Find in Me thine all in all

Written on 8/4/12

Well, we're here! We're bundled up and everyone is always cold in AFRICA! It's somewhat strange for the mentality that we're in Africa and its only 50 degrees. Since were on the opposite side of the equator, it's winter now and it will be chilly for quite some time. I have at least 4 layers of clothes on everyday and have worn the same pants every day (since I only brought one pair and the rest skirts). I really wish I would have brought some under armour tights! But anyway, enough about the climate. Our first day was all about exploring. We're staying in Lambert's Bay, a fishing community right on the coast and our view is of the beach and ocean. It won't be this beautiful of a view and laid back of days starting Sunday, but for now, I am in complete awe of Jesus and His creation. Seeing the beauty of the place we are going to be ministering to has set such an incredible foundation for where God is moving us next.
Starting Sunday, we will be split into 2 groups for the next 6 weeks. 2 of us are permanently staying in Lambert's Bay and ministering here the entire 6 weeks and 2 team members will be staying in Vredendal for the entire 6 weeks. The remaining 8 team members are split into 2 groups and will spend 3 weeks in each community. I'm staying in Lambert's Bay the entire 6 weeks with my team mate, Cailee. Our main ministries are an old folks home (nursing home) and a counseling/awareness center that does a ton with teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and father involvement in the children's lives. Vredendal is a primarily farming community with some children's ministry on the plans as well. The 2 girls saying there the entire 6 weeks are totally into farming and agriculture and it's a perfect fit for them, just like Cailee and I are a perfect fit for our community as well. We're definitely looking forward to meeting our host families and starting what we came for.

We have been in training the past few days and I can't even begin to cover everything I have learned. I feel far more equipped to start my ministry and 150 x more motivated. The lies and cultural norms that have such a strong hold on this continent have broken my heart and challenged me to do everything I can to love the people and show them the God I love and serve. My goal is not to convert them, our desire is to build relationships and start to change the beliefs in the lies and come along side of the ministries already in motion In the communities we are in to "pour gas on the fires they have already lit" as our community partner Hein says. And I couldn't agree more.

As I stood on the shore today, watching huge waves come rolling in and seeing the beauty of Gods creation and His power in the ocean surround such a dark and lost place, He reminded me that He's here. He always has been here, He will always be here, and He has a great plan for Lambert's Bay. I am but a piece of its story that He chose for me to be, but He has a plan and completely surrounds everything they do and are. In addition, His cleansing power is all around them as well. His power is manifested so beautifully in the ocean and He reminds me that He is still in control, even if it looks like darkness has completely taken over and all is lost, He is still in control and still has a plan for Lambert's Bay. So I will humbly serve and pray for the people of Lambert's Bay and do whatever He calls me to during my time here in order to honor His plan and bring glory to His powerful name.

"Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in Me thine all in All." the first night we arrived, this challenge and promise began swirling around in my mind. And it hasn't left. Every step I take in this journey reminds me of my human weakness. Every step reminds me that alone, I can't accomplish anything in this life. Every step reminds me that this life I live and the call I have from His has nothing to do with my ability and everything to do with His Plan and His ability. However, I am His child so my weakness, is used for His glory. My brokenness, allows Him to shine thru me and bring Himself more glory than anything I could ever do myself. But His will, purpose, and plan can't ever be manifested if I don't watch Him always and pray without ceasing. Every person I come into contact with, every conversation I have, every place I step, needs to be covered in prayer to allow Him to work in new ways both in and thru me. It also allows me to hear Gods voice and His promptings more clearly because I'm constantly in conversation with Him and am able to listen more clearly than when I don't talk to Him often. In listening to Him and talking to Him constantly, I find myself relying on Him for every part of every need I have. I have little to no contact with my support system and at first it was daunting, but now, I see myself relying on my God for so much more than I ever have before and in that, there's so much peace and freedom in that. I don't need to plan, I don't need to know what's coming, I know that my God will supply ALL of my needs. So I am more able to focus on where He's taking me and less on what I don't know. It's an incredible place to be, completely different, but so much better than any way I have lived life before and I never want to go back to the old way of relying on myself alone. My prayer is that every day, I give more and more to Him and depend on more and more of Him and less and less of me. I pray your life would follow this path as well because He truly wants to use you and bless you in His perfect way, if you only let Him have everything.