Village People

Our training ended with some time spent with a family...eating the way they eat, living the way they live. Two other girls and I were sent off to a village with no electricity or running water for a 4 day/3 night home stay. 

We were pretty nervous, but also excited for this chance. We were not to be disappointed. The family that we stayed with ended up being amazing. The father was a pastor in a local church in the village, and we were able to see him truly love on his community. He encouraged us by the way that he always had time for his ministry. We were able to see him disciple new believers and encourage members in his church, while still having time to be an amazing father. 

The mother was such a hard worker. Even though she spoke no English, we were able to communicate through many smiles and dancing. (Maybe I'll learn some rhythm while living here.) She had such a joyful spirit that you couldn't help but smile when around her. 

While there, I learned so  many new lessons. One of these being that it's ok to just sit. In my head I always have an agenda-something to be done, someone to talk to, somewhere to be. That is the exact opposite of life in an African village. This was hard for me, but the Lord showed me that such amazing things happen when you don't expect them to. A great conversation happens while you're "just sitting", you're able to take in His magnificence while "just sitting", and lasting friendships are made while you're "just sitting." 

At night we sat around the compound and just gazed at the beauty of the stars. We were truly reminded of verses about the vastness of God. 

 "But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by his understanding."-Jeremiah 10:12

Yes, we had to eat things that were foreign to us. Yes, we had to bathe out of a bucket. Yes, we had to sleep with no ac or fan. But, we also got to dance and sing African praise songs by moon light with children in the village. We were able to see how truly big our God is, and we had the chance to spend time with a family who I fell in love with. This was such a great weekend, and I'll be forever thankful for the experiences that we had while in the village.