BE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and He enables me to go on the heights.  Habakkuk 3:19  NIV

About a month ago my husband and I were in East Africa, in a town along the Tanganyika Lake (the western side of Tanzania) serving the Lord and enjoying the people, the culture, the food, and lifestyle there.

We saw so many beautiful sights – the faces of the smiling children, the students at the Bible college, the buddies and teachers we spent time with as well as the missionaries we went to support.

My feet in two places in Tanzania. A miracle of miracles.

Our feet were in Kigoma for about 3 weeks and it was a time we will not forget, and probably will be repeated.

God healed my feet one and a half years ago, and at the time of healing, we had said to the LORD we would like to give back to Him by going on a short-term missions trip with the healed feet.  We prayed for options, explored some ideas and really hit a dead end.  Until this past February.

My husband received a call form our pastor about teaching in the Bible college in Kigoma, Tanzania, called Hope of the Nations Bible College – teaching either a book of the Bible or maybe something else.  John replied he would pray and he would not go without me, if possible.

When John shared with me about this conversation, we began to pray.  And I felt a real sense that this could be something we were to do.  We tossed around the idea for about a week and John was pretty confident we were not to go, but I was not so sure.  I have learned submission the hard way so I am more quickly to fall under his leadership, but our marriage is definitely 100+ plus 100+ for both of us.

On the way into church the following Sunday, I shared with John I felt impressed from the Lord we should say yes and the rest of the year would fall into place.  Rather an odd thing to say, but I said it.

Little did we know the sermon was all about “Going”, taken from the Matthew 28:19, emphasizing not only the going but the sharing of the gospel as our regular part of our lives.

(Jesus said), "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19 NIV

We got in the truck and we talked.  He was reluctant, but he agreed to text our pastor with a yes, and if it was a go, then we were to go.  We did not know if the trip was still available, the teaching spot was open, etc.  And John did not have time to prepare a full class on a book of the Bible, rather he would want to teach on the 7 days of Creation – something he is passionate about and has done a lot of study and he could put together a college level course much easier in the time constraints we had.

Oh, did I mention they wanted us on the ground in TZ in about 2 months?

Well, we left CA on April 16 and landed in Kigoma, Tanzania, East Africa Sunday April 19 at 7 am, local time.

God called, we obeyed.  We knew it was the right time, the right place and for the right reason – our obedience and His will.  We were called to glorify Him in Kigoma and to support the work there as well as be available for whatever was needed.

One of the roles a guest missionary is expected to do is to preach when visiting a church.  We have known this for years and have actually had many opportunities to practice this.  Well, John anyway.  I am the smiling wife in the front row.

So, our first full Sunday there, John preached at a church plant in the small village of Kamala with pastor Leopold translating.  He preached on Habakkuk – all three chapters.  And incidentally, any sermon under an hour is never a good thing (outside of the US!), so he made sure to preach the entire book.

We had a wonderful time of worship, enjoying one another’s company and celebrating with them as they prepared to move to their newly built church the following Sunday (we missed the grand opening by one Sunday and we all were  disappointed to have missed it!).

John did a great job teaching on the small book of Habakkuk.  He took his time, related many other portions of Scripture to his text and the congregation was listening.

When he got to the verse about feet, I knew I had to share my testimony about God healing me.  I was not even remotely going to share this, but I knew I had to.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Colossians 4:5  NIV

It was not so much the outsiders I was thinking about, but the opportunity laid at my feet.

When John finished preaching, I raised my hand very slightly and caught Leopold and John’s eyes.  God wanted me to share.  I was given the go-ahead and I then began to cry and could not stop.

Poor Leopold.  He was translating for me and between my tears and then his, we got the message through.  God healed me from a 5+ year ordeal of broken feet.  I shared about being confined to a chair, my room, no chores, a wheelchair, the sleepless nights, the pain, the affliction.  I shared it all.  I shared about God being with me through it all and His strength and His sovereignty is what held me close to Him.

Then I shared that being in

Kamala, Tanzania

was the height

God had set my feet upon.

Folks, it was surreal.  It was overwhelming.  It was glorious to give back to God in such a way I had not expected but became very evident this was what He had in mind all along.

Wow.  Wow.  Wow.

I managed to find my way to my chair, through the tears and we finished up the service.  That one testimony led to my hearing from others of their healing testimonies.  God had healed so many.  And they were so excited to share.  And we praised God together.

We had tears.  We had laughter.  We had moment of understanding.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. 

Psalm 95:6-7  NIV

While we did not kneel outwardly, we were in our hearts and spirits.  It was good to do this together and share our time of praise and worship of our Almighty, Powerful Father.

My feet were in East Africa.  The first time they had ever been there and it was not something I ever imagined would happen.  Africa was never on my radar.  But it was and is on God’s.

Where are your feet?  Does God want to have you climb a height you have been reluctant to climb?  Is He calling you higher?

PRAYER

Father, thank You for calling us and gifting us with everything we need - even if we do not see it ourselves. We are to listen and obey. I want to follow You in all things - to places where You want my feet to be - whether in my own home, across the street, at the market, in another country. Because where You are is where I want my feet to be. AMEN

THIS song is a great reminder of where we need to be. I pray God ministers to your heart as You listen to His.