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China doll suggested my Tanzania story may be of interest. So here it goes. I have always had a heart for Africa - even as a child. In 2003-04 I had the chance to visit Algeria 3 times to work with a group of refugees doing outreach. I always new God would call me back to Africa, but I didn’t know when or where.
Last December, Tanzania started coming across everything I touched - devotions, books I was reading, meditations, e-newsletters. I don’t believe in coincidences, so I started to pay attention. I only knew one person from Tanzania. He is a pastor that was in the US continuing his education. Earlier that year he filled on at my church while our pastors were on sabbatical. He was back in Minneapolis with school when I e-mailed him in December. I told him Tanzania was on my heart, but I didn’t know anything about Tanzania or where he was from. I asked if he could e-mail me some information. Pr. Andrea e-mailed me back in 15 minutes and said, “I will be in your town tomorrow. Maybe we should talk!” WOW! We talked. He hadn’t been home for 2 years but was planning on going home for the summer. He invited me to visit. I was excited about the possibility.
I started keeping a journal of “God Whispers” confirming that I was indeed being called to go to Tanzania. Within 3 months I had 4 typed pages confirmations, encouragements inspirations and eventually “how much more proof do you want?”
I went for 3 weeks in August and fell in love with the people of the Livingstone Mountains in Western Tanzania. Even though they have very little materialistically, they have so much to offer in what is really important in life - family and relationships.
They were very concerned about hosting an American, believing their modest conditions would scare me away. I reassured them that one culture is not better than another. Our cultures are just different.
I am overjoyed with the possibility of walking side by side
with these people, providing opportunities for Americans to create relationships where we can all learn from each other. They are rich in ways that we are in poverty.
I am just an everyday 40-something woman from a small town. But when God starts to whisper to you...listen with ears wide open. The doors He opens are always beyond our imagination. I think the adventure is just begining.
wow..what a blessing to be a blessing..when you write your memoirs..please keep us posted...
I really want to go on a mission trip. I’ve never done it before but I do believe that it is something I should do. I have a friend that went to Peru last year with her mission group at her church and she loved it and can’t wait to go back.
I’m going to figure out when I can go. Maybe next year.
I’ll probably be going to Gauatamala...not sure how you spell it. Our church is building a church there.
Yes...please keep us posted...
Tammiejo, Wow! Thank you for sharing that! That is exactly what I mean when I say that we are in the most powerful time of our life. It’s an amazing adventure when you hear those “God Whispers“, and follow them!
blessings,
Cindy
maryclark - (or any of you wonderful ladies) if you are interested, I hope to be leading a mission trip in July to Tanzania. I am researching ways for sponsorships because the airfare alone is CRAZY! Approximate cost for 2 weeks is $3500 - which would be airfare from Chicago, all meals and lodging.
coachmombabe - I do believe you are so right that we are in the most powerful time in our lives.
soulful, teeky, chinadoll and jackie - thank you for your comments. They mean alot to me. God always provides me with fuel thrugh your encouraging words.
I copied this from a website (http://www.sacredspace.ie/pope/index.php?lang=en) and esp. for you with love and praise:
When I was a young student of philosophy I befriended a Tanzanian convert to Christianity who later went on to study for the priesthood. I was curious as to how conversions worked! What, in the final analysis, convinced people of the truth of the Christian claim? My new friend explained:
'It’s the way the missionaries lived their lives. We witnessed them giving of themselves unselfishly every day to better our lot through education, medical care and other pastoral initiatives. They did not seem to ask anything in return. That impressed us and eventually led us to ask why? Why they lived like this, why they loved like this, why they seemed cheerful and at peace with themselves and with the world. It was then, and only then, that they told us about Jesus and his love, and how they tried to show forth that same love in the way they lived their lives.’
Jesus, from the very beginning, as a new born child in Bethlehem, entered our world quietly, gently, unobtrusively, with no agenda other than to show love in service. This is the secret of missionary success.
*By this all will know that you are my disciples, by the love you have for one another (John 13:35)*.
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