"Not all those who wander are lost" Tolkien has a way of reassuring me that it's okay to have a bag packed in the trunk of my car. Or that I'm not completely insane for always looking up prices for plane tickets and day dreaming of the time when Ill be out again....wandering...
It has been a good while since Ive posted on this blog. The last time we spent time together I was writing from Nigeria, I was processing all that had happened over the course of 5 months and I was dreaming of what life was going to be like once I came back home. Looking back on my entries, its been almost another 5 months since I last wrote. So much has happened, so much has changed. Yet, I'm still the same...I still have the same longing to go and I believe the Lord will call me out again, it's just a matter of time.
I managed to get back into the swing of things pretty quickly once I returned to San Diego. Within a month I got a job at Ashford University as a Student Services Coordinator and while I stayed sleeping on my sister's couch for about 4 months, Ive just moved into my very own apartment in downtown La Mesa. I know, I'm all grown up!! Ministry has started back up again, my book club is still going strong, I am now a Pintrest fanatic and I am continually amazed by the grace of God, and the love He has been showing me through the people He has brought into my life, new and old.
My goal this year is to continue to live out the adventures that God has placed in my heart. What does that look like, you ask? Well, I'm not too sure, but I believe as I continue to rely on Him daily and ASK for revelation, He will be faithful to show me. I am going to be finishing up my degree for now and I am looking into getting certified to be a Doula (birthing coach) in case you were wondering. I just celebrated my 29th birthday and although the thought of 29 brought chest pains and tears, I am excited for what this year will bring.
As adventures come Ill try to keep this blog updated. I do realize that my life isn't as fascinating as someone that's sailed the world or created their own clothing line, but I AM looking for adventures...and I'm determined to find them.
Until then...
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Home to Me
You know when your tired and driving home and you make some turns and stop at the stop sign that you always stop at...but once you get home you realize that the whole drive was just second nature because you were so tired you couldn't even remember making that turn or stopping, but you know your home so well that even though you're tired...you still made it home safe without really thinking about it? You know what I'm talking about? Well, I know the streets here in Jikwoyi, I walk back from church sometimes tired at night and once I get home I think, "did I actually make that turn?" or when I go get eggs in the morning or a drink through out the day I say "Well Done" or "Good Afternoon" to the same ladies on the side of the road. Ive been walking with my Nigerian friends and Ive completely forgotten at times that I'm white and that's why people are starring at me. This place is home to me.
Before this trip I had my own thoughts on what "Africa" was like, and I need to tell you all that Africa, in and of itself is compiled of many different countries each one unique and full of life. Nigeria though...Nigeria is where my heart is. Nigeria is the place no one wants to go, I didn't even what to come here and now...I don't want to leave. Nigeria is the pearl inside the oyster, the diamond hidden in the rock that someone tossed to the side. People have their views on this place and Ive heard things said about Nigeria being one of the worst places to live, I'm fully prepared to tell any and everyone that you're completely wrong. This place is full of passionate and caring people, everyone is always greeting you as you walk the streets. Once you've made friends, people remember you and Ive come to see how much they value family and relationships. Nigerians are beautiful people and in the midst of religious confusion and being money hungry because of poverty, you'll see hospitality that you can't buy in America and you'll find that they are incredibly hard workers, and full of dedication and diligence.
I'm really at a loss for words, and I don't know how to continue this blog. When I think about leaving this place I just become speechless and I pray that God will reveal when and if He has plans for me to return. I will write again once I am in Decatur, Texas and hopefully then Ill be able to convey in more depth how the end of this trip is going. But just know that truly, words just aren't good enough. How do you try and describe your feelings after falling in love, or having a dream come true...words don't do your feelings justice. So you see my problem with this blog...God has gripped my heart and as of right now, my feelings go beyond description.
Keep our travels in your prayers and please continue to pray for the last few days we have here in Abuja, Nigeria. I desire to make every second count and I just pray that I leave here having fully completed all that God has intended for us. Also pray for my future desires to return here, pray that God would reveal His plan and His timing...I know His ways are higher than mine and His thoughts are higher than mine, so pray that His ways and thoughts would be revealed to me in the fullest.
Next time I write I wont be so far away...until then...WALK IN LOVE. Always.
Before this trip I had my own thoughts on what "Africa" was like, and I need to tell you all that Africa, in and of itself is compiled of many different countries each one unique and full of life. Nigeria though...Nigeria is where my heart is. Nigeria is the place no one wants to go, I didn't even what to come here and now...I don't want to leave. Nigeria is the pearl inside the oyster, the diamond hidden in the rock that someone tossed to the side. People have their views on this place and Ive heard things said about Nigeria being one of the worst places to live, I'm fully prepared to tell any and everyone that you're completely wrong. This place is full of passionate and caring people, everyone is always greeting you as you walk the streets. Once you've made friends, people remember you and Ive come to see how much they value family and relationships. Nigerians are beautiful people and in the midst of religious confusion and being money hungry because of poverty, you'll see hospitality that you can't buy in America and you'll find that they are incredibly hard workers, and full of dedication and diligence.
I'm really at a loss for words, and I don't know how to continue this blog. When I think about leaving this place I just become speechless and I pray that God will reveal when and if He has plans for me to return. I will write again once I am in Decatur, Texas and hopefully then Ill be able to convey in more depth how the end of this trip is going. But just know that truly, words just aren't good enough. How do you try and describe your feelings after falling in love, or having a dream come true...words don't do your feelings justice. So you see my problem with this blog...God has gripped my heart and as of right now, my feelings go beyond description.
Keep our travels in your prayers and please continue to pray for the last few days we have here in Abuja, Nigeria. I desire to make every second count and I just pray that I leave here having fully completed all that God has intended for us. Also pray for my future desires to return here, pray that God would reveal His plan and His timing...I know His ways are higher than mine and His thoughts are higher than mine, so pray that His ways and thoughts would be revealed to me in the fullest.
Next time I write I wont be so far away...until then...WALK IN LOVE. Always.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Time is Precious
I've been thinking a lot about "time" lately, and always the same cliches come to mind..."Time flies"..."Make the most of your time"..."Time is of the essence"...or my personal favorite, "Time is precious, use it wisely" There hasn't been a moment in my life where these cliches have been more true.
The count down has started. Its official, this is our last month here in Nigeria and I can now say that by this time next month I will be most likely at my sister's house or Erica's spending time with my little loved ones and hopefully eating a big fat bean and cheese burrito (yes, that's right...its the simple pleasures in life)
We've got 22 days left here in Jikwoyi, Abuja, and right now I'm sitting in the darkness of the night on our back porch listening to dogs bark and the goats chomp on grass, slapping the mosquitoes from my flesh and looking up at the stars. Its crazy to think that the stars I'm staring at right now are not the same stars that your eyes back in the States see. The sky is so vast and so enormous and Ive been blessed to say that my eyes have seen the San Diego stars and the Nigerian stars. How beautiful these Nigerian stars are...don't worry, they look just like every other star in the sky, but I think they might be brighter, the sky is clearer here. Or maybe I just love them because as I sit here and dwell on where I am going to be in 23 days from now, I know a part of my heart is going to be left here under these Nigerian stars.
Time is a crazy paradox to me, we can never have enough of it and yet we waste it all the time.
At the beginning of this trip, 5 months seemed like so much time. The plans we had and the longing to see our loved ones, 5 months seemed like a life time, but now I can honestly tell you 5 months is not enough time. There is so much still I want to do here in Jikwoyi, there isn't enough time to see all the people I want to see and there isn't enough time to do all the ministry I long to do. There is still so much work to be done here and I know that us being here has planted seeds and that in some crazy way we have been blessed and honored to work along side the Lord in serving the people of Abuja, but I believe the work here isn't done.
My prayer during this trip has been that I wouldn't waste a single moment and now more than ever I feel this burden to truly have my eyes and heart opened fully so that I may embrace all that God has for me here. I want to have full confidence that our time here was used to the fullest.
I will write again soon...at least one more time before I leave this home of mine, here in Nigeria.
But I wanted to encourage those that are reading this, don't waste your time and go about life thinking that you have all the time in the world to do whatever you'd like. I know its cliche, but I started the beginning of this blog with cliches and so Ill end with them as well (that my OCD) But seriously, as I sit here and think about how I wish I could stretch 22 days into years, souly because I don't want to say Good-Bye and because I know that its only by God's grace and His will that I will come back here again, I mean it when I say...don't take your time for granted.
Where ever you are, whether in America or some far off place...its all the same. Time is valuable and when it starts running out it creeps up on you and its gone before you know it. Take time to enjoy where you're at where ever you are. Smile with people, help a stranger, play with your kids...there is so much you can do with your time...its precious...USE IT WISELY!!!
Until next time...
The count down has started. Its official, this is our last month here in Nigeria and I can now say that by this time next month I will be most likely at my sister's house or Erica's spending time with my little loved ones and hopefully eating a big fat bean and cheese burrito (yes, that's right...its the simple pleasures in life)
We've got 22 days left here in Jikwoyi, Abuja, and right now I'm sitting in the darkness of the night on our back porch listening to dogs bark and the goats chomp on grass, slapping the mosquitoes from my flesh and looking up at the stars. Its crazy to think that the stars I'm staring at right now are not the same stars that your eyes back in the States see. The sky is so vast and so enormous and Ive been blessed to say that my eyes have seen the San Diego stars and the Nigerian stars. How beautiful these Nigerian stars are...don't worry, they look just like every other star in the sky, but I think they might be brighter, the sky is clearer here. Or maybe I just love them because as I sit here and dwell on where I am going to be in 23 days from now, I know a part of my heart is going to be left here under these Nigerian stars.
Time is a crazy paradox to me, we can never have enough of it and yet we waste it all the time.
At the beginning of this trip, 5 months seemed like so much time. The plans we had and the longing to see our loved ones, 5 months seemed like a life time, but now I can honestly tell you 5 months is not enough time. There is so much still I want to do here in Jikwoyi, there isn't enough time to see all the people I want to see and there isn't enough time to do all the ministry I long to do. There is still so much work to be done here and I know that us being here has planted seeds and that in some crazy way we have been blessed and honored to work along side the Lord in serving the people of Abuja, but I believe the work here isn't done.
My prayer during this trip has been that I wouldn't waste a single moment and now more than ever I feel this burden to truly have my eyes and heart opened fully so that I may embrace all that God has for me here. I want to have full confidence that our time here was used to the fullest.
I will write again soon...at least one more time before I leave this home of mine, here in Nigeria.
But I wanted to encourage those that are reading this, don't waste your time and go about life thinking that you have all the time in the world to do whatever you'd like. I know its cliche, but I started the beginning of this blog with cliches and so Ill end with them as well (that my OCD) But seriously, as I sit here and think about how I wish I could stretch 22 days into years, souly because I don't want to say Good-Bye and because I know that its only by God's grace and His will that I will come back here again, I mean it when I say...don't take your time for granted.
Where ever you are, whether in America or some far off place...its all the same. Time is valuable and when it starts running out it creeps up on you and its gone before you know it. Take time to enjoy where you're at where ever you are. Smile with people, help a stranger, play with your kids...there is so much you can do with your time...its precious...USE IT WISELY!!!
Until next time...
Monday, November 14, 2011
Making Every Moment Count
I hope this entry finds all of you readers well and in good health. As I’m sitting here trying to figure out what to share in this blog, one thought came to me that I want to share with you all…its simply a word of gratitude. The words “Thank You” don’t even do justice for what I’m trying to convey. I know I’m not the greatest blogger and I am by no means a writer or an intellect with some crazy great theological discussions to fascinate you, but I know that you have been faithfully reading this. I know that I don’t know who exactly you all are, but I have faith knowing that these words aren’t falling on deaf ears or blind eyes. So, I just want to say thank you for making me feel close to you even though I am so far away. Thank you for taking the time out of your lives to share what’s been going on in mine.
On to my update… We just got back from a 2-week trip to Lagos. Lagos is about 10 hours south of Abuja and it use to be the Nations Federal Capital. Have you ever been to New York? If you have then Ill tell you this, Lagos is the Nigerian New York. It’s a city packed with people in a small area and everyone is busy and going somewhere, it’s where all of the trading goes on and its jam packed with buildings stacked high. We traveled there for our week of rest and we ended up staying at the Calvary Chapel with Pastor Kefas, a native Nigerian who has been there for a few years building up the church in Lagos. He was so gracious to let us stay in his home, which is also the church, free of charge. After a week of resting and going to the beach…yes, I said the beach! It was beautiful and for a moment I forgot where I was, I thought I might be back in San Diego except for all the trash. Anyway, after our week of rest we spent the next week helping Pastor Kefas with ministry things through out the week, mainly evangelism in the community. We went out every day and shared Gods word with the people around the church and one day we put on a children’s event and 80 kids showed up!! It was awesome and definitely more kids then we had even hoped for. We sang songs, played games and shared the story of David & Goliath. The kids loved it so much that the very next day 50 kids showed back up again at the church, we weren’t expecting that so we had to put together something pretty quickly. But God is so faithful and we shared the story of Jesus calming the waters and I truly believe great seeds were planted in those kid’s hearts. There was about 10 Muslim children that were present both days, so I just keep praying for Gods truth to be revealed to them all the more. I wish we had more time to spend there and help Pastor Kefas build up his church and ministries, but God knows the timings of all things. Keep Pastor Kefas in your prayers, that God would continue to strengthen the church in Lagos and that His word would continue to be preached with power and boldness.
Lagos is just another place in Nigeria where false doctrines of the Bible are being taught. Nigeria is filled with churches that entice people by promising them money and prosperity, declaring that if they give to their church all their needs will be met financially and more. It’s such a consistent lie here and the sad part is many Nigerians believe it because of the poverty they live in. Continue to pray that Gods complete truth would be made known. The Lord says that man cannot live on bread alone, are we a people that truly believe that? Are we the Church that believes more then anything in the power of God’s grace and do we believe that no matter what our circumstances are, God is good and faithful to bring all things to His glory? Do we want to see God’s glory here on Earth; do we want to see His will be done? If you say HECK YES to those questions, then PRAY for the false churches, not just here in Nigeria but all over the world. The Word of God is not to be mocked, or taken however we choose to read it. Pray that people would fall under God’s conviction and turn from their ways of selfishness and comfort. Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring light and life to the word being preached. AMEN!!
Once again I end this blog with letting you all know that our team is still in need of financial assistance. This is our last month here and we, as a team, truly desire to make the most it. We are planning a few children’s events for the orphanage we have been spending time at, as well as at the church we have been serving at and anything you could give would help us make these events a great success. Please make your checks payable to SEND Ministries and in the memo write Rheanna Davis.
The address to send your support to is:
SEND MINISTRIES at 885 East Vista Way. Vista, CA 92084
Until next time, may the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forever. Amen!
Much Love,
Rheanna
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Spend some time with me....
Im sitting on our porch, its 630 in the morning and Im listening to what might be some of the last rain drops we'll have here in Abuja. Winter is ending soon, which just means that the sporadic days that is does rain will cease and the heat will ever more increase. So, this morning Im choosing to sit watch and listen with my cup of instant coffee (I miss Starbucks) to the rain drops hitting my apartment, and covering the land around our complex. There are little fields of green and unfinished structures that almost resemble bits of ruins that take up the areas where neighbors would be. And instead of people residing in these areas, our neighbors are goats, ducks and some lovely roosters that help wake us up in the morning. Definitely a sight my eyes havent yet seen in San Diego and a sound my ears arent use to waking up with.
Its been over a month since Ive written and it also marks a little over two and a half months since we've labeled this town in Abuja our home, and its been three months since Ive said goodbye to all of you back home. A lot has happened in this time and so yet again, I will make ever effort to paint the best picture I can of all that is going on here. I hope your minds are attentive. Get your reading glasses if you need them, grab a sandwich if your hungry and hold the phone calls for just a moment, hopefully the kids are down their naps as well :)
Just a cool little side note- Ive been given my very ownw Nigerian name. Hausa here is one of the prodominet languages here and so a friend here has given me a Hause name. "Nanna" is my name and it means God Gift. I LOVE IT!! All the kids here are starting to call me "Auntie Nanna" its pretty sweet. Ok, on to other news...
Most of you that keep up with national news know that there was a bombing at the UN building here in Abuja about a month or so ago, and praise the Lord our team was safe and our home is a good distance away from the city. But the effects of the bombing hit close to home, there were members of our church that had family members there that day, and some lost loved ones and had others badly injured. And also,the UN building is where the needed immunization shots come through for the new borns and babies that cant afford them in the hospitals. The supplies that the clinic needs have not been replenished since the bombing, so please keep this in your prayers. Pray that the supplies would come in and that all the needs of the families and children that visit the clinic would be met. Praise God that He is our supply and in Him we have no fear, for He causes ALL things to work for our good and for His glory. Amen!
There are many of us on the team that are still fighting sicknesses, so please keep our health in your prayers as well. We have been visiting on a weekly baises the Abuja Childrens Home and its been a true blessing to go there. The Lord says that we are to visit the orphans and please for the widows, to love above all and to be vessels for His unconditional love. Pray that we would continue to empty ourselves so that we may be filled more with HIS love, and that Jesus would be revealed to the fatherless. The orphanage consists of both Christian and Muslim children, so pray that we would have more opprotunities to build relationships with the Muslim children.
Something we have grown to see here in regards to Muslims is that you can not convert a group of Muslims through some hyped up evangelical outreach. They are a devoted people to a distant god and they need one on one relationships. They need to see trust and truth together, they need to see love in action and they need to see what a real relationship with the Father looks like. They need to see real Christians living out real relationships with Jesus. Here in Nigeria they see how corrupt the so called "Christian" churches are, and so when you say you are a Christian, to them...its a joke. They see church leaders and pastors that are money hungry and seeking their own self glorification. There are the few churches here that truly teach the Word of God in all sincerity and long to see His presence and Name be glorified, but like I said, they are few. This is a country, a city filled with people that lack finances and jobs, they become easily decieved when they here false promises of God "blessing" them and meeting all their financial needs and giving them worldly riches if they "tithe to their church. We pray all the more for those false leaders and so called pasotrs that are leading God's people astray. Pray for God's revelation of truth to be made known not just amongst the Muslim community but the Christian community as well! back to the subject of Muslims, so they see what Christians are here an they truly think we are a joke, and I dont blame them. but praise the Lord His light shines bright and casts out all darkness. One of the members of our church is a Muslim convert and he goes out on Saturdays with us to evangelize and invite people to our Sunday services, his name is Alajaji- Yousif (spelling may be off) But he has explained to us, that mostly Mulsims are converted and SEE the truth of the gospel through one onone relationships and so with that, I say... Praise the Lord we arent here for a few weeks but we are here making Abuja our home! Some of the guys on our team have become good friends with the Muslim gatekeeper in our neighborhood, they have been spending time with him and its been amazing to watch, Yoshau thats his name, open up and become recieve them as brothers and friends. According to the Muslim religion,its a disgrace to shake hands with a Christian, let alone welcome them in and converse with them. So, praise the Lord for these open doors.
I believe I spoke in my last entry about Muhammed, my little 13 year old Muslim friend. We have been building more of a relationship with him and his family, so please keep them in your prayers. We are hoping to visit their home and spend time with the family as a whole.
I know that this has been a lot of information, and I have to admit that I feel as though I havent even scratched the surface, there is just too much to share and words just dont do this place justice. We have been building relationships with the community in the church as well and helping build up the Children's Youth Ministry. I have been so blessed by the materials some of you back at home sent this way, a thousand times I say Thank You!! Also, big news...i have been asked to help kind of re-vamp the Childrens and Youth Ministry at the church. The Pastor has asked that I take my ideas and try to help build a structural program that can help the teachers and leaders as well as get more kids in the community to attend. Im pretty excited because I feel this is where my heart is at. I want to see this city and the people here have hearts for the next generation. So, one of my bigge ideas is to have a Youth Worker Training where we can help train up and get adults to see the importance of Children ministry. All Foothills people know that this is right up my alley :) Thanks to all of you back at home that have helped shape me and reveal to me Gods heart for His children. I am so thankful for Foothills ande the many thigns Ive learned from our amazing Pastoral staff and I was blessed to have spent the last few years in full time ministry. Danny if you are reading this, I hope you know that Ive been taking the things you have taught me and Im longing to pour them out to the people here in Abuja. Thanks for being a vessel for me!!
We still have a month and a half left here in Abuja before we head back to the States, we just had a church retreat and us on the team are leaving for 2 weeks to Lagos for a little R&R and to help serve at one of the churches there. Once we get back to Abuja, I know our time here is going to go by so fast. Pray for strength for our team, for God to be shining through and not our own selves. Pray that in these last weeks that the strength we draw on is from the Lord and his Holy Spirit equipting us. Pray that not a moment would be wasted here. Ive come to recognize how precious my time here is, and how much I long to see freedom and liberty for this nation. These are a beautiful people and everyday I am growing more and more in love then the last. Pray for joy inthe midst of hard times when I miss my family and loved ones, pray for my weaknessed to be made strong in the Father so that all the glory would be His alone. And pray that the Lord grants me more vision and clarity in all aspects of my heart and life. Pray that He would continue to stir up and reveal His plans in this life that I am living.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to spend with me, if you're sipping on soem coffee or having a bowl of ice cream, have another for me!! Thank you for making this journey with me and for those of you that read all the way through and for those that will feel burdened to pray, its the greatest gift and most comforting prize to know that I, we, my team and all the people I have mentions and those that still may be nameless to you, the people of Abuja and Nigeria and the church as well, are being covered in prayer.
We still have some funds that need to be raised. So If any of you are feeling like you can give anything at all, I would be forever thankful. I put the address to SEND MINISTRIES in one of my previous entries, so please make your checks out to SEND Ministries and send it along or you can go online to their website and donate with a credit card. Either way...If you feel at all lead to give, please help us out. We still have some time here and I would love to see the ministry here flourish more! Pray for our financial needs to be met...God is our supply and I know He will provide!!
Blessings to you all and with my whole heart I say, I LOVE YOU!
Praise the Lord in all things and make His goodness known to all!!
Much love,
Rheanna
Its been over a month since Ive written and it also marks a little over two and a half months since we've labeled this town in Abuja our home, and its been three months since Ive said goodbye to all of you back home. A lot has happened in this time and so yet again, I will make ever effort to paint the best picture I can of all that is going on here. I hope your minds are attentive. Get your reading glasses if you need them, grab a sandwich if your hungry and hold the phone calls for just a moment, hopefully the kids are down their naps as well :)
Just a cool little side note- Ive been given my very ownw Nigerian name. Hausa here is one of the prodominet languages here and so a friend here has given me a Hause name. "Nanna" is my name and it means God Gift. I LOVE IT!! All the kids here are starting to call me "Auntie Nanna" its pretty sweet. Ok, on to other news...
Most of you that keep up with national news know that there was a bombing at the UN building here in Abuja about a month or so ago, and praise the Lord our team was safe and our home is a good distance away from the city. But the effects of the bombing hit close to home, there were members of our church that had family members there that day, and some lost loved ones and had others badly injured. And also,the UN building is where the needed immunization shots come through for the new borns and babies that cant afford them in the hospitals. The supplies that the clinic needs have not been replenished since the bombing, so please keep this in your prayers. Pray that the supplies would come in and that all the needs of the families and children that visit the clinic would be met. Praise God that He is our supply and in Him we have no fear, for He causes ALL things to work for our good and for His glory. Amen!
There are many of us on the team that are still fighting sicknesses, so please keep our health in your prayers as well. We have been visiting on a weekly baises the Abuja Childrens Home and its been a true blessing to go there. The Lord says that we are to visit the orphans and please for the widows, to love above all and to be vessels for His unconditional love. Pray that we would continue to empty ourselves so that we may be filled more with HIS love, and that Jesus would be revealed to the fatherless. The orphanage consists of both Christian and Muslim children, so pray that we would have more opprotunities to build relationships with the Muslim children.
Something we have grown to see here in regards to Muslims is that you can not convert a group of Muslims through some hyped up evangelical outreach. They are a devoted people to a distant god and they need one on one relationships. They need to see trust and truth together, they need to see love in action and they need to see what a real relationship with the Father looks like. They need to see real Christians living out real relationships with Jesus. Here in Nigeria they see how corrupt the so called "Christian" churches are, and so when you say you are a Christian, to them...its a joke. They see church leaders and pastors that are money hungry and seeking their own self glorification. There are the few churches here that truly teach the Word of God in all sincerity and long to see His presence and Name be glorified, but like I said, they are few. This is a country, a city filled with people that lack finances and jobs, they become easily decieved when they here false promises of God "blessing" them and meeting all their financial needs and giving them worldly riches if they "tithe to their church. We pray all the more for those false leaders and so called pasotrs that are leading God's people astray. Pray for God's revelation of truth to be made known not just amongst the Muslim community but the Christian community as well! back to the subject of Muslims, so they see what Christians are here an they truly think we are a joke, and I dont blame them. but praise the Lord His light shines bright and casts out all darkness. One of the members of our church is a Muslim convert and he goes out on Saturdays with us to evangelize and invite people to our Sunday services, his name is Alajaji- Yousif (spelling may be off) But he has explained to us, that mostly Mulsims are converted and SEE the truth of the gospel through one onone relationships and so with that, I say... Praise the Lord we arent here for a few weeks but we are here making Abuja our home! Some of the guys on our team have become good friends with the Muslim gatekeeper in our neighborhood, they have been spending time with him and its been amazing to watch, Yoshau thats his name, open up and become recieve them as brothers and friends. According to the Muslim religion,its a disgrace to shake hands with a Christian, let alone welcome them in and converse with them. So, praise the Lord for these open doors.
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| These are some of the adorable children we we to play around with!! |
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| SEND MINISTRIES TEAM NIGERIA 2011 |
I believe I spoke in my last entry about Muhammed, my little 13 year old Muslim friend. We have been building more of a relationship with him and his family, so please keep them in your prayers. We are hoping to visit their home and spend time with the family as a whole.
I know that this has been a lot of information, and I have to admit that I feel as though I havent even scratched the surface, there is just too much to share and words just dont do this place justice. We have been building relationships with the community in the church as well and helping build up the Children's Youth Ministry. I have been so blessed by the materials some of you back at home sent this way, a thousand times I say Thank You!! Also, big news...i have been asked to help kind of re-vamp the Childrens and Youth Ministry at the church. The Pastor has asked that I take my ideas and try to help build a structural program that can help the teachers and leaders as well as get more kids in the community to attend. Im pretty excited because I feel this is where my heart is at. I want to see this city and the people here have hearts for the next generation. So, one of my bigge ideas is to have a Youth Worker Training where we can help train up and get adults to see the importance of Children ministry. All Foothills people know that this is right up my alley :) Thanks to all of you back at home that have helped shape me and reveal to me Gods heart for His children. I am so thankful for Foothills ande the many thigns Ive learned from our amazing Pastoral staff and I was blessed to have spent the last few years in full time ministry. Danny if you are reading this, I hope you know that Ive been taking the things you have taught me and Im longing to pour them out to the people here in Abuja. Thanks for being a vessel for me!!
We still have a month and a half left here in Abuja before we head back to the States, we just had a church retreat and us on the team are leaving for 2 weeks to Lagos for a little R&R and to help serve at one of the churches there. Once we get back to Abuja, I know our time here is going to go by so fast. Pray for strength for our team, for God to be shining through and not our own selves. Pray that in these last weeks that the strength we draw on is from the Lord and his Holy Spirit equipting us. Pray that not a moment would be wasted here. Ive come to recognize how precious my time here is, and how much I long to see freedom and liberty for this nation. These are a beautiful people and everyday I am growing more and more in love then the last. Pray for joy inthe midst of hard times when I miss my family and loved ones, pray for my weaknessed to be made strong in the Father so that all the glory would be His alone. And pray that the Lord grants me more vision and clarity in all aspects of my heart and life. Pray that He would continue to stir up and reveal His plans in this life that I am living.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to spend with me, if you're sipping on soem coffee or having a bowl of ice cream, have another for me!! Thank you for making this journey with me and for those of you that read all the way through and for those that will feel burdened to pray, its the greatest gift and most comforting prize to know that I, we, my team and all the people I have mentions and those that still may be nameless to you, the people of Abuja and Nigeria and the church as well, are being covered in prayer.
We still have some funds that need to be raised. So If any of you are feeling like you can give anything at all, I would be forever thankful. I put the address to SEND MINISTRIES in one of my previous entries, so please make your checks out to SEND Ministries and send it along or you can go online to their website and donate with a credit card. Either way...If you feel at all lead to give, please help us out. We still have some time here and I would love to see the ministry here flourish more! Pray for our financial needs to be met...God is our supply and I know He will provide!!
Blessings to you all and with my whole heart I say, I LOVE YOU!
Praise the Lord in all things and make His goodness known to all!!
Much love,
Rheanna
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
My home...Abuja, Nigeria
This trip started off with 2 weeks of preparation which I think I wrote a little bit about. Our first week was in the wilderness in Colorado and then we spent the second week in a wonderful town call Decatur, Texas. The people that we met there and stayed with were amazing and I fell in love with the incredible hospitality and warm that came from everyone. SEND Ministries is based out of Decatur now, so that is why we were there, just in case that question was burning in your minds. We spent the week in a class room in the church and just began to spiritually prepare for this trip, we did a lot of bible studying and reading, praying and intercessory prayer.
Once we left for Nigeria our team was well acquainted with each other and we were anxious to get to where we would be calling home for the next 4 and a half months. We had a long layover in London which was just a nice little treat. We took an adventure out and saw the palace and Big Ben and my heart was just taken back by how much God just enjoys to enjoy life with us. We didnt have to see those sites, but it was a blessing that we were able to.
Nigeria welcomed us at 4 in the morning with warm humid air and a power outage in the airport. From what we have come to find out here is that the power is a little less then reliable, so we met Pastor Prince Lawrence, he is our contact here and we headed to his house. Explaining the driving and the lack of traffic laws here is a whole different entry, I could write endless stories of the hundreds of people that flood the streets and the countless honking horns you here and cars swerving in and out and all the close collision calls. But at the same time, there is almost a sense of organized chaos and though Ive had my times of closing my eyes in fear, I cant help but look around and be amazed most of the time.
We have been staying this whole month with the Pastor and his wife in there home due to some complications with our apartment. They have been so gracious to let 10 people crash in the living room, while they already have 7 people living with them in their 2 bed, 2 bath apartment. So if you just added that up, yes...close your mouth, its true....we've been living 17 people in a 2 bed, 2 bath apartment for the past month. Amazing right? There has been something so truly incredible about the whole thing. We have gotten so close to the family here and the girls they have adopted and I absolutely love to simplicity of it all. Im not going to lie, there have been its difficulties, but that happens in all things. Praise the Lord that He truly does cause ALL things to work for the good of those who love Him and are called -Romans 8:28.
We have become friends with some of the neighborhood kids, some are Christians and the others are Muslims. Its been great getting to know them and hanging out with them. Please keep these things in your prayers, that we may have more open doors and opportunities to share God's love and truth and that just our very presence would be a fragrance of God's goodness. We have spend some time going out on the streets and evangelizing and inviting people to church services that happen all through out the week. Have you ever been in a parade before? Neither have I, but walking through the roads here make me feel like Im in a parade. Everyone stops and watches us, smiles and I just start waving because I dont know what else to do. People want to know why we are here, why we would chose to come to Nigeria of all places. Some of the children here have never seen white people before and so they just start laughing and some come up to talk and others run away in embarrassment, its all very comical.
This last week has been very hard for most of our team. 7 out of 10 of us had Malaria symptoms flare up. Most of them had only minor cases and not a lot in their blood, but as for myself I had come down with a severe case of Malaria. For all of you that have had Malaria, I sympathize with you...our whole team feels your pain. Its a nasty thing to have and so this past week our home was filled with sickness. Praise God the medicine here is good and we have a friend at the church that is a nurse and she has been an angel to us, administering our medicine so we didnt have to stay in the hospital. We have all mostly fully recovered and this week we are starting back up all our ministries that we have been getting involved in.
dont and wont have a place to go to. The orphanage isnt in the best conditions either, but if you are wanting to send some treats or games or toys of any kind...anything would be a blessing to share with the kids while we are here. I will put the mailing address at the end of this blog for those that may want to send something.
Also, another prayer request is for the church here. Its been in the building process for a while now and there are walls up and one of the 3 walls have windows installed. People in the town see the unfinished building and they dont want to come because they think that we are just going to be asking for money. Here in Nigeria everything is about money, a lot of the churches here focus their services on getting as much money as they can out of the people attending. Please pray that God would open the eyes of people in the community to see our church as something different, its a place where the Word of God is taught in spirit and truth. Pray that God would provide financially for the church as well to finish there building.
I love the people here and I love the family that we have been staying with. When I think about leaving this place, though it is far off still, a piece of my heart hurts because I know its going to be so hard. God has been speaking to me a lot about what it means to have the heart of Christ and to desire to see His people brought back to His truth. This nation has a lot of Muslims and so many people even in the Christian churches live very much in lies and deceit. We spend a lot of time praying throughout the nights here, and we wake up to the Meka calls for prayer and I cant help but feel God's heart longing for His children.
Continue to pray for good health for our team and for those of us that are missing our families and longing for some familiarity. Its hard to be away from home, but I believe that God is at work not only in our lives as individuals but at work in the city we are living in.
I will try and send another update as soon as can and I promise it wont be as long as this one. For those of you still reading...I appreciate it and I give you props. You must be either my family or a true friend.
Our team is still in need financially as well, while we are here we are wanting to visit the hospitals, visit more of the orphanages and do a lot of other ministry but financially we are having restrictions. If you are in anyway feeling led to give please make your checks payable to SEND MINISTRIES and put my name in the memo (Rheanna Davis :) you can send your checks to SEND MINISTRIES at 885 East Vista Way. Vista, CA 92084
Also, to send a care package please send to Rheanna Davis care of: Prince Lawrence P.O. Box 4890 Garki Area 10 Abuja, Nigeria and like Ive already said, any gifts or treats you want to give to the kids would be awesome!!
You guys are amazing and I thank you so much for your love and support. Blessings to you all...until next time.
Seek Justice...love kindness...and walk humbly with our Lord -Micah 6:8
Ps. Veronica says HI :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Into The Wild
Sorry it's been a little while since I've written. The weeks before I left I spent most of my time with my family and dearest friends and before I knew it, I was boarding a plane to Denver, Colorado. I just got done spending this last week in the wilderness (hence the title of this blog.) So, I am going to do my very best to try and fill you all in on what this week has been about...I know most of you have been on the edge of your seats in suspense(a little sarcasm there...I know life goes on without me)
When I got to Denver, I met the rest of our Nigerian team (I'll fill you in on each one of them later) everyone is amazing and special and already I can see that God hand picked and nitted us together, I'll say that much. We ended up spending this past week in a town called Salida, Colorado. Ever heard of it? Yeah, me neither. But there is this awesome Christian wilderness organization that specializes in taking groups out and about in the mountains and we rough it for a few days and in it all God is being revealed in ways you've never known before. We repelled off an 80 ft cliff and in this I was being reminded and pushed to put my trust in the Lord. Psalm 3:3 says "God is a shield about me, my glory and the one who lifts my head" It was an over all overwhelming experience trying to remind myself to not fear and to stop in the middle of the cliff just so i could enjoy the view that the Lord had created. The next day we hiked to our "high camp" the packs were extremely heavy and I got my fix of a workout enough to last me a few more months :) we spent the next day in some solo time with the Lord. This is a moment that i am going to treasure for always. As I was sitting in the midst of tall trees all around me and the sound of a river stream just feet away from me and the warmth of the sun and the roaring of the wind blowing through the mountain side...I read letters from some of you, letters of encouragement and love and I'll be forever grateful for those words. I can't express the amount of love I have felt from so many of you and I am truly blessed. The Lord gave me words of encouragement in a moment when I was feeling lonely and questioning why God had me here. So, thank you for listening to the Lord and sending me encouragement.
The next day, we set out to conquer a 13,850ft mountain. Yes, you read that right and let me say... If God is for us, then who van stand against us?... WE CONQUERED!! It took a while, I will admit and I along with most of my team members were exhausted and rethinking over and over again about quiting. It was physically exhausting and my body so many times wanted to quit. My feet hurt, my chest was tight and it was hard to breath from the elevation and it was hot then cold and then hot and then cold. And there was a few times when I thought we were at the top and our guides would inform us that we were just on a false summit, or what I like to call a Tease of a mountain top! But, isnt it funny how God can speak through all this? How many times in my life have I been spiritually exhausted and spent, feeling like im not going to make it to the top and almost settling for the view of a false glory... But I heard God say, "keep going, trust me...it's better then you can imagine." On my way up, finally we made it to the top and yes, indeed it was greater than anything I've ever seen before. I cried because I could believe the beauty my eyes were seeing. In the midst of what seemed impossible, making it to the top seemed impossible...we did what we thought we couldn't do. And as we stood on the top of Mount Silver Heel, we came together and worshipped and gave glory to God. I hope to post pictures soon...
So, now after this amazing wilderness experience we are on the road to Texas where we will fly out at the end of this coming week. I will be sure to post one more te before I fly out. Thanks for letting me share this little bit of what has been going on. This "Into The Wild" trip I feel is just the beginning of an amazing adventure I'm going to be on with the Lord. I hope you're as excited to be apart of it as I am!!
Be Blessed!!
When I got to Denver, I met the rest of our Nigerian team (I'll fill you in on each one of them later) everyone is amazing and special and already I can see that God hand picked and nitted us together, I'll say that much. We ended up spending this past week in a town called Salida, Colorado. Ever heard of it? Yeah, me neither. But there is this awesome Christian wilderness organization that specializes in taking groups out and about in the mountains and we rough it for a few days and in it all God is being revealed in ways you've never known before. We repelled off an 80 ft cliff and in this I was being reminded and pushed to put my trust in the Lord. Psalm 3:3 says "God is a shield about me, my glory and the one who lifts my head" It was an over all overwhelming experience trying to remind myself to not fear and to stop in the middle of the cliff just so i could enjoy the view that the Lord had created. The next day we hiked to our "high camp" the packs were extremely heavy and I got my fix of a workout enough to last me a few more months :) we spent the next day in some solo time with the Lord. This is a moment that i am going to treasure for always. As I was sitting in the midst of tall trees all around me and the sound of a river stream just feet away from me and the warmth of the sun and the roaring of the wind blowing through the mountain side...I read letters from some of you, letters of encouragement and love and I'll be forever grateful for those words. I can't express the amount of love I have felt from so many of you and I am truly blessed. The Lord gave me words of encouragement in a moment when I was feeling lonely and questioning why God had me here. So, thank you for listening to the Lord and sending me encouragement.
The next day, we set out to conquer a 13,850ft mountain. Yes, you read that right and let me say... If God is for us, then who van stand against us?... WE CONQUERED!! It took a while, I will admit and I along with most of my team members were exhausted and rethinking over and over again about quiting. It was physically exhausting and my body so many times wanted to quit. My feet hurt, my chest was tight and it was hard to breath from the elevation and it was hot then cold and then hot and then cold. And there was a few times when I thought we were at the top and our guides would inform us that we were just on a false summit, or what I like to call a Tease of a mountain top! But, isnt it funny how God can speak through all this? How many times in my life have I been spiritually exhausted and spent, feeling like im not going to make it to the top and almost settling for the view of a false glory... But I heard God say, "keep going, trust me...it's better then you can imagine." On my way up, finally we made it to the top and yes, indeed it was greater than anything I've ever seen before. I cried because I could believe the beauty my eyes were seeing. In the midst of what seemed impossible, making it to the top seemed impossible...we did what we thought we couldn't do. And as we stood on the top of Mount Silver Heel, we came together and worshipped and gave glory to God. I hope to post pictures soon...
So, now after this amazing wilderness experience we are on the road to Texas where we will fly out at the end of this coming week. I will be sure to post one more te before I fly out. Thanks for letting me share this little bit of what has been going on. This "Into The Wild" trip I feel is just the beginning of an amazing adventure I'm going to be on with the Lord. I hope you're as excited to be apart of it as I am!!
Be Blessed!!
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