6 months....Really?!?

Yes I am reflecting back in this post....so bear with me. My 6 month anniversary has passed, and I am taking this time to be reminded of my past & the amazement that I am actually here in TZ right now. For those who knew me before, I grew up afraid of everything. I was raised in the same house, small town, same congregation for 17 years. I never wanted to leave my house. The time came for a change, a refresh for both my family & I. We started learning Swahili & attended a Swahili group aimed towards helping refugees or those who had come to America from Africa to teach them the Bible in their own language-the language of the heart. Being in the group & learning Swahili for 3 years made my confidence grow & helped me to change. Of course also having to preach in the most roughest areas of downtown where the poor refugees were sent also might of had a bearing on that as well. I never had the desire to come to Africa. I seriously laughed when people told me I would go to Africa one day. But, one day, I started thinking about it more & the desire became stronger & stronger. The whole arrangement was quick too. It was like Jehovah didn't even give me the chance to really think or reflect about it. Probably because he knew if I did I would back out. It went like this, I got the desire, sent out the message that I wanted to go to Africa, preferably TZ. Because this organization is amazing, I knew I would get a response & I got 3 offers. I prayed continually about them, what was best decision. Months later my ticket was bought, plans were made & I was going to Mwanza, TZ. This all happened within one year of even starting to get this desire. My plan wasn't long. I really didn't think I would last even two weeks. In my mind I hoped I would at least last 1 month-enough of an experience. As I arrived, many things were new to me. But I wasn't in culture shock. I was more amazed at the beauty of Mwanza. We got settled in & then the hard work began...walking to the local market to buy food, walking back carrying all the groceries, cleaning everything super well. Walking 20 mins to the KH & walking back. Normally does no use doing your makeup or hair because by the time you get there you are a sweaty mess anyways. Taking sometimes 2 daladalas to get to our territory & then walking another 30 mins or more to get to the first call. This is just a regular week for us.The fields are definitely ripe for harvesting. There are some who have no clue who Jehovah's Witnesses are. Amazed when they see his name in the Bible. Encouraged by seeing us, not getting paid anything & spending the time teaching them. You learn so many things about yourself. Strengths, weaknesses. It's actually a scary thought, but you wake up every morning saying I wonder what Jehovah will teach me today. You learn to rely on Jehovah like never before & develop truly the fruitages of the spirit. None of this wouldv'e been possible without Jehovah. Without him & his organization, I wouldn't of had the opportunity to join Swahili, to move to TZ, to survive & absolutely love it. Don't let your fears stop you from doing anything. In this organization anything is possible even if you think it isn't, with Jehovah's help you can do anything. This trip has also helped me to see the importance of not staying in one place for too long. The world is big & the need is great everywhere. All it started for me was a step. Just go step by step if you are afraid to jump in. Write to the branch, ask where the need is great in your area if you can't move to a foreign country at the moment. Have the send me attitude. Or visit foreign language groups around you, find which one needs more help. It helps when you fall in love with the people & the language. Find something that speaks to your heart. If I can do it...anyone can do it.