so i had been holding out re-blogging anything until i wrote about how my missions trip had gone. the truth is, i had tried. i tried so hard to come here and write something. instead i aimlessly browsed through page after page as i tried to find the right words. but that’s just it, i can’t. my time in africa it.. i can’t even begin to explain it. which is ironic, since this sunday i’m testifying in front of everyone at my church. this is going to be amazing, no? haha. so lets see.. i flew to DC to meet with a bunch of other people i had never once met. i’m not even going to pretend i wasn’t scared, i was beyond scared. but we all hit it off. we all sat chatting in the hotel as if we had known each other for years.

that next day we made our way back to the airport to begin our 17+ hour trip to tanzania. the flight was excruciatingly long, but we managed to make the most of it. it was crazy being there. none of us really were able to wrap our heads around it quite yet. it didn’t feel real. not even as three men lifted up or luggage and tied it to the top of a bus, it wasn’t till we boarded the bus and were leaving and saw this HUGE bird—we’re talking at least three to four fee standing up—walking around around three people sitting at a table waiting for some scraps. their version of a dog/cat at our dinner table. the hour and a half drive was filled with silence, the odd “look at that” and countless pictures. our hotel was beautiful, and we had a breath taking view of arusha.

it all became really real the first day. we went to the esso church, and as we drove through the community of esso i was overwhelmed. i had only once seen extreme poverty, i had been in grade four at the time and hadn’t really understood what i was seeing. it was the first time i was able to understand how horrid their living conditions were. the children who’s shoes were worn through, ragged clothing, skin and bones. my heart wept for the city of esso. the church was small, the church families so eager to have us all there. everyone was staring at us as we made our way into the church. most children there had never seen so many white people, especially all together. one of the families had made all of us fried banana’s and bought us pop. even with nothing, their generosity was more then anything i had ever witnessed. here in north america you typically need to beg people to give, and we have so much. there, they have nothing, and they give without even being asked.

we split into three groups and walked the city of esso. my group was mobbed by children on their midday break. all grabbing at us, wanting tracts (papers explaining about the kindgom of God and being born again in swahili). reading materials is like gold to these children, as most don’t have any books of their very own. we take so much for granted back here, people just have no idea. growing up i had next to nothing, but still compared to the families i met while in africa i had so much.

we went on a safari, spent two nights in a lodge. it was surreal being so close to lions, zebras, hippos and elephants in their natural habitat. i’ll never be able to enjoy a zoo again!

after the lodge, we made our four our trek to the maasai village, majengo KIA, where we would be spending two nights. again, i don’t think anything could of prepared me for that village. but their hunger? their hunger for God? it was something i had never witnessed before. no one had to ask them to come up for altercall, everyone (children too) quickly flooded the front under the large tent, crying out and seeking God.that night after supper myself and three other girls had gone down to watch, take a couple video/pictures of the maasai dancing/jumping during their evening service. we had just been standing there taking it all in when someone came up behind me and jessica, and in their language encouraged us to come in and join them. she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. her hand found ours and lead us in. being invited in, the children teaching us how they dance to the music, it was a once in a lifetime experience. how many people could say one of the maasai women invited them in to dance and worship with them and the church?

we did two crusades at the village, passed out tracts, then had to return back to arusha. where we did more crusades at the esso church, passed on tracts, and i taught sunday school in one of the children’s crusades. it was where i met the girl who stole my heart, maria. she received the holy ghost our first crusade their and was healed from stomach problems. this young girl, no more then ten, is currently holding my heart captive in arusha, tanzania. africa itself has my heart. the hardest thing was leaving. i have to go back, i need to go again. there is still so much work to be done in africa. where ever God wants me, i will go.

Results? Of course their were results. We’ve sown so many seeds, and now we can only wait and watch as they grow in God’s kindgom!