As
I was preparing to leave in the weeks leading up to Africa I felt
discouraged. I didn't feel the excitement I wanted to feel or felt I
should I have. And I had been excited to go for several months. So
I wanted to figure out what had changed. Was it me? Was it nerves
about leaving the country? Was I scared to be in contact with people who
had AIDS? I knew I had been discouraged with my job search and that was
putting a damper on things, but it should not have had the effect it did.
I actually felt the trip was coming at a good time. Take a week break and
come back renewed and ready to tackle it once again. I didn't really have
any clear cut answers to any of my questions so I left for Africa trying to
look forward to the work we were about to do.
The first 24 hours were pretty rough. Two of us lost our luggage - I
being one of them. Not a huge deal, more of an annoyance really.
The airline felt they could get it there in a couple of days. I really
just felt sorry for my teammates. They were going to have to deal with me
in possibly smelly clothes till the rest of my things showed up. But the
next morning grabbing my towel I had a freak accident and ended up cutting my
hand pretty deeply. It was clear I was going to need stitches.
Questions swirled. How was I going to do ministry? How come I was
not more careful? I'm holding the whole team up. Should I just go
home? It was pretty clear at this point that everything the past couple weeks
had been the result of the enemy. Spiritual warfare if you may. He
had been casting doubts on this trip long before I set foot on the plane by
using my situation at home. And it didn't stop. He wanted me to
think I had failed and go home. He didn't want me to do God's work.
But I've learned that even in situations that are taxing, God is in
control. I was blessed to have teammates who were willing to share their
things until my suitcase showed up. I do believe that one of them packed
their entire wardrobe which was a good thing for me. I had clean
clothes. Why did we have a nurse on the trip and why was she in my room
that first night? She bandaged me up and took care of the cut until we
were able to get to a clinic to have it taken care of. Why did I miss
cutting tendons - only tissue? And why did it not hurt? I knew then
that God was in control even through the attack.
When I held that first baby and had tears in my eyes I knew I had been obedient
and was fulfilling God's work. I knew I had won. Yes it came with
challenges and obstacles, but it was worth all of it and ultimately God
won.
When preparing for and arriving in Swaziland, I was ready to share my gifts as a nurse to care for the Swazi people. I was ready with my medical tools and suitcases full of medication.
On our first day of ministry, I was excited as we entered the homestead of a woman who was 41 and had a stroke disabling the whole right side of her body--as well as TB. I felt that with all my medical knowledge, I could help ease her pain. However, God had other plans, for when she told us that she had great sorry in her heart--and that she lost her joy--I had nothing modern medicine could heal.
For the next two days we tried to treat her with what we had: God's Word, song, and prayer. But for two days she continued to look sad, and the sorry remained. One the third and last day, this woman, whose name in English means "Fortunate", opened up during the sharing of Scripture and told us that she never accepted God into her heart and that she wanted to do so.
So, on a bright Thursday morning, on a mat laid upon God's red earth, we prayed and Fortunate accepted and asked Jesus into her heart. As our tears fell we saw that there was still sorrow in her eyes and she began to speak of the wrong things she had done in the past--and how that saddened her heart. We told her of Jesus' sacrifice and grace, and visibly saw the hope in her eyes as she prayed for forgiveness and and peace. Fortunate's joy was restored!
As we left that day, we saw a different person in Fortunate that we saw our first day. In her joy we saw God and His Holy Spirit. As we drove away I rejoiced in God's forgiveness and grace--the best and most powerful medicine of all.
The biggest thing that stood out to me on this trip:
I was talking to a girl my age in the clinic. She, her two sisters, and five brothers were orphans. Being 15, she was the oldest and took care of her family. She was a Christian and her favorite passage was Psalm 23. This really shocked me and opened my eyes to see what kind of life she was living on the other side of the world from me.
Myself, three other people from AIM, and Bryan were standing in the heat of a 62-year-old man's hut. We were there to pray with him, and bring him some joy and God's love. He is dying of HIV. Our focus was on him, with the exception of three adorable little boys with big smiles. But God wanted my attention on someone else also.
We were singing, or attempting to sing, and feeling overwhelmed by God's greatness. I glanced outside to see the splendor of His creation in the African mountains. And I saw a woman wearing and apron and a small black hat. She stood far away from the hut but close enough to see and hear us, the crazy white people, singing with all we had, not caring if it didn't sound good. I felt a need to touch her with a loving hand of God, to give her that invitation that says God loves her. So I tip-toed my way out of the crowded hut and slowly walked toward the nervous woman. It was clear she worked hard. I assumed she was the mother of the three boys, and possibly only 17 or 18 years old.
I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, praying that God would work through me to have an effect on this beautiful woman's life. She smiled a nervous smile. I walked over to the hut and we stood at the door, praising the Lord. I sand to God with everything; I gave Him my off-pitch sounds and my never ending thanks. She clapped her hands and some of the English words with us, and and I knew God answered my prayer. After many songs, she said, "I love Jesus."
I don't know if she will have food in a year, but I know God is in her now and He is in their home.
The Swazi team has arrived safely in Georgia and should be making their connections as I write this. Get ready to welcome them home and hear their amazing stories!
I just received another call from the team in Swaziland. They are doing great! Everyone is safe and healthy--and they found the missing luggage as well! Praise God!
Yesterday the team drove from South Africa to Swaziland and also received cultural training. Today was their first day of ministry. They went to two care points and three home visits. They met a lot of people! At each stop they got to minister and share Christ, praying for people, talking with them, singing with them, and playing with the kids. Sounds like a great day!
Tomorrow is another day of ministry. Please pray for them as they seek to be His hands and feet to everyone they meet.
I will continue to update you as they are able to get information to me! Have a great day!
I just received a phone call from Don Rock, the director of the Ambassador program and one of the leaders of the trip. The team has arrived in South Africa safe and sound. Everyone is healthy and happy to be there--it was a long flight! They will spend this evening resting at a hotel in Jo-burg before heading out to Swaziland tomorrow.
Two of their bags did not arrive, so please pray that will be worked out without further hassle.
Prayer Requests:
-Rest for the team
-Their travel day tomorrow
-The recovery of the lost luggage
I will continue to update you as they are able to get information to me! Have a great day!
As
everyday passes and I continually check my account on Adventures In Mission to
see how much money I have in my account, I get more and more excited about
going on the trip! I have been dreaming of going to Africa my entire
life, and a few years ago decided for my "sweet 16" I would go on a
mission trip to Africa. So this year I finally was able to begin
planning, and when I saw the trip to Swaziland I knew God wanted me to go on
that trip. I have always had an interest in medicine, and hoped to incorporate
it into my passion for serving God through mission work. So there I was
ecstatic about the trip, I couldn't stop talking to my parents about it!
I applied immediately and the process began! Anyway by now you know
I am 16, but I also am a sophomore at a performing arts school in Connecticut
where I dance. I play soccer and love to ski and snowboard, I teach
little munchkins to ski at Mt.Snow in VT, and during the summer I love to sail.
I have a great supportive Christian family and a community of loving Christians
from camp. I received terrible news last night that one of my friends
from camp was in a car accident and died. This will be a very difficult
week for me and my friends as we mourn and question the loss of such a good
friend. So please keep her family in your prayers and all of her friends.
And I can't wait to get to know all of you!
And please
add me as a friend on facebook, my name is Annie Clair Otfinoski.
"What you do today determines your future, but your future also determines what you do today."
-Anne Chilcutt (Sunday School Teacher)
The quote above has been a fire under my shoes during my senior year in high school. I turned 18 on this past December 23. I was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi, which is a retirement town known for its antebellum homes and general relaxed atmosphere. My parents raised me as number four in a roost of six children. It gets interesting. In the eleventh grade I was accepted to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, which is a boarding school in northern Mississippi for academically gifted students. The past two years have been a whirlwind of exploring new boundaries and definitions in my world. It is a very liberal school, but God was not about to abandon me. My junior year was a bit rough, spiritual-wise. I lived in the past state of my relationship with Jesus rather than the present disarray. I could write forever concerning that subject. The important thing is that God kept positive influences in my life. I am here, learning how to mold my life to God's plan rather than molding God's plan to my life. I have never traveled outside the country on a mission trip, though I have traveled a bit with my youth group. I cannot wait to travel. I have a hankering to experience other cultures; I am thrilled I have the opportunity to do this with fellow Christians.
I'm 15 years old. I live in Alberta, Canada. I'm in gr 10.
This is my second trip to Africa. I went to Uganda this past summer. It was for 2 months with TMI. My team was 16 other people, with 3 leaders. Since then I've definitely come off of that spiritual mountain, and have started to learn how to get close to God when in the valley. I love Africa, no question about that. I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for Swazi. I work at the local grocery store. Can't wait to met everybody.
