Wait…What?!

              I still can’t get over the fact that I’m in Africa, let alone have been here for a month and a half already. This is officially the half way point in our trip and it’s still going by so fast. At first 3 months sounds like a long time, maybe even a little overwhelming since this is my first overseas mission trip. Because this trip is about half way over, I figured I could give a little synopsis of what I’ve been learning thus far.

            I’ve learned from the moment I got here that Swaziland has been the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. Along with its scenery it also has a beautifully interesting culture to go with it. For example, while driving or walking a long there may be a chance that you’ll see a man peeing on the side of the road. I’ve seen it about 2 or 3 times already. Although it is allowed to go to the bathroom whenever and wherever a person may want, it is, however, not appropriate for a man to take his shirt off in public. The only time a man can take his shirt off is when it’s absolutely certain that a woman is not around. Yeah…I don’t get it either. 

            I’ve also learned how to live with chickens and goats. Roosters by the way don’t just crow at sunrise as the stereotype goes. They crow at any given time during the day and a random times at night. I know this because I’ve awaken to their sound before. I’ve even learned how to survive Swaziland public transportation, walk in downtown Manzini, take bucket showers, wash my clothes by hand (which by the way never get truely clean), how to survive without running water, how to use a jackhammer, live in community, how to get rid of weeds using a shovel, speak some SiSwati, teach abstinence to a class of 6th graders, and the proper way to clean a homestead bathroom (a.k.a. port-o-potty with hole in the ground).

            Along with those things, God has been teaching me some things on the side as well. He’s been teaching me how much he loves us, even though I will never fully understand it. Even though I might think that I am nowhere near worthy enough to experience who he is because of my sin, his grace really is more than enough and I can actually “experience all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) because of his sacrifice. Why does he love us that much? Don’t ask me. I encourage you to go read Romans chapters 6-8 to give you just a glimpse of how good our God really is. His sacrifice gives me the privilege to be clean before him. Romans says that my body is dead because of sin, but my spirit is alive because of righteousness! (Romans 8:10)

            God has been teaching me that I have authority. In the spiritual realm, that is. I know I talked about it before, but I would like to give some examples of how I used my authority: One night, around 3 a.m., me and the other guys woke up to the sound of Landon yelling. Landon heard something outside our window that wasn’t any of the sounds that we have heard before. He said he heard someone say “Bhuti” which is SiSwati for brother, except this voice was very raspy and frankly…scary. So after being scared out of our wits the guys woke up, prayed, sang some songs and the spirit went away. We used our authority against the enemy in that situation to bring the spirit of fear back to a spirit of peace. I thought I wouldn’t get back to sleep again that night, but I ended up falling back asleep and actually feeling rather peaceful. God taught me not only my authority, but also about the spirit of fear. Satan can only bring us a spirit of fear. When that happens we just pray against it. God is bigger than the enemy. 

            My other authority-in-use scenario was a few weeks ago when we met up with another AIM team about an hour away. Aparently, this team has been going through pretty intense spiritual warfare such as, seeing things, feeling things touch them, and pretty much not sleeping. One night we decided to meet up with them and have a night of prayer and worship. After about an hour and a half to two hours of worship, we began the night of prayer by going in shifts. Around two people at a time for an hour praying throughout the night.   After two people were done their hour another group of people would begin their hour. Later on we heard from the other team that ever since we spent the night with them they’ve been having the best night sleep that they’ve had in a long time. The attacks have stopped and things have been better. Only God can do that, my friends. You can’t make that up or explain it. So, God used that situation to teach me my authority. God is good. I can go on, but I think I’ll stop right there. I have to have some stories for when I get back ;). 

            Even though there have been some rough moments, I still very happy that I’m here. It’s something that I’m trying to not take for granted and experience to the fullest while I’m here. It’s already half over has God has been teaching me a lot. I’m not really sure what he’s going to do or how he’s going to do it, but I know that he is good and he “works for the good of those who love him”.

            P.S. I’m sorry that I haven’t had any pictures up.  I’ve been having some technical difficulties.