TASGRACO Conference: Damu ya Yesu

Today was the last day of the TASGRACO (Student Bible club) Conference. After this week, I think I can understand a bit more of what Paul was saying in Philippians 2:17,

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of You.”

The only way I can describe what I felt after each long day was this complete emptiness, in that I had poured out every ounce of Christ’s love that I had within me, and yet I was so full of joy for all of the students and how the Lord was working in them. I’m realizing that the more I give of myself to those around me, the Lord fills me with more and more of His love, His strength, and His grace.
That, darling reader, is a beautiful experience. '

The conference was a blast. I was worried about being able to get to know the students, but they quickly opened up to me. It’s amazing how you can connect with people using so little verbal communication.

We simply laughed at my poor Swahili, played games during the breaks, and during the services they taught me some of their dances. My goodness, they dance a lot. It’s so great. For those of you who are curious about what the dancing here looks like, think line dancing with a lot of African flavor.

As far as my teaching sessions go, I was just blown away by the ways God used my feeble attempts to reach out to them. I knew you were praying, and I reminded myself anytime I grew discouraged or tired. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. God is good. It’s not very often that girls and guys break off into different groups for their classes, thus these girls don’t get a lot of teaching on issues like sexual purity, self-image, gossip, etc. You know, girl talk. And oh yes, girl talk is one thing I can do! My goal was to give a biblical perspectives on these issues and provide practical ways for them to implement them in their lives. I pray that I was able to cross the language and cultural barriers to accomplish this task. I will say this, they were certainly listening, and that’s huge.

Teaching during the breakout sessions (Brook was translating)

Just before one of these sessions the Holy Spirit was heavy on my heart to spend more time on the sin issues we had been discussing. I sensed that they were grasping the concepts but something was missing. I completely tossed my lesson plan and just talked to them straight up. (well, as straight up as you can get with a translator.) I challenged them to take action during those moments and prayerfully consider a specific sin their life that they wanted to turn away from. I had them write it down on a piece of paper and fold it up so that it was just between them and God. From there we went to their cooking fire and circled around it.

With the phrase, “God’s grace is greater than our sin” just bursting from within my soul, I challenged them to throw their pieces of paper in the fire as a symbol of letting go of that sin. I will never forget the sight of them one by one tossing their papers in as the warm flame grew larger, and the crescendo of their voices grew stronger as they sang,

damu ya Yesu inasafisha kabisa

(the blood of Jesus cleans us completely)
nguvu za Shetani zimeshindwa

(the power of Satan has been defeated)

Oh how I wish you could have been there with me. The presence of God was thick in that little room with the crude dirt floors. Their sweet harmonies left an echo within my heart.