Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 9/28/2011
These past 2 years have been rough. Rough but good. Rough but invaluable. Rough but so essential. I've gone from being comfortable to feeling completely uncomfortable and out of place. Then, right when I find my place amongst the discomfort and become wholeheartedly soaked and immersed in a community, it's just in time to realize that it's going to be ripped away. I can only compare it to feeling like someone has run off with my most prized possession and now i'm not quite sure how to conduct myself. Sometimes it's like i'm wearing a big red and white striped shirt amidst a sea of polka dots... a foreigner among the familiar. I imagine that's how recovering addicts must feel. That might sound dramatic or extreme but it's honest. Literally, more times than I'd like to count, in a matter of a day my whole world would change. So yes, I've felt a little discombobulated a few times in the past 24 months. Not that the memories or the people will necessarily be gone, all of that has become a part of who I am, it's just different.
And you know what? It's weird and sometimes it sucks. BUT. It's exactly where I'm supposed to be. Which makes the sucking a little more bearable. And I'm still here, alive and kicking.
I know this has gone in a somber direction but there is hope to be had. There is always hope to be had.
If we were always comfortable our lives would be going nowhere. Can I get an amen? And if you can't muster the gumption for an amen, then i hope that couch you're sitting on doesn't mind holding you for a little while longer. Sometimes I get this picture: It's like there's someone looking through a peephole trying to see the world. You want to expand their vision and rescue them from their prison until you realize that the prisoner is you. That you are responsible for your own imprisonment... but you kind of like it in there.
What's that quote about how God is always in your comfort zone, but it's not whre He's needed... you know, something along those lines. If I've learned anything about being alive it's this: I need God. So, for lack of better words, screw you comfort zone. I don't need you. You're nice to have around but you are not essential to my survival... nor are you helping with it in any way. Do you have people in your life like that? Careful how you spend your time with them-- people who aren't going to push you into greatness. i believe comfort is the stairway, more like escalator, to stagnation. Let's challenge ourselves, people! Even if it scares the crap out of us.
So speaking of pulling out greatness in others... this has become one of my favorite things to talk about lately!!
Okay, so when the apostle Paul wrote letters to the churches he began them by stating who they already were; sons and daughters, ministers of reconciliation, accepted, holy, loved, etc. and then he says, "THEREFORE, live up to what you've already received." We are already these things so it's time we live like the people we already are. No matter how bad I screw up I will never lose my status of being a son or daugher, loved and accepted. It's already true of me. Yes, there are times when I feel like I royally stink at life-- when feelings of depression, insecurity, bitterness, jealousy (my goodness... I'm on a roll) and negativity perch their stupid heads on my shoulder -- or times when I make mistakes or feel guilty.
As my friend Keturah puts it, "I've put guilt and grace in the same sentence like they were best friends. But isn't that the reason Jesus died? Taking all of our shit to hell and saying we don't have to worry about it anymore. Maybe we just need to recognize these things, take them to the Father, forgive ourselves and move on because He takes ALL things."
It's a good thing to fight for who we know others can be. Helping others to see that Jesus didn't die for nothing. That He did die to take all of our shit to hell, as a matter of fact, so that we could live expansive, guilt free, healthy lives. We may have been guilty of these things at one time but we are holy and blameless and washed in the blood. And we better start believing it too so that we can get a move on and do what we're supposed to be doing. Big things, I tell you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "... treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." I believe this with everything inside of me. And then some. See destiny in people's lives and ask them to walk in it. Let's love people into their future.
I heard someone talking the other day about friendship. They said they were looking up synonyms for the world 'love' in the Hebrew dictionary and found the word 'covet'. When you love others deeply you covet great things for their life.
Toni Morrison, a Nobel prize winning author, was asked what her secret was to being able to write great books. her response, "I'm a great writer because when I was a little girl and walked into a room where my father was sitting, his eyes would light up. That is why I'm a great writer. There isn't any other reason." How bold we become when we know we are believed in and sure of being loved. I mean, really.
And to quote Eminem to Dr. Dre, "I demand you remember who you are". That's what friends do. They boldly ask us to remember who we are or help us to remember. So thank you, Eminem. And a shout out to my boy, Mufasa, for asking Simba to do the same thing. Watch it here.
Well, I'm excited to go where I haven't gone... and content in the transitions.
So here I stand, rather, here I move, continuing on the path of the strange and the new. I did not mean for that to rhyme. I'm a gypsy woman who's planted in living waters. And that's the way I like it. Uh huh, uh huh.
Right now that path is taking me down the road of drinking chocolate milk and hanging out with my nephew. Life is good, even when it's hard.
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 3/5/2011
Last March I was in the Philippines. I wrote a quote in my journal. "I'm dying of thrist beside the fountain"
and man, it's true. Clearly there is a huge problem if there's a fountain beside me and I don't see it.
BUT
what if I actually realized what was in front of me?
Three months after writing this I found myself in Kenya where I met a woman named Conny. Kristen and I met Conny while walking down the road... she started talking to us and offered to buy us sugarcane. And by golly, sugarcane is what we got. Then she offered us peanuts, the ones she sells to make her living.
We saw her two days later riding on the back of a boda-boda (bicycle taxi). She quickly got off the bicycle and ran over to us. She handed us 4 packs of crackers. Who is this woman- and who am I do receive such kindness? She gave out of her lack and somehow i always seem to withhold out of my abundance. It's disgusting.
I've decided that i want to be like Conny. She was like Jesus in disguise.
These two thoughts might not make sense together- for you. But to me, they don't make much sense apart. It's not about giving away our things, it's about being generous. It's about doing things for the people and world that God so loved...so we don't die of thirst beside the fountain.
God is inviting us to be engaged. Let's keep our eyes open. And let's get hydrated.
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 11/17/2010
First and foremost, I want to thank each and every person who has read my blogs, prayed for me, supported me financially, and sent words of encouragement. This year could not have happened without any of you. So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for joining me in serving this year.
In New Zealand you helped prepare a base for leaders from all over the South Pacific (Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, etc). Because of this, leaders were mobilized and were able to return what they learned to their countries.
In Australia you visited the forgotten Aboriginal people. Because of this, Stanley, Dandy and Rose feel like they belong and matter, and children had the opportunity to learn about God.
In the Philippines you spent time with trafficked women and put on a party in their honor. Because of this, women feel valued, worthy, and loved.
 
In Malaysia you shared the love of Christ with the homeless and loved on children with disabilities. Because of this, Jitzing and Lisa have food to eat, a place to rest and feel like people care about them and these precious children know they are loved.
In Thailand you played with kids all day long and taught English. Because of this, a community is empowered to share the Gospel and children have the tools to become influential leaders in their country.
In Kenya you helped build office space/classrooms for a church and helped communities know more about Christ by sharing with them and praying for them. Because of this, more people have the opportunity to learn about God and the Kingdom of heaven grew a little bigger.
In Tanzania you helped pray for a community and a women who was paralyzed for many years was healed. Because of this, Christ was known, the enemy lost, and all of Heaven threw a party.
In Uganda you helped love on people who live in the poorest communities and discussed issues with them. Because of this, hope was restored and a community will receive a well for clean drinking water.
In Ireland you enabled us to attend a conference and helped us (N squad) win a dance competition. Because of this, we were able to rest and get filled up.
In Ukraine you visited children's hospitals, worked in the field, put on eyeglass clinics and spent a lot of time with high school aged kids; teaching English and playing sports. Because of this, children have joy, people can see and we got to spend time with the coolest family in Ukraine.
In Macedonia you enabled us to make friends with Muslim families. Because of this, our new friends saw a different picture of what freedom looks like.
In Moldova you helped us work hard in the fields, give food to the community and play with street kids. Because of this, families have hope, crops can be grown and children were able learn about God and play in a safe environment.
What you have done has not gone unnoticed. You were just as part of this as I was and I would have never been able to do this without you. When you pray, when you give, when you send someone encouragement... its more than that. It is something that changes peoples lives. Mine and the people I've been sent to serve and love this year.
Thanks for the idea Caley Sue
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 11/8/2010
When you don't have flavors that satisfy your tastebuds for 11 months you begin to have 45 minute conversations about Taco Bell and all the different food combinations that you're going to have when you get home that, let's face it, you never dreamed of consuming in your life.
Luckily my tastebuds were a little ahead of the curve this year because I carried around my secret weapon: Black Pepper. Not only does it contribute 10x more flavor to your meal but I've concluded that it acts as a natural laxative. Hey, give credit where credit is due: Thank you black pepper for making my life somewhat consistent.
Consistency is a huge commodity when you travel for 61 hours on trains, visit 5 countries and 3 continents in 2 days and don't know if you should say thank you in Russian or Albanian.
It's times like those 45 minute conversations about Taco Bell that you realize how much you appreciate a good burrito and also a nice clean place to dispose of your burrito, after digestion of course. I'm just saying. I never knew how good I had it. And I don't mean, "there's people starving people in Africa...eat your food." I just think it's a good thing to be grateful that your tastebuds get to experience so many flavors, that you have a choice of flavor and of quantity. That you have a toilet and not a hole, a hot shower and not a bucket.
It's easy to not even think about these things because it's so normal to have them. But I want to appreciate all the amazing things God provides for me. That I was born in America and not in Thailand or Moldova, that I wasn't sold into prostitution and that I can actually leave my country if I feel like it...
Some of you might think differently and that's fine. Yes, there are some bad things about America but I'm sure glad i live there. I will probably cry when I land on US soil... I'm not embarrassed about this.
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 11/6/2010
No thank you.
But thank you for showing me what hospitality looks like.
My team and I spent the month of October in Macedonia.
We worked in a primarily Muslim area. We had to be careful of how we shared with the people there... we couldn't just tell people, "we're working with ywam, we're Christians... Jesus rules".
Which was so good because we actually had to build relationships with people. There wasn't the same pressures we faced in other countries of: hurry up and share the gospel and win their soul... but there was an opportunity and invitation to be a part of what God was already doing there and just loving people. We hung out at the local university, made new friends, played a lot of pool, hung out at coffee bars, climbed a mountain to a castle so we could pray over the city and cleaned up the park.
Praying over the city
Cleaning up the park
Pool with our new friends. (we spent 60% of our time here...so fun. and i nailed that eight ball)
God just opened doors up like crazy for us- we met some really awesome people who invited us into their homes and showed us the most amazing hospitality. This is insane because... our contacts, who have been there for almost 2 years, had never been invited into a Muslim family's home.
It was awesome. They served us tea, juice, coffee, cookies, donuts, chex mix, burgers... we even watched a movie at one of their homes. Everytime we went out with them they paid for EVERYTHING, on top of offering us smokes. They go through 3 packs a day... they told me it's because they share with everyone. I believe it. Last month definitely made me re examine how I treat people and how to be generous.
It was also Jordan (my teammate's) birthday while we were there and we happened to be out at a cafe/club the night of. Well, our new friends found out it was his birthday at midnight and they were SOOO excited. They kept saying "30 minutes until jordan's birthay." So right before midnight a few of us drove around with them because they REALLY wanted to buy him a birthday cake. So sweet. We drove around like crazy people looking for a cake place and finally found one. They were so excited to give it to him.
and then we had a really nice birthday party for Jordan that his girlfriend, Melody, from home wanted to surprise him with!! And one of our new friends came as well.
Okay and because my internet time is so scarce I have to post this as well.
We are now in Moldova-
It is exactly like Africa... well, that's what it feels like to me:
We are living in a small village and have squatty potty's in our backyard, we eat the same thing basically everyday, there is no running water- they mostly use wells, they use facial expressions to answer our questions instead of words, and it's just a very poverty stricken area. People use horse and mule carriages for transportation and it just looks like a ghost town.
We have been doing a lot of farming; weeding, pulling out carrots, demolishing a grape vineyard field (which i loved because i got to use an ax, i found it theraputic to scream with every swing. I'm not joking. The boys have been doing a lot of manual labor; they helped build a well and they are making a beaver home. Yep. Apparently beaver farming is big here. The meat is very expensive and the fur as well. We also pass out food everyday to the community and put on children's programs for the street kids.
and before we traveled to our ministry sites we had one day in the capital city and dressed up for Halloween.
Kris Kross, snookie, shooting star, Pam, Bollywood, Octo/Mouse.
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 10/21/2010
THINKING BACK.... In Macedonia
So while I've been in the lovely city of Tetovo, in Macedonia... I've been doing some thinking.
Just thinking about things that I've been reading or experiencing and thought i should put it down in writing- because sometimes, because I'm human, my memory kind of stinks and I don't remember everything God is teaching me or things that I've learned. Which brings me to my first point:
I was listening to a podcast by Anthony Chapman: a new covenant- the truth about freedom (he's from England and really makes you think http://www.rockchurch.org.uk/media/all.asp) and he talked a little bit about renewing your mind.
The Bible says be transformed by the RENEWING of your mind. In order to be changed you have to renew your thinking. So if I am forgetting the things that "God has taught me" these things haven't actually transformed me or changed me. You have to CHANGE the way you think if you want to be CHANGED...
And because I've grown up in the church I have accumulated a whole lot of learned behaviors or certain ways of thinking. Those learned behaviors have defined a lot of how and what I believe. Why do we focus so much on behavior?? The Bible is not here to teach us what is good or what is evil but how we walk in our journey and get back in right relationship with God. Not rules to live by but a relationship to live from.
- we have to start thinking differently.
Continuing on the topic of thinking differently and growing up in church:
I grew up as a pastor's kid, still am. Sometimes I think people have this idea that pastor's and their families have perfect lives- which is so far from the truth. Sometimes i feel like we are denied the right to be normal. Thank goodness my parents are awesome and normal.
But being a PK I have grown up in the shadow of my father. I have had ridiculous and unrealistic expectations placed on me by others. People's ideas of how I should act or what I can and can't do. Being treated favorably because of whose child I was or being treated awful until family recognition was found out. It actually makes perfect sense why a lot of pastor's kids rebel and want nothing to do with the church. I was fed the lie that what you have to say isn't good enough and who you are isn't good enough. And I believed it, swallowed and digested it.
Until
I let the word and blood of Jesus wash over me and renew the way I think... and guess what, I have been changed and this is what I have to say: screw you, devil.
Let me take you on the journey of how I got there.
Before I left for this trip we all attended training camp. We were having a bonfire one night and we were taking turns declaring things over ourselves and the trip. For example, "I am the head and not the tail" "I'm going to shake the gates of hell" "I walk in peace and love" "I'm a warrior" etc etc. Well, for my turn I said, "I have a unique responsibility on this earth that only I can get carry out." Little did I know that I was setting truth and transformation into motion.
When my team and I were in Malaysia we were at a YWAM worship/prayer meeting and towards the end they prayed over our team. Well this lady comes up to me after the prayer is over and she said, "God wants me to tell you something" and she points to my shirt (my shirt has a drawing of a piece of cake on a fork going into a girls mouth) and says, "that's your special portion. The whole time we were praying I was looking at your shirt and God was telling me, that's her special portion, it's unique and it's no one else's. You tell her that it's not her mom's, it's not her dad's but it is her own. I am her portion and I am enough." I have never met this lady in my life.
Next, when we were in Ireland for the Awakening Conference a woman came up to me and asked if she could pray for me. This is how the prayer went... "God I thank you that you created this girl (bek) so unique and I thank you that she has a unique responsibility on this planet that only she can do. I thank you that it is not something her parents can do or anyone else, just her. I pray that your truth would win and not the words or lies of anybody else..." Again, never met this lady. Just complete strangers. And throughout my time on the race I have had these things said over me by others who have had no idea.
It seems as though I do have a unique responsibility... and so do you.
Lies and sin declare us failures. They condemn us, judge us and imprison us. But what we lay a hold of by faith firmly declares something different and something that is above and beyond what these tihngs dictate to us. Namely, we are victorious over sin.
Satan and sin's power is condemnation. They declare that "this is all you are and this is all you can and will amount to."
But being released from its condemning power, I have now been given a new power at work in me, and that is the Spirit of Christ. (Rom. 8:10-11)
BUT we need to renew our minds.
We need to quit listening to lies and start listening to the Holy Spirit.
My team watched 300 the other night and there is a scene in the movie where King Leonidas confronts the oracle about the future (the oracle is a female zombie sort). The words of the oracle trouble the King and Queen Gorgo says to her husband, "There's only one woman's words that should affect the mood of my husband. Those are mine."
I saw an interesting parallel between Queen Gorgo and God. You wanna know what God says: He says you are able, He says I have called you, He says I knew you before you were born, He says you are mine, He says I collect all your tears in a bottle, He says you are completely cleansed and forgiven, He says I believe in you, He says you are my son and daughter, He says you are redeemed, He says you are loved.
boo yah.
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 10/6/2010
Indeed it was.
While in Ukraine, we stayed at the MacDonald home. They are a missionary family of 14!!! Though only 5 of the children are currently living in the Ukraine. While having teaparties in the yard and movies on the couch, the weather was making a turn for the more crispy of sorts. Yes, it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas and when Krissy saw Mercy MacDonald, the 3 year old with a face that melts your heart, in her feety pajamas (AKA her warm and fuzzies) she proposed we have a Christmas celeberation. Little did she know that the men and women on team Malachi were Christmas elves in missionary disguises.
Twas the night before Christmas (in October), when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring... except four girls and this little mouse
The stockings were laid on the couch with care,
In hopes that team Malachi soon would be there
The children were nustled all snug in their bed
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And Santa's elves all stayed up late
A perfect Christmas morning they tried to create
Late in the night Santa came with his tote
He ate some milk and cookies but made sure to leave a note
After sprinkling a little Christmas cheer
he hopped on his sled and off went the reindeer
The next morning came in, oh, such a flash
when Santa's sled came through the chimney with a really loud crash!
He forgot that he wanted to see all the simles
So he returned to the house and It was all worth the while
St. Nick was dressed in army clothes and a christmas cap
and everyone took turns sitting in his lap.
The Christmas elves were excited to give out
stockings filled with candy, hooray! we heard someone shout
It was such a joyous day
that everyone wanted to dress up and play
There were elves and a tree, the star in the east you could see
even a wiseman did appear, along with some of Santa's reindeer.
After hot chocolate the Christmas story was read
"It's a Christmas Miracle!" we all said
It was a marvelous time
and now I'm done with this rhyme
Lots of kisses for Tobes
And the best gifts of the day... a nice oral-b toothbrush and a Christmas log.
We love you Bruce, Pia, Timothy, Michael, Karianne, Tobias, and Mercy!! and miss you already!
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
**thanks for the idea Marge
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 9/17/2010
Last month my team and I traveled around to a few poverty stricken villages in Uganda. We lived in mud huts and spent the time in each village going door to door talking to people, teaching seminars, and speaking at crusades. We visited around six villages in total, all surrounding Lake Albert.
While we were doing door to door in the village of Bugoigo, we were talking with a group of people and one woman, a believer, asked if we were bringing anything other than spiritual encouragement for them. She went on to tell us of the poverty of the village; telling us about their problem with clean drinking water, and about young children (girls in particular) that drop out of school, get pregnant... and then the cycle goes on. She noticed one of my teammates bottle of water... she said, "see, you can have clean bottled water but we cannot afford it". She wanted to know if we were bringing in a program, such as World Vision, to help them.
We told them that we had been traveling for 8 months and have no jobs- that we partner with people in other countries to love, encourage, help, and spread awareness. I was thinking of telling her that we could tell people back home about their situation and pray.
Even though I wanted that to be a good solution, it wasn't. And I still felt awful. Yeah, maybe I only own 2 pairs of pants, 3 skirts, a jacket, and a few shirts... but I still have more in my backpack than they own altogether.
I sat there feeling helpless, wanting to give them all an abundance of clean water, but not knowing how. That's when a young boy, about 14 years old said, "water is life". I've heard that slogan before... and the wheels began to turn. I began to ask questions about their largest need: WATER and how they obtain it. They actually get the water straight from the lake- and let me tell you, that lake water is not clean. It is full of disease and muck. Sometimes they will boil the water (but this costs money to buy coal), but even then it still doesn't meet any of the requirements for "clean" water. If they want to actually get clean water they have to catch a bus, far down the road, spend 13,000 shillings- which obviously, most people don't have. In this village they use phone voucher s as money.
So, I thought, why can't I help them get a well? I have friends and family that would be on board, why couldn't I? Of course I can.
Now, there are MANY MANY places around the world, especially in Africa, that need water wells.
But the Bible says "ask and you shall receive" and I figure... this woman asked.
I think we are supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus and this is us being that.
More than 1 billion ppl, 1/6 of worlds population are without access to safe drinking water.
Half of the world's poor are suffering from waterborne diseases, of which over 6000- mainly children-die each day by consuming unsafe drinking water. Diseases include; diarrhoeal disease, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, ecoli, and others. Millions of people perish every year because they don't have clean water to drink.
Now, I don't have all of this figured out yet because internet time is scarce, but it is in the works. So when I have more information about how to be involved and play a part I will let you all know. And if you want to help or be involved in any way, please respond or email me. But for now, you can watch this little video i put together:
Also, just a note to all of my supporters:
Thank you so much for supporting me on this amazing trip around the world: I am now FULLY and COMPLETELY funded thanks to you. Really, thank you for making this possible. If you still want to support me in my endeavors; supporting me in this water wells mission would be the best way.
Untitled from bekconley on Vimeo.
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 8/22/2010
Let me invite you into the magical world of Zanzibar.
Last month, as we were ending our time in Tanzania, we decided to take a few days off and take a little vacation. And what better place than a 3 hour ferry ride to the island of Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is a beautiful island off the coast of Tanzania, East Africa. Most of the population is Muslim.
We ended up staying in beach cottages on the sand. And by sand I mean I was barefoot for 3 days, our front porch was sand, and the waves sang me to sleep. I think it might have been the most beautiful beach I have ever been to. It had the whitest white sand, the bluest blue turquoise water, and made me the happiest smiling girl.
The sunrises were unreal, I don't know if I've actually seen the sun rise over the ocean before, it's maybe the only bad thing about living in California.
After the sun rose the tide began to recede, and recede, and recede. It went back hundreds and hundreds of feet. Then you could just walk around and look at all the sea life (minus fish, obviously) on squishy sand. I have never seen anything like it in all my life, there would be boats just stuck in the sand that used to be floating in the water and tiny little dots of people far out where the water began.  Then slowly by slowly the tide would creep back in. Around one o clock or so the water would be back to normal and you could swim in it. Then when you were soundly sleeping in your bed the water would get as close as your pinky finger. There is no picture that could possibly capture something so amazing.
One day we went on a dolphin excursion. It was the funniest thing ever. First of all we all packed into this little boat called Sunset and headed out to open waters and even bluer seas. Then, I'm pretty sure, every single one of us got seasick. It was literally like that pirate ship ride they have at carnivals and amusement parks that goes up really high and comes back down- you think it's over... then, oh wait! the boat goes up on the other side and your stomach hates you... it's really fun... We got to jump out somewhere along the way and snorkel and see a whole bunch of electric blue and hot pink starfish. Then comes the extreme sport: dolphin hunting. All of a sudden we would see a pack of dolphins and everyone would start screaming like five year olds, so our boat would race the other 4 boats to see who could get to the dolphins fist and THEN they would yell, "JUMP IN JUMP IN!" and in the panic and chaos, you obey. Everyone is flailing around in the water desperately looking through their snorkels for a glimpse of a dolphin. It was a little surreal to be so close to these creatures in the wild. During the pandemonium my arm landed straight on top of a jellyfish, and did I mention that I stepped on a sea urchin? Regardless of these things we jumped in about 10 times just to swim next to them. And let me assure you, if you want to live wide eyed and in wonder and you are into adrenaline rushes... become a dolphin hunter. Bigger adrenaline rush than bungee jumping. And yes, I would know this.
After we left the pretty little island of Zanzibar and headed for the mainland we began a new excursion to Jinja, Uganda... the source of the Nile. Where I, yes, bungeed my way into baby Moses' old home.
The Plunge of Death
 And then, my friend, it was time for white water rafting. I don't even know where to begin this adventure. There were two men on our raft that, well, made the experience that much better. The first, his name is Kevin. Kevin is a priest. The second's name is Rod. Rod is a scientist who is from England, but has lived in California for the past 14 years. We began our journey down the Nile and hit the first class five rapids and needless to say, we all fell out. It was scary at first to be sucked under the water and to be drifting down the rapids, at an alarming rate, by myself. Our dear friend Kevin, the priest, got sucked under the boat and dislocated his arm, ending his journey with us. And our dear friend Rod was pretty terrified when we got back into the raft. He told us he had gone rafting all over the world and when we asked him to describe this experience he said one word, frantic. Ahaha. I knew I liked this guy. The more I got to know Rod, the more I liked him. His toenails were all purple so I was nosy and asked him why... he said he had just hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro... and get this, proposed to his girlfriends of 11 years at the top. Dear future husband, you have some big shoes to fill. Just kidding, but really. Rod has traveled all over the world and said Cape Horn was one of the best, he said it's the closest you can get to Antarctica without actually being on Antarctica.
He was just really cool. I reckon it's not so much what we do or where we go but the people we meet along the way. I don't want to be so focused on the task at hand or where I'm headed that I miss opportunities.
I just want more of God and so much more of Him for the people around me.
"I sought trains. I found passengers."
PS
mom and dad, this is for you:
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Posted in General Posts by Rebekah Conley on 7/27/2010
Morogoro is beautiful.
But I had a rough time. I was really drained- emotionally, physically and spiritually.
We were doing door to door everyday and preaching 4 times a week. The days were long and all I wanted was ice cream and a hot shower.
I started to forget what our purpose was in being there...until I got new eyes.
One day we were walking back to the road from the church and there were about a million village kids walking with and following us. The pastor walked up to us with a huge smile on his face and said, "the love of God is like a magnet. It draws people."
And he's right.
We encountered it over the weeks we were there.
We had barely begun to share the gospel with a Muslim woman when she interrupted us and told us she was ready to accept Christ. Her reasoning: she could see Jesus on us.
A woman had a dream about shining friendly lions coming from far away,
person after person entered into a relationship with Christ,
Grada was healed...
Ellen, Sarah, and myself visited the house of a woman named Mary who was Roman Catholic. We shared the gospel with her outside and asked if there was anything we could pray for. Mary asked if we could go inside the house with her to pray for her mom.
We went inside...Grada laid before me. A lifeless woman on the floor with rice stuck to her face and emptiness in her eyes. She had been paralyzed for 4 years. It just happened one day, all of a sudden, she started to lose function in her body and then became paralyzed from the waist down. Her daughter, Mary, told us she had taken her to the witchdoctor, a false prophet named Joshua, and used Muslim medicine on her- but nothing worked. Not only was she paralyzed but her speech was practically gone. She didn't speak or make a sound.
I got out my Bible and read to them the story in Mark 2 where Jesus healed the paralytic man. We told Grada and Mary that Jesus died on the cross not only to save us but to heal us. And then we did the only thing we knew how to do, pray. We laid hands on her and prayed, we didn't scream or yell, we just talked to the Father. And when we were finished...nothing happened. We left the house encouraging Mary to continue to have faith, to pray and trust God.
The following day we returned to the house to see how they were doing and guess who came walking around the corner? Grada. God healed her. She could WALK. At this point she tried to speak to us but it was only unintelligible mumbling.
Each day we went back, and each day her face got a little brighter. I wish I had pictures to show you the difference, it is incredible. By the end of our time in Morogoro Grada looked like a new person, a new creation. She was able to walk AND speak. Our last time seeing our friend she was able to murmur the words "praise God" and "God bless you".
On our final visit she grabbed my hand and would not let it go- as I kissed her on the cheek and told her I loved her and that she was beautiful a tear rolled down her face.
I love that she was healed so that it could bring glory to God... I love that she was healed so that it could draw people to the cross.
I may not be able to dance with Grada while I'm on earth, but you better believe that we will be dancing together in heaven.
This month was hard but so rewarding. The harvest is so ripe here, people are literally just waiting to know Jesus, they're waiting for someone to tell them. I think the enemy attacked the hardest because we were his worst nightmare...
"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 'Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
Your kingdom come, your will be done... here on earth as it is in heaven
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