2 nights ago the Lord really taught me a lesson on humility. I woke up yesterday morning to go outside to the bathroom and discovered my journals, my Bible, my money belt, and my passport sprawled out in the dirt. I was immediately concerned, because I knew that I had left all of these things safely packed away in my day pack in our living room. I opened my passport case to discover that my passport was safe, and everything was still in place with the exception of one of my debit cards. I went inside and my backpack was nowhere to be found.
Megan also noticed that her camera was missing, and Abby was missing a bag from our bedroom as well (that was hanging right by the window). We quickly discovered what it felt like to be robbed. Someone had come into our house during the night while someone went to the bathroom and had taken what was ours. At first, I was upset. My camera, with all of my photos and videos and memories of the trip thus far, was gone. Bummer. My water bottle was gone. Bummer. My flashlight was gone. Bummer. My brother’s backpack that he had generously let me borrow was gone. Bummer. But God reminded me of something very important… none of that stuff is “mine” or anyone else’s’… everything I have is a blessing from God, it belongs to Him. Despite the bummer of losing a camera, water bottle, debit card, and backpack… God was with me and He was protecting us. OUR TEAM WAS SAFE. We were robbed, but our team was kept completely safe. In addition… whoever took my things deliberately took the time to either take out or bring back my passport and journals. That in itself is absolutely incredible, because we are leaving to go to Kenya today. That would have been a nightmare to try to cross 2 borders and get back to the USA without my passport and yellow fever card. In addition, even though I lost my pictures and videos… God kept my journals safe. My journals of the past 4 months of my life… everything God has taught me and done in me to get me to Africa… and all the memories, struggles, and stories from being in Africa. There will be plenty of pictures and videos from our time here between my teammates.. but those journals are irreplaceable. God had His hand on this and was completely protecting my team and me in every sense of the matter!
I had committed earlier in the week to lead the team in devotion/worship time that morning earlier in the week. God spoke to me the night before to lead the team in a morning of praise… just praising God for who He is and all the He does, because praise confuses the Enemy. When we praise God the Enemy is defeated. It was the perfect morning for this type of worship. Although Satan tried his best to defeat us or discourage or distract us on our last day of ministry… that didn’t happen, because we turned our focus to the Lord and praised Him in the midst of attack and struggle, because He is sovereign and He always protects and provides for His children… even though it doesn’t always look like what we think it should. He is our father, and He ALWAYS gives good gifts to His children!
