Wrap Up: Follow His lead

Hi everyone! First off, thank you for taking the time to read this blog, ie. my heart. My trip to Africa was such an amazing journey with God's fingerprints on every single day. It was amazing to serve Him in how He has gifted me (medically speaking), to love the broken/hurting/lost. It was equally amazing to learn so much from those I encountered and grew to love. The Kenyans and Tanzanians embodied a perseverance, endurance, and joy in Christ that I aspire to have. It was truly beautiful.

My heart for this blog is to inspire you. I pray it would motivate you to seek out the Lord, and what He is calling you to. If it's Africa/missions, I would love to chat ;). Africa has been a deep desire on my heart for several years now, and it was overwhelming to finally experience in His perfect timing, this desire become a reality. If you would like to know more about the organization our team went with, here is their website: http://www.mannaworldwide.com (They are still updating their website, so certain links may not be up and running right now). If you are a partner with the Austin Stone Community Church (or not either way works!), and you are interested in hearing more about this trip, I strongly encourage you to come to our first Africa Network meeting: August 25th 7:00pm at Austin Stone Church Offices. Come hear more stories and see more pictures of how God was and continues to move through His people. We will also be discussing information on future trip opportunities! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me: sarenagreen@gmail.com.

Again, thank you for taking time to read this blog; it truly means so much. Thank you for letting me share my heart with you. I am praying it will encourage you to follow His lead and walk in the Spirit of truth, full of grace, for His glory.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. -Galations 5:25

June 18 Pictures

June 18: Drawn to Redemption by the Grace in His Eyes

Oh, how Jesus loves His people, of all nations and all tribes.

I was up and moving by 8:00am, with a heavy heart, knowing it was my final day in Africa. My heart feels alive on this continent. I don't know what Jesus wants or wills at this point, but I just pray to heed the Spirit, whatever that may be. I am just thankful for today, and to be here.

It was so nice to sleep in our final day. Our group had morning devotional time, and soon after we were dressed and ready for an early lunch at a local restaurant. We were going to spend the afternoon and evening in a remote Maasai village, outside of Arusha. Vernon began explaining to our group that no white people had ever been to this remote village before. We had been formally invited by one of Vernon's church members, named Lazarus. He was very involved in the Bible Baptist Church in Arusha, and his heart was to bring local TZ church members and our group together, to love the people of his village and share the gospel. He said that hardly anyone in his village had ever heard the good news of Jesus. At that, my eyes grew wide, trying to grasp the reality of what our group was about to experience. What a beautiful and amazing day we were about to be a part of, by God's grace.

After lunch, we loaded up and headed over to Bible Baptist Church to meet with the local Tanzanian church members. From there, we carpooled out of town, and up to the Maasai village nestled in the lush mountains. It was completely surreal: to know that no tourist had ever been where we were going. After about an hour drive, we made it to our destination. The landscape was absolutely breathtaking: wheat field after wheat field, with straw huts sprinkled in between the fields. The fields rolled on for miles, until they met a beautiful mountain range. In the midst of the mountain range was a (no longer active) volcano. The site truly took my breath away. Our God is beyond what we can fathom. We stepped out of the jeeps (somewhat sheepishly), and were instantly met curious and shy faces. They wore plaid, red, and some blue cloth garments that wrapped around their body and went over one shoulder. They wore brightly colored beaded necklaces and earrings (men and women). Marching through the throng of Maasai speaking through a megaphone, Lazarus began introducing our group to his village. Our group's heart was to begin playing games, and invite them to join in, as they felt comfortable. The boys started up a game of soccer, which several young Maasai teens quickly joined in on. I, along with several other girls, began an intense session of double dutch ;) It was heart warming, to watch as the Maasai men and women grow more comfortable, and begin joining in. The Maasai children were so beautiful. After overcoming their initial shyness, they began coming up and playing with my hair. Several children knew Swahili, so we fumbled our way through communicating in broken Swahili...and pantomiming when necessary ;). Halfway through the games, Vernon and Lazarus stood on top of a jeep, and Vernon began preaching in Swahili (and English for us...amazing). As he preached, Lazarus would translate his words from Swahili to Maasai. It was such a humbling and powerful moment to hear the gospel be shared in three different languages...and to be reminded that the Gospel is the same...we are all God's people...regardless of language or ethnicity. We are the sheep of His pasture. As Vernon finished, I will never forget that moment, as it hit my heart, "This is all about Jesus Christ."

As the sun begin to set over the mountains, our group made our way to another part of the village. It was so neat because when we'd first arrived, there had been two distinct groups: the Maasai people and the Bible Baptist group. Now, we were all entangled; there were no more lines. Some older Maasai men/women spoke broken Swahili and English, and were conversing with our group. It was so beautiful. Vernon and Lazarus set up a projector screen, and begin rolling a film depicting the life of Jesus. Since most if not all of Lazarus's village had never heard the Gospel, they were now going to be exposed to a film portraying the Gospel, which had been translated into Maasai. The Maasai people sat and got comfortable in the field, as they watched the film. Me and several friends spoke with a few English speaking Maasai people, who shared they'd walked miles just for this evening. They explained Lazarus had been promoting our arrival, so people were eager to see what we were all about. How beautiful for so many people, to be exposed to the life of Jesus. We sat and watched the film with them, and begin praying for these people's hearts. We prayed for eyes to be opened, and that ears would hear His voice. As it grew dark, the most beautiful array of stars illuminated the night sky. My heart was humbled and overwhelmed by the vast love and creativity of our Creator. We watched as numerous shooting stars flew across our nighttime landscape. I can't even fully explain how my heart was so full of His love, and humbled by His grace. My friends and I began praying for each other, as we prepared to head back to America the very next day. As the film drew to a close, our entire church community joined hands in the back row, and we silently prayed over the Maasai people. It was an indescribable moment, for His glory. After the movie finished, we thanked the Maasai people for allowing us to spend time with them, and we headed back to Arusha. I pray I never forget the image of Vernon and Lazarus preaching truth and grace atop a jeep, and the beautiful nighttime sky. I don't know if I could have envisioned a more perfect evening, for my final night on this continent. God continues to blow me away. We serve a mighty, righteous, and all loving King. Praise Him.

You should see the stars tonight
How they shimmer shine so bright
Against the black they look so white
Coming down from such a height
To reach me now, reach me now

You should see the moon in the flight
Cutting across the misty night
Softly dancing in sunshine
Reflections of this light
Reach me now, you reach me now

And how could such a thing
Shine its light on me
And make everything beautiful again.

And you should hear the angels sing
All gathered round their King
More beautiful than you could dream
I've been quietly listening
You can hear them now, i hear them now

And how could such a King
Shine His light on me
And make everything beautiful
And I want to shine
I want to be light
I want to tell you it'll be alright.


And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and men of every language might serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. -Daniel 7:14

Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will gather other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back' bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for my glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made. -Isaiah 43:4-7

Currently Playing: How He Loves - John Mark McMillan/Stars - David Crowder Band