Hey all. The team just got back from our week in the bush. We were staying in Nyawa village. There were about 3 or 4 villages around there that we went to throughout the week. We helped harvest ground nuts(in America it would be peanuts), mase(corn), helped build some stuff such as a table and storage pen for beans. And at the end of the day we ministred to the peple of the village we were for that day. We saw people accept Christ Jesus into their lives which was awesome. People were healed from pains, sickness, and deafness. Demons were cast out and the name of Jesus was proclaimed in everything.
The first night started it off greatly. We got there and set up camp and immediately two of our guys were asked to go pray over this 17 year old guy. His heart was going through very sharp pain and it was racing very quickly. The two men laid hands on him and a few minutes later he was in great condition. A couple days later my team was helping a guy build a storage pen for their crop and we found out from his grandma that he was the one that was prayed over. We asked if he was better and he said that he was. Two days later he accepted Christ into his life.
The second day we were there, the pastor of the village, Solomon, bought us a goat to eat. We went over to watch it be killed and skinned, but little did I know what was to happen. He asked me to kill the goat. I didn’t want to at first but my team mate Ross made me realize it would be rude to say no. So, I killed my firt animal. It was weird, ut later on it tasted good :) On wednesday we were in another village hanging out with the kids. We killed about 6 or 7 chickens and 1 goat for to share with the village. We played and hour long soccer game with the village tam and we got wooped, but it was good. It was good because alot of the villagers were spectacting. Right after the game, Mark got in front of thecrowd and started to share about why we were there and about God’s love for them. It was good. Afterwards we ate with the villagers. We had chicken, goat, a spinach-like vegitable, and sheema. Sheema loks like mashed potatoes but is a lot thicker and fills you up quick. It is very popular among the people.
It was great getting close to the villagers. This week opened up a lot of doors for the future. Jacob(who is the sector manager for that section) is in that area 1-2 times a week to help disciple the local pastor and anyone else who goes. This week has shown them that Overland is not just talk, but will put action to back up all that we say. It was good that we got to encourage the people. It was great that God most definitely moved in that place and rocked some peoples’ lives.
Now, we are back at the base relaxing. Tomorrow will be a nice, relaxing day. Monday we start classes. I am so thankful that we we had an awesome first week. When we rolled up to Nyawa, we were greeted by a huge crowd of locals who sang beautiful songs both in tonga and english for us. Dan said that we were blessed because he had never seen such a welcoming. This whole past week has been a blessing not ony to us, but also to the people of the village. Some of them were amazed when they found out that we wanted to help them with their work for free! I know that God prepared a way for us and for the Gospel to be proclaimed in that place. And th best part, every evening, was that you could see all the stars in the sky! It was the most beautiful thing every night and made me thank God even more for all that He created.
Well, thank you everyone for reading all the way through this. It could be a lot longer though, thats all I’m gonna say. This week cannot be put in one blog. It can’t be put into two blogs. God’s paths are straight.
With much love,
Nathan
