I WILL PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM...

Who ever invented blogging…they were a genius. It has been so good for me to journal at the end of my day on here….I look forward to it at night…to just recap all God has done. I need to do this at home too. It helps to remember and solidify the journey we all are on. I was thinking today how things seem different here, yet in reality, they are no different in some areas. This post is going to be straight from my heart…no filter…J
Today …well…it pretty much sucked from the beginning…yep ya heard what I said…it was a crappy day. Do you know how good it feels to say that. I am sure I am not making my mother proud by using those words…but it is the truth from my heart, sorry mom…I know you did not raise me to talk that way. (it has gotten better…keep reading) This journey…as well as the journey of life that we are all on is not easy…there are no guarantees that every day will be sunshine…and today was definitely a storm. I am glad to have the experience once again of real life on the mission field. It is not your glorified 2 week mission trip that one would normally experience here. It is just that REAL LIFE!
Sarah and I (my new friend from Decatur, AL ) were supposed to get up at 5:30 to walk to Kafubu River with Cody ( my new friend from KC). Well..that didn’t happen. We decided to sleep in…Cody went on by himself. When we finally got up around 8 am…we both were just completely down. Neither of us had slept well…I had a migraine…and we had promised the others here that we would make waffles for them this morning….as we began preparing Sarah and I were like…this day really sucks and it just began…we both were in a funk…so we stopped what we were doing in the kitchen and just began praying…the burdens shifted a bit…although they weren’t completely lifted. As she was cooking the waffles…I decided to check email. (For those of you who care…I have been checking email in the morning and responding in the evening…so I don’t use the internet too much).
My first email was from Laci…about her son being in a motorcycle accident….wasn’t prepared for that one. My next email was from my mother about a lady in their church that had committed suicide…I was kinda scared to open the next one…more bad news….I just shut the computer and escaped the kitchen and went to my room in the other house. I fell straight to my knees by my bed and just cried out to God…Sarah must have been listening to the Holy Spirit cause she was right on my heels and joined me in prayer. We both were just praying and crying out to God…asking Him to change this day. To lift the oppression we were feeling. That time of prayer was so healing.
We went back to the house for breakfast…it just seemed like everyone was in a funk…what is going on??? Then it was time for prayer meeting…man…we need these times in the morning…why don’t we do this at home?….I challenge all of you that are taking the time to read this blog…get on your knees with your loved ones and PRAY….do this daily…it will rock your world and change your life…seriously. We have been doing this every day and let me tell ya….God is meeting with us…He is changing us….He is reviving us…He is unifying us….His presence is so real. If you don’t do this…you are missing out. What does it take?…time….what have we been given?….time. Use it!!! The prayer meeting lasted over an hour…was there work to be done?…yes…did it matter in light of eternity??? NOPE! Prayer is so much more important…all the busyness…it will always be there….now NOW is the time to pray! Our Burdens were lifted…shifted….and thrown out at this time. We all walked away changed. The whole attitude of the day changed. And ya know what? All the work and then some was accomplished today for the preparation of the teams. God is SO GOOD!
Sarah and I worked on getting rooms ready…making beds…cleaning…sorting…we even made a banner to welcome the thousands of Zambians that will be coming next week. It was a good afternoon. I got to see my friends Brian K. and Edgar and Collins today. God gave me time to speak with them and encourage them to keep pressing on for the things that are eternal. It was so good to see them.
This afternoon Cody, Sarah and I walked to Mpemba’s Store to get some bread….Joseph and Mary Mpemba were home and Mary invited Sarah and I in…while Cody was visiting with Joseph…It was good to visit with her and encourage her and pray with her. She just lost her brother last week and I know God took us there today to just lift her up. She is a very dear friend to me. I see Jesus all over her face.
After leaving the Mpemba’s Cody hitched a ride with Kevin..who was coming back from picking up Laura (another missionary here) so Sarah and I decided to walk back to the mission…taking a detour to just have some girl talk. It was so encouraging and good to just share with each other the journey God has brought us on and how He has used the ups and downs of life to mold us into who He wants us to be. We have much in common and it was so uplifting and refreshing to share life with her. Our walk was like a cold glass of water on a hot day…although the day here was pretty cold! (Robin and Val..be sure to pack a sweatshirt!!!) We were late helping for dinner…we got to talking so much! (I feel like all I do is eat here!)
Cody cooked dinner tonight…it was amazing… best spaghetti I have had in a real long time! We all hung out tonight watching the 24 series…everyone has gone to bed now…I must be going too. We are gonna get up and walk to the Kafubu River and watch the sunrise tomorrow…then it is off to Ndola to Grocery Shop! It will be a long day!!!!
Thank you all for your encouraging feedback on the blog and all the emails…you have no idea how much it ministers to me to have email and comments…keep em coming!!!!!
God is good…all the time…and all the time…God is Good….I will praise You in this storm…and I will lift my hands…for You are Who You are…no matter where I am…and every tear I’ve cried…You’ve held in Your hands…You’ve never left my side…and though my heart is torn…I WILL PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM.
~Amy~