Amy's Story
My experience going to Tanzania was indeed life changing. Not just life changing, but also legacy changing. Me going to Africa was where everything changed for my family; past, present, and future. This was a defining moment. It was family prophecy coming to pass in that moment because God keeps His promises to a thousand generations. The legacy that I leave to my children changed in that moment as well. Legacy was shifting in that moment. As I was in Tanzania, the Lord revealed to me that not only was my legacy and my family’s legacy shifting, but through our team building the training center, we are shifting the legacy of the people who will attend the training center.
Since I’ve been born again in 1993 I have had a heart for Africa. I’ve had the desire to do missions in Africa. I had no idea that it would be now, I thought it would be at least five or more years from now. God showed up and showed off each step of the way in preparing financially for me to go. I had no idea that going would impact me so powerfully. At the end of the day, what it comes down to is the relationships that I formed while I was there. Being part of the building process of the training center, and assisting in preparing the Mramba home to be painted was amazing. However, if I had left Tanzania with just the experience of “doing” without forming the relationships, I think I would have just gone on my merry way in life and just been able to make a check mark next to “going to Africa” on my bucket list. Forming the relationships with the people of Tanzania was worth every penny to go. It’s truly priceless.
The Lord was dealing with me and how I view myself while I was Tanzania with the AFTN team. I know that generally I like to be in the background far from the spotlight. However, the Lord began dealing with me about feeling insignificant. I wouldn’t say that I have overcome those feelings since going, but at least it’s been brought to light, and I can begin working through it. In fact, the Lord wanted me to know that He sees me and that I’m not invisible so much that Pastor Mramba’s son, Benny would often say in a whisper “Amy, I see you.” I know that Benny was just being a playful teenage boy, but hearing those words meant more to me than he could ever know.
Also, being transparent, in the last few years I have gone through some very painful situations. I do my best to look on the bright side and find little blessings in each day, but if I can be completely honest, I hadn’t felt real joy in a very long time. Happiness, yes, but not real joy. The second day that we were at the worksite Will Bell placed me with Innocent, one of the Tanzanian workers. Innocent was being playful and making jokes throughout the time we were working that day, and I was laughing so much. Then, just before our team left to go back to the hotel for the day Jennifer and Holly were playing with the children at the worksite. I got close enough to take pictures, but I didn’t want to interrupt what was taking place. As I stood a few feet away taking pictures I was laughing, then all of a sudden this eruption of joy rose up out of my belly and I felt joy, real pure joy. From that moment on I felt different. That moment in Tanzania is priceless. A few days later I had the opportunity to have one and one time with Pastor Mramba and we talked about what happened in that moment. Something he said has really stuck with me. He said that if I had been in America on that day I would not have had that experience, I had to be in Tanzania for that to happen.
Going to Pastor Mramba’s church really impacted me. The first time that we were at the church was right after we landed in Tanzania. I was so overwhelmed to finally be there, and to finally get to meet the people that I have seen in pictures and heard on audio. The second time we were at the church was the following Sunday after working at the worksite and being at the Mramba home forming relationships. The thing that stood out to me and impacted me the most about going to the church is their joy to be at church. Worship was off the chart!
Going to Tanzania caused me to be more aware of my money. What we in America would consider a small amount of money, in Tanzania can go so much further than here in America. I strived to be cautious of my spending anyway before going to Tanzania, but experiencing the big difference in cost, I now want to save more to be able to give more.
I would tell anyone who has not gone to Tanzania that may be considering going that it is absolutely worth it. If it’s about finances, I am a testimony that God will make a way where there seems to be no way. If God would do it for me, God can absolutely do it for you too.
Amy Ivy