Walking Through Waiting

It’s been a while since I've had the chance to actually sit down and write - life feels like it's been moving so fast, catching up with me. Right now, my team and I are currently staying at a base beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, however every few days, we pack up and head out to camp in the middle of Maasai land. My heart feels drawn to the Maasai people, especially the children. We had the pleasure of ministering to school kids, and in just a few hours, I found myself completely in awe of their sweet hearts. One of the primary school teachers shared with me that most of these children walk around twelve kilometres every day just to get to and from school. For those of you who don’t know, that journey would take around three hours at a walking pace - every single day, under the blistering heat of the African sun. To think I used to complain about a 40-minute bus ride in middle school, you can probably imagine how quickly I was humbled. After a long, difficult walk, these children arrive at school not just to learn, but to simply fill their empty bellies. 

At this particular school, they receive two meals - the only food many of them will have all day. When they return home, their focus shifts to tending the cattle, searching for food to sustain their cows and goats. While they wait for their next meal at school the next day, they rely on milk from their animals to suppress their hunger. I couldn't stop wondering - what happens on the weekends? Where does their food come from? These children are not just living; they are surviving. What a privilege it is to only feel the weight of their suffering rather than endure it myself. My heart breaks, over and over again. 

Dream team!

    During our short stay in the village of Enkatani, we found it to be so incredibly fruitful. Together, our team set out to visit homes in the surrounding area, where we began distributing SD memory cards Bibles. What makes these memory cards so special is that the Maasai people can simply slide them into their phones, allowing Scripture to play audibly in their very own mother tongue. Since many in this tribe are unable to read, these tiny pieces of technology have made such a profound impact. It's been my absolute joy to watch their faces light up as they hear the Word of God come to life through their phones - meeting them exactly where they are. Many of the young children in this tribe spend their days away from home shepherding, and listening to the Bible has become something they look forward to - a glimpse of something brighter. 

    As we returned to our tenting location after distributing Bibles, something truly incredible began to happen - a ripple effect. Our tents were in a community enclosed by a wired gate, allowing us to see outside of the area. Suddenly, members of the Maasai tribe began to gather beyond the fence - people of all ages. They reached their hands through the gaps, asking for Bibles. Word had spread that we were here, and they couldn't resist reaching out for them. This was such a happy experience, I couldn't help but smile. Imagine the joy this must have brought Christ - it actually reminded me of a story. 

    While reading the book of Luke this past week, I was refreshed by the story of the woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years, yet no one could heal her. In a crowd full of people, she came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately, her bleeding stopped. Jesus turned and asked, "Who touched me?" The crowd denied it, insisting it could have been anyone pressing up against Him. But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Realizing she couldn't go unnoticed, the woman came trembling and fell at His feet. In front of all the people she told Him that when she touched Him, she had been instantly healed. Then Jesus, full of compassion, said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." I was reminded of this story as I watched the people from this tribe - wildly determined to grasp even the smallest piece of Jesus, just like her. Both understood the weight of what was being offered and the authority of God's word. Some at the fence waited for hours just to receive a Bible, and nearing the end of our stay, they even found ways through this gated community in order to receive one. This was true desperation - and we were overjoyed to share whatever we could. 

Distributing SD memory card Bibles through the fence

    Lastly, I want to wrap up by sharing a little bit about what I feel the Lord is teaching me during this season. I've always been someone who's quite impulsive and spontaneous - I don't usually need to put a lot of thought into decisions (hence why I'm currently on the other side of the world at the moment, hah). I can confidently tell you that this has its pros and cons - a pro being how easily I jumped into applying for YWAM, and a con being some choices I made in my teen years. Through various life experiences, one thing I still wrestle with is patience. Whether it's waiting for answers, a response, clarity on my future, open or closed doors, or even just waiting for a free washroom after a long car ride, I still manage to struggle. But in this season, I feel the Lord pressing me to lean into the waiting - to trust that He is in every pause, every unanswered question, and every moment of stillness. I feel like the Lord is reminding me not to rush through these last few weeks but to truly soak in every fleeting moment. He is teaching me to really slow down, rest in the present, and embrace each day He has made. 

Bittersweet goodbyes..

Couldn't have been blessed with better friends to serve the Lord with..

    As we move into this next week, I ask for your prayers for my team as we head out tomorrow afternoon to camp for a few nights in another village. Please pray that the Lord will provide me with wisdom and the right words when ministering to the unreached. Pray that I will have an abundance of patience - that I won't rush but will fully embrace each moment as it comes. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. So many of you have reached out in support, and it has meant so, so much. 

Written with love, Layla <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGwPmB_07sk