Walking with God Through the Unexpected: Africa Recap!

She needs no introduction. But we wanted to kind of do a follow up about Kristi coming experience. And so Kristi, I want to start off with you, there was this rush trip. You got to Africa and then it didn't go like you planned or like you wanted to do. And so like you had to end up being in the hospital and just you had time that you weren't expecting to have. So in that, what did you learn or how did you deal with it? I think there's a lot of different questions about that. How did you deal with it? What did you learn especially because us as people when we have a plan and we wanted to go the way we want to. And then it goes a different way. Well, that was a lot of questions in that. And just to lay that foundation again, it was like you said a very quick trip. I found myself there. I knew without a doubt God had sent me there. And I think that was the hardest thing when you are in a place that you know that God has ordained for you to be. Like my being there was so supernatural and it did happen so quick and it wasn't something that I even had rushed into. It was something that we prayed into for two years and now all of a sudden it happened. And then you find yourself in the hospital having an experience. And I remember laying there looking and it looked like a mash from a mash TV set. That's what it looked like in that hospital and I'm thinking is this what you wanted me to see in Africa? Like am I supposed to be doing work here? And I was trying to make sense of everywhere that I was. Like why am I here? Why am I now laying in this room for days? And I didn't get the answer. And but I trusted that I knew that I was where I was supposed to be and it didn't look like I thought it was going to look. And here's what I learned as I looked at my wish I had it on right now I looked at my wrist. I had a bracelet that my neighbor coral had dropped off the day before I left. She said God told me to give you this and it was a simple bracelet her niece had made and it said God's got this. And I needed it at that moment that she gave it to me because I was in a frenzy packing. I was stressed to the max not about the trip and fearful but about what do I take. Because there's so many needs and the the Lord just showed me through that simple bracelet. Like I've got this doesn't matter if you carry Reese cups or two brushes or or Bibles or what I've got this you're carrying something in you. So I got there and now I'm on like day two of being in lockdown by myself and I look at my wrist and it said God's got this. And I just started crying but more in a relief way not in a panic way. The God even knew this was coming and it was okay. I didn't understand why the team was in prison and I'm in a hotel room but I was thankful for that Marriott.

It was so nice. Okay you said you said this and it spurred a question that I didn't think about but it's so just you know meshes it's God's God's got this but the lockdown. So our mission is where we're serving incarcerated people we're going into lockdown in all different various vehicles of hope that we that we give that hope to them. Now you're in a lockdown that you weren't expecting that's a circumstance that. So how do you get there and say I mean did that even ever occur to you like I'm in a lockdown like my people this is what I do I feel hopeless like some of our people who are incarcerated or am I hopeful of what it's to come. So I found myself in that hotel the team everybody had left and you cannot compare the lockdown experience and you know that. And I'm not even beginning to compare to a lockdown and solitary confinement or being separated in prison or jail but what the Lord showed me was the power of a visit when you're in lockdown. The power of an encouraging word a tangible bracelet that said God's got this. That was an obedient moment that Coral had to come. stop her day to give me something that impacted me. So what God did in those days, when I couldn't make sense of it and everybody like that was reaching out was trying to make sense of it for me. That was the biggest frustrating. God's sitting you down. God's trying to make you rest 'cause you want rest here to take you all the way to Africa to get you to rest. You know, I just don't think so. And so what he showed me, because I was in a moment where everybody was in a maximum security prison and I'm not there. And I was like, well, does it really matter that I was there? Is what I do really even matter? And that's when the knock at the door came and it was the housekeeper, Agnes. Agnes with two buses, I'll never forget her

because she had seen me in that hotel room for a couple of days. I kept turning down her service because I just didn't feel like up to it. And I was kind to her, but she came and she says, "May I pray for you?" And as I was laying in that bed, she knelt beside my bed. This is a housekeeper who could have said, "I shouldn't be talking to the guest." And especially in that culture, like she was there to serve me not to come kneel by my bed. And it was just really a very humbling moment that I'm laying there. And she's praying in Swahili for like 10 minutes. And she left and the Lord spoke to my heart. It says, "Now you know what it feels like to be visited." She couldn't change my situation. She couldn't heal me, make me feel better. We weren't even speaking the same language, but the language of love crossed boundaries. And he says, "This is what you do when you go to jail. "You go to prison." And this is the difference that it makes. So don't ever doubt the difference that the love of God makes through your actions and through those tangible gifts. And that's what our partners make possible.

- It is. And it's also, I mean, that's such a beautiful picture of that, of Jesus and a community and a visit and those encouraging words. And we see that in, you know, when we receive letters from people, when we go to the jail or the prisons and just being able to talk to them and interact with our I-Fam, it's, they feel that. They feel that connection and they feel that visit. And it's so biblical and just such a beautiful picture of visiting the one and making that connection. Okay, now you said something else, which, you know, about all the people was so frustrating coming at God's teaching you this. He's sitting you down. And so sometimes I think that it's hard, especially as believers, when we don't have things going our way and when we're getting information or words like that, that's supposed to be helpful and encouraging, but how do you or how do we discern what's really from the Lord? - So your first question, I don't know that I answered. Well, you said, how did you go through that in it? And I was trying to answer it with trusting that God's got this, it's just trusting. And then the discernment part, only I had to discern whether this was my athletic flesh that can push through a lot of pain and you don't become a world champion athlete

by just rolling over and taking hits. - Swam on one. (laughing) - We can agree on that. (laughing) So I have to stop. I had a mentor one time, he said, your persevering spirit made your world champion, but it can get you in positions. It's your biggest weakness too. It's your biggest strength, but your biggest weakness 'cause you don't know when to stop. So that's when I have to check myself. And I kept praying, I'm like, Lord, do I lay low and I knew I had to lay low 'cause I wasn't in any condition to go. And I had wisdom enough to know I can't put the team the team that you're with. I was with in more danger of having to stop what they're doing to get me to a hospital, whatever. I was good where I was and I laid low. So that was wisdom. But then do I leave when they were all leaving or do I stay in a new country and go to Kenya by myself to now do the victorious living outreach with our partner there, Joseph. And I kept hearing go, go. So I said, Lord, how do I know? I need to discern to know that this isn't Christie's stubborn heart saying go

And this is where knowing the word of God is so important because I immediately recognized that was from judges six. That is where God is saying to Gideon, Gideon's got questions. God, this hurts. Where are you? If you're the God that I've heard about, where are the miracles? Why is this bad thing happening to us? And God didn't give him an answer. God says go in the strength that you have. So that's why you have to know the word. Because at that minute, and I was looking at that bracelet, I was like, okay, I wanna go in the strength I have. And then I heard, and in your weakness, my strength will be made perfect, another verse. Nothing that you hear from God's voice will ever contradict his word. So you have to have it. I wasn't in any condition at that point. I wasn't in the word right then. Those three days I would try and I would just fall asleep. But I had worship music on and I was praying. And when things were coming at me, God wants you to come home. God's trying to get you to rest because you won't rest in America. All these things, and I have to trust my, I can't be stubborn not listening to wisdom,

but you gotta be very careful with the voices 'cause I easily could have turned around and listened to that. And I had to listen to God's voice. And what I experienced in Kenya was God at his finest, giving me strength to do what I, all the way home. - Yeah, it was his strength. - Oh, it wasn't mine. And I realized if we wait to feel good, if we wait to have all the answers, the Bible says in Proverbs three, trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not into your own understanding and all your ways acknowledge him, he will direct your path. It doesn't say he will give you the answers. It doesn't say that. He never owes us answers. And that's what we want. - It is. - What he has already given us is his promise that is backed by the honor of his name, that he is with us wherever we go, that he will provide every need, that he will make sense of the, what doesn't make sense. - Yeah. - And it's that piece that gives you that only you can-- - Passes all understanding. - Because otherwise you wouldn't have the strength and you don't understand.

And he's the only reason why, which you can't explain it. - And he gives you his piece that passes all understanding in the Word of God, again, you got another word, says that the piece becomes an umpire. It's calling the shots. It wasn't my feelings were calling the shots. It wasn't my doubts and my fears calling the shots. It was the piece of God could rule and reign in my heart and my mind. - Okay, so if somebody doesn't know Jesus or one doesn't know the Word like that, what's, I'm gonna say a tip, but really what's a good book or what's a good verse or what's a good place to start for when at some of our IFAM or some of our partners that may not even know what to do, it's just-- - Can I just recommend not to start in Revelation? - Yes, or Numbers or Deuteronomy. They were wonderful and there's a blessing. The Bible says those who dive into Revelation. And I think it's 'cause it's so hard. Like you'll parse it and he perseveres to the end and the Word of God as well receives a reward. But it's consistency and it is community. Like I grew up in a Christian family. I grew up in a household of faith. I grew up in the church and I didn't know how to study the Word of God. - Yeah, and I think that's a lot of people. - It's a lot of people.

- I mean, I grew up that way too. And I think still it's like, well, how do you do a quiet time? And that's a whole different thing, but like those are some things you don't know. - And I could blame and say, well, no one taught me. No one taught me. It wasn't until I decided to open this up for myself at my kitchen counter every morning and it could be night for you. It could be afternoon, but you have to find that timing. You have to set it aside and it's non-negotiable. And I wish I could say that that happens every single day. It doesn't, but you've got to start. You got to get in community. You find someone that can teach you, but the Holy Spirit is your teacher and you get Bible studies and you just get consistent and you stay in there and you've got to do the work. Chat is a wonderful tool. Chat cannot do the work for you. Chat cannot study the Word of God for you. And so it is still diving in the Word. And someone grabbed my Bible recently, it was a young kiddies. That's what I want my Bible to look like. It's Torah from the front, going and I don't do it for show, it is, this is how my brain works and this is what you have to get in and it's going to require work. >> Okay, that's good. We just got to put it in one.

>> And that is not comfortable. >> Well, and I was listening, I read this book and so my prayer, I have it up, it's like Lord help me won't you more than anything else, more, and I was doing this for myself because I love to eat and I love snacks. >> More than coffee. >> More than coffee, more like help me love you and want you more. Give me that desire and that's it. Starting in, let me pick up the word, let me have that. >> And I've heard that from some of our incarcerated family, I said, these were, you know, some of the interviews I've done and they were a methodic or whatever, or walking in a lifestyle that they knew was contrary to the word of God and they said it was about coming to a place of surrendering that food, surrendering that drug, surrendering that lifestyle and saying, Jesus, I want you more and then chasing after him with the same tenacity that they did the drug, that I did water skiing and trophies. >> And continuing to do that. >> And continuing. It's a marathon, not a sprint. >> Yes. Yes. Okay. So, you've now gone to Kenya and you were doing the victorious living tour. Tell us some things, don't tell us all the things because I've got some more questions, but tell us some things that you saw. >> Yeah. Well, the amount of Malawi and in Kenya, the life we've been afforded in the United States as far as comforts should never be taken for granted and it changes the way I even look at the dog, my dog's bowl. They don't have, I didn't see pets and houses because the pets are an expense. I saw dogs on the street with the rib showing. So now, in the morning when I put my dog's water, to know that my dogs have clean water.

Not their dogs don't have clean water, they don't have, we weren't able to drink it out of the pipes. I'm driving by and you're watching kids in rivers drinking, even the water and the wells are polluted and to see the animals with the rib showing. I don't do something to you. >> Yeah. It'll break your heart. >> It'll break your heart. Kids that are coming to you in an orphanage, two years old walking with their hands like this, like feed me. If you don't feed me, I have nothing, but God showed me through that how we should come to Him every day because really apart from Him, we have nothing. And so God just showed me, He showed me the impact sports, I've always known that. I was an athlete, it taught me, it formed and fashioned me into my stubborn self. But I started a ministry in His wakes, we use water sports, but then in victorious living, I use sports analogies and the history of sports. And God showed me when we were in that medium facility, that medium security facility and those men are out playing in the Christian African soccer cup, which I didn't even know we were having, they're playing as hard as if it was a World Cup and those tangible replicable replica balls that I carry from FIFA World Cup, they are just like playing with that as if it was their World Cup. And then we had the opportunity to share the gospel with those men and share toothbrushes and toothpaste and watermelon and soap and petroleum jelly and toilet paper and to get granted. But sports opened the way for the gospel. And Joseph is like looking at my big white face on this poster, this banner that I didn't even know he was, it's okay, my sister, God gave me that vision and we're going all over Kenya with the Christian over the cup, I'm like, "Oh dear Lord." But when I watched unfold, I was like, "First, God gave me a love for soccer because I don't have one."

And then second, he showed me, reminded me of the power of a tangible thing to build relationships that we have an open door and I sat with a man this weekend in Pennsylvania from Ghana who just happened to be everywhere I was and he goes, "Oh my sister, you have an open door to Ghana." But it God has given us a territory there. So it's going to be exciting to see how he uses Soccer their football. They it's football But how he's going to use that and to be able to take teams over but also develop a boots on the ground team over there Because that's logistically what it's going to have to be like. Okay, so With that sports being such a big way to minister, but that's different than here in the US. Yeah, so how like You use the sports analogies and now we have you can use sports over there. So what does that look like and how then? We're like okay for victorious living not running after it, but seeking God to show us the way What does that look like for the expansion of what of how we minister? Yeah to the incarcerated in Kenya or wherever? Well, here's what? This ministry started in 2013 to the incarcerated and we were going before that The way that I know God's working in this ministry and moving is this very organic It's things. He's already shown me He's shown me Africa, but then all of a sudden he will open the door in ways That it's just undeniable. Yeah, and then we start walking in the path. What does my will say that? The person, you know, we try to order our steps, but it's really God that's that's step ordering them and We don't go make our plans and ask God to bless them. We are constantly even before we start this you have all your questions But we stopped and we prayed God. Would you lead this and he has there's not a question you've asked me It's probably on there and that's how we have to lead victorious living. So what it looks like is We continue to pray and we watch what God's doing and we step into the opportunities He's already making a connection with a gentleman that's sending over Trailer loads of things over that we can just put stuff in yeah We and it's through partnerships Not just our partners giving us money, but us partnering with people like Joseph who are mighty men and women of God I already know the terrain and the terrain for us to go in and think we're gonna minister To a culture that we know nothing about

No, but we can help provide the funds to build a team that can go do Measurely more than they ever hoped or imagined because God is bringing partnerships Well, we can't do it without partnerships. No, we can't All right, but you talked about planning our steps and God are dating those and so when we We as people we as incarcerated, you know the other day We were talking when I was in the jail with the women's ministry that we do one of our volunteers She said what are you gonna plan and what are you gonna like? What is your plan for when you leave here? because we want to have that plan obviously with with God's you know leading the way so Oh gosh, I forgot where I was going with that. So our if God is leading our way and how do we plan then How do we become okay when Our plan is deterred. Does that make sense? So like if somebody incarcerated or maybe like the plan of you know Somebody's addicted or whatever that looks like we have our plan, but now We're it's it's different. We get out. We have that temptation. I don't know. I'm just trying to think about how do we Well, there's you have to realize that There's always going to be obstacles um My heart with God is I don't want to I don't want to stubborn heart. I want a heart of flesh that can be made and molded and directed by you And the more you stay in the word and all of that, but then when you hit those roadblocks Because they're going to come there's going to be Roadblocks of unbelief of doubt of things coming at you that are scary that are painful that hurt And you have a real enemy the bible says in Ephesians that our war is not against flesh and blood But against principalities and a lot of times we don't want to go there and I know I'm not a Put the devil up on a pedestal. He's a defeated foe and he is under He's done. He's done. He's a where's the ill the which way lose it but um And we know the end of the book my husband laughs at me because any Netflix anything we watch I don't like anxiety and I don't like to know the end so um I do spoiler alerts. I already know four years out what's going to happen It drives him nuts, but that's how I could

I know the end of the story and I know that if God said it's going to happen and he has shown me that this ministry is going to minister to millions and it already has been. But he's also shown me, he's just getting started and we have opportunities opening up in the juveniles found out yesterday some exciting stuff I'm going to wait and reveal that another time we have things we are developing for chaplains for correctional officers. God is assembling a beautiful team of mighty men and women. It's just phenomenal and we're just we're just here it's a small team but we're like amazed at what God's doing and we're just listening and we're walking into these areas very purposefully, intentionally and not rushing and that's hard for someone who likes to get in there and get it done and but I'm learning the value of prayer and ordered steps. Alright and our video before you went you talked about like praying how you hope God wouldn't send you to Africa you were scared to go and so how do we as believers then pray a prayer that's like when we're scared and worried like how do we we're going to pray a prayer and say God help me do this but what does that what does that look like when we're scared and worried but we feel like we have a calling but we're not going to you know well first of all you think you're candid with God God I'm scared and even in the Bible and the man's he's like God's Jesus is like just believe he's like help my unbelief help my unbelief help my doubt you know the Bible gives you a Philippians for a model be anxious over nothing but in in everything every situation tell God what you need talk that's an invitation to community and to talk to God openly God I'm scared but at the end of the day now you have to say alright God I'm afraid but your word says you do not give me a spirit of fear but a sound mind a power to love and your word says that every place I set my foot you are with me you say you will supply all my needs according and you've got to keep talking to yourself I talk to myself all the time yeah you would think I need to be locked up sometimes in a solitary confinement with the padded wall or something because I have to talk myself I have to worship through it I worship through it in Africa I had the praise just lay them by my bed and CCWannons would come on each time and it was Jesus paid it all and it says I'll tell him that one the all to him I owe but it says it was just talking about you being weary and God giving you power and I would just play it I would play it I would play it Christ is my firm foundation and when I was laying in that van having that kidney

stone passing for four hours bouncing with a whole group of people in there and the kids in the back one what's happening up there and it was chaos and I was screaming but in the middle of my screams and weeping I was like Father I will worship you I will worship you I will worship you you're worthy of it all and I'm singing and Isabella is reaching forward and just putting worship music by my ear and I had community next to me helping me through it but I had to make a choice to what are you doing God or God I don't know what's happening but I trust well and even in your moment so it's not like okay it didn't go away this like even in the moment of being scared or worried it was like you still relied on that that what you it was the only thing yeah and and somehow in the midst of that it was a witness to others and God used it God didn't waste that time I've had so many people reach out oh one friend relative reached out said I learned to pray I actually interceded for you I never knew what that was like fella monies and was actually praying your situation taught me how to pray and your situation helped me to know what it was to keep persevering and trusting God well and I think with your family member like the ministry is based on own ministering to the incarcerated but we want it to be for our friends and our families but you know, Jesus and what you were doing because you were also doing the great commission. And I love how the wrap around, if we look at kind of like our life and the dots and everything and obviously our plans and have been ordained by the Lord and how it's full service. Like he used the sports, something that you know so much about to then be able to have a connection with those men there. Like that's just a beautiful picture and about how they did it with like the fun. And I think that's the other thing too is that God and the journey is fun. Jesus fished with people, all the water with people. He laughed with people. He went to weddings, like I think we forget that, we forget life and that it's meant to be enjoyed and he created this, I forget it. He created this whole place for us to have relationship with him and relationship with each other. And I just want to encourage anybody that's been afraid to surrender to God because you're afraid of what might be in front of you. I do want to say this, what's in front of you will never be easy, but it's not going to be easy with or without God.

But it will be purposeful and possible with God. And he says, I will be with you as you pass through the waters of difficulty. And I love that verse because it doesn't promise calm waters. They will not overtake you. And he says, when the rains come and when the floods rise, not if your house, if it's built on him and his word, it's standing. Whether you're having a sickness, whether you're having a divorce, whether you're having a child an addiction or you're an addiction, it's not over. And so we will close with that theme and the revival of hope that's coming up. Okay, so just recently in the jail, we had some women who were atheists except Jesus. And so this past week, when we were in there, one of them, who was newly a Christian, said that she was talking to somebody who was from the outside and she said that very thing about being, you know, I'm a Christian and they laughed at her. And we talked about the hard thing is that this is just the beginning of that hard thing. And so I just want to say for our ministry, we would love for you to pray for us. Pray for Christi and just the leadership of what this new kind of experience is shown her and how our ministry can come alongside. The shipment of our magazines and the digital component, that's already been reaching some places international, but this is a whole different realm. And so pray what that looks like. And we want to pray for you. Yeah, our ministry is just not to be incarcerated. It is to our partners as well. And we know you do not have to be incarcerated to be incarcerated to despair, discouragement, guilt, shame, fear, fear of the future. Maybe you're growing older and it's scary. Maybe you're scared about what's going to happen to your family. Maybe you're a new mom and going through things. I mean, gosh, you went things through medical scares with your husband. But whatever it is you're facing, God is with you. And he may not take you to Africa, but he's got somewhere he wants to take you and you don't want to miss it. You don't want to miss it.

And if there's anything that our ministry can do for you, pray with you, whether you're incarcerated and you're watching this or you're one of our partners and you're watching this and the free world. That's what we're here for. We have so many videos, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. I think over 300 video assets that you can go on that will teach you how to study the Bible. Maybe you're new. It'll teach you how to overcome fear, teach you how to recognize and discern God's voice, how to leave a legacy. I mean, it's not just me teaching. It's B.J. Emerson is shared in Korea. You've got videos on there. We've got podcasts on there. We take advantage of those free, free resources. Free resources, yeah. Okay, so before we go, I am going to pray for us and for our partners and our IFAM and then thank you so much. I hope you all learned something. So, dear Father God, just thank you so much for just, you're, you're ordaining Christi steps, Lord opening doors and being able to teach her and show her. God, we pray for our I-fam who are incarcerated physically and just the struggles and temptations that they go through, encourage their hearts and just give them a confidant in those facilities to be able to do your word with. And God, we pray for our partners and just all the struggles that we've talked about that might overcome us and just weary us and make us scared. And Lord God, we're thankful for our upcoming revival and how things are, it's not over. And so we are glad that it's over from the Satan and he's done with the Satan, but that you're,

you reign true and say, Father God, thank you. In your name, amen. Amen. Thank you, Ashley, thanks. Thank you for watching our broadcast. Are you an incarcerated brother or sister who needs encouragement? Write to us at Victoria's Living Correspondents via Box 2751 Greenville, North Carolina, 27836. To view Victoria's Living Magazine in its entirety, please have your chat when contact us at 352-478-2098 or email us through our website at vlmag.org. We are happy to provide our Victoria's Living Magazine free of charge in bulk with or without staples. [MUSIC PLAYING]