New Beginnings...

Well I have some big news to share. I originally thought that I was going to stay in Tete for about a year and serve here and then be launched into the nations and start my own ministry one day. The past few weeks I’ve been praying a lot and feeling like the Lord wants me to take a season back with my family in the States to prepare for what God has next for me. I wasn’t exactly sure when that season was supposed to happen, I was thinking maybe in a few months. But I talked with Nick and Marlene and we prayed for a few days and agreed that the best thing for me to do is to go back to the States right now. The Lord still has a lot that He wants to download in me and teach me before I can be released to the nations. I really want to take this time to prepare and seek God about what my calling is and what steps I need to take in order to fulfill my destiny. 

My heart is so in the nations and in the darkest places of the world, the last thing I want to do is to go back to “normal life” in the States. But I have no doubt that God is wanting me to step into this new season and learn how to be a missionary no matter where I am. When the Lord called me very clearly to be a missionary and to go into all nations, He meant ALL nations. Including the USA. His plans are different from ours most of the time but they are always so much better than we could ever imagine. 

Jesus has already shown me a few this He wants me to do back in the States but I’m just praying about when He wants me to do them. His perfect timing is everything. I don’t want to jump into anything prematurely, I want to really seek God and make sure I’m walking in the fulness of my destiny in the center of His will for my life. 

It’s so funny how we make our own plans and even when they are really good plans, God can still come in and reveal to us something different that He wants us to do. 

It’s going to be extremely hard leaving Tete and our boys here and the amazing missionaries I’ve been serving with. But we all have a peace that this is going to be the best thing for me right now. 

I’ll be going home in about two weeks and I’m looking forward serving in the States in whatever ways that looks like and continuing to lay my life down to further the Kingdom. This is really where I have to take a big step of faith and trust that God’s got the plan for me and I just have to listen to His voice and continue to obey what He says. 

In no way is this me giving up or quitting missions, in fact this is me taking a huge step forward in preparing to get closer to the huge call that God has on my life in missions. I’m excited to see how He is going to use me no matter where I am in the world. 

“May the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do His will, through Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever.” 

Hebrews 13:20-21 

Open Hands and Open Heart

This is the posture we have to be in if we want Jesus to take over our lives so we can walk in the fulness of His destiny for us. Everything is all about Him. We are just the vessels He chooses to use to release His love here on earth. 

I have been back in Tete for 3 months now. These 3 months have flown by way faster than the 3 months I spent when I was serving here before. I’ve been amazed at how Papa has been able to use me here in releasing His love. Every morning Ms Linda and I  go to the street where our Shekinah boys are and have breakfast with them in the little barracca (shed) where they sleep. Jesus released portuguese to me just enough to be able to communicate with them and lead short bible studies every morning. Just to paint the scene for you a little bit, they sleep in a very small empty brick building that sits right next to a shop that sells alcohol and plays music all the time and another shop that fixes motorbikes. As you can imagine, its pretty noisy and distracting and hard to pay attention to a bible study. There’s always a constant stream of people passing by and several stop to ask who we are and what we are doing and why we are two white girls giving these “street boys” food and having church.

Most every morning there is something going on with our boys that we have to deal with when we get there. Either someone stole something and they’re in trouble with the police, or they are simply fighting with each other like brothers do, or they are too lazy to clean up their barracca, or one of them is sick, so on and so on... There’s never a dull moment with these boys. The other morning we pulled up in Ms Linda’s car and Tandai came running up to the car and said “Tia Brooke is here, she can help us now!” In that moment I had no idea what was going on but I loved the fact that they know that I will stand up for them and help them with anything they need. Turns out, some guy stole one of our boys’, Evilisto, belt and Evilisto was upset and trying to get his belt back from this guy and they were about to fight, until I got there and stepped in between them and told the other guy to leave with the belt and I bought my boy a new belt. Little things like this happen every day here and we always have to ask Jesus how to love them and show them that we care. 

The Shekinah home is being built at a fast pace right now and hopefully will be done within the next few months. It’s so exciting going out to see the land now and seeing the vision turn into reality. 

My heart is here for this season and I love being able to serve my God in this way. I’m excited for whatever He has next for me and I’m enjoying every step in the journey. I choose to keep my hands and heart open so that He can use me in whatever way He chooses no matter where I am in the world!