Sunday, February 21, 2010

Soccer and lightning

So last Monday we tried to go to a soccer game within a 5 min walk from our house. The game was between the local Lesotho national team and the South African national team and it was a friendly to tune up the South Africans for the world cup. Unlike the states when they see lightning here they keep playing...until it gets really close...Before I go on I need to mention there are more lightning storms here in lesotho than anywhere in the world...So eventhough it was a big storm compared to ones in the states we started to walk to the game. The storm wasn't a few miles away....it was directly above us and lightning would strike very close to us as we walked quickly to the game. We where hoping to see a few minutes then walk back because it was dangerous to stay the whole game. So when we almost get there...a huge lightning bolt strikes between us and the soccer building...the bolt was within 15 feet of myself and the other people with me. The energy from the bolt shook my body and made me jump. There was only one other time I was that close to lightning (I was in a bus in brazil where lightning blew up a transformer within 5 feet of my window in the bus). Once we got in the building (there was no stadium just this building where the players stayed...kinda like a dorm house.) Anyways we got inside the building and all the players where one floor below us. Soon after they came up to where we where and I got to talk to one of the players in the South African team for a short bit. He thought we where from the international school down the street but I told him we where from YWAM. He had a lot of concern for us to try to run back to the house but we went anyways the storm had moved on a little bit... As we left and said bye to the player we ran as quick as we could. It was quite scary as lightning and the deafening thunder was still very close. All of us did a lot of praying as we ran back. By Gods grace we made it back safe and sound and have a crazy story to go with it!

Friday, February 19, 2010

So our second speaker came through this week and she was amazing. We talked about spiritual warfare and prayer. It kind of reminds me of a lot of prayer and stuff my mom would talk about. They touched on everything from demons to the different spiritual giftings the lord can give through the holy spirit. After one of the sessions that talked about fear and anxiety I had the speaker pray for me to help overcome some of that. My goal here is to let go of anything still holding me back and to grow my knowledge and relationship with the Lord before I come back to the states. I have an idea of where the Lord wants me but I want to stay strong in Him and prepare myself for the journey ahead. The lady that prayed for me saw I had great furtile soil on which i can grow and bear fruit.

On another note I am looking forward to hopefully going next week to see one of the largest waterfalls in the world....no not victoria falls but there is an amazing one here in Lesotho. We have been cooped up in the house because well the town here (eventhough its the capital) is still fairly small and there is not much to do. We also do not have internet but it does let me concentrate on God....and hey at least there is a nice pool that we can go to for only 3 dollars!

Well that is all for now!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

More Pictures




Here are some more pictures that I have taken




Here are some pictures that I have taken over the past week.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Prayer time

So in the short time I have been here God has really blessed me and shown me a lot. As I continue to let God in he is starting to help me with my purpose in life. Today God spoke to me and showed me things that I will never forget...I will give you the cliff notes version and if you want all the details feel free to e-mail me.

Yesterday we did a exercise where they had me imagine a boat, what was on it and the surroundings.... The vision that came to mind is the same vision I saw a year ago when praying with my mom. I saw a vision of a small fishing boat in the sea of gallee and Jesus and myself where pulling in the fishing nets and the nets where packed full. Well I saw that exact same image when we did this exercise and God right away said the words "Fisher of Men" and later he said "Father to the fatherless." Also on the second day of the exercise after imagining it again I saw dad on the boat as well. The speaker has amazing gifts in interpretation and he helped me interpret it. He and he had the other people around help interpret it say that he sees me being a great leader of men. That God is going to use me in evangelistic activities to save many and also that because my dad was on the boat he thinks that I will take up the ministry that dad was doing before his life was cut short. After that was done a leader felt God pulling at her to have everyone pray for me and so everyone there did. It was the most intense prayer i have been apart of with people speaking in tongues and people just starting to ball taking on my pain. I saw another vision of my dad standing in front of God and God saying you need to let go of my dad to let me take over. Soon after much prayer i let him go and i saw a vision of him merging with God and becoming one Father. Soon after I was hugged by the male leaders that helped me release some pain as well. Also one girl that was praying for me starting balling because the spirit had put some of my burden on her and helped me release the pain. Later I saw another image of my dad getting himself wet when washing the car trying to get us kids wet and God saying I want you to have that same joy dad did. Later he showed me dads guitar showing that it hasn't been used in forever and I felt he wanted me to use it for his good. Then I saw a figure playing the guitar saving many teenagers that are either having problems with their father, they aren't at home or passed away. Oh and also...I saw the boat again and Jesus walking on the water and putting out his hand telling me to prepare to take many steps of faith and to trust him.

Well it was quite an intense day of prayer and I am looking forward to where God takes me next. I thank you all for your support and prayers for its making a difference.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Arrived in Lesotho

So I have arrived here in Lesotho and man was the combination of flights long! I left on wednesday at 12pm and arrived at 7:30am on Friday. I got sick on the first flight and made it horrible, second flight was alright and then had to sleep in the Johanasburg airport (that was interesting, they had a Josh Groban type guy filming a music video and so I had to hear him sing all night long.)

Once I arrived I was met by a 6'7" american which is the leader of the DTS here. There are 6 people in the DTS along with 3 leaders. Half of hte people are 18 or 19 and then 2 at 23 and one at 26. One is a local, one from Canada, 1 from england, one from Germany and one from South Africa. They all seem like great people and have gotten to know them pretty quickly. One bad thing that has happen so far is that neither of my credit cards work because the pins are wrong but luckly my mom gave me some emergency money so that will work for awhile. The general plan for the DTS will be spending 2 weeks in classes yup I have homework, then 2 weeks in jails, hospitals and other areas around Lesotho then a few more weeks of classes then 6 weeks in Botswana and guess what.... I will spend a week or two in South Africa doing outreach at the World Cup. So even though I won't be going to a game I will be around the environment. God has already done many things and has show this is where he wants me to be. I am looking forward to where God leads me on this amazing DTS. I love it here in Lesotho and the people are amazing!

Hopefully I will get a chance soon to update again.

Spencer

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Getting ready to leave

So as time counts down till I leave I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me. In the past month or so I have been pretty busy preparing for both the YWAM trip in Lesotho as well as applying to graduate school at Northwest. Today is my last full day in Seattle and although I am almost ready to go, I don't think the reality of going to Africa will hit me till I leave tomorrow. I again want to thank you all for following my travels and I will do my best to update whenever I get a chance!