His name is power, breath and living water....

Friends! Can you believe I have been in Africa almost a week now? Ahh. It is so amazing to be back. I’m sorry for just now getting a post up but we are trying to get internet at Alabanza and I have not had much internet access. It has been a great first week back in Africa seeing old friends and meeting new ones at Alabanza. These people I will be living with are incredible. I am so blessed. You will hear more about them later. I am excited about being here and seeing what the Lord has prepared. I just want to share a few things that have gone on this week. After recovering from the jet-lag, Steve and I have been talking and preparing for our first team to arrive the middle of May. We visited Refilwe, one of our ministry sites that have tugged my heart. Refilwe is home to over 50 youth and children who have been orphaned, abandoned or just taken out of bad home situations. They live, attend school and church there. The children live in homes where anywhere from 4-7 children live with a house mom and some even have house dads. This is a huge blessing because they are being taken care of and are seeing a mother and father figure in the home. I went there to see the youth that I met and grew close to the first nine months I was here in 2006. Every Friday night we had youth group for them where we ate, played games, worshipped and got into the word. We split up into pairs and mentored the students as well. My precious friend was Norah. As soon as I got to Refilwe yesterday she ran to me and we embraced. She is beautiful and has matured so much. She told me of her mother passing away and we talked for a moment about her life at Refilwe. She then took me on a tour of the things new to me and I had not seen yet. I enjoyed talking with her and catching up from 2 years ago. I am thankful for moments where I can see a glimpse of our Lord in the small things. Yesterday was a taste of what God has in store. He is mighty and moving. Also, I attended church on Sunday with Alabanza staff and about 15 amazing people from Zimbabwe. We danced and worshipped the Lord unashamed. It was as beautiful and powerful. I wish you could all experience the worship in Africa. I have waited to hear that sound again of a foreign tongue worshipping the same true God…not able to understand a single word but knowing in my heart and in my spirit that His name above every name is being lifted up. Every part of me is bubbling over with joy. I worshipped with my South African brothers and sisters on Monday night as well and the same thing happened. One song they sing in Affrikaans makes me stop and sit in awe. I know none of the words but I do know that it is a sweet aroma to His nose. God is being glorified all over the place. Satan is prowling around while our Father is still on His throne. We pray and wait for that mighty revival that is going to take place. The Lord is reminding me that people from every nation, tribe and tongue are praising Him and I am honored to be a part of it.

Today we fought off a brush fire in the fields by Alabanza. This is common but it can be scary because with dry brush and the wind picking up it can spread very quickly. It was awesome to watch everyone come together to get a job done. Some people were filling buckets with water, some pouring water on the ground to saturate it, some cutting the brush down with machetes. We were all working and all praying it would burn out before it got to us. Many praises went up because it never reached us. The Lord had His hand covering us and protecting us from harm. Hebrews 12:28-29 reads, Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worshipping God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
~B

four more days...

With four days left in the states...my heart can't help but be overwhelmed by all of the goodness going on around me. My heart is swelling and it is all bitter-sweet. The feeling is almost the same as the first two times I flew to Africa...but this time it is deeper. The longing to be there for my toes to touch african soil again and see those friends and babies that I love so much. I know I will leaving friends and family here but knowing there are those awaiting our arrival in Africa. The Lord has revealed that much is in store...to believe....trust.... and be sensitive to HIS voice. I ask that you follow me along this journey and help me pray for those who have yet to hear of our Maker. Over the next few days I will be soaking up the love and encouragement of family and friends and also finding myself sitting at the feet of Jesus. I look forward to sharing with you all the Lord is doing and the stories of our journey. Blessings.
~B