"Nasty Uncomfortable Things"

I know it's been a while since I've posted. Part of this, of course is that I was out of the country and had much better things to attend to than blogging, but part of it also is that I am sure that I should say a few words about my trip, but after being part of something so amazing summing it all up on an online blog seems somehow sacrilege (let me clarify in case anyone has been out of the loop, I was in Moshi, Tanzania for two weeks).

Nonetheless, I must say something about it. I cannot very well tell each and every one of my many tales on this page but I will try to do justice to my experiences. To put it simply: God did amazing things; He touched many people in profound ways and I got to be part of it.

En route to Tanzania I began reading the Hobbit for the second time- it seemed a fitting book to read. Starting off on my adventure I didn't feel much different than Bilbo did starting on his: small and insignificant and not very excited about my adventure ( "Nasty uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!). I was late for dinner (and other meals) many times, and quite often was a little uncomfortable but God used me to do great things and brought out more of the courage that He gave me (just like Bilbo's adventures brought out his brave side). Maybe that's the most amazing part; there's nothing in particular that I have to offer that such a great God could need but He took me all the way to Tanzania and let me be a part of the things He's doing there. I will tell you a bit about what it was He, and we, did. A small group from my church along with approximately 70 other people were with Leif Hetland's ministry Global Mission Awareness. We worked with a conference called the African Call during which we had pastor's conferences, women's conferences and rallies. During the conference God moved in power. He healed people of blindness, deafness, deformities, paralysis and any number of other ailments serious or otherwise when we prayed for them (or in many cases when we hadn't prayed for them). We also cast out demons from many people by God's power and authority. We saw one girl who was healed of a severe physical deformity when we cast a demon out of her. We had people dancing wildly who minutes before had barely been able to walk. People who's failing eyesight or hearing was restored. People healed in the conferences and people healed on the streets. I saw demons manifest in people for the first time- and thereafter cast them out for the first time. Almost everyone I prayed for was healed. It was thoroughly amazing to say the least.

The hardest part is figuring out how to minister here in the same way that we ministered there- but I know God will teach how to do it. I know he has even greater things in store for me and I cannot wait for the adventures that He'll take me on next- nasty uncomfortable things though they be.