Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 As the warm Hawaiian sun caressed my tanned cheeks, I found myself daydreaming of the future again. As I mused, a simple thought wisped through my head. “One day I will have a children’s ministry in Africa and an Awaken DTS (the program I was with at the time) outreach team from Kona, HI will come and paint the building.” (Now I urge you, pay attention to those little thoughts, those tiny unspoken dreams. More often than not, you’re not even the one who is thinking them! It’s God cluing you in on the plan he has woven you into.) Fast forward 3 years, 3 months, and handful of days. Here I am on the continent which has captured my heart since childhood, surrounded by the beauty that is South Africa, and doing what I love most. These days, dreams of old are reaching fruition at a rapid pace. Everything falling into place almost effortlessly: the girls, the art supplies, the Sisterhood, the container. (Yes! At last, the container has arrived! And boy was it a sight to see!) Oh yeah, not to mention an Awaken DTS outreach team from Kona, HI. Just days before the container dropped on 59 Drury Road, Capricorn. The team approached me and said they were willing to help with anything I needed. “Why yes, I can put you to work,” I quickly replied. On the first day of the job, as they were painting, doing electrical work and transforming a rusty shipping container into a portal of creativity suddenly I recognized the enchanting event unfolding before my eyes. I remembered that simple thought I had on that warm sunny day in Hawaii all those years ago. This was God fulfilling his Word. Even when we forget, he always remembers and he will always see it through. Be encouraged. If you are a Christian, you are in right standing relationship with God. He speaks to you whether you recognize his voice or not. He is a good father and his plans for your life are wilder and greater than you could ever dare to imagine. Thank you all for your prayers and support which made this dream a reality!
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Last year I had the opportunity to be a participant in Titus Project and travel to Zimbabwe with a team of Bible teachers. While there we ran seminars teaching pastors, leaders and church members the story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation and equipped them to study the Bible for themselves.
This past month I have once again been a part of the same project. My team and I have been training recent Bible school graduates to teach all they have learned. Last week we commissioned 3 teams to Malawi, Tanzania, and to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. We are expectant that God is going to grow each of them as teachers and impact each of the nations they are ministering in! Can a nation scarred by racism and crime change in the course of one generation? Can a child who has only known poverty become that very change? Do revivals still happen today? After experiencing the “Day Away” with the students of Capricorn and Westlake primary schools I am more convinced than ever that the answer to each of these questions is YES! The day was filled with fun, food, and festivities but we left with much more than a full stomach and great memories. Each one received a precious gift; bound to change their lives, families, communities, and nation forever. This seems like a wild claim; especially when everyone is searching for that elusive solution to the overwhelming problems of this life. However, at only age 12 and 13 these students hold that key. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit. God is a good father and he gives amazing gifts. He won’t hold back from anyone who asks to be filled with his Spirit. Did you get that? He does hold back from anyone! The students were eager to engage with what God was doing. There was laughter, tears and fervent prayers as God broke the bondage of insecurity and released hope-filled prophecies for their futures. These students are forever carries of the most powerful force that ever was and ever will be. The Holy Spirit inside them has the cure for AIDS, He has the strategy to fix the government, He has the love to mend broken families, and He has the courage that will carry this nation into their destiny. Despite the obvious challenges this country faces day in and day out, there is so much hope for South Africa and these students are proof. “…With God all things are possible!” Thank you for your prayers- God never disappoints! If you want a real treat, watch the girls of Westlake Primary share their talent! Big congratulations to the participants of the “Rooted in the Word Seminar,” who graduated this past weekend! These 7 weeks have been an amazing journey, where we studied every type of Biblical Literature: Poetry, OT Narratives, NT Narratives, Wisdom, Epistles, Prophecy and Apocalyptic literature. Each student worked hard, participated well, traveled near and far; sacrificing jobs and time with family to be there. I am very proud of each of them and count it a privilege to have worked with such passionate lovers of Jesus. In the words of Pastor Peter, "This is not the end." Bless you guys as you continue to grow more rooted in God’s Word! Here are a few testimonials from the time we shared together:
"This institution has added value to my Christian life.... God is so powerful and he is gathering people around his word!" -Lulamile "I learned to look in the Bible ask questions in the Bible and gain more wisdom.... The Holy Spirit was in this place" -Victor "From where I was too where I am now I have moved and know more now...This seminar enlightened my mind and understanding." -Andiswa
Rooted in the WordAlongside our regular ministry, the team and I are running a 7 week training seminar called Rooted in The Word. The goal is for every participant to learn how to approach the Word of God for themselves and become rooted in the truth of the Bible. Each week we are covering topics such as the Integrity of Scripture (proof that the Bible is a reliable source and truth), historical background of old and new testament, and how to approach, interpret and apply different types of Biblical literature. It is a privilage to teach such a passionate and eager group of students.
What keeps you awake at night? Maybe it’s an idea stirring in the recesses of your brain, maybe it’s a crush pulling at your heart strings or maybe it’s nervous- excitement for what the next day may hold. Most recently, what’s been occupying my thoughts both day and night is a rowdy bunch of girls from age 8-13. Craft ideas twirl about in my head and electric currents carrying discussion questions and topics fire away. 7 years ago. Where it all began… Before I even conceived the idea of becoming missionary, there was one passion that drove me. Art. I simply loved to create. My dream was to go on to art school and one day open an art program. Before long that vision was made reality when at age 16, my friend and I started an elementary art class right outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Soon after, I felt God call me into full time missions and my artistic aspirations were left simmering on the back burner.
As a teenager, I could have never envisioned how this dream would develop. Currently we are meeting in a tiny home generously offered to us by a kind grandma named Auntie Lillian. Even in our infancy as a Sisterhood, we have quickly outgrown the cramped space. Needless to say, when our creative juices get flowing we also aren’t the cleanliest group of girls. By the end of the year, I hope to purchase a shipping container that can be transformed into an art studio and you can be a part of this! If you would like to donate, click here. If not, no problem! There are several ways other ways you can get involved:
On my way to the airport, about to embark on my journey to the United States last September, a silent prayer stirred in my heart. As we passed miles of townships (impoverished areas which are a grim result of apartheid) I asked God if he could connect me with people who live in these communities. A great divide exists between people of different races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds here in South Africa. I didn’t want to come and pretend to be some “super hero- missionary;” my desire was and is to bridge the gap and build real, lasting friendships. Since being back in this nation for two short months, I can already see that small prayer becoming a reality! Every Monday, I meet with an amazing Bible study group held in Capricorn, a local township. Together we talk about life’s struggles and explore scripture. Later in the week, I get to minister alongside some of these same people at an overcrowded and underprivileged public school. Our goal is to inspire the students to dream of a better future by teaching them about their identity as a child of God. I see the same friends again at the end of the week and together we lead the Alpha Course, a program which creates a platform for teenagers to discuss the hard questions of life. Several of us were also cast in an Easter play with a professional theater company nearby. I’m excited that God is forming a network around me, where I can develop deep genuine relationships with those I am ministering to and with. All that to say, God cares about the desires of your heart both great and small. He hears every prayer whether spoken or unspoken. You can trust him because he is faithful.
Every morning I wake up with a deep sense of thankfulness to call Africa home and a yearning to learn more about the diversity, languages, cultures and nations found in this great land. I live in a state of wonder- dreaming of what may come in the future. Yet I look around and see that it is already happening! Within the past month I have had so many opportunities to get connected with what God is already doing here. I’ve had the chance to share in Bible studies, a women’s training program and a retirement home as well as at a public school. Along with regular teachings, I serve weekly at Awake, an open house where people of all walks of life can come and enjoy a free cup of coffee and encounter the presence of God. It is a place of healing, prophecy, and meaningful conversation. I am overjoyed with the reality of following Jesus. Each of us were created with unique passions and dreams. My prayer is that you would come alive in Christ and discover yours! Until next time- Keep well and God Bless! Hover image for caption.
Is it possible to dream too big? Like John Lennon, I consider myself a dreamer. However, thus far 2016 has brought me places I could have never conceived a year ago. Now I am beginning to wonder, am I dreaming big enough? Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" The days since I have left the States have been everything but uneventful. I sojourned in Egypt for 5 days, making use of each precious moment. 3 of those days were spent teaching amongst Christians at a Bible college. What an honor it was to have the opportunity to teach Psalms, 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John! I had a blast- enjoying every moment, from the weeks of study and preparation to conversations with students after class. There are few feelings greater than coming alive while doing what you are passionate about! The middle east has always been a mystery to me, masked by a swarm of media invoking fear into the hearts of many. Although Egypt is unlike any place I have ever been, I found the language, the culture, the architecture, the food, and the history, all to be breathtakingly beautiful. When I wasn't in class I had the chance to see the Citadel built during the crusades and the Pyramids at Giza. These massive structures are 4,500 years old! As I stood in utter amazement, I realized that Moses saw the pyramids in their original glory. Even Jesus and his family saw them as they fled to Egypt from Herod, but at that stage they were already 2,500 years old! And now Sydney, a young missionary from America, was getting to join in witnessing their splendor. As I think back on the dreams I had for my life this time last year, I could have never imagined something so spectacular. Even if I had, it would have seemed as nothing but wild fantasy. Time and time again, I realize that God is not threatened by my narrow mindedness. All it takes is following him step by step. And sometimes that requires thrusting myself into the unknown- knowing that he is a good Father and he will catch me every time. Be encouraged to dream with God. His dreams are infinitely bigger than anything you are even capable of asking or imagining. "You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us..." John Lennon |
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