I have to apologize for taking so long to post a new blog. Things have been good but so crazy so I am a little behind on posting. Where do I start? Our second team has come and gone but left Africa with an impression on their hearts and some who were changed for life. Eighteen of them came from Chattanooga, TN and many of them had never been to the mission field before. The Lord took control and led them in and showed them how to love differently, have a heart full of faith and walk away with something different about them. The stories are numerous from the week but I will once again try my best to put it all into words. We started the week off with some very tired and jet-lagged folks but we went full on into ministry and the Lord was their strength for ministry and we prayed for rest over them at night. I was so glad to have some precious mom’s here from the states. There is nothing like having those women around that are motherly and just know how to take care of people in that way. We all served at Refilwe and in the community by doing home base care, where we assess the needs of people, their home situations, food and clothing needs and we also pray for them. Half of the team went out to the community and the others stayed to work on the grounds. I went out to the community both days and as always, the Lord never ceases to amaze me. I never see the same things or feel the same when I leave. I was with two sweet ladies from the team and a precious friend who was visiting from California. We went to Sunnyside squatter camp again where I met some sweet children that I have to go and see constantly because they have a piece of my heart. We went in ready to work and get our assessments done for the day but the Lord started moving in our hearts. This is a broken place but the Lord reminded me that HE comes to give life and piece back together what the enemy has shattered. It is the dry season right now but we joked and said this team brought the rain and cold with them. It makes it hard to go out and see people who are trying to stay warm in this weird weather. We did not allow it to stop us so we went out to do what we were called to do. We pray the Holy Spirit warms those little shacks and that miraculously there is food and anything else they need. He knows best. One mamma in the camp asked us to pray for her because she was staying up all night scared to death that her roof was going to blow off and that her house would blow down. Her fear was that she had to protect her baby if it did. She asked that we would pray that it would be secure and that someone could get out there to fix it. We prayed that she and her baby would be safe and that the winds would be calmed. Not only has it been cold but it has been raining constantly. The kind of rain that isn’t hard but annoying because it is all day and cold rain. We all looked like drowned rats but it was worth it all. We also met people who had no sufficient blanket for the cold and just wanted prayer for sickness and a job. I must offer up some praise to the Lord for answering prayers. He is teaching me that when prayer is spoken out with a heart full of faith that he is ready to answer and he did just that. Two weeks ago with our first team, a few of us were out in this squatter camp praying and the whole day we prayed for people to get jobs and for one lady to get her ID so she could start looking for work. When I saw our translator from that day he told me that God had been answering prayers. Several of the people had gotten jobs and the lady had gotten her Id. Amen. We also met a 100 year old Gogo (grandmother) who was still getting up and down with no help from squatting on the floor and was walking around. This woman was something to behold. I thought she was beautiful and couldn’t help but wonder about her long life and what she had been through and seen. She laughed with us and told us she was worried about us being out in the cold and rain but she was very happy that we were telling people about Jesus and praying for the sick. She blessed my heart so much. When I asked her if I could take her picture she asked where I was going to put it and then said yes if she could have a copy. She only spoke her native language and could not read or write. I don’t realize how much I take my education for granted until I meet many who don’t have one because they either couldn’t afford school or they are living on the streets, taking care of siblings or there just seemed to be no way. I keep thinking about that old saying, “God is good all the time and all the time God is good.” What truth that comes from that. I love that no matter our circumstance or where we are in life, the Lord is constant and loving and always there. He truly is our “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.
Blessings to you all!