Relationships

I feel like I’m right at home here. It’s only day 2 on the work site, but as I walk through the compound where the school is located I already see so many familiar faces. Everyone is so incredibly friendly and I stop for hugs, big smiles, laughter and sharing. It is such a great feeling. I don’t know how much more God can pack in to another 14 days. But I can’t wait to see.

Today we worked until we thought we’d drop. We all said the highlight of our day was seeing our missionary host, Ben, drive up in the Land Rover to take us back home. But it is so worth it. As I look into the beautiful faces of the kids at the school and know I’m a tiny part of God’ plan to give more of these precious ones a Christian education…well…all of a sudden, then, I feel like I’m walking on clouds. I’m outside myself with joy.

One little boy came up to give me a hug today. He looked at me with such an incredible amount of love and delight that I immediately thought that’s how Jesus will look at me when I get to heaven. He will smile so big and say, “I’m so glad to see you.” That picture stayed with me all day. Oh, how blessed I am.

It is so hard to pack the highlights of the day in a few paragraphs…there are so many moments…so much joy…so many blessings…Jesus is everywhere. I have connected with a lady who actually likes to laugh more than me. We laughed so hard at lunch today that I thought my entire insides were going to pop. Our team has certainly been picked by God. And I love to build relationships…God know that, so He steps in and is wonderful enough to bless me in ways that are so meaningful…He is SO good to me.

After killing over at lunch with joy and laughter, I had the opportunity to connect in a deep way with Pastor Jeremiah. What an incredibly, godly man he is. We talked at length about our Walk and how God is moving in our lives. He shared how God has allowed him to gain an education that he never dreamed was possible and in every sentence he speaks of such sincerity in giving all the glory to God. He is hoping to graduate in just over a year after furthering his education and plant a church in a town of almost entirely Muslims…what a story he has and how inspiring he was to me.

My heart is bursting…I look so forward to every aspect of the day. After we get home, I shower, do some quite devotions and then join our missionary hostess and 3 other ladies in the kitchen as they prepare dinner. We share, sing hymns and cook dinner…well, I watch and talk…they cook. But we all share and the company is so uplifting. And boy, do we eat well here. Oh, my goodness…I’ll add 20 lbs before returning. We have true Tanzanian food for lunch at the school and then are blessed with an incredible meal, dessert and coffee each evening.

Please continue to pray that I’ll remain God’s humble servant and allow Him to use me in the most complete way. I want no part of Germaine’s plan…I want to live sold out to Him.

May He be gloried in all I do. Signing off in Babati, Tanzania.

Peace.