Part one:
I’m feeling a lot better this morning. I had a couple mini breakdowns yesterday (a couple regarding bathroom issues and one when we got to camp at just feeling kind of overwhelmed by everything). I think yesterday, especially when we got to camp, is when it hit me that this real. Plus, I’ve never even been camping before so living in the outdoors is totally new for me. I prayed, and I feel like God has helped renew my mind. Sorry, not sorry, Satan, but you’re not going to keep me from being a missionary, whether short term or long term. I know I was made for this. I chose this trip because I’ve learned to like situations where if God doesn’t come through, I’m screwed. It gives Him 100% room to move and work and show His power and be glorified.
“Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.” – Hebrews 2:18
Part two:
So we went into the villages today for a ceremony celebrating Chief Moomba. There are chiefdoms here, which are kind of similar to states or provinces, and people in the chiefdom walked far to attend the annual event. So it was an opportunity for us to not only experience the culture, but also talk to a lot of people. At one part during the celebration, performers were dancing (which is largely what the event was composed of), and anyone who tipped the musicians could come out and dance. So a group of us did. It was a lot of fun, and the crowd absolutely loved it. After the ceremony, we had an hour or two before heading back to camp, so we talked to the people and did a little evangelizing. Sam started talking to a couple of the dancers and asked them to teach her to dance. So they let her wear one of their shimmy belts, and then I ended up taking a turn. Proud to say that they said I was a good dancer. Getting your dancing abilities endorsed by an African is pretty legit. 😉
Afterwards, Sam and I walked off with one of them (Abigail). She introduced us to her aunt (who also danced), and we ended up using the rest of our time talking with them. (Though Sam did the talking, not me, admittedly). They were both Christians; Abigail said she’s 19 and her aunt (can’t remember her name currently) is 17. Her aunt also has an adorable little baby named Wayne. We just talked with them and then prayed for them. They both spoke pretty good English, so we didn’t need a translator.
After that, we went back to camp, had dinner, and shared our personal testimonies around the campfire, which I’m glad I got to do. Today was a good day overall, and I’m feeling better now, but I was really frustrated earlier because I thought when I got here that I’d get right into the groove of introducing myself to people, starting conversations, and evangelizing, but today I felt no different than I do when I’m at home. And that scares me because I am so sick of being the quiet chick with no friends. I’ve got to do this and permanently master it, for the sake of this trip, my potential career in ministry, and my life in general. So I’m praying to God with all my heart for the words and courage tomorrow.
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