Yes, that's right! My feet are finally planted on American soil...I mean freezing cold, solid snow...WHAT A CHANGE! I just can't seem to get warm! Even in my own house I feel like my toes are going to fall off! But more importantly, my heart, has definitely been warmed by the wonderful welcome from my friends at the airport, and then a hilarious, priceless dumbfounded look on my dad's face when I surprisingly walked into the house with them a day earlier than planned...man, I got my parents good! It was a hard secret to keep, but it all worked out perfectly!
I want to apologize for not keeping up with my blogs after I reached Rwanda...I don't have any excuses, except I just felt bad that there weren't any pictures to share with you...However, I included pictures of my journey on the blog above, so when you read this, you can see the faces of who I am talking about above. So, what am I supposed to write? How do I sum up almost a year and a half of my life that even if I tried to put it in words, they would always fall short of what my heart wants to express...sure I could use all the cliche words like, "life-changing, amazing, the best year and a half of my life, challenging, exciting, words can't describe, incredible, etc.," but all those adjective "don't do justice" (another cliche). All I can say is I would gladly do it all over again, not because every moment was enjoyable (one would argue that I would even describe 1 hour on an African bus, let alone 20, as that...), but because I now have a PERSONAL testimony of how REAL and FAITHFUL God was (and still is) for me in those 3.5 months. For example, did you realize I only had to pay for 7 nights accomidation? That's almost 13 weeks of generous African hospitality, none of which people I knew before I came to Africa...Did you know that sometimes I didn't know where I would spend the night that day, but God always placed a Christian African brother to get me to a safe place? Or how I met Daniel at the bus station in Tanzania, and trusting God after meeting his mom, I left with them to be blessed with the most beautiful swahili worship, prayer, and meal before heading off for 32 hours on the worst busride of my life the following day? And before leaving said, "if you ever come back through Tanzania, please stay with us. It's not good for our Christian sister to be staying in a hotel?" Or another time when I met Anita, another sister, in the bus station in Rwanda who invited me to stay at her place in Uganda (which ended up being over 10 days)? She didn't even know me beforehand, but pampered me to a complete hour long pedicure and manicure without me mentioning anything? (keep in mind I had been in the dirt for 2 months without a proper feet cleaning due to lack of running water...) Her comment, "if you lived here with me, I would never get old because you would always make me laugh," as well as other comments about my morals and values, were confirmations from God that He was giving me His joy to pour out onto His people, as well as teaching them it is possible to live holy lives. Every country (South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda)in which I spent either 1 day or over a month, each said that I have a home there. How do you put just this small part of my time traveling into words, when I am used to a country that won't even let their own relatives stay at the house because there's "not enough room?" One "2-bedroom" house I stayed in was a village in Mozambique. I arrived there one night at midnight by bus. And God began to shower me with His favor as soon as I met Zacharias' mother, who is in her late 60s, works hard in the rice fields, has to rise with the sun at 4:30 every morning, woke up to greet me and serve me chicken dinner she had cooked for me, a rare delicacy when one lives in the village where money is "tight." Remind you, she doesn't speak English and has never met me before, but considers it an honor to have visitors. As she showed me my room, which was about 9 by 4 feet cement with space between the wall and roof, sinking mattress that swallowed me in when I laid on it, and a mosquito net with holes that wouldn't keep out a flying mouse. Now if you can imagine this in 90 degree temperature and no window for a breeze, by my standards, it was definitely NOT a comfortable place to be. But God began to teach me a beautiful lesson when I saw a little boy wake up from other room to use the latrine (a hole in the ground to use for bodily functions) outside. I poked inside that other small room to find 3 other children laying on a straw mat on the cement--no mattress, no pillow, no space to sprawl out to make themselves comfortable. On the way back into the room, Valdo stopped still halfasleep to smile at me and shake my hand to greet me. I almost had tears in my eyes when I realized I was getting the African village version of a 5 star hotel, only it was better...Let me tell you why. Who was I to be blessed with their best that they had to offer me, while the rest of the family risked getting malaria and had to sleep on top of eachother on the hard ground in the humid conditions? And they did this for 5 nights in a row without complaining, in fact wanting me to stay longer? WOULD I DO THAT FOR A STRANGER--GIVE UP MY COMFORTABLE BED AND HEALTH FOR SOMEONE I DIDN'T KNOW, AND DO IT WITH A SMILE? OUCH! But then I was seeing it from God's perspective. JESUS CHRIST gave up everything for my life and yours. I realized in this humbling moment that these people, who quickly became my adopted Mozambiquan family, were more like Christ than I probably have ever been. They gave up their best for an undeserving person, just like Jesus did for you and I.
Another woman in Tanzania did the same thing...I had only met her once briefly before on the way through, so when she showed me where I would be sleeping, I wanted to laugh in disbelief. There were two couches in the living room, but she guided me to the opposite side of her own double bed. Instead of leaving me to the couch where most people would put strangers in their house if they couldn't have their own room, I took the place where her husband normally slept when he wasn't away on business. It was now my place to lay my head for the next 10 days. What would you say to this offering?
Now some people might argue, "Well, that's African culture and we do other things to show we're hospitable people, like taking them out to eat and paying for their hotel." Here's the question I started to ask myself, what do you think Jesus would approve of? Would I give people I didn't know the best I had to offer? I can honestly say that although the conditions were a bit "uncomfortable, dirty, buggy, hot," I have never before felt so welcomed and loved by STRANGERS in my life. NEVER. How would you feel? Would you honor them by receiving it?
God asks us the same question: Will we receive God's best? And in return to be a living example of Jesus? Will we become a Christ follower despite the uncomfortable conditions? When we really understand in complete reverance and disbelief of how He gave His us His son to die a horrible death on a cross even though He was innocent and were not, not in a way where we feel guilty so we HAVE to give up our lives, then we will be compelled to love God and others the same way. With this incredible revalation, I was motivated by LOVE to give back, not guilt. Out of complete freedom in joy, not out of obligation. God deserves our best because He gave us His. Without it, I would be on a straight road to hell. And how can we repay God? It's impossible, and God made it that way so we would always need Him to help us live a life worthy of His Son. He gives us grace to try and doesn't expect perfection. It is NOT burden--something to dread and complain about--but a very precious privilege. I get to represent Christ, not Allah, or Buddha, or strange gold statues, but a true, living, loving God because He chose me to work with Him and for Him. And THAT is life. Nothing else satisfies. So find your life in Him by receiving the free gift of His Son Jesus Christ and abandon your life to Him because when you lose the life you have tried to keep for selfish desires, you will find it in His amazing purposes. God will show you what He created you to do for His Kingdom...He's planted it in our hearts and we need not to be afraid to go after it.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Bonjour Rwanda!
It's been 5 days since I have stepped onto the beautiful African soil of my long awaited final destination of Rwanda! Alleluia! I don't think I have every experienced such overwhelming joy in my life, seeing God's faithfulness become so much of a reality in my life. This was a journey about Him and I walking through the unknown like little child holding the hand of her father. As I crossed the bridge over the border of Tanzania into Rwanda I was greated with a Welcome to Rwanda sign in 3 different languages and a warm smile from the guard saying Bonjour. I was immediately received and I knew part of my purpose for being here was to apologize on behalf of the United States for leaving them to fight on their own. If you have not seen Hotel Rwanda, please do for a solemn reality of a glimpe of what this country experienced or read the book "Left to Tell" by an amazing genocide survivor. I realized the guard spoke very little English but I told him what I needed to do and the presence of the Holy Spirit connected us beyond the language. I could see it in his eyes he felt my sincere love and humbleness. When I got to the immagration office to receive my stamp into the country I was warmly welcomed by another friendly genecide survivor. I didn't know if I should do the same by just getting to the apology, but God moved through our conversation by opening a door. Again, it was a beautiful experience and Fidele's response was, "You are a Christian. You are so kind." But it was me who was kind, but he who extended his love by welcoming me. I didn't know what to say, but it was a holy moment and I knew God did something. He and his sister and I are friends now and I plan to meet her in Kigali this week.
So that was just a basic introduction. There is so much to tell about God's favor upon my journey here, that as I look back, I realize is was like one of those presents that when you unwrap the biggest one, you look inside only to find another box to unwrap, and again and again to you get to the smallest one that ends up being a beautiful diamond. But box was something to be treasured, unlike usually when it happens and you throw the box to the side. I will write more when I have time about what those surprises were....
So that was just a basic introduction. There is so much to tell about God's favor upon my journey here, that as I look back, I realize is was like one of those presents that when you unwrap the biggest one, you look inside only to find another box to unwrap, and again and again to you get to the smallest one that ends up being a beautiful diamond. But box was something to be treasured, unlike usually when it happens and you throw the box to the side. I will write more when I have time about what those surprises were....
Saturday, September 29, 2007
I honor you, Grandma...
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!
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!
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!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Pray 4 us, please!
I can't believe it's almost July! Where does the time go? I wish I had more internet time to post some pictures from my DTS, but not right now :( I am having a blast, being challenged in many areas of my life, as well as seeing God move spiritually in other students lives around me...I am always smiling and in awe of what God is doing...
I am wondering if you could please pray for the team before we go out on Outreach to Johanessburg. That the money to go would come in (we are looking at still trying to raise about $5,000 so if God puts it on your heart to give, you can be such a blessing and send a check to Shouts of Joy Ministries-Stephanie Wendel, 701 W. 4th Street, Kimberly, WI 54136), as well as protection and unity for our team. Because of the many diverse people, we have been struggling a bit with communication issues and conflict...not really bad where it's gotten horrible, but we fail to understand each other and listen to what we are realy saying. We leave in two weeks so any extra prayer and/or financial support would be a huge, huge blessing!
Thanks to all of you who have been faithful in keeping in contact with me! I love you guys soo much and miss you!
I am wondering if you could please pray for the team before we go out on Outreach to Johanessburg. That the money to go would come in (we are looking at still trying to raise about $5,000 so if God puts it on your heart to give, you can be such a blessing and send a check to Shouts of Joy Ministries-Stephanie Wendel, 701 W. 4th Street, Kimberly, WI 54136), as well as protection and unity for our team. Because of the many diverse people, we have been struggling a bit with communication issues and conflict...not really bad where it's gotten horrible, but we fail to understand each other and listen to what we are realy saying. We leave in two weeks so any extra prayer and/or financial support would be a huge, huge blessing!
Thanks to all of you who have been faithful in keeping in contact with me! I love you guys soo much and miss you!
Friday, June 1, 2007
I Believe I Can Fly!
I love this picture so much because when I look at it, I see a prophetic picture of Mfuneko and the rest of my friends here in YWAM. He looks like he could fly away! Over the past 7 weeks, I can honestly say I have seen some amazing miracles, not like the ones that people would rant, rave, and write in the newspaper...but the ones that actually involve hard work of changing hearts and minds. This picture of Mfuneko is also a REAL visible picture of many beautiful invisible changes that are taking place inside of many of us, including myself. Without going into great detail, I would just like to say that Mfuneko has really melted my heart with his insightful "tell me more about..." kinds of questions. He comes from an incredible heartbreaking background that no child should experience, and his story would make any person's heart ache for justice. As he shared, all I could do was ask, "Why God? Why him and not me? Why was I born in America with the best opportunities and he wasn't? Why didn't I have to experience the worst of the worst while I got ice cream for a snack and tucked into a warm, safe bed at night?" To this day, I still ponder these questions about life and God, but we all know we live in a fallen world. I learned that all I could do was listen to his story and mourn for him, praying that God would use me to produce some kind of healing in his heart, and I was touched by a comment he made to me one day..."Steph, you are like a bright star in the sky that when people lose their way, they just look towards you. You will lead them on the right path." I had tears in my eyes because it wasn't cliche, but straight from the heart with his broken English. I asked God about this and I felt that God wanted me to repeat it back to him. I looked in the scriptures about the star of David and it said that the wise man came from very far lands to get to Jesus, whom everyone was waiting for to come to earth. I told Mfuneko that he could also take the words he shared with me prophecy because people are going to come from even far away places to hear his testimony and how God has changed his life. Even worldly, wise in their own eyes, kind of people. They are going to see him shining as a bright light, and wonder how he's changed his life. I really believe this. I have experienced miracles since day three how God has grabbed his heart and taken away much of his darkness! He has become a little brother to me--a "brother from another mother." :)
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