May 27, 2025 • 21 mins
What happens when a young woman says "yes" to God's call to missions? Paisley Jackson's extraordinary journey from her hometown to the shores of Lake Tanganyika reveals the beautiful chaos, divine appointments, and life-changing lessons that await those willing to step out in radical faith.
Fresh from her first major mission trip to Africa and preparing to depart for Mongolia, Paisley shares stunning testimonies that would challenge even seasoned missionaries. On her very first day in Burundi, she witnessed twenty people give their lives to Christ during fishermen ministry and personally baptized a young convert—a powerful beginning that set the stage for weeks of ministry across both Burundi and Congo.
The adventures ranged from comical cultural adjustments (eating whole fish despite her aversion) to genuinely dangerous situations (a 24-hour boat journey where men repeatedly tried to separate female team members from the group). But the most profound moments came through unexpected divine redirections. When planning to minister at a local brothel, God clearly instructed Paisley to stay behind and pray instead. While interceding, she received a specific name—Deborah—only to discover later that her teammates had ministered to a woman by that exact name, confirming her prayers had direct impact.
Physical hardships proved unavoidable when Paisley and her entire team contracted malaria despite taking preventative medication. Through extreme weakness, IV treatments, and weeks of illness, she discovered God's faithful provision for medical care and developed a deeper trust in divine protection. Now she's heading to Mongolia with enough faith to go but not yet enough funds for a return ticket—a testament to her core lesson from Africa: "God doesn't care about the results of what he asks us to do, he just wants our simple yes."
Have you been waiting for a clear call before stepping out in faith? Paisley's story reminds us that God speaks clearly when we simply ask and listen. Follow her journey and consider what your next step of obedience might be, whether across the ocean or across the street.
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Paisley Jackson (00:01):
So I'm here with my granddaughter, paisley
Jackson, and she just got backfrom her first mission trip
major mission trip to Africa,and just wanted to have a
conversation with her and sharethat with you so you guys would
know what she's doing and howGod's using her, because God
(00:23):
wants all of us to be usedvitally in the land that he's
given us, and in her case it's alittle bit more extreme than
than most of us, but it'swonderful and so, hey, welcome
Paisley glad you're here, uh,just for a little while.
Right, you're getting ready, uh,this week to leave again to
Mongolia?
Denise Jackson (00:43):
Yes, to do what To work with the YWAM base there
and serve them the best that wecan, as well as help pioneering
a prayer room hopefully.
Paisley Jackson (00:57):
I love that pioneering.
There's some pioneer spirit ina lot of us.
Denise Jackson (01:01):
Yes, yes, a lot of pioneering in these last
couple of seasons.
Paisley Jackson (01:07):
So let's talk about, uh, africa, you, you flew
into burundi.
No, you flew in to africa andyou went to burundi, yes, yes,
and in burundi, one of thethings we got really excited
about is, like you were there aday and you baptized somebody
yes, yeah, we're on our firstday.
Denise Jackson (01:24):
We just went down to do fishermen ministry
and we were with the fishermenand shout out Benji, my teammate
.
He is a fisherman from Norway,so he preached to these guys and
then he was like does anybodywant to give their life to Jesus
?
And a few of them did about 20.
(01:44):
Wow, more than a few.
Wow, yes, about 20 people there, like the angels were really.
They say that angels rejoice.
I know, I know that's I couldfeel it.
Paisley Jackson (01:57):
I could feel it .
Denise Jackson (01:58):
That's awesome and then um three young
teenagers.
I think they're like teenagers.
They said they want to getbaptized and I think it was
really awesome because a lot ofpeople in Africa want to get
baptized with their church, tobe under a church and they were
just like yeah, I want to getbaptized, like I gave my life to
(02:18):
Jesus and get baptized.
And so we went ahead andbaptized them.
I got to baptize my firstperson, and it was a little girl
, and oh, my god, so precious.
Paisley Jackson (02:31):
And what's her name?
Do you remember her?
Denise Jackson (02:33):
name?
I don't it's really fast, yeah,yeah it's also so many african
names it's hard to remember allof them, so but wonder if it's
hard for them to rememberpaisley.
Paisley Jackson (02:44):
Yes, yes, they called me Paisley Paisley.
I love Paisley, but that's true.
Like you go to another countryand another culture and what's
easy for us is really hard forthem.
And the opposite is true what'seasy for them is really hard
for us.
That's so interesting.
I still remember her face.
Oh, that's awesome.
That was a great gift that Godgave you because he knew you
(03:13):
were going to walk that path.
So you and I talked when youwere in Hawaii at training and
you had all these expectations.
In fact, one of thoseexpectations that I exactly
remember is that you said, no,I'm not going to eat any weird
food.
And I just said, okay, now tellme how that changed when you
went to africa.
Denise Jackson (03:31):
I ate some weird food um, they're.
One of their favorite dish isum ugali, which is the white
stuff that you take with yourhands and you roll it up and you
dip it in sauce, and they loveto pair that with fish sauce,
and I'm not a fish eater, so.
But they live right by a lake,so, especially in congo, like
(03:53):
they just catch their fish andright there eat it.
So I had that, which,unfortunately, my team was not
able to eat.
We all got a little sick andthey had to stop making it.
But I did eat a fish like thisbig, oh, just the whole just the
whole fish bone, I everything,but you were hungry.
Paisley Jackson (04:11):
Yes, I was so hungry yeah, yeah, so we can do
things that we think we can'twhen there's a need.
Yes, so that's a that's a greatlesson to learn too, because it
makes us really I don't likeappreciate so much more than we
have.
Yeah, we have an excess in thiscountry.
Yes, but it it really we don'teven know it because we're used
(04:33):
to it.
But then you come back.
How's it been to just havechick-fil-a?
Denise Jackson (04:39):
so good I I do think that I miss the simplicity
of like knowing I'm going tohave beans and rice for lunch
and dinner.
Breakfast was a littledifferent.
We just had bread, but likebeans and rice for lunch and
dinner, and maybe a little addin of cassava and beans or some
cabbage.
All these different things, butjust knowing like, okay, this
(05:02):
is what I'm eating.
So now I'm going to be be likewhat do I want to eat?
and it's not just the clean,simple beans and rice it's been
a little rough making decisions,but it's been so nice well,
those kind of decisions, becauseyou were making decisions yes
tell me about some of thedecisions you made each day, oh,
(05:22):
um, where to go on.
Ministry was a big one.
Like.
We did a lot of door-to-doorvisits.
So knowing, like asking theholy spirit, should I go back to
somebody that I went to theother day, or do we go to a new
house and meet somebody new?
Um, should I stop and talk tothese people walking on the side
(05:44):
of the road on our way, eventhough we had a plan to go to
this house?
Like, do I stop?
And then, when I get thatfeeling to just obey and do it,
my hardest decision was um, wegot an opportunity.
So for the whole time we'vebeen there, um, in the congo, we
were there for about five weeks.
Paisley Jackson (06:05):
So you went from Burundi to the Congo?
I forgot to mention that.
Denise Jackson (06:08):
Yes, from Burundi to Congo.
And you went across the lakeyes, about 24 hours in a boat.
It was a nice little boat,though, with a lot of people, a
lot of people On the way there.
It was so overcrowded it wascrazy.
Paisley Jackson (06:22):
And you know right after you got back over
crowded it was crazy like andyou know right after you got
back there one of them not inthe same exact area, but on that
same leg.
Yeah, a lot of people drowned.
Yeah, like, so you know you hadprotection, god knew what you
needed to do, but it was a scarysituation.
Denise Jackson (06:37):
Yeah, it was especially because we're what?
Like the only white people onthis boat.
So where we were staying wasn'tlike the only white people on
this boat.
So where we were staying wasn'tlike secluded and a lot of
people were coming trying totalk to us, look at our bags and
try to steal stuff, and a lotof people, a lot of men, asked
to take us girls and our boyswere very strong with being like
no, that's my wife.
(06:58):
And as soon as they heard that,they would back off.
But there are a few incidentsof like men coming up and asking
if they could take us and thatwas different, huh, super
different and scary, just toknow, like and it's overnight so
I didn't sleep, I was up allnight watching all my team, but,
um, I like it was just a littlescary, but it was so fun to
(07:23):
experience that yeah to to knowthat God could carry us through
those things, even through theworst things you know.
Paisley Jackson (07:30):
But it is hard.
Denise Jackson (07:31):
And especially because A lot of things did
happen on the boat, it wasn'tjust a travel day for us.
One of our teammates did a DBS,which is a Bible study method
that we do with people that wemeet.
Deductive Bible study ordiscovery Bible study yes.
Paisley Jackson (07:47):
Discovery Bible study.
Denise Jackson (07:49):
And they got to do that with a man on the boat
who just came up to them andasked what they were doing and
they were reading their Bibles.
So he got to sit down with them, who just came up to them and
asked what they were doing andthey were reading their bibles,
so he got to sit down with them.
Me and two of my teammates gotto pray over a man who was, um,
having trouble walking and um,just reassure his faith and
cover him.
And then we met the woman whogave us her building space an
(08:13):
apartment building to translatethe bible.
So we were on that boat andnever met her and got that space
to do that.
Paisley Jackson (08:20):
That's so good, okay, so now you're in the
congo and you were just about totell me something really big
yes, um.
Denise Jackson (08:28):
So the last week we got the opportunity to go to
a brothel and for about twoweeks before that I've been
having dreams about it andwaking up at 3am with my leader,
margo, and interceding forthings in the congo, and that's
one of the things, and so we'rejust asking god to give us this
(08:50):
opportunity to go to the brotheland meet these women and we
don't have the same like I don'thave the same stories as them,
but with impurity I can relate.
So I was really feeling thatlike I just came out of feeling
dirty and not worthy to be ingod's presence and they're in
that, and so I was so excited Iwas like I can go minister to
(09:13):
these women and we got theopportunity to go.
We're on the way and we got tochurch to meet our contact and
we're sitting there prayingbefore going and just hear god
say stay back and intercede, andI was like no, I know we hate
to, but thank god, he like givesus clear.
Paisley Jackson (09:33):
Yes, he really does.
Like I'm just saying to youguys God speaks, he does speak
and he speaks now.
Denise Jackson (09:40):
Yes, that's it.
A lot of people wait on it, butif you just ask, like God
speaks in that moment.
So in that moment I was.
I called my one of the leadersover and I was like, hey, can
you pray with me about this?
Because I heard this, but I'mnot sure you're the leader.
This, but I'm not sure you'rethe leader.
Like I fall under yoursubmission.
So, whatever you think, sheprayed and immediately heard
yeah, I need to stay back withone of our other teammates and
(10:01):
we need to intercede.
So we stayed back and weinterceded and, um, it went
really well.
We're just rapid fire prayingfor these things.
A little bit of worship, justtwo of us.
And then my team came back andthey were telling us testimonies
and I specifically prayed forthis woman, deborah.
I got a name and I prayed forher, and as soon as two, because
(10:23):
they had broke off into twos togo throughout the brothel and a
group of the two they're likegoing at this lady named deborah
and I was like wow and so, oh,I love it.
Thank you, father gosh.
It was so cool to sit there andI mean I was super disappointed
to not be able to go and meetthese people like these women
myself.
But I was like this is so muchbetter.
Paisley Jackson (10:45):
Everything I prayed, almost everything I
prayed for they were just sayingthey're like and this is this
and this, and I'm just sothankful for the ability to know
that it's big.
But I also feel that I justneed to say to you guys uh,
(11:07):
people deride prayer, they actlike it's no big deal, and some
people say I'm going to pray andthey don't pray.
But I want you to know, prayertumbles mountains, yeah, and we
need some mountains tumbled allacross the world.
Some of the stuff that we thinkabout in our country is so
little compared to what's goingon in the rest of the world and
(11:27):
what people are dealing with,and our prayers matter, so I
hope we pray.
Yeah, okay, so you got malariawhen you were over there?
Yes, so so let me tell you, Iwent to Mexico this summer.
That was my first mission trip.
And what about with Riley?
Yes, with Riley, and we had agreat time serving.
But I also came back damn, youknow tired, exhausted and sick.
(11:51):
So that was hard.
You know it's taken me a whileto say, okay, I'm ready to go
again.
Lord, not that long, but it didtake me a little while.
But you came back.
I want to know about themalaria.
But you came back and you werelike, okay, where am I going
next?
Yeah, and you're not going toan easy place.
No, it's mongolia, but um, Ijust want you to talk about that
(12:12):
malaria, because that was likenot a little thing with you and
your team yeah, um, all of ourteam got malaria.
Denise Jackson (12:18):
Some got it twice.
When I got it and we weretaking our medicine, it's just
mosquitoes were really bad inCongo and, um, no team has gone
to Congo from our school so theyweren't fully prepared like
weren't fully prepared for howmany mosquitoes there actually
was, and wearing like clothes toprotect that night and stuff um
(12:38):
, and two of our tvs had to goto the hospital because they
were sick and they got ips andtreated and stuff.
Came home and they were stillsick.
So the doctor came to us.
And that's when I was sick andso kind of the doctor to
actually come to our house.
So we have to go and yeah, andbe exposed to other things in
(12:59):
the hospital, right, yeah, andso got IV packs at home, which
was crazy.
I was like no, they put a needlein my hand and I left a little
port thing in for like 24 hoursis so scary because infections
and stuff and I was so scaredbut thankfully we got to get off
that and got onto pills thatmade us all better.
(13:20):
Um, but that was really hardbecause I'd experienced symptoms
while we were out doingministry and I was like our
favorite quote quote was justpress in.
If anybody from my team seesthis ever, just press in.
Paisley Jackson (13:38):
Well, and God says press in to Him right.
Yes, even in the midst of that.
Denise Jackson (13:42):
So we were pressing in and I was like, oh,
I don't feel great, but it'sprobably just sinus infection.
I get those a lot, it'll beokay.
And then my whole body justgoes weak and I almost passed
out and we had to send me homeon a motorbike with sam, and so
that was really scary because Iwas like never have been that
close to like passing out.
(14:03):
My body's never been in thatphysical condition, being soccer
and stuff.
I've always been in good shapeand strong and strong.
So that was weird to feel likesuper weak and I was scared that
I was going to pass out on themotorbike and fall off and
thankfully sam was there and hewas protecting me now.
Paisley Jackson (14:21):
Those two boys really stepped up.
Denise Jackson (14:23):
They were mighty men of god, younger than all of
us, I know, and it was just thesame thing.
Paisley Jackson (14:27):
When I met sam, I was like my gosh, he's a baby
, because he had a birthday whenwe were there.
Right, right yeah 2018.
Denise Jackson (14:33):
Yeah, and it's funny because when we first all
met each other.
We did like, gave each otherwords about what we heard God
say.
For them and for him it wastender protector.
Oh I love that and he really isjust the most tender hearted
protector.
And so he was protecting me andI got home and was sleeping for
a little bit and then threw upand I mean non-stop diarrhea.
And Benji, non-stop diarrheafor two weeks.
(14:56):
Our whole team like we would wewouldn't be able to be out too
long because if we were, we'dhave to rent a bathroom or a
bush or something.
Paisley Jackson (15:05):
Oh, my gosh bless your heart so um, does
that worry you as you go backout again, that there could be
other things, or just I don'tknow how you feel not really, I
don't, I don't know.
I think it's the blessing fromthe lord, but I don't get too
worried about like am I gonnaget?
Denise Jackson (15:25):
sick.
What happens if I get sick?
What will we do like all thesethings, just kind of if it
happens?
I know that he'll provide likehe especially after going to
africa and then just showing howhe does provide um for medicine
and I didn't even have to pay.
It was incredible, and so Iknow that he'll provide and so
(15:48):
I'm not too worried.
I do.
Just after the malaria, itstill stuck with me for like a
week of like not being able togo out to the ministry because I
was feeling lightheaded or myheart wasn't working right.
Paisley Jackson (16:03):
Were you having like an arrhythmia or something
, something Racing heart.
Yeah, you might have inheritedthat, but it's not a big deal,
it just makes your heartstronger, perfect.
Denise Jackson (16:13):
That's what I'm proclaiming over you, because I
know mine is really strong butso it was hard after that to be
like week out of ministry, eventhough I wasn't like having
insane symptoms, it was just Icouldn't go long distance and we
were walking everywhere.
So that does worry me of.
If I get in a place where Idon't have a lot of time to
(16:35):
minister to people and I getsick, yeah, then feel like I'm
missing out on ministering tothem.
Paisley Jackson (16:40):
But sometimes you have to have rest.
Yes, so he knows that too.
Yeah, and he's training you up.
You know you're just at thebeginning, yeah, so so, um, I
want to just bless you in Jesus'name for this trip that's
coming up.
God has you in the palm of hishand, he speaks to you and we
(17:06):
listen, so the words of yourmouth and the meditations of
your heart are pleasing to himwhich is powerful, because then
what comes out of your mouth isthe word, and so I just bless
you in Jesus' name with safetyand might.
Only be strong and courageous,and do not fear.
Denise Jackson (17:23):
For the Lord your.
Paisley Jackson (17:24):
God is with you and he fights for you.
And I know that Paisley is soexcited about your next trip to
Mongolia and right now you'regoing really on faith because
you've got enough to go.
but you don't have a ticket tocome home, yet so we're praying
for that and I'm sure that Godwill provide.
He always provides, but I lovethat you're stepping up in such
faith with the help of ourfilmer here, her dad.
(17:46):
Hey Dad.
So what's like?
Do you have any partying wordsof wisdom for young women who
are growing up in the same time?
Denise Jackson (17:57):
Yeah, I think that I could go a lot of words
in different ways, but justsomething that I learned being
out in Africa, from my leadersand just from God and the holy
spirit, is that obedience overresults.
God doesn't care about theresults of what he asks us to do
(18:19):
, he just wants our simple yes.
And so, hearing from him andjust obeying and saying yes,
lord, like you spoke, so I'mgonna do it, even if nothing
happens, and, um, I have alittle testimony of that yeah,
please, I.
We were in a village in burundiand it's called kayenza and I
(18:42):
was praying we're all prayingover this blind woman and I felt
the lord say spit in the dirt,make mud and rub it on her eyes
and I was like, oh god, you'recrazy because I can't do that.
What, um?
And he was like, no, just do it.
And I was like okay.
So I built up courage tocollect dirt, spin it, make mud,
(19:04):
and I rubbed on her eyes, readthe story out to her and, um, we
washed off.
And she didn't, she wasn'thealed.
But that night I God like hejust wants our obedience and to
step out in faith.
And if that woman can see howmuch I can step out into faith
for a stranger in somethingcrazy, then she can step out
into faith and believe that shecan be healed.
(19:26):
And so the rest of my outreachwas really just me obeying and
trusting and loving that overthe results of the way he asked
us.
So that's my encouragement toyou all.
Thank you, I love you.
I love you.
So I'm here with my granddaughter, paisley
Jackson, and she just got backfrom her first mission trip
major mission trip to Africa,and just wanted to have a
conversation with her and sharethat with you so you guys would
know what she's doing and howGod's using her, because God
(00:23):
wants all of us to be usedvitally in the land that he's
given us, and in her case it's alittle bit more extreme than
than most of us, but it'swonderful and so, hey, welcome
Paisley glad you're here, uh,just for a little while.
Right, you're getting ready, uh,this week to leave again to
Mongolia?
Denise Jackson (00:43):
Yes, to do what To work with the YWAM base there
and serve them the best that wecan, as well as help pioneering
a prayer room hopefully.
Paisley Jackson (00:57):
I love that pioneering.
There's some pioneer spirit ina lot of us.
Denise Jackson (01:01):
Yes, yes, a lot of pioneering in these last
couple of seasons.
Paisley Jackson (01:07):
So let's talk about, uh, africa, you, you flew
into burundi.
No, you flew in to africa andyou went to burundi, yes, yes,
and in burundi, one of thethings we got really excited
about is, like you were there aday and you baptized somebody
yes, yeah, we're on our firstday.
Denise Jackson (01:24):
We just went down to do fishermen ministry
and we were with the fishermenand shout out Benji, my teammate
.
He is a fisherman from Norway,so he preached to these guys and
then he was like does anybodywant to give their life to Jesus
?
And a few of them did about 20.
(01:44):
Wow, more than a few.
Wow, yes, about 20 people there, like the angels were really.
They say that angels rejoice.
I know, I know that's I couldfeel it.
Paisley Jackson (01:57):
I could feel it .
Denise Jackson (01:58):
That's awesome and then um three young
teenagers.
I think they're like teenagers.
They said they want to getbaptized and I think it was
really awesome because a lot ofpeople in Africa want to get
baptized with their church, tobe under a church and they were
just like yeah, I want to getbaptized, like I gave my life to
(02:18):
Jesus and get baptized.
And so we went ahead andbaptized them.
I got to baptize my firstperson, and it was a little girl
, and oh, my god, so precious.
Paisley Jackson (02:31):
And what's her name?
Do you remember her?
Denise Jackson (02:33):
name?
I don't it's really fast, yeah,yeah it's also so many african
names it's hard to remember allof them, so but wonder if it's
hard for them to rememberpaisley.
Paisley Jackson (02:44):
Yes, yes, they called me Paisley Paisley.
I love Paisley, but that's true.
Like you go to another countryand another culture and what's
easy for us is really hard forthem.
And the opposite is true what'seasy for them is really hard
for us.
That's so interesting.
I still remember her face.
Oh, that's awesome.
That was a great gift that Godgave you because he knew you
(03:13):
were going to walk that path.
So you and I talked when youwere in Hawaii at training and
you had all these expectations.
In fact, one of thoseexpectations that I exactly
remember is that you said, no,I'm not going to eat any weird
food.
And I just said, okay, now tellme how that changed when you
went to africa.
Denise Jackson (03:31):
I ate some weird food um, they're.
One of their favorite dish isum ugali, which is the white
stuff that you take with yourhands and you roll it up and you
dip it in sauce, and they loveto pair that with fish sauce,
and I'm not a fish eater, so.
But they live right by a lake,so, especially in congo, like
(03:53):
they just catch their fish andright there eat it.
So I had that, which,unfortunately, my team was not
able to eat.
We all got a little sick andthey had to stop making it.
But I did eat a fish like thisbig, oh, just the whole just the
whole fish bone, I everything,but you were hungry.
Paisley Jackson (04:11):
Yes, I was so hungry yeah, yeah, so we can do
things that we think we can'twhen there's a need.
Yes, so that's a that's a greatlesson to learn too, because it
makes us really I don't likeappreciate so much more than we
have.
Yeah, we have an excess in thiscountry.
Yes, but it it really we don'teven know it because we're used
(04:33):
to it.
But then you come back.
How's it been to just havechick-fil-a?
Denise Jackson (04:39):
so good I I do think that I miss the simplicity
of like knowing I'm going tohave beans and rice for lunch
and dinner.
Breakfast was a littledifferent.
We just had bread, but likebeans and rice for lunch and
dinner, and maybe a little addin of cassava and beans or some
cabbage.
All these different things, butjust knowing like, okay, this
(05:02):
is what I'm eating.
So now I'm going to be be likewhat do I want to eat?
and it's not just the clean,simple beans and rice it's been
a little rough making decisions,but it's been so nice well,
those kind of decisions, becauseyou were making decisions yes
tell me about some of thedecisions you made each day, oh,
(05:22):
um, where to go on.
Ministry was a big one.
Like.
We did a lot of door-to-doorvisits.
So knowing, like asking theholy spirit, should I go back to
somebody that I went to theother day, or do we go to a new
house and meet somebody new?
Um, should I stop and talk tothese people walking on the side
(05:44):
of the road on our way, eventhough we had a plan to go to
this house?
Like, do I stop?
And then, when I get thatfeeling to just obey and do it,
my hardest decision was um, wegot an opportunity.
So for the whole time we'vebeen there, um, in the congo, we
were there for about five weeks.
Paisley Jackson (06:05):
So you went from Burundi to the Congo?
I forgot to mention that.
Denise Jackson (06:08):
Yes, from Burundi to Congo.
And you went across the lakeyes, about 24 hours in a boat.
It was a nice little boat,though, with a lot of people, a
lot of people On the way there.
It was so overcrowded it wascrazy.
Paisley Jackson (06:22):
And you know right after you got back over
crowded it was crazy like andyou know right after you got
back there one of them not inthe same exact area, but on that
same leg.
Yeah, a lot of people drowned.
Yeah, like, so you know you hadprotection, god knew what you
needed to do, but it was a scarysituation.
Denise Jackson (06:37):
Yeah, it was especially because we're what?
Like the only white people onthis boat.
So where we were staying wasn'tlike the only white people on
this boat.
So where we were staying wasn'tlike secluded and a lot of
people were coming trying totalk to us, look at our bags and
try to steal stuff, and a lotof people, a lot of men, asked
to take us girls and our boyswere very strong with being like
no, that's my wife.
(06:58):
And as soon as they heard that,they would back off.
But there are a few incidentsof like men coming up and asking
if they could take us and thatwas different, huh, super
different and scary, just toknow, like and it's overnight so
I didn't sleep, I was up allnight watching all my team, but,
um, I like it was just a littlescary, but it was so fun to
(07:23):
experience that yeah to to knowthat God could carry us through
those things, even through theworst things you know.
Paisley Jackson (07:30):
But it is hard.
Denise Jackson (07:31):
And especially because A lot of things did
happen on the boat, it wasn'tjust a travel day for us.
One of our teammates did a DBS,which is a Bible study method
that we do with people that wemeet.
Deductive Bible study ordiscovery Bible study yes.
Paisley Jackson (07:47):
Discovery Bible study.
Denise Jackson (07:49):
And they got to do that with a man on the boat
who just came up to them andasked what they were doing and
they were reading their Bibles.
So he got to sit down with them, who just came up to them and
asked what they were doing andthey were reading their bibles,
so he got to sit down with them.
Me and two of my teammates gotto pray over a man who was, um,
having trouble walking and um,just reassure his faith and
cover him.
And then we met the woman whogave us her building space an
(08:13):
apartment building to translatethe bible.
So we were on that boat andnever met her and got that space
to do that.
Paisley Jackson (08:20):
That's so good, okay, so now you're in the
congo and you were just about totell me something really big
yes, um.
Denise Jackson (08:28):
So the last week we got the opportunity to go to
a brothel and for about twoweeks before that I've been
having dreams about it andwaking up at 3am with my leader,
margo, and interceding forthings in the congo, and that's
one of the things, and so we'rejust asking god to give us this
(08:50):
opportunity to go to the brotheland meet these women and we
don't have the same like I don'thave the same stories as them,
but with impurity I can relate.
So I was really feeling thatlike I just came out of feeling
dirty and not worthy to be ingod's presence and they're in
that, and so I was so excited Iwas like I can go minister to
(09:13):
these women and we got theopportunity to go.
We're on the way and we got tochurch to meet our contact and
we're sitting there prayingbefore going and just hear god
say stay back and intercede, andI was like no, I know we hate
to, but thank god, he like givesus clear.
Paisley Jackson (09:33):
Yes, he really does.
Like I'm just saying to youguys God speaks, he does speak
and he speaks now.
Denise Jackson (09:40):
Yes, that's it.
A lot of people wait on it, butif you just ask, like God
speaks in that moment.
So in that moment I was.
I called my one of the leadersover and I was like, hey, can
you pray with me about this?
Because I heard this, but I'mnot sure you're the leader.
This, but I'm not sure you'rethe leader.
Like I fall under yoursubmission.
So, whatever you think, sheprayed and immediately heard
yeah, I need to stay back withone of our other teammates and
(10:01):
we need to intercede.
So we stayed back and weinterceded and, um, it went
really well.
We're just rapid fire prayingfor these things.
A little bit of worship, justtwo of us.
And then my team came back andthey were telling us testimonies
and I specifically prayed forthis woman, deborah.
I got a name and I prayed forher, and as soon as two, because
(10:23):
they had broke off into twos togo throughout the brothel and a
group of the two they're likegoing at this lady named deborah
and I was like wow and so, oh,I love it.
Thank you, father gosh.
It was so cool to sit there andI mean I was super disappointed
to not be able to go and meetthese people like these women
myself.
But I was like this is so muchbetter.
Paisley Jackson (10:45):
Everything I prayed, almost everything I
prayed for they were just sayingthey're like and this is this
and this, and I'm just sothankful for the ability to know
that it's big.
But I also feel that I justneed to say to you guys uh,
(11:07):
people deride prayer, they actlike it's no big deal, and some
people say I'm going to pray andthey don't pray.
But I want you to know, prayertumbles mountains, yeah, and we
need some mountains tumbled allacross the world.
Some of the stuff that we thinkabout in our country is so
little compared to what's goingon in the rest of the world and
(11:27):
what people are dealing with,and our prayers matter, so I
hope we pray.
Yeah, okay, so you got malariawhen you were over there?
Yes, so so let me tell you, Iwent to Mexico this summer.
That was my first mission trip.
And what about with Riley?
Yes, with Riley, and we had agreat time serving.
But I also came back damn, youknow tired, exhausted and sick.
(11:51):
So that was hard.
You know it's taken me a whileto say, okay, I'm ready to go
again.
Lord, not that long, but it didtake me a little while.
But you came back.
I want to know about themalaria.
But you came back and you werelike, okay, where am I going
next?
Yeah, and you're not going toan easy place.
No, it's mongolia, but um, Ijust want you to talk about that
(12:12):
malaria, because that was likenot a little thing with you and
your team yeah, um, all of ourteam got malaria.
Denise Jackson (12:18):
Some got it twice.
When I got it and we weretaking our medicine, it's just
mosquitoes were really bad inCongo and, um, no team has gone
to Congo from our school so theyweren't fully prepared like
weren't fully prepared for howmany mosquitoes there actually
was, and wearing like clothes toprotect that night and stuff um
(12:38):
, and two of our tvs had to goto the hospital because they
were sick and they got ips andtreated and stuff.
Came home and they were stillsick.
So the doctor came to us.
And that's when I was sick andso kind of the doctor to
actually come to our house.
So we have to go and yeah, andbe exposed to other things in
(12:59):
the hospital, right, yeah, andso got IV packs at home, which
was crazy.
I was like no, they put a needlein my hand and I left a little
port thing in for like 24 hoursis so scary because infections
and stuff and I was so scaredbut thankfully we got to get off
that and got onto pills thatmade us all better.
(13:20):
Um, but that was really hardbecause I'd experienced symptoms
while we were out doingministry and I was like our
favorite quote quote was justpress in.
If anybody from my team seesthis ever, just press in.
Paisley Jackson (13:38):
Well, and God says press in to Him right.
Yes, even in the midst of that.
Denise Jackson (13:42):
So we were pressing in and I was like, oh,
I don't feel great, but it'sprobably just sinus infection.
I get those a lot, it'll beokay.
And then my whole body justgoes weak and I almost passed
out and we had to send me homeon a motorbike with sam, and so
that was really scary because Iwas like never have been that
close to like passing out.
(14:03):
My body's never been in thatphysical condition, being soccer
and stuff.
I've always been in good shapeand strong and strong.
So that was weird to feel likesuper weak and I was scared that
I was going to pass out on themotorbike and fall off and
thankfully sam was there and hewas protecting me now.
Paisley Jackson (14:21):
Those two boys really stepped up.
Denise Jackson (14:23):
They were mighty men of god, younger than all of
us, I know, and it was just thesame thing.
Paisley Jackson (14:27):
When I met sam, I was like my gosh, he's a baby
, because he had a birthday whenwe were there.
Right, right yeah 2018.
Denise Jackson (14:33):
Yeah, and it's funny because when we first all
met each other.
We did like, gave each otherwords about what we heard God
say.
For them and for him it wastender protector.
Oh I love that and he really isjust the most tender hearted
protector.
And so he was protecting me andI got home and was sleeping for
a little bit and then threw upand I mean non-stop diarrhea.
And Benji, non-stop diarrheafor two weeks.
(14:56):
Our whole team like we would wewouldn't be able to be out too
long because if we were, we'dhave to rent a bathroom or a
bush or something.
Paisley Jackson (15:05):
Oh, my gosh bless your heart so um, does
that worry you as you go backout again, that there could be
other things, or just I don'tknow how you feel not really, I
don't, I don't know.
I think it's the blessing fromthe lord, but I don't get too
worried about like am I gonnaget?
Denise Jackson (15:25):
sick.
What happens if I get sick?
What will we do like all thesethings, just kind of if it
happens?
I know that he'll provide likehe especially after going to
africa and then just showing howhe does provide um for medicine
and I didn't even have to pay.
It was incredible, and so Iknow that he'll provide and so
(15:48):
I'm not too worried.
I do.
Just after the malaria, itstill stuck with me for like a
week of like not being able togo out to the ministry because I
was feeling lightheaded or myheart wasn't working right.
Paisley Jackson (16:03):
Were you having like an arrhythmia or something
, something Racing heart.
Yeah, you might have inheritedthat, but it's not a big deal,
it just makes your heartstronger, perfect.
Denise Jackson (16:13):
That's what I'm proclaiming over you, because I
know mine is really strong butso it was hard after that to be
like week out of ministry, eventhough I wasn't like having
insane symptoms, it was just Icouldn't go long distance and we
were walking everywhere.
So that does worry me of.
If I get in a place where Idon't have a lot of time to
(16:35):
minister to people and I getsick, yeah, then feel like I'm
missing out on ministering tothem.
Paisley Jackson (16:40):
But sometimes you have to have rest.
Yes, so he knows that too.
Yeah, and he's training you up.
You know you're just at thebeginning, yeah, so so, um, I
want to just bless you in Jesus'name for this trip that's
coming up.
God has you in the palm of hishand, he speaks to you and we
(17:06):
listen, so the words of yourmouth and the meditations of
your heart are pleasing to himwhich is powerful, because then
what comes out of your mouth isthe word, and so I just bless
you in Jesus' name with safetyand might.
Only be strong and courageous,and do not fear.
Denise Jackson (17:23):
For the Lord your.
Paisley Jackson (17:24):
God is with you and he fights for you.
And I know that Paisley is soexcited about your next trip to
Mongolia and right now you'regoing really on faith because
you've got enough to go.
but you don't have a ticket tocome home, yet so we're praying
for that and I'm sure that Godwill provide.
He always provides, but I lovethat you're stepping up in such
faith with the help of ourfilmer here, her dad.
(17:46):
Hey Dad.
So what's like?
Do you have any partying wordsof wisdom for young women who
are growing up in the same time?
Denise Jackson (17:57):
Yeah, I think that I could go a lot of words
in different ways, but justsomething that I learned being
out in Africa, from my leadersand just from God and the holy
spirit, is that obedience overresults.
God doesn't care about theresults of what he asks us to do
(18:19):
, he just wants our simple yes.
And so, hearing from him andjust obeying and saying yes,
lord, like you spoke, so I'mgonna do it, even if nothing
happens, and, um, I have alittle testimony of that yeah,
please, I.
We were in a village in burundiand it's called kayenza and I
(18:42):
was praying we're all prayingover this blind woman and I felt
the lord say spit in the dirt,make mud and rub it on her eyes
and I was like, oh god, you'recrazy because I can't do that.
What, um?
And he was like, no, just do it.
And I was like okay.
So I built up courage tocollect dirt, spin it, make mud,
(19:04):
and I rubbed on her eyes, readthe story out to her and, um, we
washed off.
And she didn't, she wasn'thealed.
But that night I God like hejust wants our obedience and to
step out in faith.
And if that woman can see howmuch I can step out into faith
for a stranger in somethingcrazy, then she can step out
into faith and believe that shecan be healed.
(19:26):
And so the rest of my outreachwas really just me obeying and
trusting and loving that overthe results of the way he asked
us.
So that's my encouragement toyou all.
Thank you, I love you.
I love you.
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