Father, this feels familiar. Goodbyes, rushing eyes goodbyes. Goodbyes you know we will see again and others not. Once again you’ve shown me Your in control, and my life is in your hands, thank you.
hopping off the plane in Africa, my mind was spinning. Not for some philosophical meaning, but simply because I was so jet-lagged lol. I sat down to focus my eyes, but I couldn’t, so I closed them and started praying. I asked God to take my jet lag away, and that next time I was sitting here my eyes not focusing would be for another reason. I prayed that the Lord would make it so hard to leave Africa, that my eyes would be so full of joyful tears when leaving. I prayed that He would destroy me and that my eyes would be unfocused from all the love pouring out.
So about three weeks ago I had a dream (if you know me, you know that’s how almost all of my stories start lol…thanks God). In this dream I was sitting at the same spot in the airport, but I was leaving Africa, and I was balling. Lol praise God that He answers prayers…am I right?
I’m sure you are a tad confused, because that sounds crazy, but you see Jesus didn’t go places on earth and not pour all His love out. When He walked He walked knowing He wouldn’t be on the earth for too long, but yet He fully poured all Himself out for us, and that was my prayer.
Africa to put it shortly, has changed my life. The Lord is worthy of all the goodbyes, and He always is.
My dream in life was to learn how to dance in Africa lol and honestly dancing in Africa is exactly how I would portray life here. If I leave anything behind here it would be that I left dancing with the Lord. My life has been a continual walk with Jesus every step of the way, but here it has changed. I’m learning how to dance with Jesus!! To actually enjoy His presence. To live in full freedom, and reverence of His goodness. I realized that the excitement I have when dancing with children, is the excitement the Lord has when I delight in Him but so much more!! Just crazy. I’m pumped to see the Lord more and more. He’s so good.
Yeah, saying goodbye is what I call “ booty cheeks” but one theme seems to remain. All of these people that make it so hard to say goodbye to have all taught me not only how to actually dance but most importantly drawn me closer to dancing with Jesus :). So long story short, I pray to one day return to South Africa but until then I will praise God for His Spirit that so clearly resides here.
Don’t worry I’ll be back soon to show you my snazzy new dance moves, but before then I have a few prayer request for you to pray when you remember!!
So my squad that I’ve been traveling with is actually going different places. We have all gone from Georgia, to Guatemala to South Africa together but this next two and a half months will be different. Some have gone home, others will be going to Ecuador and some to Romania. So don’t freak, I chose where I knew the Lord was calling me, but where most probably won’t understand. My group will be headed to Romania!! SO big prayers please, as it is the boarding country of Ukraine. The plan is to be working with refugees, but as you can tell that’s going to be very hard to say the least. So I ask that you continue to pray. I ask that you pray boldly, not necessarily for safety. I ask that you pray for desperation of the gospel. I ask that you pray, we can be a light of Christ in a place that feels hopeless. I ask that you pray we become evermore reliant on the Lord, that the darkness will not encompass us. Please pray for the hearts of the people, to prepare them for the Lord. Please pray that dancing with the Lord can be brought to the streets of Romania as well.
I’m sure if you’ve made it this far you’ve concluded that I’m absolutely insane, but do me a favor and read Psalms 34. I pray the Lord gives you the same peace He has given me.
Give Jesus your hand in the dance of life and He will take the lead.
So the battle wages on
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
His love, nomes !!
I will continue to pray for you and your friends! May the Good Lord continue to protect and guide you guys!
you are absolutely insane. but the best kind of insane, and i’m extremely proud of you. you’re such a prayer warrior and i’m convinced you’re one of God’s favorites. love you lots!
ugh naomi i love you so much. thank you for who you are. the wisdom and love you pour out is insane and its so evidently from the Lord. so proud of you. cheering you on forever!!!!!
Hi Naomi! I will continue to pray for you, for those God will use you to minister to, and for God to grow you more into Christ’s likeness. Something I often find helpful is remembering what people truly need. It is a great blessing to be healed from illness or infirmity, but even more so for these people to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in belief. That He would continue the ministry long after you’re gone and that they would know themselves as true special children of God. Romans 8.