Young Life Africa Rocks!

For the past 3 weeks, dozens of Young Life leaders have been in town from all over the continent (13 African countries, as well as some from Palestine) for training .... the SALT leaders (Senior African Leadership Team) were here for the first week [the leaders of the leaders, best of the best, *rock-stars*] and the Rika Tano group has been here for these past 2 weeks [more best-of-the-best (though there are still so many more best-of-the-best back in their home countries... YL leaders are all super awesome!), the up-and-coming strong leaders who have been going through intensive training here to go further the already-enormous impact they're making in their countries].... I've been incredibly blessed to be able to spend many evenings with them at the Young Life Training Center, and they are memories I will not soon forget!  Definitely one of my most cherished experiences here in Africa so far, and that is saying a LOT!  Oh, how blessed this time has been..... Here are some highlights:

*Hours-long nights of praise and worship in multiple African languages and styles... African drums and instruments going... African dance all night long, praising God with heart, mind, soul, and body... Such JOY!

[will insert picture soon]  :)

*Late-night Glow-in-the-dark soccer on the beach!  The leaders formed 2 teams: EKUT (East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, & Tanzania) vs. the other countries (forgot their creative name).... they all wore glow-in-the-dark sticks around their necks, arms, and legs.... So much fun to watch! (and esp. cool for them since most of them had never seen a glow-in-the-dark stick before)

one team lined up

one of the players (thought I don't remember who b/c it's so dark) :)

*Witnessing the start of ministry in some of the most hostile countries in the world (don't even know if I should mention their names so I won't)....  Over these past few weeks, I have been able to watch as leaders were trained to go back to these (their home) countries to start brand-new Young Life ministry.... What an incredible thing to witness.  Please pray for these brand-new ministries and that the Lord blesses and multiplies them *GREATLY*.

*Reuniting with cherished friendships from Liberia and Zimbabwe (from my previous trips there).... Such joy..... How I love these leaders!  (from Liberia: James Davis & Baccus, and from Zim: Nkosi, Patson, Pierre, Sharon, & Bekhi)  What a blessing to have them here in "my" home!

*Making MANY new friendships, new memories, new laughter.... SO thankful.

*Making friends in Palestine (that I hope to be able to visit sometime soon!).... one who is from Bethlehem (yes, real-life Bethlehem).  I now have friends in the Holy Land that I can go visit.... pretty cool. :)

*Witnessing the awesome-ness of the Africans.... I mean, really.  Not only do these leaders love God with all that they are and sacrificially and passionately love the children in their lives, but they are just plain COOL.  Hilarious, SO fun, incredibly loving and generous..... and dang, can they dance!  I mean, WOW, do they know how to hold a beat.... I don't know why God wired it into their gene structure to be able to *move* so well, but He DID.  And it is so fun to witness and be a part of!  (and Katy, you better believe that my inner Belle is loving this African lifestyle of rhythm and dance! ;))

*Praying over these incredible leaders and their ministries.... the sacrifices they have already made in their service are incredible (some of them come from brutally war-torn countries- i.e. Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone- and have experienced horrific things that we can't even imagine).  Having the privilege to pray over them as they go out to make such eternal impacts is an incredible honor.  Never underestimate the power of prayer.... We truly cannot fathom what is done in the spiritual realm through our prayers,  and what is *kept* from being done by our lack of prayers.  So please keep your prayer-muscles strong!  And your knees bent.  I have learned so much from my African brothers & sisters on the power of prayer.

So please continue your prayers and know that the Spirit of the Lord is moving here in Africa and it is full of LIFE, joy, peace, love, truth, and goodness. 

Jesus: "I came that they may have LIFE, and have it ABUNDANTLY." (John 10:10)  How true that is!