So this blog post is like 4 combined into 1. I write this while we are returning from our last outreach, Hebron Rehabilitation Centre. Being a team leader x2, a husband, a father, a missionary and a blogger x2 is a lot to manage but God is good. Before I explain this I must take time to give glory to God for the amazing experience he has given me and the team. You hear about God's power in the Bible but in America its difficult to remember God is still the same God. God is still capable of healing the sick, making the blind see and parting the Red Sea. 1 Thess 5:19-21
Well last week in Kwamhlanga (pronounced Comm-Shlonga) God straight up threw us straight into hardcore ministry with home visits. For three days we went out to the local township going house to house praying for the sick, the discouraged, the lame, blind, widows, orphans, and even encounters with demon possession. One my teammates, Zac, pointed out that each day of ministry no matter which place we went out to teams came back with stories about similar themes of God's power. Tues last week it was healing. If that was healing from tormented sleep, discouragement, and one woman was healed from blindness. When I heard the story I could only think about Jesus' healing of the blind man in Mark 8. God is real. The Wednesday last week was more about the power of Christ over evil. There was an incredible story where one "team" was just walking between homes and was pursued by a random woman in the street. She begged them to come to her house. Once they arrived they began praying and after a dramatic confrontation with evil spirits she was set free from her bondage.
On Thursday we went out to a neighboring town called Sun City. This experience will forever change my life. The spiritual theme of this outreach was community (something we recognized afterwards). It started much like the other outreaches. After speaking with a few homes and praying with a few families we found ourselves sitting with Sister Martha. Martha was 92 years old, a widow and she had been bedridden since 1996. She had debilitating arthritis and from the years in bed she had lost both her legs. Despite her situation she was still praising God! When we asked her if there was anything we could do for her she said she was very hungry. There was a pause as we thought about what we could do about that. James 1:27 We had some snacks and an orange but not much her 2 teeth could handle.
Steven (Africans teammate) and I both felt very convicted to serve her and meet her physical needs. Our interpreter spoke with Martha's neighbor and said that Martha was hungry because in the winter her caregivers are too lazy to clean her and wash her sheets... instead they starve her so she doesn't dirty herself as much. Ish...after hearing this our mind was made up, it didn't matter if we have to walk to Pretoria (1hr drive) We were going to make sure she had dinner. We couldn't solve all her problems but we could buy her dinner. 21.50 Rand is all it cost to feed a starving widow. That is less than $4. God provided and Martha's neighbor (a young widow we prayed with earlier) was available to cook the eggs and bread we bought as well as some tea. While we sat with Martha and I helped her eat the neighbor said to me that I care too much. At that I began to weep. I wonder how much more Christ cares about Martha.
As we walked away that night Steven explained the significance of 2 white men serving and caring about Martha. For those that know about apartheid have a pretty good idea; for nearly 60 years this women was heavily oppressed by racism and a government that gave her no value. Now after so much hate she still accepted us into her home and allowed us to serve her. Whao...God is good.
So Friday afternoon Jessica and I organized the first ever Kwamhlanga Olympic Games! With all the random junk we found in a storage room we had plenty of options (see letsgosouth.blogspot.com). The games included wheel chair races, a javelin throw, a tire stack relay, botchi ball toss, a hands-free tennis ball relay, and finally a Coffin Carry! Yes, we found a new coffin in the storage room. God's protection is great and I think I was the only one hurt when my wheel chair collapsed in mid-sprint 3 times! Somehow I bruised my kneecap, but I was very thankful that the crash I did not tear anything in my knee. After Excedrin and 72hrs I was back to 100%.
That pretty much finished off our time in Kwamhlanga and every night we had opportunities to teach, worship and preach with the South Africans in prayer meetings. That was in itself amazing to see God use the team to share His love and watch them boldly proclaim His goodness.
How can you lead a team of rock-star missionaries? You don't...you just point them in the right direction and watch Christ do the rest. This has been the biggest blessing for Jessica and I as we have watched the team blossom in worship, courage, boldness, love, and service for Christ. Before the team Jessica and I prayed Eph 3:14-20 and Col 2:2-3 for our team and God has not disappointed.
-G
John 8:36
Well last week in Kwamhlanga (pronounced Comm-Shlonga) God straight up threw us straight into hardcore ministry with home visits. For three days we went out to the local township going house to house praying for the sick, the discouraged, the lame, blind, widows, orphans, and even encounters with demon possession. One my teammates, Zac, pointed out that each day of ministry no matter which place we went out to teams came back with stories about similar themes of God's power. Tues last week it was healing. If that was healing from tormented sleep, discouragement, and one woman was healed from blindness. When I heard the story I could only think about Jesus' healing of the blind man in Mark 8. God is real. The Wednesday last week was more about the power of Christ over evil. There was an incredible story where one "team" was just walking between homes and was pursued by a random woman in the street. She begged them to come to her house. Once they arrived they began praying and after a dramatic confrontation with evil spirits she was set free from her bondage.
On Thursday we went out to a neighboring town called Sun City. This experience will forever change my life. The spiritual theme of this outreach was community (something we recognized afterwards). It started much like the other outreaches. After speaking with a few homes and praying with a few families we found ourselves sitting with Sister Martha. Martha was 92 years old, a widow and she had been bedridden since 1996. She had debilitating arthritis and from the years in bed she had lost both her legs. Despite her situation she was still praising God! When we asked her if there was anything we could do for her she said she was very hungry. There was a pause as we thought about what we could do about that. James 1:27 We had some snacks and an orange but not much her 2 teeth could handle.
Steven (Africans teammate) and I both felt very convicted to serve her and meet her physical needs. Our interpreter spoke with Martha's neighbor and said that Martha was hungry because in the winter her caregivers are too lazy to clean her and wash her sheets... instead they starve her so she doesn't dirty herself as much. Ish...after hearing this our mind was made up, it didn't matter if we have to walk to Pretoria (1hr drive) We were going to make sure she had dinner. We couldn't solve all her problems but we could buy her dinner. 21.50 Rand is all it cost to feed a starving widow. That is less than $4. God provided and Martha's neighbor (a young widow we prayed with earlier) was available to cook the eggs and bread we bought as well as some tea. While we sat with Martha and I helped her eat the neighbor said to me that I care too much. At that I began to weep. I wonder how much more Christ cares about Martha.
As we walked away that night Steven explained the significance of 2 white men serving and caring about Martha. For those that know about apartheid have a pretty good idea; for nearly 60 years this women was heavily oppressed by racism and a government that gave her no value. Now after so much hate she still accepted us into her home and allowed us to serve her. Whao...God is good.
So Friday afternoon Jessica and I organized the first ever Kwamhlanga Olympic Games! With all the random junk we found in a storage room we had plenty of options (see letsgosouth.blogspot.com). The games included wheel chair races, a javelin throw, a tire stack relay, botchi ball toss, a hands-free tennis ball relay, and finally a Coffin Carry! Yes, we found a new coffin in the storage room. God's protection is great and I think I was the only one hurt when my wheel chair collapsed in mid-sprint 3 times! Somehow I bruised my kneecap, but I was very thankful that the crash I did not tear anything in my knee. After Excedrin and 72hrs I was back to 100%.
That pretty much finished off our time in Kwamhlanga and every night we had opportunities to teach, worship and preach with the South Africans in prayer meetings. That was in itself amazing to see God use the team to share His love and watch them boldly proclaim His goodness.
How can you lead a team of rock-star missionaries? You don't...you just point them in the right direction and watch Christ do the rest. This has been the biggest blessing for Jessica and I as we have watched the team blossom in worship, courage, boldness, love, and service for Christ. Before the team Jessica and I prayed Eph 3:14-20 and Col 2:2-3 for our team and God has not disappointed.
-G
John 8:36
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