Hello beautiful people.
it’s been a few days now since I landed in America. & The jet lag is real! I still feel like I am in a fog, it hasn’t really sunk in that I am no longer living in Mozambique. Mozambique has been a place I’ve called home since 2014. The people and the culture have become a part of me. It definitely isn’t going to be easy adjusting back to home for a bit here in America but I have to be patient and give myself time and grace. I am going to miss my family in Tete and the amazing women of White as Snow. But I know that God is calling me to something bigger than I could have ever imagined for myself. SOON I will introduce you all to my new journey ahead. Im so excited to share with you my heart and excitement for this next season. I am already writing my next update; so get excited for some big news! For now I am spending some much needed family time and time for myself to rest & process.
As I mentioned in my previous update, I want to share with you guys some of the things my beautiful ladies at White as Snow said over me as I left. Im sharing this not to brag but to share what YOU all invested in. Although you weren’t physically there with me, you all are the reason why I am able to do what I am called to do. So without you this wouldn’t have been possible.
Love, Tatum
Here are some of the words spoken over me that I am always going to hold close to my heart:
“Tatum I just want to thank you, you taught me not to look down upon myself. Now I am strong, I can read the Bible and pray. You helped me to read the Bible – to really understand it. Please go teach others who are looking down on themselves their worth. I will miss you.”
“My heart is hurting but I’m thankful. I know in spirit we are together. Thank you for all that you taught us. You really encouraged all of us. Please continue to do that for others.”
“Thank you for your love, and your teachings. When Iook at you I see you like a big tree who gives others shade. You take people and put them together. You taught me how to pray, you taught me how to forgive others. Whenever I have problems I bring them to you – you always counsel me very well. You would pray for me until I felt better. Im going to miss you.”
“Thank you for coming here to be with us. She taught us the greatness of God. We didn’t know how to pray but Tatum taught us how. So I want to thank you for everything you taught us, continue to do it for everyone else. My favorite part about you is you don’t choose who you give your love to – you give it to everyone.”
“Thank you for all the studies you gave us. I didn’t know how to pray. You taught us how to pray through encounters. Now I not only know how to pray for myself but how to pray for others. You also taught us how to decorate. You showed us how to use simple things like fabric and make it into something beautiful. Thank you for the love you give us, you are so kind I love you.”
“I want to thank God for the time spent together. We learned a lot from her. She taught us how to pray when most of us didn’t know how. Tatum is always happy. I just want to thank you for the words you’ve spoken over us. Wherever you go continue doing the good work of GOD.”
“We are going to miss you Tatum. When I came here I was so burdened and not free. But because of your teaching I’ve learned so much. I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I want to thank God for sending us Tatum. Thank you for the lessons you gave us and your love. I don’t have many words to say.. I just want to say farewell but continue doing good work. We will miss you.”
“I just want to thank Tatum for being here. Keep on doing great work of God and teaching others like what you taught us. When you teach you make me so happy. May God bless you – we will always be praying for you and will be missing you.”
“I Love you so much. Tatum you taught me how to talk. You taught me to calm down and not get angry. You taught me how to talk to someone when they wrong me. You taught me how to talk to others nicely. You taught me a-lot, you are like a sister to me. I am going to miss you so much.”
“You were a boss to me, but you also were like a friend to me. You taught me how to pray and how to forgive others. You taught us unity here. I would like to thank you for teaching me to be a prayerful person. In everything you did you are so patient and humble. I wish you a safe journey.”
“I’m out of words but I want to say I’m going to miss you. There is something special I learned in my life from you. You are so humble. You are always smiling. Even when you are sad or things are not well, you don’t look different you look the same everyday. Thank you for everything you taught us. Since the day I knew you you’ve helped us change. You taught us about spending time with God. I didn’t know we needed to do that. I now know I need to have time with God praying specific prayers. I now know spending time with him is so sweet. I know I’m important, special, and I’m no longer ashamed with myself. I can now stand in-front of people telling them about my past encouraging them about their future. There are so many people waiting for the blessing you have for them. Continue to go share your heart so they will also know how important they are. You are such a good leader. May God bless you abundantly.”
“Thank you God for sending Tatum to us. I want to thank you Tatum, you are humble. I used to know some people who I thought they were humble but I didn’t know how it is to humble yourself before God but I can see it through you. Just by seeing you I know how to humble myself before God. You taught me how to pray. I used to pray just to pray and I didn’t know to give God time to enter his presence. Now when I’m at home I lay on my bed and I talk to God. I ask him to fill me so I can feel his presence. And then I do feel him. And you taught me that and for that I am forever grateful. You also taught me about communion, I didn’t know that I can eat the bread like I am eating of Him. I know God is within me and I am within him. Whatever situation I am in I know I have power through Christ. Thank you for your teachings. I wish you could stay here a little bit more but I know God has amazing plans for you so we just say thank you. May God richly bless you. We are going to miss you.”
“I just want to thank God. Since knowing Tatum, whenever I have a problem she can always calm me down. She is such an encourager. I am going to miss her so much.”
“I really don’t know where to start. From the day we met I noticed she was quiet so I wondered if she would make it here with us since we can be crazy sometimes. I thank God for bringing her to us. She was His tool to use for the better of White as Snow. We give so much thanks to you. I don’t think if it wasn’t for your teachings that we would be where we are today. You taught us the most important thing in our lives which is to be in a relationship with God. And that only was the key to everything. Like what the Bible says “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these things shall be added to you” you taught us to seek the kingdom of God. It wasn’t easy but we made it through you. Your encounters played a very big role in our lives especially mine. I thought I knew how to pray to God but after your teachings I realized I didn’t know how. I was just praying randomly. Now I know that praying to God is also feeling His presence. If I am praying I should feel his presence, and his spirit within me. All thanks to you. You made it easy for me , without you and other leadership, I didn’t think I was going to make it. You were always there for me, watching my back for me. I remember when you always told me “mama pastor I know you are a strong women” that truly meant a lot to me. So I just pray to God that wherever you go just continue to keep your light shining. Your light changes many lives. White as Snow to be what it is today is because of you. You taught me about a character that I didn’t have. Ive learned not just by your teachings but just by watching you. I was the type of person who wanted to explain myself. I looked at you most of the time and you are not like that. You don’t talk immediately because you give yourself time to process things. Ive learned to process things not just to talk. I wish you a happy life full of joy and happiness. I love you dearly.”