Africa Day 12 (July 14)

Africa Day 12 (July 14)

Today was our main day with Cannan Ministries! We played with the sweet kids almost all day! I fell in love with this place! My best buddy's name is Moses! He was precious! He was fascinated with my IPod! He made a few videos on the front screen camera where he was singing and stuff! Totes adorbs!! I was exhausted from travel and just doing doing doing  for two weeks straight!  Even with all of that it was a great and the children just bring you so much joy! Late afternoon we went on the Nile Boat Tour; it was really close to the ministries and really cheap apparently! It was really cool to see what you learn about in History class! It wasnt exceptionally cool but I feel like it is one of those things you have to do if your close just to say you have been.

 When we got back the kids were waiting for us and we played for another hour or so! They asked us to come to their fellowship time which was kinda like a church service/bible study! We all gathered and sang a few songs and prayed and one of the older boys "preached". It really made me sad because the message he brought was pretty much if you do good God will love you and if you do bad He will not love you. The whole concept of grace was missed! They completely miss that God first loved us! We do good things out of uncontrolable love for God! Not because we have to or so He will love us, we do them  because He loves us!

At dinner our nightly talk was about what about when we get home? How do we deal with what happened here when we are emerged  back into American Culture and others who don't understand what happened? Everyone is going to ask about our trip and everyone expects to hear about how pitiful the children were, how extreme the poverty is and how dirty and uncomfortable we were! The thing is all of those things did happen if you look at it through the eyes of a human. If we look at it the way God sees what happens I would have to say that the children were full of joy and love! They gave their entire heart to us and loved us as much as they could in the time we had! They gave us the best they had! They didn't care about how they looked or acted! They were completely themselves! I learned more about Gods Love for us! These children are not orphans in Gods eyes! They are His children and He loves them and treasures them! That is what the holy  spirit taught me through them! We also don't take the scripture "dancing with Joy" literally!    These lovely people danced with all they had! Their dancing came from the joy of the Lord! I am so grateful for what God has blessed me with, but sometimes I can't help but wonder how much stronger my faith would be if I had to depend on Jesus for ever single meal, every breath I take, and everybody who loves me! We don't see those things as gifts from God because it is something we have always had. God doesn't call me to sell all of my things and never enjoy a  pedicure again, He does call me to be mindful that everything I have is from Him, to be grateful for what I have and to also enjoy the special treats he blesses us with! God loves to give His children things we don't need, just like my mom likes to treat me to things I don't need! Don't be guilty  about spending money on something you don't need just remember that those things will never satisfy you! Buy what you need, live free of debt and you can treat yourself occasionally. If God is telling you to give some money somewhere else don't hesitate because it is His in the first place. Be willing to give everything or anything away if God tells you to. We can't help that we were born in America but we can spend our money wisely, give abundantly, and love and obey God above all else! 

One night Gina and Jason also talked about money. I dont remember which night it was but they were talking about how money can keep you in shackles! It's a horrid trap that Satan can use so easily! We don't have to go home and sell everything but we do need to live debt free! Living in debt is not living free is Christ! Again it is not a sin but it is not how God intended for us to live! We want to be free to do whatever God is calling us to do. If he wants us to move to Africa we don't want to have a bunch of debt to stop us or have anything like that holding us back! They are such great stewards of what God has given them! They gave us so 

Much advice on how we should take care of our money from budgeting, saving, and paying in cash! I am so happy to hear this now so I can start forming good habits early! I can't wait to see how God will bless my life for me learning to take care of what He has given me! Africa has given me so much more than I could ever give it!