Plane Thoughts... from my plane ride TO Africa

These may not make a whole lot of sense. I was in the middle of thinking about going to Africa. I was reading the book Radical by David Platt, and I was listening to "Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay. I was deciding what Africa would be like and how I would respond as well as responding to those around me on the plane ride there. Maybe this will give you some insight as to what I was praying for Africa or it could confuse the heck out of you. Either way, I'm going to give it a shot.

• While reading Radical, these are some of the thoughts I had... It really makes me think about money and how easily I save and spend for what I want. While I am dedicated to giving away as much as possible, I often only give once I've met my needs, or rather my wants, for the month. It feels unintentional and unreal to just have money pulled out of my account without me ever taking a second glance at it. I am to live out of the overflow of His existence and life in me and because of that, genuinely ask God to use me to do things that others will never see or notice, that they will never be apart of and that they will not understand the importance of in relation to God's call from the Cross. How I desire to be like Him! I want more of Him!
• In listening to "Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay, I think a lot about what God really is breaking apart in my life. Is it anything? Am I allowing Him to change me or mold me into what He desires for me, which is better than I have thought or planned or imagined? How dare I stare the world in the face daily and do nothing to change it! That must be sin, that must be the nail that pierced Jesus to the cross. "And I pray, to love you, take my world apart, I am on my knees." May I be desperate and see God's own as He sees them...loveable, needing to be loved, and loving themselves. "Steal my heart and take the pain, take the selfish, take the weak."
• (Last summer, I spent a lot of time at Lake Tanganyika with a little girl who really stole my heart named Mapalo.) Thinking of Mapalo-- God's children break my heart and they tear my world apart. How deep your love must for her!

Maybe this will give you some perspective. I don't know. Continuing to pray that God breaks my heart for the things that break His and that I can see through His eyes!

-Melissa

My African Prayer

"Tolemi totela." This song resounded time and time again in our meetings, prayer services, conferences and just walking around the compound while in Africa. Translated into English, the song means, "We want to thank you Lord." What a prayer. Very simple. Straight to the point. And they meant it. To stand in the middle of missionaries, pastors, and others who have been persecuted for their faith, discouraged, and continue to be faithful, these were the words they were crying out to God. At some point, I just stopped to listen and of course, in the still and calm of the moment, God began to ask me what I was thanking Him for.... what was I believing to be faithful for? Why was I singing the words of this song? And I began to think more than anything, how thankful I was to be in Africa, to see people with His eyes (as I had been praying), to hear with his ears, and to touch with his touch. I thanked Him for the kids that we had worked with that he had given me great influence with, including Innocent, this precious little 9ish year old boy who had just latched onto me for some reason. I thanked Him for the girls at the AIDS orphanage who told me that I should stay in Africa because they just liked me and I believe they sincerely meant it. I thanked Him for the girls who had lost parents and sibiling to HIV and AIDS and how they learned the song, "Amazing Grace," singing over and over again, "I once was lost but now am found." Those sweet words have just stayed in my ear along with so many other things. I thanked Him that he is using the chaplain at the local hospital to pray for those who otherwise have never heard of Him and I thanked Him that in the midst of loss and poverty that He is still sovereign and good.



How faithful and loving is the God we serve. May you thank Him today for what really matters and give grace to others who do not quite understand Him. May He give you grace for the small things and strength where it is needed.



-Melissa, or "MaLeesah" as said by the Africans