Hello everyone!!
So the gap is becoming smaller. I realised in church on
Sunday that the gap, the differences between my local friends and I is
smaller! There’s still a lot to learn about this culture. However at this time
I feel like my friendships in the workplace, in my home and in everyday life is
becoming thicker! This makes me so happy and excited! I pray daily that in
these friendships, God can shine through me. God once told me that once when I
was little, people would be healed from my shadow. I argued with Him and said
that’s not possible! Yes that’s right…this stubborn girl who thought she knew
better, told God He was wrong. A few years later I then read about Peter’s
shadow healing people. (Acts 5:15) I feel like as I am now becoming friends
with locals and going to their houses, sitting with them and sharing with them.
I am praying desperately that God will do work in their lives. That He will
heal them, pour down on them and bless them beyond what they even expect!
When I was walking to the children’s base on the weekend a
lady was sitting down in the dirt waiting for a bus (Chapa) to come past. I
said ‘Salama’ to her, which is hello in the local tribe language ‘Makua’. She
said ‘Salama back but then as our eyes met, her eyes went dark and her tongue
went out like a snake. I knew this was a demon-possessed women and she was
reacting to Jesus who lives in me.
This is the kind of thing I am talking about. I would love
for you all to pray along side me. That as I start to become ‘one of the local’s’
(Well a white local). That I don’t get in the way one bit to what He wants to
do through me. That I can just sit in the dirt and share my testimony with my
friends…and hear theirs. That we can encourage each other and be a blessing
when we are having a difficult day. That the big picture of the church being a
family becomes apparent.
I would
like to let you all know that I have decided to step down from doing the amount
of admin that I was doing. This is to concentrate more on setting up ministry work
with the prostitutes in this area. We shall start by just becoming a familiar
face in the party scene here by selling cola and Fanta. We may also do
hairdressing. Please can you pray that a team comes around for this and that we
are received well in this area?
I would
love to hear about what you are all up to! Please do keep in touch and let me
know if you have any prayer requests.
Lots of
love to you all!
Ruth
