucket located out in a bathroom overlooking Massai land where the water runs from the bucket to a bowl you empty by hand.  This is where I brushed my teeth, washed my hands and face, and thanked God for clean drinking water and all of life’s comforts He has given me.

Count your blessings and don’t forget clean drinking water, the good news of Christ, education, and health care.  Most everything else in this world is a comfort that replaces the need for us to allow Jesus to bring comfort.

In March of 2017 while on vacation with my family on the Big Island of Hawaii, I was able to see Kilauea’s flowing lava. We had visited the Big Island before, but the lava hadn’t been flowing at the time. It started flowing in the spring of 2016 and now, just two years later, Hawaii is in a state of emergency due to the lava flow and the expected eruption of the volcano.

It was pretty unreal to witness such grace and power all at once.  I sat on dried lava for a couple of hours watching the earth burn and bubble at 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit right next to me.

The lava moves so slowly with the brightest colors of red and orange, it is truly graceful. Feeling the lava’s heat radiate and seeing its unpredictable movement demonstrates the unstoppable power held by this natural force.

Note the steam rising up as the lava enters the ocean creating an ever-changing coastline.

If you look closely, you can see the red glow of lava in the crater.

Hawaii is beautiful with its:

desert-like lava fields

black sand beaches

whale filled ocean

dense green forest

towering waterfalls

and rugged coastlines.

The natural diversity found on the Big Island is like nowhere else and my heart breaks for the many locals who are losing their homes and the lives they lived a couple of weeks ago.

Lord, we thank you so much for the world you created for us to live in. It is falling apart, yet it is so amazing. How much more colorful, powerful, and dangerous is the grace of our savior than the lava he created?

The other night a worship song was stuck in my head so I started singing it. Shortly after I started singing, I turned the actual song on and after doing so, I stopped singing.

After I stopped singing, Jesus spoke to my heart, “Your voice is enough.”

I often forget I’m enough. I often forget my voice is enough whether it’s me singing praises to God, speaking truth to people, or standing up for myself. My voice is enough. Jesus wanted me to sing and dance to this song as I brushed my teeth and took my makeup off that night because my voice was enough. My room had the most beautiful peace about it that evening because it was just God and I singing, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.”

I haven’t yet found a Tanzanian who has mastered the art of mixing sound. As I am writing this, some truck just went by blaring “music” from like 20 huge speakers attached to the back of the truck. It drives me crazy!

Have you ever been in a church service which didn’t have the highest quality sound? I pulled up to church once with a car full of volunteers and the noise coming from inside the building was downright painful. The kind of painful where your left eye closes, your right eyebrow is at your hairline, your whole head is tilted, and your nose is scrunched up.

I reminded myself they are offering all they have in worship. Even if it isn’t mixed well and I walk out of church deaf, it is enough for God.

Your voice is enough. Your time is enough. Your love is enough. Your praise is enough.

We live in a world where everyone is always trying to one up each other. Not cool. As Easter is upon us let’s remember, we are enough because what Jesus did on the cross was enough to save all of mankind. No need to one up each other. We all have the same savior.

Even with four grownups working together, I didn’t feel like we were “enough” when trying to dye eggs, do an egg hunt, and give Easter baskets to 18 three to five-year-old kids. But, we are all alive with very little dye on our hands and the kids loved it!