My grandma passed away this week and since I can not be there to properly mourn and celebrate her life and death, I felt God prompting me to honor her on my blog because of the work that she has done spiritually in my life. She was and will continue to be my wisest cheerleader for the gospel...I will miss our conversations about what God is doing in our lives, but I know she will now have an even greater perspective...
Dear Grandma, I would like to take this time to honor you, not because you were a great grandmother (though you were) or because you liked to give away a lot of things (though you did), but because of your amazing relationship with Jesus Christ, an amazing woman of Faith. Although it is a sad occasion that your physical presence will no longer be here on earth with us, I am excited and happy for you that you have gone Home. I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a living example of a disciple of Jesus Christ and not backing down from what you believed. Thank you for being real about the gospel, sharing it wherever you went, and not being afraid of what people would say...I really admire you for that and long to follow in those footsteps. You always chose God's will for your life, no matter what the cost was. It didn't matter how much pain you had to go through or moving from your comfortable house, you still saw the good in what He was doing. I also want to say thank you for your constant prayers, Grandma. I know many of them God has answered in my life while I am here in Africa. Thank you for your confidence in Him and never backsliding when things got tough. Even when people may have thought you had been too religious or preachy at times, it didn't bother you because you knew who you were in Christ. Thank you for speaking truth in our lives, and I ask for forgiveness I wasn't "in the mood" to listen to your wisdom and revalation. I admire your willingness and endurance to fight the good fight of faith, looking forward to what was before you and forgetting the past. Your eyes were like Paul's, on getting the crown of God's call from heaven; to count everything as loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. That's you, Grandma. Everything else was worthless compared to your relationship with Him...Thank you for understanding my desires to give everything to find the abundant life in Jesus, the freedom that Christ has offered to each of us, but few rarely find. Thank you for choosing the narrow path and not giving into the fear of man. Grandma, I am excited that you are in the best place possible, receiving the treasures you have built up in heaven. Thank you for living your life loudly, boldly, and courageously for the Kingdom of God. May the seeds you have planted in my life as well as many others grow into trees of righteousness. May you see the fruit of your laboring in prayer. May you rejoice and be glad that you are now seated in heavenly places with the greatest person who has ever walked the earth. You have lived your life, Grandma, as a strong woman of Faith. May God bless you as you rest in His loving arms and dance in celebration that it is no longer mourning time for you. For Song of Soloman says in chapter 2 verses 10-13, "My love speaks and says to me, 'Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me. For see, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. The flowers are coming through the ground. The time for singing has come. The voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has its fruits. The flowers on the vines spread their sweet smell. Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with Me.'" I believe this is Jesus welcoming you home and into the beautiful spiritual body He has prepared for you to live forever with Him.
I love you so much and look forward to the the day when we can share about my adventures, but I know that you will be able to be where I am...Come along for the ride, Grandma!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
More pictures!
I got kicked out of the internet cafe yesterday because the owner was sick, so I didn't have time to finish the rest of my blog...Here are a few more pictures to see!
I met Siki one night at a cell group and she has an amazing story to tell about being one of the first black Africans to go to an all-white school after Apartheid ended in 1994. We share the same heart to see people reconciled to Jesus and then to each other…Her spirit and mine connected immediately and we could stop talking about our passions for Africa. I know we will see each other and minister together one day…I have never met anyone like her before. You could feel alive just sitting next to her…really.
I chose to get baptized in the ocean the last day of DTS as a symbol of my new commitment with God. I haven’t been been pabtised as an adult until now…I couldn’t have picked a better place, although the water was very…ah….refreshing!
This a TRUE miracle…that we all graduated…Ephesian 2:14-22, my prayer for this whole DTS was answered…I have seen TRUE reconciliation happen, but it’s only by the blood of Jesus…
More of God’s little ones enjoying sweets together!
Anyone for a chicken’s foot? There’s not much meat on them, but the cartilage has a bit of flavor!
Just some of the delicious food we tried from the Xhosa guys’ culture…this is called Smiley…(sheep’s head) and I think it’s because it smiles back at you when you eat it! I had the privilege of eating the cheek and the lip....chewy!
Playing UNO with the children, our neighbors, on a rainy day….
Preparing for the adventure ahead! Wahoo!
I met Siki one night at a cell group and she has an amazing story to tell about being one of the first black Africans to go to an all-white school after Apartheid ended in 1994. We share the same heart to see people reconciled to Jesus and then to each other…Her spirit and mine connected immediately and we could stop talking about our passions for Africa. I know we will see each other and minister together one day…I have never met anyone like her before. You could feel alive just sitting next to her…really.
I chose to get baptized in the ocean the last day of DTS as a symbol of my new commitment with God. I haven’t been been pabtised as an adult until now…I couldn’t have picked a better place, although the water was very…ah….refreshing!
This a TRUE miracle…that we all graduated…Ephesian 2:14-22, my prayer for this whole DTS was answered…I have seen TRUE reconciliation happen, but it’s only by the blood of Jesus…
More of God’s little ones enjoying sweets together!
Anyone for a chicken’s foot? There’s not much meat on them, but the cartilage has a bit of flavor!
Just some of the delicious food we tried from the Xhosa guys’ culture…this is called Smiley…(sheep’s head) and I think it’s because it smiles back at you when you eat it! I had the privilege of eating the cheek and the lip....chewy!
Playing UNO with the children, our neighbors, on a rainy day….
Preparing for the adventure ahead! Wahoo!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I'm Back...On Blogger, Not In The US...
Okay, everyone…it’s official…I am an honorable YWAM graduate! Wahoo! We had our very multicultural ceremony in the township about 1.5 weeks ago, and it felt like home again after being out of Capetown for 2 months...It was really amazing and it felt like God was as excited to see this day become a reality for our group. Seriously, it’s been a very long 5.5 months together from different backgrounds, cultures, languages, belief systems, walks with God, ages, etc., etc., etc. and for me, this is a TRUE miracle about the grace and faithfulness of God to see our group make it to the end together still loving each other…man, where should I start?????
I am leaving for a journey to Rwanda starting next Tuesday…Yikes! It’s been complete chaos because I feel like South Africa has become my second home for the last 10 months and it’s very difficult to find time to spend with all the beautiful people I met. It’s impossible actually to plan and treasure every second I have left here. I have fallen in love with this place, seriously, and I know this place has forever changed my character and relationship with God and people. If I sound a bit random in my blogs, it’s because I have a million things on my mind in order to get out of the country by next Friday…I still have not made any plans to get out and I have to find a way to add more pages in my passport because I have traveled to too many places…what a shame!
So my idea is to make it to Rwanda by bus, not plane where I could be there in 5 hours, but by land, which in Africa could be months…I plan to visit Iris Ministries again in Pemba, Mozambique as well as the Salyer family, my adopted American African missionary family. They would like to take a vacation to Malawi, so they may help me get more on my way…Wahoo! I have not set really an exact plan for the journey, but I am trusting God’s timing and guidance for this whole trip. I could explain what lead me up to this decision, but I am afraid I don’t have the time or space on this website to go into great detail…I am going! I am going! I am going! So please pray for my safe travels and God’s guidance and discernment.
As for the rest of my blog, I would like to include pics that will give you a general glimpse into my world over the past 4 months and the places the team has been to minister. We got to do a lot, but I believe the most ministry was done internally with eachother, teaching us to lay down our rights, prefer others more than ourselves, patience, sacrificial love, perseverance, and to treasure the small changes like seeing a hard of stone slowly become accepting of correction and real love. It’s not exactly what I wanted to go through, but I know God is answering my prayers to learn what reconciliation really looks like, and it’s not easy, no way! It requires a lot of stability in God and choosing to die to yourself…how many people want make that conscious decision every day to do that???? But then I find myself asking, What if Jesus had done that for us? I don’t like to think about that.
So enjoy the pictures…most of them aren’t mine because my camera was stolen with all of them from the beginning, but these should give you a good idea of God’s work!
At New Jerusalem, the children’s center we ministered at in Johanessburg, we go to talk the HIV babies to the clinic for their medication…my spirit stirred a lot this day, looking at their innocence and asking God, “Why?” and realizing the unlikelihood that these children would ever have a real family someday...
This is a precious picture because it rare for African males to spend time like this with children…It was one way God was softening Sandise’s heart. This little one sadly died while we were ministering there and we attended a funeral and burial…nothing like in the states…just a hole in the cemetery with a cardboard tombstone…another reality of Africa. Why do we spend so much money to celebrate the death of someone we love? Why not celebrate them more when they are alive?
Out of all the African guys on this team, it was Mfuneko who had the biggest heart for children...He lit up and was always kissing their cheeks...
“Brenda, Jesus loves you, do you know that?”
"I need more arms, God...Can you do a miracle?"
We need to chew on the Word of God daily!
We spent two weeks visiting sick people in their homes to give them hope and encouragement. After just a couple of visits, Brinley and I felt like we were a part of the family, enjoying tea, worship, prayer together...The case worker even blessed me with her beautiful white sweater before I left...it humbled me to tears.
We had a youth retreat for the teenage girls at a group home one weekend on who we are in Christ! God was so cool! He challenged me to speak for 1.5 hours on being in God’s family! It was so fun!
"More babies! Mom, can I keep him?"
I taught the African guys how to make homemade peanut butter cookies to take to their families. It was their first time baking! It was fun, as it turned into a flour fight…
Our last week of Outreach was back in the township church! Alleluia! Now this was home to us! The children we fed good healthy meals and then we did dramas every night and gave them the Word of God to eat!
This teenage girl attended and translated the services for us every night…I felt it on my heart to really pray God’s protection and dreams over her life because I know He has an incredible love for her. She really has a love for God and it’s a rough life to live out when poverty is all around her.
Here I got to preach about the dreams God has for His children, not as the world gives, but REAL KINGDOM dreams that are eternal, more than success, money, fame, materialism, but using the gifts He’s given to build the Kingdom of God.
Our last days of Outreach we spent debriefing on a Lion Game Reserve….Isn’t the cub cute? He is safe to hold because he doesn’t have teeth, but I did get scratched!
I am leaving for a journey to Rwanda starting next Tuesday…Yikes! It’s been complete chaos because I feel like South Africa has become my second home for the last 10 months and it’s very difficult to find time to spend with all the beautiful people I met. It’s impossible actually to plan and treasure every second I have left here. I have fallen in love with this place, seriously, and I know this place has forever changed my character and relationship with God and people. If I sound a bit random in my blogs, it’s because I have a million things on my mind in order to get out of the country by next Friday…I still have not made any plans to get out and I have to find a way to add more pages in my passport because I have traveled to too many places…what a shame!
So my idea is to make it to Rwanda by bus, not plane where I could be there in 5 hours, but by land, which in Africa could be months…I plan to visit Iris Ministries again in Pemba, Mozambique as well as the Salyer family, my adopted American African missionary family. They would like to take a vacation to Malawi, so they may help me get more on my way…Wahoo! I have not set really an exact plan for the journey, but I am trusting God’s timing and guidance for this whole trip. I could explain what lead me up to this decision, but I am afraid I don’t have the time or space on this website to go into great detail…I am going! I am going! I am going! So please pray for my safe travels and God’s guidance and discernment.
As for the rest of my blog, I would like to include pics that will give you a general glimpse into my world over the past 4 months and the places the team has been to minister. We got to do a lot, but I believe the most ministry was done internally with eachother, teaching us to lay down our rights, prefer others more than ourselves, patience, sacrificial love, perseverance, and to treasure the small changes like seeing a hard of stone slowly become accepting of correction and real love. It’s not exactly what I wanted to go through, but I know God is answering my prayers to learn what reconciliation really looks like, and it’s not easy, no way! It requires a lot of stability in God and choosing to die to yourself…how many people want make that conscious decision every day to do that???? But then I find myself asking, What if Jesus had done that for us? I don’t like to think about that.
So enjoy the pictures…most of them aren’t mine because my camera was stolen with all of them from the beginning, but these should give you a good idea of God’s work!
At New Jerusalem, the children’s center we ministered at in Johanessburg, we go to talk the HIV babies to the clinic for their medication…my spirit stirred a lot this day, looking at their innocence and asking God, “Why?” and realizing the unlikelihood that these children would ever have a real family someday...
This is a precious picture because it rare for African males to spend time like this with children…It was one way God was softening Sandise’s heart. This little one sadly died while we were ministering there and we attended a funeral and burial…nothing like in the states…just a hole in the cemetery with a cardboard tombstone…another reality of Africa. Why do we spend so much money to celebrate the death of someone we love? Why not celebrate them more when they are alive?
Out of all the African guys on this team, it was Mfuneko who had the biggest heart for children...He lit up and was always kissing their cheeks...
“Brenda, Jesus loves you, do you know that?”
"I need more arms, God...Can you do a miracle?"
We need to chew on the Word of God daily!
We spent two weeks visiting sick people in their homes to give them hope and encouragement. After just a couple of visits, Brinley and I felt like we were a part of the family, enjoying tea, worship, prayer together...The case worker even blessed me with her beautiful white sweater before I left...it humbled me to tears.
We had a youth retreat for the teenage girls at a group home one weekend on who we are in Christ! God was so cool! He challenged me to speak for 1.5 hours on being in God’s family! It was so fun!
"More babies! Mom, can I keep him?"
I taught the African guys how to make homemade peanut butter cookies to take to their families. It was their first time baking! It was fun, as it turned into a flour fight…
Our last week of Outreach was back in the township church! Alleluia! Now this was home to us! The children we fed good healthy meals and then we did dramas every night and gave them the Word of God to eat!
This teenage girl attended and translated the services for us every night…I felt it on my heart to really pray God’s protection and dreams over her life because I know He has an incredible love for her. She really has a love for God and it’s a rough life to live out when poverty is all around her.
Here I got to preach about the dreams God has for His children, not as the world gives, but REAL KINGDOM dreams that are eternal, more than success, money, fame, materialism, but using the gifts He’s given to build the Kingdom of God.
Our last days of Outreach we spent debriefing on a Lion Game Reserve….Isn’t the cub cute? He is safe to hold because he doesn’t have teeth, but I did get scratched!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)