I write these words from a remote village in Tanzania named Songambele, which literally means “moving forward.” If Songambele is indeed moving forward at all, it is at a very, very slow pace. In every direction, there are hundreds and hundreds of children who may only have one meal today, if they are fortunate. There is a limited water supply, which comes from a well. Those who want water must walk, or ride an old bike for miles to obtain it. After they have let down a small pail on a rope several times into the well, the villagers predominantly use old plastic gas containers to fill and then transport their water.
The children you would see in the village are only a fraction of the youth population. Some are fortunate enough to have parents afford a few dollars so they can go to school. If they cannot afford the mandatory fees that schools charge, they help work in the fields. The rest of the children simply have no other place to go, and nobody watching them.
In this village of over twenty thousand people, there is but one church—”Neno La Uzima” as it is called in Swahili (“Word of Life”). The people are highly dependent on good seeds mixed with hard work and favorable weather to reap a harvest that will sustain them. If there is a breakdown in these areas, the quality of life plummets from its already low level.
Malnutrition and starvation. Dehydration and unclean water. One (terribly inadequate) medical facility. Children wanting to learn, but lacking the funds to attend school. Not enough work for the adults. Fourteen-year-old girls having babies. Prevalent HIV. One singular family trying to operate a church, and meet the needs of thousands, yet, we have people in North America wondering what they should do with their life.
I am afraid that many Christians are praying the wrong prayers. Instead of asking God what our purpose on earth is, we should ask where we should serve. It almost seems that Christianity-lite is running rampant in the West – we say we want to do the will of the Father, and see His Kingdom come, yet we do not truly want the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives and direct our paths. Why? Because our calling and “purpose” in life will be uncomfortable. He will ask us to put aside our personal goals and focus on living by faith to reach the unreached. Pray right now and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for Him to lead you. How can you help see the Father’s will be done on earth, as it is in heaven? Your support of Global Infusion allows us to reach people in villages like Songambele, which is just one of our many sites around the world where we strive to bring the Gospel, and meet the physical needs of the people. Pray and ask the Lord how He wants to use you today to be a part of reaching our generation. You can give. You can go. You can help change the world.
