Outreach '09 Part One

I fell in love with Mozambique almost a year ago. Only a few short hours from our base in South Africa, Maputo is both a beautiful and terrible city. As soon as you cross the border, the poverty slaps you in the face. It’s much more blatant here than in South Africa where the poor and needy have been moved to communities outside of the cities. Still, I find the people more open and friendly, and the strange Afro-Latin feel of the country is amazingly appealing. It’s a place of noise and confusion and while I don’t generally consider myself a city girl, I find life and energy in the streets of Maputo.

From Mozambique

Two weeks ago, we rented a taxi from SA into Mozambique to a small town right outside of Maputo. When we arrived at the church we were staying at it was to find out that the one person who knew we were coming was on his way back from Swaziland and hadn’t left keys or instructions with anyone. Since moving to Africa, I’ve learned to hold plans loosely and always be ready to adjust. This first night determined how the rest of our time in Mozambique went. The next day we found out that no real plans had been made for our stay. Ministry time hadn’t been set up and we were basically on our own. I believe with all my heart God was in this as we were able to make new contacts and had the freedom to explore the city and have random encounters with strangers. We did do some manual labor and had the chance to visit a rural community outside of Maputo, which was amazing, but for the most part our time in Mozambique was spent getting to know one another better and learning to listen to God everyday for what He had in store for us.

From Mozambique

From Mozambique

Tomorrow we leave for Uganda and I’m excited and nervous at the same time. The YWAM base we are staying at borders the shore of Lake Victoria and how cool is that?? Also, my brother Derek is leading a team in northern Uganda and Sudan right now and I am praying for the chance to meet up with him.

Please keep our team in your prayers. There are so many unknowns about this trip, but I believe in God’s faithfulness and I know He has us in His hands.

From Mozambique

Venturing into the Unknown

I’ve never considered myself the adventurous sort. Not at all in fact. I’m the type who likes to have a plan and while I have moments of spontaneity it tends to only happen in the context of a very controlled environment. This may surprise you as I am living off fundraising and in Africa, a place where all my best-laid plans tend to go out the door. But it’s true. I’m hesitant and very unsure of myself in new situations. So you can see how the next few months may be difficult for me!

The week after next, we leave for outreach. These last three months have flown by and I am surprised and shocked that we are here at the end of March already. I’ve lived here in South Africa for a year now and I can’t get over it! No way did I imagine myself staying in Africa let alone leading teams to other African countries. God’s plans for my life are so different from my own! Not only am I traveling to strange, new places but I'm actually in charge of people while doing it. Scary stuff, my friends.

Please be praying for my team and me as we head to Mozambique for two weeks where we will work with street children, then fly on to Uganda for five weeks. Not quite sure how ministry will look in Uganda but I am excited/nervous. Communication is always difficult on these trips, but I will try to send periodic updates when possible.

Hope these next few months are filled with unexpected blessings for you all! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Much love,
Brittany

PS Here are some random photos!

From Blogger Pictures

Blythe River Canyon

From Blogger Pictures

My friend Keri and I at the top of the canyon

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

Trust to Hope

When I first prepared to move here, gathering the finances wasn’t difficult. Money seemed to pour in from all different directions before I even had a chance to ask. After almost a year in Africa, financially things have become more difficult probably due in part to the state of the economy in America.

For an American, money has a special significance that I don’t believe other countries really ‘suffer’ from. Money equals independence and independence equals personal freedom. We say things like ‘pull yourself up by your own bootstraps’ and we rely on ourselves and only ourselves and I am no exception. So it can become a matter of pride and shame to ask others for money and God has been testing me on how far I will lean on Him. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve tried raising funds for a car and nothing came in. Monthly support went up, which was a huge blessing, but I never received a response about a car. I became discouraged and frustrated, but kept praying and never stopped asking.

Last weekend, I got a call and out of the blue was given money to purchase a car. I can’t tell you how blessed and thankful I am, but through this it reminds me of how faithful God is and has been and that when I get to the place where I throw up my hands, give up, and finally say ‘Okay, YOU handle it then,’ He meets me. It’s like He just waits for me to give up control and man, my flesh hates that! How many times does this have to happen before I finally get the point that He will take care of me?? Knowing me, this will probably go on for awhile.

Below I’ve posted some pictures of the car I am getting. An Afrikaans friend found the car and I should be getting it next week sometime. Thank you all for all the prayers and notes of encouragement that were sent my way. I’m so blessed to have people in my life who really care for and support me!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5

Joy Beyond Circumstance

Where is my joy?
That question, or various forms of that question have been floating around my head these last few weeks. I’ve noticed that when things start to get difficult or stressful, when I feel hurt or homesick my first thoughts are often centered around just giving up and going home where everything is just a little easier. I become depressed and frustrated quickly and it’s not something I’m especially proud of.

From Blogger Pictures

Feelings are neutral, neither right nor wrong, it’s how you process and react to those feelings that matter. I haven’t been reacting well lately and I ask myself ‘where do I find my joy?’ If I’m only feeling happy and content when things are going well, I’m not going to last in Africa for much longer. If I let myself be ruled by my feelings, I can easily miss what God is doing, the bigger picture. If my joy is dependent on my circumstances, I can expect a miserable life.
So I’m on a mission to find my joy. I know it’s not lost, that God is my joy, and I think He’s just waiting for me to fully rest in Him, but the process of coming into a full realization of that is a journey I am learning to take one step at a time.

Forever Learning

The last month in a half or so, I’ve been sitting in on the DTS [Discipleship Training School] lectures and have even been given the chance to teach a little myself. I don’t know what I expected, but I guess in my arrogance I put myself on a pedestal and subconsciously thought that since the teachings weren’t for me, that God wouldn’t speak to me through them, as if I have nothing new to learn. It’s been an interesting slap in the face, a wakeup call I didn’t even know I needed. When it comes to the mystery that is God, I will forever remain a student and there is a world or excitement and freedom in that.

In a little over a month, our DTS leaves for Uganda for a two month outreach working with orphaned and vulnerable children. I am co-leading the outreach with my good friend David Song and I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize details and prep our team.

Here are some pictures of our students:
Monique and Laura [American]

From Blogger Pictures

Stanley [South African]

From Blogger Pictures

Eunice and her baby Sandy [South African]

From Blogger Pictures

Jocelyn [American]

From Blogger Pictures

And the last two are a married couple, John and Carla, both from the U.S.

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

God is leading me to strange places, places I never would have thought to go. It reminds me that my plans are not His and even though it is a process I am learning to rest in Him and not worry so much about the future. Besides, God has so much cooler plans than I could ever dream up on my own! Africa had never been on my agenda until He came and messed everything up. I’m so grateful.

Please Pray

Dear Friends and Family,

Living the life of a missionary challenges me on more than one level. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of my comforts and put obedience to God above my idea of where I want to be in life. Saying goodbye to my family with no real idea of when I might see them again is a sacrifice and a struggle. All these things I’ve learned to deal with and have even gotten to the point where they are no longer strictly obedience, but because of my newfound love for Africa I find joy in laying these things down.

One aspect of my life I continue to struggle with sacrificing is my pride in relation to money. I have a hard time asking for funds. I’d like to say that I have faith that could move mountains and that I find it easy to rely on God for my day-to-day living expenses, but I’d be lying, big time. Raising money is one of the hardest things He asks me to do, but I’m doing it and trying not to let fear rule my life.

From South Africa

So I’m asking for you to take a moment and pray about giving. There are two different areas I need prayer for:

1) I am moving toward buying a car and am asking for $3,000. After living here for almost a year, I’ve realized how much more effective I can be in the communities if I am able to provide transport. It’s difficult for me to get around, as the public transport is very dangerous for non-Africans and especially females.

2) I am still in need of regular monthly support. This goes toward my daily living costs such as food and rent.
If either of these requests strikes a cord in you, please send me an email! Thank you so much for all your prayers and support thus far. I couldn’t do this without the love and understanding of my family and friends.

His Love,

Brittany Deniston

For tax deductible donations:
170 S Madison
Spokane, WA 99201
-Make check out to The City Gate and put my name in the ‘Memo’ line.

Otherwise:

Brittany Deniston
2309 W Stratton Ave
Spokane, WA 99208

The Swing of Things

I’ve had about a month to settle back in here in White River and it’s taking me longer than I anticipated. Everything is different from before the Holidays. I’m living in a new place, basically started a new job, and I’ve been surrounded by people I don’t know since I arrived. If you know me at all, you know I don’t take change very well or particularly gracefully. I get panic attacks and become overwhelmed easily. I don’t normally have a problem with strangers, but when I live, eat, and breathe with them I struggle until I’ve broken through in relationship and they are no longer strange and unfamiliar to me.

I’m good at hiding it or at least I used to be, but sometimes I surprise even myself with my insecurities. But I think this is all part of the process. God likes to play with my comfort zone constantly stretching me and not allowing me to stagnate in my protective bubble. It’s difficult and I have been known to get angry at God for it. Calling him names and grumbling, but in the end I’m grateful he cares enough to shake me up and piss me off.

So I’m posting a few pictures below of the various changes going on in my life.
I’m on staff with our Discipleship Training School, which started on January 10th. I’m loving it, but yes it’s stretching me in unforeseen ways. The students are all very unique and their personalities are pretty awesome. I’m grateful for the chance to get to know them, watch them grow, and be able to speak into their lives.

From Blogger Pictures

And here are some pics of my new place. It’s a great little studio apartment and at the moment I have it all to myself but that may change at some point.

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures