I have been receiving random messages from two young missionary women in Africa: Jessica Orr and Randi Blick. Now, it could be that I am just getting old and don't really remember all the people I am supposed to know (most likely case). Or, it could be that I am meant to pray for these random girls and their ministry (probably also the case). At any rate, I read the report about all that God is doing in their lives and in their ministries...and I wept. I hate to admit it, but I think I've become cold and lifeless in my faith. Yes, there are moments of passion and intensity, but it's been awhile since I felt as "on fire" as these girls obviously are. It sparked something in my soul. I remember reading something in seminary about the "healthy soul", about how in seasons of coldness, the healthy soul "longs to long again". That is where I am right now...and this email made that longing all the more palpable to me. I want to share it with you, my blogging friends, for several reasons: 1) to gather your prayers for these women and their ministry 2) to see if anyone can remind me of how and why I should know who they are and 3) to inspire your souls with the greatness of who God is and what He can do in hearts that are willing and open to Him.
The email:
What does 'Jesus given and broken for a dying world' look like in our day? How does Jesus answer the questions of a dying world? These are the questions we often find ourselves asking here in Africa.
When Randi and I (Jessica) were attending the Holy Given School of international Missions in Pemba, Mozambique, Africa in 2006, Heidi Baker and Lesley-Anne Leighton gave a call for those who would give their lives as missionaries among the poor. We ran up and fell once again on our faces in the dirt as Jesus showed us more of Himself. We gave our lives away because we have come face to face with the one we know as all together worthy under a large church tent in Mozambique.
During the last month of the school, God spoke to both Randi and I to stay in Africa and begin to walk out our callings-to begin to use what had been placed in us. All we could respond with was,
“Yes Jesus!”
We have only glimpses into what this will mean for our lives and where He will take us-and while in Mozambique, those glimpses started forming a larger picture.
We love Jesus and we really have fallen so much more in love with Him while in Mozambique. We will carry with us His glory, but we will also carry with us the sounds, the sights, the children, the music, the ocean waves, the loud church services, and the times when the Holy Spirit fell on us so strongly that we found ourselves face down in the dirt for hours being changed and transformed. We will carry in our hearts the people and places of Mozambique.
While there, we have caught the simplicity of the Gospel. We will now preach not only from what we have been taught and heard, but from what we have seen. We can remember our first week in Mozambique, our outreach to a village with Heidi where we saw two deaf children hear, a mute child speak, and a blind man see. We saw Jesus in the dirt.
We have seen Jesus in the people here of Africa and they have been some of our greatest teachers.
Today we find ourselves in Tanzania, East Africa. Arriving in Dar Es Salaam, God worked two miracles as our feet touched the ground. The visa office would not give us a visa into the country because we did not have flights out, but after we talked to the leader in Swahili, he graciously gave us three month multiple entry visas, the exact visas we needed! In arriving, we also did not know where we would stay and right on time, an African family invited us to live with them in their home. Again, God met our needs.
The next morning, we were invited to minister in the largest Assembly of God Church in Tanzania. In our new African outfits, we headed for the large TAG church of over 3,000 members. Friday evening Randi preached on having the heart of God and intimacy. As the Holy Spirit came, we each found ourselves on the floor of the large church as He ministered to all who were there.
Sunday morning, I was to preach two services. One of the messages that we really caught while in Mozambique was about being called to the altar and giving our lives away that Jesus would receive the reward for His sufferings. That morning God spoke to us that we could do nothing apart form Him. He told us to get on our knees in front of the large church and pray and worship until His presence came, and not to preach until that happened.
We dropped to our knees and began asking for God’s presence to fill the church. It was not long before He showed up.
As I invited the people to get desperate with me and cry out for His presence, the Holy Spirit began falling all over the building.
Later I preached on offering our lives up as living sacrifices. People crowded the altar to give their lives away and all we could do was weep. God feeds the hungry.
The second service was a time where God wanted to do something much different. As we walked on the platform, the Heavy presence of God came into the building. People were crying out-some were face down on the floor. As I went to stand up, I could not get off the floor. My translator was so touched by the power of God that He could not translate. It was holy chaos.
People again rushed the altar. Many were saved and others giving their lives away, encountering the one who is altogether worthy.
The next evening we headed to a house owned by a Muslim family. We were invited and not long after we arrived they asked us to pray for them. Two members of the family were healed and two met Jesus!
We have no idea why God would use two young women like us, but as we watch Him touch the people of Africa, we are falling in love with Him even more.
We do know, however, that we want the heart of Jesus. We want to see what He sees. We want to hear what He hears. We want to feel what He feels, and do what He does.
Doors have opened up for us to minister in Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Kenya-and we are expecting God to come in each place we find ourselves.
We are currently in Arusha, Tanzania after a stop in Tanga and an eight hour bus ride from Tanga to Arusha right at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Great News! Randi’s brother, Nate will be joining us in late February for our time in Uganda, Sudan, and Kenya. He is amazing and we are excited to see what God will continue to pour out.
We love you all very much and Miss you! Please continue to pray for us as we are here. For health, and for more intimacy with Jesus.
Much Love,
Jessica and Randi
What does 'Jesus given and broken for a dying world' look like in our day? How does Jesus answer the questions of a dying world? These are the questions we often find ourselves asking here in Africa.
When Randi and I (Jessica) were attending the Holy Given School of international Missions in Pemba, Mozambique, Africa in 2006, Heidi Baker and Lesley-Anne Leighton gave a call for those who would give their lives as missionaries among the poor. We ran up and fell once again on our faces in the dirt as Jesus showed us more of Himself. We gave our lives away because we have come face to face with the one we know as all together worthy under a large church tent in Mozambique.
During the last month of the school, God spoke to both Randi and I to stay in Africa and begin to walk out our callings-to begin to use what had been placed in us. All we could respond with was,
“Yes Jesus!”
We have only glimpses into what this will mean for our lives and where He will take us-and while in Mozambique, those glimpses started forming a larger picture.
We love Jesus and we really have fallen so much more in love with Him while in Mozambique. We will carry with us His glory, but we will also carry with us the sounds, the sights, the children, the music, the ocean waves, the loud church services, and the times when the Holy Spirit fell on us so strongly that we found ourselves face down in the dirt for hours being changed and transformed. We will carry in our hearts the people and places of Mozambique.
While there, we have caught the simplicity of the Gospel. We will now preach not only from what we have been taught and heard, but from what we have seen. We can remember our first week in Mozambique, our outreach to a village with Heidi where we saw two deaf children hear, a mute child speak, and a blind man see. We saw Jesus in the dirt.
We have seen Jesus in the people here of Africa and they have been some of our greatest teachers.
Today we find ourselves in Tanzania, East Africa. Arriving in Dar Es Salaam, God worked two miracles as our feet touched the ground. The visa office would not give us a visa into the country because we did not have flights out, but after we talked to the leader in Swahili, he graciously gave us three month multiple entry visas, the exact visas we needed! In arriving, we also did not know where we would stay and right on time, an African family invited us to live with them in their home. Again, God met our needs.
The next morning, we were invited to minister in the largest Assembly of God Church in Tanzania. In our new African outfits, we headed for the large TAG church of over 3,000 members. Friday evening Randi preached on having the heart of God and intimacy. As the Holy Spirit came, we each found ourselves on the floor of the large church as He ministered to all who were there.
Sunday morning, I was to preach two services. One of the messages that we really caught while in Mozambique was about being called to the altar and giving our lives away that Jesus would receive the reward for His sufferings. That morning God spoke to us that we could do nothing apart form Him. He told us to get on our knees in front of the large church and pray and worship until His presence came, and not to preach until that happened.
We dropped to our knees and began asking for God’s presence to fill the church. It was not long before He showed up.
As I invited the people to get desperate with me and cry out for His presence, the Holy Spirit began falling all over the building.
Later I preached on offering our lives up as living sacrifices. People crowded the altar to give their lives away and all we could do was weep. God feeds the hungry.
The second service was a time where God wanted to do something much different. As we walked on the platform, the Heavy presence of God came into the building. People were crying out-some were face down on the floor. As I went to stand up, I could not get off the floor. My translator was so touched by the power of God that He could not translate. It was holy chaos.
People again rushed the altar. Many were saved and others giving their lives away, encountering the one who is altogether worthy.
The next evening we headed to a house owned by a Muslim family. We were invited and not long after we arrived they asked us to pray for them. Two members of the family were healed and two met Jesus!
We have no idea why God would use two young women like us, but as we watch Him touch the people of Africa, we are falling in love with Him even more.
We do know, however, that we want the heart of Jesus. We want to see what He sees. We want to hear what He hears. We want to feel what He feels, and do what He does.
Doors have opened up for us to minister in Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Kenya-and we are expecting God to come in each place we find ourselves.
We are currently in Arusha, Tanzania after a stop in Tanga and an eight hour bus ride from Tanga to Arusha right at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Great News! Randi’s brother, Nate will be joining us in late February for our time in Uganda, Sudan, and Kenya. He is amazing and we are excited to see what God will continue to pour out.
We love you all very much and Miss you! Please continue to pray for us as we are here. For health, and for more intimacy with Jesus.
Much Love,
Jessica and Randi
Blogsite: www.xanga.com/Jessicaorr
2 comments:
Loved the "longing to long again." I.E. "Not the Way It's Supposed to Be!" Seriously, how do we get our souls renewed? What restores that passionate feeling for Christ? I need this on a regular basis. We should go on a mission trip together sometime - or go to Israel w/the Blue House Crew... my senior pastor's wife could hook us up! ~Jes-co
In these times of "lack of emotions" is where we have the chance to come close to God for no other reason than we want to be next to our Father and Creator.
Passion can inspire us in our hearts, but God is more than a God of emotions, He's a God of Truth, Life and Joy. All things that can happen when you aren't on the mountain top.
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