Teens are the same all over the world

     Something unexpected happened at the conference on Friday.  A tent full of teenagers showed up! We were not expecting them because we thought they would be in school. However, there they were! So Will asked me to teach them for the afternoon on Friday, February 7th.

     I must confess that at first I was really in a quandary of what to do, or what to say for that matter. I did not come prepared to teach young people, I came prepared to teach women! But there they were like baby birds, with their mouths open ready to be fed.  

     I started by asking them why they were there. What did you come to learn? What would you want to talk about?  I found out that day that teenagers are the same all over the world. They wanted to talk about sex, temptation, and how can a young person stay pure. I found out that day that they, like teenagers in America have problems with Internet pornography and it was a real eye opener for me. I did not realize that they had that much access to computers or the Internet for them to have that problem, but they do.

So... God filled my mouth is the only way that I can explain it.  I talked to them about David asking the same exact question as they did, In Psalm 119: 9-16:

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.  I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."

     I told them that their mind was like a well, what you put into it, you draw from. If you meditate on the scriptures you can draw from them in times of temptations. Also, the Scripture "I will set no unclean thing before my eyes." Psalm 101:3. We talked about the fact that our minds are recording everything we look at. Once we view it, we cannot erase it. So be careful what you allow yourself to see.

      Another great Scripture to quote is: II Timothy 2:22 " Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness..."  Also, another wonderful verse for temptation is: I Corinthians 10:13, " No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."  Look for the way of escape that the Lord provides for us, because God's Word promises us that He has provided one.

     They left for the day and Will and I agreed if they came back on the next day, Saturday, I would teach them again. So that evening I prepared by looking through my notebook and finding that I had actually brought my lesson that I taught from the "I Can Fly" school last year. Praise God! Carrie also gave me her lesson on the "Armor of God" from Ephe

sians.

     The next day, not only did they all return, but brought other teens with them! So for the morning session we talked about putting on the whole armor of God from Ephesians 6:11-17. I explained to them that this would also be a very useful tool in overcoming temptations. We used a poster that I let them fill in with their own languages, words for each piece of armor. I tried to pronounce their words and that's when the laughter would erupt. Once again showing how similar teenagers are all over the world!  Then I taught the lesson I brought from the "I Can Fly" school on "Making Wise Decisions". That covered the morning session.

     The entire afternoon session I spent teaching "The Prodigal Son".. Who Jesus was talking to (The Pharisees and who they are), Then the Prodigal, The "Prodigal brother who stayed home" and then about "The Loving Father", or "The God who runs". 

     I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this! I hoped the youth received as much from it as I did. What I received from it was the blessing of being totally and completely used by God. Because I wasn't prepared to teach this group, God took over. That's the best, and only way I can describe it. When you make yourself available to be used by God, He works in and through you. He brought things to my mind to answer each question and also what to teach. He spoke through me during this whole time and that is a wonderful feeling. 

     I am always amazed that God wants to use me at all. If we just make ourselves available, He will put us in situations where we can be used of Him and then... just watch out... He shows up... and shows off!!

 My interpreter, Dorcas

Teaching and Learning from the Kamba women

     February 7th we traveled to Machakos to teach the Kamba people.  Betsy and I taught. I taught first, and once again taught on Hannah.  I was blown away by the women's questions at the end. I was so glad that between myself, Betsy and Marilyn, we could answer them. One thing that I noticed was how differently the Kamba ladies reacted to the same story in the Bible about Hannah.  They did not focus on the second wife because these women are not co-wives with another woman.

     One thing that blessed me so much was the way these women would review everything they heard in the lesson. They would talk to each other go over everything they heard. They would build each other up, encourage one another to do what they each heard in the lesson. In talking with Trevor about this he called it, "Oral tradition". Where they would tell everything back to the teacher and to each other. Then they may pass it along to others in the village who may not have attended the conference. I don't know who was blessed more by this, the other ladies who attended, or me? By the time they were finished summing everything up they heard, I had tears in my eyes!  What wonderful listeners they were, so hungry to learn and to know more about God's Word.... What wonderful, godly women.

Teaching at Maasai school

     On Wednesday, February 5th, Synora, Carrie and I had a pleasant surprise of going to speak at a Maasai school in one of the villages.  Synora and I took one group of children and taught them. Just out under a large tree, Synora taught them several Bible lessons, she also had pictures to show them that went with the lessons. She did a great job with them. Then I taught them about the different kinds of hearts. From Ezekiel 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."  I talked to the children about the fact that our hearts are wicked and hard, like stone. But because of what Jesus did, He gives us eyes to see that we need a Savior, and we can repent of our sins and He cleanses our hearts, and softens them and makes us clean. He loves us, and washes our hearts clean. Many of the children raised their hands to receive Christ as Savior that day.  I do not know who was genuine and who wasn't. That is up to God. He is the One who knows their hearts.

     Carrie was working with another group doing games and they absolutely love the parachute. Then we switched, and she took our group, and we talked to her group. Synora and I did the same lessons with the second group. Again, many of the children raised their hands to be saved, and prayed to receive Christ as their Savior. Two of the teachers were our interpreters. The principal and the teachers are all very receptive to us coming in and teaching the children. I am thankful for the opportunity to go into their schools and teach.  I pray that God will send people to them to water the seed that we planted, that they will grow in their faith.

That their little hearts will remain tender and pliable to the Holy Spirit.

   

Kenya Mission trip 2014/ Maasai women

     I have not blogged since our last Mission trip in October! I went on another Mission trip in February. This time the trips were very close together!

     February 4th, we went to speak to the Maasai people. It was a very hot day, as usual. We spoke to the Maasai women under a tree. Betsy spoke first to the women on marriage, then I spoke about Hannah in the Bible. They were a little bit animated at the end of this because Hannah in the Bible was one of two wives to Elkanah. Since so many of the Maasai women are co-wives with other women, they found a kin-ship with Hannah. They felt for Hannah who was being teased and harassed by Penninah. This opened the door for many questions from the Maasai women. Marilyn followed up with a talk about our hearts. The condition of our hearts, and how to also be kind to one another because God was kind to us and forgave us.  I did not know Marilyn before this trip. She is from South Africa. She is a lovely woman and a wonderful teacher. What amazes me each and every time I go to Kenya is the team that God puts together! Even though we did not get together to co-ordinate our lessons, they all went together so well, and flowed perfectly together. Almost like one lesson would follow-up and answer any questions from the previous lesson. That is only something that God can do... He still amazes me!