Headed Home... Aug. 7, 2009

So I sit in the Nairobi airport waiting to board the flight to Johannesburg and then on to Atlanta --- HOME.
One month has passed since I arrived; it feels like at least 3 months to my heart. I’ve felt God in every day and in all the steps of this journey --- so thankful for that. No words can convey the peace that I’ve felt with Him each day. And I know this has been a walk of obedience – not understanding the true purposes or even the value attached to the many events that have transpired; but fully aware that I’ve been exactly where my Father sat me.
Why is it that such growth comes when we are most uncomfortable and unsure of the moments ahead of us. Surely it is because we have no options but to focus on Him, look to Him, seek Him, and follow Him. Lord I want to come to the place (and I’m much nearer now), where I do not need to be in a place of insecurity in order to passionately watch for you and hear your voice. Looking to you for my ultimate comfort --- and safe place.

A quick 4 hour flight to Johannesburg –
And now I continue typing this entry sitting in the Joburg airport. Only five more hours of waiting to board the 15+ hour flight home. Such peace --- so thankful I have a home to return to and people there who love me. So thankful for God’s protection over us as we have certainly been in the territory of the enemy.

I had quite an odd experience two different nights while staying in Navaisha. Both nights, we had finished our nightly “wrap up” talks with the team of volunteers and I was walking back to my room to go to bed. Maggie would usually stay up with all the young folks traveling with us --- and I would go on to our room --- to “wind down”. The walk to our room was along a paved pathway created by uneven pavers. It was a long walk – and could be a bit intimidating with the African sounds of birds and even wild animals mixed with the sounds of the barking guard dogs that roamed the property all night long. The sky overhead was intense every night with a bright moon and a steady, strong breeze that moved the clouds quickly across the night sky. More than once I had walked the pathway and quoted Psalm 91 – to keep myself from being afraid. Not that it was a scary place --- it was just so far from home, dark, and filled with strange sounds.
So anyway ---- on two different nights --- while walking down this pathway – I fell. Now I can not remember the last time I have fallen. I’m normally very coordinated. The odd thing is --- that I fell with such force. I mean – I literally fell and rolled finally stopping several feet from where the tumble began. It was not normal --- and so intense that both times --- I prayed as I lay on the grass. The first fall brought me down with such force – I was concerned I might have broken my arm. But as I lay on the ground and prayed – I thanked God for his protection over me --- I knew He has kept me from intended harm.
The second time I fell --- Maggie was walking with me and she was shocked at how quickly and forcefully I fell. It was really abnormal in every way. And on the second fall --- I was certain something had pushed me. I was not walking quickly enough to have caused such a hard fall. Oddly enough --- while I knew evil was present – I was not scared at all --- because I could so clearly feel my Father’s protection over me. I skinned my knee and arm, and scraped the hide off my hand and little toe --- but there was not even need for a band-aid.
As I lay on the grass, with Maggie looking over me, I prayed thanking God for protecting me from being hurt seriously (I hit hard enough to break something for sure), and I spoke out loud to any evil presence with an assignment to harm me or frighten me. I LOVE the fact that when you speak “in the Name of Jesus” --- evil is completely drained of its power and MUST retreat. Thank you Christ for the power that is found only in your blood. Thank you for giving us healing through the stripes you received.
As I lay there in the grass --- in the middle of Kenya --- with a bright moon shining down on me --- I felt God as intensely as I will feel Him when I’m looking at Him in Heaven someday.
Just because I fell --- did not mean He was absent. Not at all. By enduring the fall and feeling His protection along with the knowing that He was not the only unseen presence in my midst ---- I was able to feel Him so intensely and rest peacefully in the knowing that He was holding me, watching me, walking with me, caring for me, and protecting His daughter. And all this happened in front of my daughter --- she could see God in all of it – and she too knew He was not going to allow the enemy to harm me. Let me feel the need for God’s protection – yes. Cause me to remember my reliance on prayer cover and see God’s faithfulness – yes. But be harmed and brought down by the enemy – NO.
Thank you GOD!!!!

I sit here now in the airport with two fine young men (playing games on their I-Phone) while the four girls (Maggie included) walk and shop. It’s so sweet. God has allowed me to be surrounded by amazing young people who are so much farther along the path in their walk with God than I was at their age.
Thank you God!!!

I’m waiting for the appointed time to board the plane and fly home --- to a husband and two sons who love us and will be waiting at the airport for us. Home – to a safe place to lay down each night (where there are no bed bugs). Home – to our pets and our flowers and our sweet front porch. Home – to family and friends. Home – the place God chose for us to raise our children and share His love.
Thank you GOD!!!

I look forward to seeing my family – my sister – my prayer warrior buddies, and my Bible study friends – and continuing on with the journey. Just because my feet are about to be lifted off this continent – does not mean the journey will end. The journey will end – when I’m no longer breathing the air of this earth. Until that time comes ---- the path will continue to unfold in front of me – and by God’s grace, love, strength, and blessing --- I plan to keep putting one foot in front of the other. No time for sitting – the journey continues – and it will lead us to a place of no suffering, no abuse, no pain, no disease, no hunger, no wonderings, and we won’t be homesick anymore.
Thank you GOD!!!

Healing ... (written July 26)

Healing is happening in so many different places and appearing in so many different ways it is hard to get my head around it all. Healing of hearts, healing of relationships, healing of bodies, and healing of souls. Only God…

Today we visited Merciful Redeemer Children’s Home with the team. We did “church” together. The children led us in amazing worship and Brandon Way preached. After Brandon preached, the children sang one more soulful worship songs and then Mama John (the lady who founded and directs the Home) stood and asked her “intercessory prayers” to come forward. They timidly rose from their seats in the crowd and walked to the front. She explained that these 4 girls (ranging in ages from perhaps 8 – 12 years) were prayer warriors. As the children grow in their walk with God, Mama John and the other leaders of the home work to identify their spiritual gifts and then they purpose in their hearts to enable each child pursuing their “gift” from God. These 4 girls wake each morning at 3:15 AM to join Mama John and her sister Leah in intercessory prayer lasting until 4:45 AM. Oh dear Lord – these 4 tiny warriors stand shoulder to shoulder with their adult leaders for 1 and ½ hours every morning to petition You on behalf of others --- while the rest of the home sleeps on. There is much to learn here…
Mama John explained to the group that this team of prayers prayed specifically for many things, some of which are Heart for Africa and every single individual who had a part in lifting them out of the slum (referred to as “hell”) and moved them to the “paradise” where they now live. Some of you reading this blog --- are on the list of names they lift up to our Father each and every morning. I was moved to tears. They do not forget who gave the money to purchase the land they now grow vegetables on and the buildings that hold the clean, orderly beds they sleep in each night. And they pray for blessings in your life --- every night --- in the wee- hours of morning – before their world wakes up – they carry your name to God. Oh dear Lord.
Mama John then told the group that if any of them ever had a prayer request to please send an email – and her team of tiny prayer warriors would commit to carrying it to the Lord.
David Kariuki (Heart for Africa’s Kenyan staff member who lives at Tumaini and coordinates our work at the 3 homes we serve in Kenya) stood and tearfully asked for the tiny warriors to please pray for healing of his friend Jake Robinson --- who had been paralyzed in a car accident last year.
Jake sat there with us all – as he in on this trip. What a courageous young man he is. From the night of the wreck in September 2008, Jake’s heart has longed to come back to Kenya to see “his” kids at Tumaini. And so as he has endured bad news from the doctors, multiple surgeries, and ongoing physical therapy --- he has had many goals in mind --- and one was to endure and work hard so that he could return to see the children here. He is a very humble young man who does not like to bring attention to himself. But being the muzungu in a wheelchair does not allow him to remain hidden in the background. So he is being stretched to endure the constant stares both hear in Kenya as well as in America. God please keep your mighty hands on this precious son of yours.
David’s tearful prayer request was embraced immediately by Mama John and her tiny army who asked Jake to come forward --- and they along with about 20 other children from the home and a few fellow team members, those who could find space in the wall of love formed by tiny black hands, laid their hands on Jake and went to work. They began by praising God – so fervently – I’m certain the roof must work to remain in place. Oh God – how you must weep for joy over these little warriors. They praise you in KiSwahili, in Kikuyu, in English, in Masaii, in Mero, in Turkana, and more. They lift up so many languages to you in their pursuit of praising you --- it is beyond beautiful. Then they went to work --- a work that many on our American team had never seen --- but work these children are well acquainted with. One voice would raise up above the many others as they prayed for healing. Mama John then began praying powerfully pouring the blood of Christ over any and every specific curse that she sensed had brought this dear young man to this place. She spoke to Jehovah Ropha (Hebrew for the God who HEALS) and in the Name of Jesus she broke the power of any generational curses. She took authority over any words of death and injury that had ever been spoken over Jake. And she spoke to many other minions of the enemy that were unseen to our human eyes, but most certainly at work against the healing of this young man. It was POWERFUL! ---- not scary or weird --- instead it felt like a place of home in another realm. I could feel angel wings as they battled victoriously against the evil – they had power poured into them because of the words of rightful authority being spoken into the air around us. At the name of Jesus Christ --- the gates of hell are shaken ---- for “by His wounds we are healed”…
Jake sat quietly and humbly --- and allowed himself to be wrapped in the love being lavished on him. Oh if I could have taken a picture for him --- but the moment was just too beautiful to try and capture. After many minutes of intense prayer --- under the direction of Mama John several men helped Jake to stand and Mama John continued her ministering work of laying on hands and calling on her Father. Then her prayers shifted. She began praising God for the healing! I opened my eyes to see if Jake was standing there alone. He was not. But she continued thanking God for the healing. I confess it was hard to continue watching – for I love this young man so very much – with a motherly love that is not of this world. I wanted to see him walk across the room – as I heard the prayers of thanksgiving. But he did not. And after some time – he was assisted back to his seat – but Mama John continued in her thanksgiving for the healing.
Oh God --- your ways are so, so much greater than our ways.
I felt such power and beauty in the room --- bathed in love and surrender. Oh if I could only hear from you – if you would only type onto this page --- what your heart was feeling as you saw your tiny warriors lavish your precious Jake with words that spoke of you, to you, and for you. You bring beauty from ashes – it’s in your Word and in your hands.
Then Mama John invited everyone to join she and the children for lunch --- a meal that had been provided by Jake’s church. The children quietly left the room and slowly our team members composed themselves and followed the children. Jake and a small intimate circle remained in the room.
He did not walk ----- yet. But healing took place.
We humans tend to only believe what we can see with our eyes. Oh we of little faith. Well at least some of us…
Mama John later shared with me --- that Jake has been healed --- and in God’s time “it will be seen by eyes”. But for now it can be known with our hearts.
Wow --- I asked her if she discerned that anything was “blocking” the “seeing” of the healing. And she firmly said ---- NO --- he is HEALED --- and in God’s time He will allow it to be seen. She said God told her exactly what curses to break --- and then He rushed in with HIS HEALING.
Friends – the children did not leave the room with heads hung low because their new friend was not walking. They left the room with confidence. You see – these children are willing to WAIT on the Lord. They lived in squalor in a slum for years as they waited on the Lord --- and then they experienced the day of “seeing” their Father move them to this new land they call paradise.
Waiting is a part of the process in their minds. Waiting does not mean the victory is lost – it means God is doing what only God can do. He is putting all the pieces into place and at the exact moment that best fits with His perfect will – He will allow eyes to see.
As I have prayed for Jake over the past 10 months, God has said to me ---- “HE IS WALKING DONNA! He is walking with me – I’m holding Him – just because you can not SEE him walking does not mean he is not walking – for he is. My son Jake does not need legs to “walk”. He is so remarkable --- I will prove what I can do --- through him --- he and I together will do amazing things – that will bring me much glory and give him a life that is beyond what he could ever have imagined.”
And God has promised me in beautiful moments that Jake will walk again --- I believe God has assured me of this --- because He lets me know my prayers are heard and He is not ignoring them. But then He graciously reminds me that the “walking” will come in HIS time. God has beautiful things at work in and around this young man. May he never be limited in the ways that matter the most and may he never be distracted by the appearance of limitations.

Today – healing took place in Jesus’ Name. At the end of the day – the team had a time of personal sharing after dinner back at the hotel and there were more tears. The youth pastor shared --- that a part of his spirit had been healed during the prayers – as he watched an eight year old lay her hands on Jake and call out to her Father (the only father she has – since she is an orphan). She prayed with such peaceful confidence and anointed power – Brandon laid down the skepticism he had held against just such prayers. He felt his Father’s power and love in the beauty of the moment as this tiny warrior prayed. And Brandon felt healing.
I have had personal issues with Mama John as I have been unsure of her in many ways. Ways that I will not share now – because I will not speak of them. For God healed that part of me. I’m called to LOVE and pursue HIM. He will judge whether she is upright in her administration of the home. I was released from trying to discern – and was healed and relieved of the weight I’ve been trying to carry. If she is not upright in all her ways – God will deal with His daughter there --- just like He deals with me when I am in err. I’m so thankful He is a loving Father.
Three men stood tonight and shared testimony of how they were touched and changed during the prayer time and the day with the children. The questioning they had been wrestling with needing clarity of “why” God had called them to come on this trip had been answered today. And this is only the second day of the 15 days they will be here.

Much healing took place today --- as tiny warriors led the way.
Jake did not walk --- but healing was still lavished on him.

I am certain – God has chosen Jake to do amazing things --- and God will be seen by many --- it just is not coming about in a way that would be a chosen path. But my prayer for Jake is --- that he will hold fast to what God IS doing --- and that he will allow the greatness of God to be seen in his life --- for in the end ---- many will see, know, believe, understand, embrace, and want more of our great God --- because of what they see in this man’s life. In God’s eyes – Jake has not been limited --- instead --- he has been enabled.
May it be so --- in Jesus’ Name.