Planes…Power…Perspective. Africa Part 1...

I have been silent the last few weeks on my GLAM blog, but I have a good excuse!  I have been in Africa!  It was an incredible trip visitng my best friend, Liv, and her husband, Brian, and working with their ministry, Anza Imani.  We were able to spend lots of time with the street boys there in Mwanza, Tanzania.  This was my 3rd trip to Mwanza and it was incredible!  Over the next several weeks I would like to share what we did and the incredible things God did and taught me while I was gone.  So, here goes nothing...The first six days of my trip!  :)

Alston, me, Liv and Brian at church!Thursday, April 4, I was at the airport headed to Africa.  Within the first 3 hours of our journey we encountered a very delayed flight and sprinted through the Atlanta airport (that is not an exaggeration, I promise!), 35 hours and 5 plane rides later…We made it to Mwanza!!!  Our really tired, stinky selves were greeted by Brian and Liv at the airport.  Not only was it GREAT to see my best friend for the first time in months, it was just great to see some familiar faces after our long journey!  It warmed my heart to exit the airport, get in the car with them (Yes, Liv can actually drive like a real Tanzanian!) and drive through Mwanza.  It definitely has been way too long since my last trip.
The motto of this trip definitely was “Dear Lord, Stop the rain and let there be power!”  For all of you who have rushed the gates of heaven asking for rain on behalf of the people of Mwanza, let it be known that your prayers have been heard.  I mean, they really have been heard.  It has rained more in the first  three and a half days that I was there, then in all my other trips combined. :) In all seriousness, God has generously supplied ample amounts of rain to rehydrate the dry soil.  Now that your rain prayers have been answered, pray the power stays on!  While it’s not a big inconvenience, it does get a little annoying at times because it is so random.  There is absolutely no way you can predict if you will have power or not at any given time.  Oh well, it made for a great adventure! 

The boys eating a meal at the church!In the first four days of our trip, we spent time with the boys three separate times…Saturday afternoon, Sunday for church and then Tuesday.  On Saturday we were able to sing with them and then watch as each of them recited the verses they have committed to memory.  I must admit it was really cool and very humbling.  Some of the boys cannot even read, yet they have hidden His Word in their hearts.  On Sunday we worshiped with them in church. All of them were sitting in the front, listening and singing along.  My mind was blown to pieces when it was time for the offering.  They boys have nothing.  They sleep in the church at night and beg and work on the streets during the day to make a very small amount of money.  However, most of them still went forward and placed part of their earnings in the offering.  I have heard Liv talk about how they do this, but it didn’t really sink in till I saw it myself.   My perspective on a lot of things changed in that moment…

The first building going up!My perspective changed when I was able to step foot on the property and walk through the first building of Anza Imani Rescue Center.  Three years ago Liv told me she was going to do it…I didn’t believe her…  I was wrong.   It was incredibly exciting to walk and look around as she pointed out where everything is going to go and how everything is going to work.  It’s absolutely amazing. 
My perspective was changed Sunday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon as I was able to sit on the dirty, concrete floor of the church where the boys sleep.   My job was to scoop out a portion of beans onto a plate for each boy.  Two of only four meals that we know they get on a weekly basis.  They were so thankful for what little it was. 

Liv translating for me as I taught!Lastly, my perspective was changed as I was able to teach the boys on Tuesday afternoon.  While it was fun to spend time with them, teach a lesson and laugh and joke, my mind wondered somewhere else as all of these things were going on…
My best friend lives in Africa.  We skype and email on a weekly basis, so in reality, it really doesn’t feel like she’s halfway around the world.  When we got here and got to their house, it didn’t feel like we were in Africa.  Everything just seemed normal.  When we go into town or to the market it’s not odd to listen to her talk to people in Swahili.  However, today, as I stood before the boys and shared the Word of God with them I didn’t use a native to translate...Liv translated for me.  Talk about a crazy moment.  It was an incredible moment for me.  I know she is a missionary, but today I really got to see it and experience it first hand.  She stuck with me word for word and even made what I had to say work when there wasn’t an exact translation.  A year ago she had no clue, but today she rocked it. 
Once again, God continues to blow my mind.  I am constantly amazed at the incredible things He is doing.  I am constantly amazed of how He uses His children who are not worthy.  I am constantly amazed that God cares for and loves each and every one of us.  I am constantly amazed that God doesn’t need my help, but He allows me to join in on the work that He is doing.
May we never loose the humility and amazement of God, His love and His work.

Enjoying rice and beans with our hands!Until next time here are two funnies from our first few days…  On Sunday we ate lunch with the boys.  Silverware is not a must when eating in Africa, so we joined right in.  It was quite the entertainment watching Alston dig in for the first time!

On Tuesday when I was teaching I carved a face out of a watermelon as an illustration.  Everything went off without a hitch and it seemed like the boys really enjoyed it.  As I was wrapping up the lesson I asked if anyone had a question.  One boy raised his hand, stood up and then spouted off a few words in Swahili.  When he was done all the boys and Liv and Brian began to laugh.  I stood there awkwardly because I had no clue what question he asked.  Cutting a nose so it could breathe!My mind wondered about what in the world could be so funny.  Still laughing, Liv turned to me and said, “He wants to know how the head can breathe because we didn’t cut it a nose.”  I laughed, turned to my backpack, pulled out my multi-tool and cut it a nose.  Boys will be boys!

Until next weeks blog...