Persecution, Breakthrough, Change, and What????? More Freedom???

Flying to Ethiopia, as we reached the altitude safe enough for us to "go about the cabin", I wondered if God would do just as much as He did in Egypt. Or even if it was possible to be as impacted and shaken as I was in Egyp,t but one moment later I knew the answer... He would do even more in the countries to come and this was still just the beginning.

As we flew to Ethiopia I met a man named George. George is from the Congo but is now living in Sudan and flying to Ethiopia for vacation. He is a man who used to be a muslim but is now a lover of Jesus, and He is a man that happened to be sitting by me with his daughter. As we flew away from Egypt I asked him if he knew Jesus, because you could just see it on his face...what soon followed was an incredible story. George grew up in a muslim family until 19 years ago when he had a vision. He had a vision of a white man full of light reaching out his hand saying in gentle and loving words,'' give me your life''. He searched and searched to find out who this man was in his vision, even his own dad did as well, going to whitch doctors and the mosk, until one day this man came to his door. This man who was walking down the street heard God tell him to knock on George's  door and ask him if he had met with God.This knock soon lead to George getting a bible and then becoming a lover of Jesus. George has now lead his family to Jesus and still meets with Jesus to this day, face to face. George is a lover of Jesus! And he answered my question... there is only more and more and more ahead of us and God is only going to pour out more and more! :) Good answer!

In the past 3 weeks God has broken my heart. You know how we sing the song, "break our heart for what breaks yours"? Well it happened. I am now only beginning to understand what God is broken for but my heart hurts. Being in Egypt and then coming to Ethiopia... my heart is broken... it's broken for Africa like never before. I didn't know my heart could break more for a continent and people who don't know the love and freedom I know... but it has... longing to see every person I meet and every kid I touch, know this love. Why is it you? Why is it me? Why have we gotten to know this love and freedom and not the street kid I just passed on the street? It is really not about you and me. It is about that touch of Jesus that changes lives forever. It's about that small encounter that one will have on the street that will free and heal them! So why is it us... because it is. Yet what an honor and amazing amazing thing it is that God, our Daddy, is calling us to touch that kid, speak to the widow, and love that businessman because He longs way more then me to see His love touch them! Wow it really is not about us... 

Here's what we've been doing:

In our last 2 weeks in Egypt, we've been a part of a...

Prayer Service with Pastors from Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Jumping and Dancing with Ethiopians! Then we went on a train ride for 13 hours to Luxor (it supposed to be 9 but the engine caught fire so it took some time to chang the engine)!

Luxor looked like this: Food and more food and more and more food; Prayer for a couple starting a house of prayer; walking the streets and being welcomed in to pray and minister to families; riding a faluka on the Nile; Prayer for a womens organization that is helping women provide for their families; words of healing and people getting healed and delivered; climbing a mountain overtop of the valley of kings and queens and worshiping; seeing ancient temples of pharoah's; more prayer ministry; more food; and hearing incredible stories of families sacraficing for Jesus.

(above is the valley of kings)

Then we went on a train ride for 4 hours, until the train stopped because of protestors on the tracks and a fire so then we had to get off quickly and get a microbus the rest of the way to Aswan.

Aswan looked like this: a place of beauty and cleanliness; worship and prayer with an incredible family trying to build the only protestant church; Hearing of their persecution they've had from the Coptic church because they believe differently and being encouraged by their stand for Jesus and not just a religious system; riding a faluka again on the Nile; going to an island with spices that aren't found anywhere else in the world; holding a crocodile; climbing a Sicamore tree like Zacheus; eating more and more food; being a part of the family; walking through town praying for some shop owners; going to see a damn built on the Nile; cleaning and scrubbing; burning in crazy hot heat;seeing someone try to steal and then a fight almost breaking out; but mostly just getting to spend time with the family and encourage them. 

Then we went on a train ride 12 hours to Malawy, dripping sweat with no air conditioning and men constantly starring at you. Then arriving in Malawy and being rushed into a taxi for security purposes.

Malawy looked like this: Prayer ministry constantly; seeing God touch and heal so many people; sitting in a house with an amazing family, with their door constantly open to anyone in need of prayer; eating more food; a prayer meeting with maybe two hundred people pushing against you and grabbing on you all desiring prayer; seeing God put his hand on people and touch their hearts, healing their brokenness and seeing them encounter His love; being rushed out of the prayer meating because it wasn't safe; eating more food and praying for more families; lots of prayer! 

Then we went on a train ride for 5 hours back to Cairo with air conditioning and not a lot of men, woot woot! 

Our last week in Cairo we went to a couple of churches but mostly got to rest and d-brief as a team. We also visited the pyramids and sphinx. Our team has changed so much in Egypt. We then had to say goodbye to some and here we are... In Ethiopia! 

 It really isn't about me and you. It's about that small touch of Jesus that changes lives forever, it's about his touch of freedom and healing that reveal his greatness! Woohooooo! Be so very blessed as you know that the pressure is off... it's not about you! It's about our Mighty Dad! He's calling you too... will you touch the street kid you just walked by? Will you smile at the homeless man and tell him he can be free?