Sisterhood noun
Like any family, over the course of 2017 we have shared magnificent joys and devastating sorrows. We mourned together after the death of our youngest sister Alia and walked through the grief which ensued. Together we also experienced the bittersweet moment of seeing our beloved leader Cayla part as she went on to marry in the States. However, through it all we found that our bond runs much deeper than mere proximity; we are united together through the Holy Spirit and will forever hold one another in our hearts. On the flip side, we will always treasure the countless joy filled memories made throughout the year. One of our highlights was the Princess Party. A missions team came spectacularly dressed as Disney Princesses and transformed our little container into a dazzling wonderland. The girls were in awe! We danced, ate luxuries, and each of the girls were given a beautiful dress, just their size! It was so exciting to see God’s tangible love imparted to each girl. From the outside some may see me as a missionary and the Sisterhood as my outreach or see me as an art teacher and the girls as my class, but I hesitate to define it as such. These precious ones are not my students nor am I their teacher. We are truly sisters. Occasionally we have new girls come and join us. They often will call me “Teach-a.” Without fail one of the other girls will adamantly correct them and say, “No its not teacher, her name is Sydney!” This differentiation was not taught but rather is a product of the culture that God has established among us. We are sisters, some older, some younger; sisters who sometimes get annoyed, sometimes even get angry or frustrated but most importantly sisters who love each other through and through until the end.
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As I grew up, I was like a little caterpillar well fed in every sense of the word, chomping away in the flower bed. I was content. Like all caterpillars, at some point I had to enter the cocoon. Now let me tell you, I hated this cocoon. It was tight and confining. My world felt so small yet I knew there was more out there. Nothing I wanted more than to be free. Finally, I struggled out of the restraints of my cocoon. I soared high above, unrestricted at last! From these new heights I saw the world. But it was a world I could never have dreamt of as a content little caterpillar. Beyond the flower beds, the devastation and the depth of brokenness was more than I could take in. Wasn’t life supposed to be beautiful? I found myself with a choice to make. Stay in the comfort of the only world I had ever known or leave to engage and identify with the brokenness. I wish I could say that I bravely went, never longing for the safety of my cocoon, never wishing to revert back into a plump little caterpillar with all her needs met, but that simply wouldn’t be true. However, I know with every fiber of my being that I was made for this. No matter how deep the longing are, I simply cannot forsake the call God has placed on my life. I am forever changed by the things I have seen, the circumstances I have experienced and the people I have had the privilege of walking beside. The cost is high and painful at times. Sometimes it means forsaking the comfort of “home,” or not celebrating holidays the way I always have and usually it means missing out on precious time with family. But the reward is far greater than any comfort this world has to offer. I have the joy and peace of knowing that I am honoring my Creator by walking in step with what He set out before me and that is more than enough. Cue the chorus! “I’ll be home for Christmas… if only in my dreams.”
I generally hate action movies especially when superheroes are involved. I also never publically recommend movies. But alas there are always exceptions to such conclusive statements and Wonder Woman is one of them. I saw it for the first time last night and it moved me in a way no other movie has before. I could go on raving about the film from a feminist perspective but for now I’m going to focus on a different aspect (as I’m sure you could find no lack of other feminist reviews on the interwebs). Wonder Woman was not merely every feminist's dream superhero but also a beautiful depiction of the gospel of Jesus. Basically, the premise of the movie is Diana aka Wonder Woman leaves her utopian homeland into the “real world” of men to help bring end to what is presumably World War 1. However she believes that this is not merely a human conflict but an evil outworking of Ares, the God of War. If she can just kill him then mankind will return to their former existence as the passionate and wonderful creations they were designed to be. *Spoiler Alert* in the end she defeats Ares and to her dismay realizes that evil and selfish gain still preside in the heart of man. Let’s look at Diana’s (Wonder Woman) character for a minute because as believer I think we have a lot to glean from this heroine. Unlike the other men she is fighting alongside, she understands that the battle she is fighting is not against flesh and blood but rather against spiritual forces of evil. Sound familiar? Read Ephesians 6:12. Despite the pressures placed on her by others, this belief gives her the resolve to not involve herself in the politics of war and not waste her time fighting battles that are not hers to fight. Diana knows her mandate and is secure in her identity regularly declaring it throughout the movie. "I am Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. In the name of all that it is good, your wrath upon this world is over." Wow, imagine if we as followers of Jesus wielded the power vested in us by the Holy Spirit with such authority! We are children of the Most High King, The Great I AM, The Name Above All Names! In His name we can heal the sick, raise the dead, drive out demonic forces and see justice prevail on the earth. Now that’s some real world superhero action, where God receives all the glory! Another aspect of the Wonder Women movie which I found particularly poignant was the depiction of Diana’s antithesis Ares and the parallels between his character and Satan. Ares disguises himself as a harmless contender negotiating for an armistice, all the while whispering lies and provoking evil the hearts of men. Doesn’t this out right expose the craftiness of Satan’s wicked ways? When he lies he speaks his native tongue (John 8:44). He doesn’t force us to sin but rather presents its temptation in an appealing manner and plants perversion into our hearts leading us astray from the God of love. The final battle was particularly emotional for me. Who would have thought I would cry in an action flick fight scene but hey I guess there is a first for everything! After Ares was defeated mankind did not return to the perfection and goodness of their original design. War continued to ravish; death seemed to prevail. In reality there was no good guys, every nation in all of mankind remained depraved. What a picture of this age of tension we live in! When Christ died, he had victory over Satan and brought redemption to all the out workings of his evil. 2,000 years later the Kingdom of God prevails on earth! We see healings, miracles and life change yet we still experience death, disease, poverty, heartbreak and violence. We live in the balance between Jesus’ death and resurrection and His awaited second coming where he will judge all that is evil and make all things new- a hope that not even Wonder Woman could secure. Wonder Woman in all her glory and perfection saw the depravity of mankind yet she chose leave everything she knew and loved and devote her life to serving them. The most touching scene was after the final battle and to her dismay Diana realizes that mankind is not the inherently good creatures she once thought they were. In this climactic moment she looks back with compassion at the motley crew she has fought alongside and who have now become her friends. This also happens to be the moment when the tears really began to roll down my face and drip off my chin into the empty popcorn box. I found this to be a powerful depiction of our Father’s great love. He knows every sin lurking in our hearts and was never disillusioned like Diana. He felt the sting of our betrayal as Jesus was nailed to the cross on our behalf yet he calls us friends and longs for nothing more than to be with us, to share our lives together in communion with him. He wants that so badly that no cost was too high, he would give everything… and so he did. Wonder Women was a small step in seeing women portrayed differently in the media but more than that it resembles something of the Gospel. May we, like Diana, walk in our true identity in connection with our Father the King of Kings. May we fix our eyes on things above and not get caught in the swirl of meaningless affairs. And most of all may we have the power to understand, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for us (Ephesians 3:18) and may we walk in friendship with Him all the days of our lives.
“Capricorn women don’t do art” and “You shouldn’t take your Western middle class mindset and apply it to these people.”
Here in Capricorn, just like in the States and anywhere else, women love to decorate their homes, make delicious meals, braid their daughter’s hair, and wear beautiful clothes. So it only makes sense that if given the opportunity, they too would find great joy in creating art. Last month while still carrying this dream in my heart, a Mom from the community expressed her desire to have her own Sisterhood. Art is such a valuable tool in connecting with God and with people. So we did just that! Now we meet once a week to enjoy eachothers company, create, pray and be encouraged through the Bible. None of the women had ever worked with paints but they dove in with confidence and are eager to explore God’s Word through art. It’s already been such a joy and honor to get to know the women who raise our beautiful Sisterhood girls. Each week I learn something new from this group of ladies! I am thankful for their openness, their acceptance and their hunger to know God. Our Sisterhood girls are also so proud to share this sacred space with their families and delighted for us to know their moms, aunties and oumas (grandmas). Art is not a middle class white thing. Art is for everyone. Unfortunately oppression and poverty have robbed many cultures from enjoying this God given expression. Thankfully, beauty remains everywhere. May God continue to open our eyes to its unique demonstration from one community to another.
Is God really good? In theory I believe so however, when God feels so far away, when my heart teems with anxiety, when the list of unanswered prayers seems insurmountable, when the inequality on earth appears never to be overcome, in those moments, if I’m honest He doesn’t seem so good after all. But then again, if I choose to believe that God is not good, well that doesn’t sit right either. Maybe the truth is God is way more present then I could ever imagine. Maybe He chooses not to simply eradicate my worries, in hopes that I will turn in prayer and choose to invest my trust in Him. Maybe His timing really is better than mine. Maybe His heart mourns injustice deeper than humanly fathomable. Surrounded by stark contrasts of wealth and poverty and working in a community entrenched by cycles of hopelessness and despair, it’s so easy to focus my attention on all the things God “hasn’t done” instead of concentrating on all the incredible blessings that He has given. Sometimes I even take answered prayers for granted without ever acknowledging Him and brush past God’s provision without gratitude in my heart. “Count Your Blessings,” an old exhortation I’m sure we’ve all heard before. But more ever, even while writing this blog, I am stirred to do just that. So I purpose a challenge. For the next 21 days I commit to writing 10 things a day that I am thankful for; who’s with me? Though this challenge may we recognize the goodness of God and experience a deeper measure of His joy like never before! Below are a just a few dear ones who have been blessings to me (Ronald, my boyfriend and a man who inspires me to follow Jesus each day, Kristen, more than a cousin but rather the sister I never had, and Diana, a little one from Sisterhood full of giggles, affection and a whole lot of attitude) Please keep me in prayer as I live and serve in South Africa. For those who would also like to partner financially you can easily give by clicking the link below. Thank You!
Success. How can you quantify it? I’ve been running Sisterhood for a year now. And sometimes it’s hard to see the impact. I’m not running Billy Graham style crusades where hundreds commit their lives to the Lord each week and I don’t see the miraculous healings that Heidi Baker prays for in our neighbouring country of Mozambique. My girls still live in a poverty stricken area that is plagued with gang activity, domestic violence and drug abuse. Problems way beyond my grid of understanding. As for me, I am a young, white, foreigner who can barley pay her own rent. So what is a girl like me doing here anyway? Before we fall off into the abbess of hopelessness, let me introduce you to Althia (name changed for privacy purposes). She is one of our original Sisterhood girls. She is tough, powerful, and independent with a confident demeanour and strong (often misguided) leadership skills. When Althia walks into a room she brings and atmosphere with her. To be honest, I actually see a lot of my own qualities in her. I will now pause and apologize to any of my teachers who had to put up with me especially during those rough years- I feel your pain. Choosing to love Althia and navigating her often rebellious nature has been one of my greatest challenges in ministry this past year. However, recently I’ve noticed a change. There is this tender-heartedness within Althia, that I never noticed before. She has a willingness to serve the younger girls. She also has become increasingly affectionate and respectful towards me. And occasionally, Althia will even let down her walls and share a little bit of herself: her marks at school or how well she ran during sports. This may not seem like a dramatic tale that marks the success of a missionary in a land far away. But I see this as a victory! Her fresh attitude is subtle evidence of the powerful work God is doing in her life. You know, the truth is, I didn’t move to South Africa in hopes of changing the world. I came here in obedience to God. And the simplicity of God’s way is this: to love Him and to love people (Matt 22:39). If I can go to Sisterhood day after day and truly love these girls, even the most stubborn like Althia, then I have succeeded and I trust God’s transforming power will do the rest. Success is not measured by a number on a pay check or on the scale, it is not measured by the stuff I have or how well I do my job; success is giving my whole heart to love God and to love each person in front of me.
Thank you to all those who pray and support! Your love for God and for people overflows into the nation of South Africa.
Don’t get me wrong, programs are great! I love what I do and strive for excellence in each of the ministries I lead and participate in. But they are a mere tool to reach people with the love of God. I find that it is so much less about the lesson I prepare or how the children behave. The real impact is made through every interaction: how I greet them, value them and show affection towards them. More of God’s love is transmitted through patience, smiles and hugs than any program I could ever concoct. At a workshop I attended last year, the speaker said that “whenever we step foot at our ministry location Jesus walks in the room.” That is true of a lot more than just a ministry location. As a Christian, when you walk into the office, the grocery store, or your home at the end of a long day Jesus walks in the room. We are all ambassadors of Christ. We represent him on this earth. In a way, that makes us all missionaries. So my friends go forth and love one another deeply, passionately, and with all the stamina of God’s love within you. If a program helps you do that great! But let’s keep our focus on the things that truly matter.
I never know the right time to ask for help but since you’re still reading I figure that you are at very least intrigued... My goal is to raise $1,000 USD to cover my basic living expenses, ministry costs, and the unexpected expenses of life. Right now I make between $425 and $475 USD per month and substitute the remaining balance with my dwindling savings account. This leaves me with an extra $15- $65 USD per month for food, Misc. expenses (like gas for the stove, cleaning supplies, toiletries, car repairs, doctor’s visits, going out with friends, ect.), giving, ministry expenses (snacks, art supplies, ect.), and saving.
You don’t need a degree in accounting to see that my current income is rather unsustainable. However, somehow I am at peace knowing I am right where the Lord wants me, knowing that Sisterhood is a ministry ordained by God himself and knowing that He will supply everything I need to continue His work in South Africa. This is where you come in, please take 30 sec to pray for me and my future in ministry here. If you feel God is leading you to give either monthly or just once off click here. Thank you! And God Bless! Summer is here. The weather is warm. December holiday is on the way and the kids are restless with anticipation. This final term of the school year (our schools run from Jan-Dec) has kept me rather busy. But I’ve learned since being in full time ministry and working with almost 200 different students each week, that hectic isn't always a bad thing.n Sometimes it's a sign that God is on the move. And I can testify that he really is! We recently went on a camp with one of our grade 7 classes from Capricorn Primary. The word camp evokes memories of bonfires, marshmallows, pulling pranks and the great outdoors. But these kids had no idea what to expect. None of them had left Cape Town before and many had barely stepped foot outside of life in a township. I overheard a funny conversation between two girls as they were dreaming of what camp would be like. In their minds, we would drive to another township far away, where there would be an area enclosed with barbwire fencing and that would be the camp. Fortunately, that was not the case. To their delight and amazement we were fully funded by donors in the UK to visit a beautiful campsite with a river for swimming, games, obstacle courses, wildebeest and springbok, three warm meals a day, and hot showers (which were particularly popular since it is a luxury not many get to enjoy)! We had such a fun time together. I wish you could have experienced the wonder and excitement exuding from each of them. In the midst of all the fun, each of the students chose to engage with God for themselves. I love how God will often call us away from our daily environments for the purpose of meeting with us. And as we drew near to God on that weekend, God drew near to us, just like he promised in James 4:8. Not one of us left unchanged. I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support. Because of you, I am able to stay on the mission field day by day. It is such a privilege to be a missionary and to directly see the impact that is possible when we as the global Church follow Jesus’ call to make disciples of all the nations. I believe that this group of students from Capricorn Primary have the power to transform their families; those families will in turn impact their neighbors, which will bring change to their streets, communities, city, nation, and the world. It starts with one. And I am grateful to those who have chosen to invest in what God is doing in Cape Town. Your impact is felt.
"No news is good news," as they say. The past few months have been a whirlwind of wonderful happenings! It is nearly impossible to summarize all that God is doing. The Sisterhood has grown into their new home and now has the privilege of serving up to 60 girls a week. Mondays: Creche (Pre-K) to Grade R (Kindergarten) Tuesdays: Grade 1- 5 Fridays: Grade 6- 7 We also have an excellent team of leaders who love the girls deeply and make Sisterhood possible week after week. I am amazed at how quickly we have grown as a ministry. It is so evident that God's hand is in this, otherwise how could all of this come together! Thank you so much your prayers and support. It is a ruttier guiding us as we move forward. On that note, here are some prayer points as we look ahead: 1. God would give us big vision as we look ahead for the future of this ministry 2. The girls! They live a community which is deeply impacted by gangsterism , drug abuse and domestic violence 3. Pray that we would be able to form valuable connections with the families of each girl Like I said, it impossible to depict what God is doing in a few paragraphs. So I am inviting you to come and see (especially if you happen to be reading this in South Africa). I know its not possible for everyone so feel free to check out this video if you haven't seen it yet. May God richly bless you all! |
1 Chronicles 16:8"Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know Archives
December 2017
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Sisterhood