It’s hard to believe that our one month here in South Africa is already up and tomorrow we leave to go to Lesotho.
While in South Africa, we had all squad month, which means that all 39 of us lived and did ministry together for the past 3 weeks. We were so blessed to be living at ASM, which had a spacious, beautiful campus with our own dorm, kitchen, beds, showers, a football field, and a pool. Spencer, our host, showed us so much love and served us with such kindness and humility. During our time here we got to work with 2 super cool ministries here: IRIS Global Ministries and 10,000 Homes.
IRIS Global Ministries is a really amazing ministry based out of Mozambique that was started by Heidi Baker and her husband. Before the Race, I actually read a book that she wrote and so already knew about her life and ministry. It was such a privilege to work alongside this ministry, where we loved on children, helped with feeding programs, and did door-to-door evangelism. During this week I experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in SO MANY new ways as I witnessed people accepting Christ and being healed of their impairments. We were welcomed into so many homes where we got to pray for and encourage families. This ministry was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but the Lord gave me newfound boldness every day to share a word or talk to strangers. One day I was talking to Patrick, a young pastor who was leading our group in our evangelism. Someone asked him how often he does evangelism, and I still clearly remember his answer. He said, “Well, I do it every day. I evangelise here in the community, in the taxi, in town, in line at the store…I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus. I could stand here and shout ‘JESUS’ at the top of my lungs because I am not ashamed of Him.” His answer convicted me, as so often I think of evangelism as something we only do for a set period of time while on a mission trip in Africa, when in reality I should be sharing the gospel of Jesus everyday and with every person that I come in contact with.
I was also able to attend African church on Sunday, and the way that they all worshipped with such freedom, with complete abandon, and with overflowing joy was an amazing thing to experience and be a part of. My favourite thing the worship leader said that day was, “We have shouted and we have danced. Now let us worship.” The Lord is clearly alive and at work here in this nation and this community, and I praise Him for that.
The following week we worked with 10,000 homes, which is a ministry affiliated with YWAM. We spent every afternoon at after school programs in various communities where we helped with feedings, played with kids, taught them songs, and told Bible stories through short skits. It was amazing to get to know young children who were so full of joy and life! They braided my hair, held my hands, taught me their games, and sang with me. It was such a joy to show the love of Jesus to these children.
God has been teaching me so much about myself and about His Holy Spirit during our time in Africa so far, and I am so expectant of all that He still has for us during our time here.
Tomorrow our squad leaves to go to Lesotho for the next 2 months. My squad will be living in various areas around the country, but my team and another all girls team will be living and serving together in a very rural village up in the mountains. We will have no electricity, limited running water, and may be living some of the time in our tents. I am super excited for these coming months, but I’m sure things will be hard and out of our comfort zones, so please keep my team in your prayers. Pray for safety, for complete abandon to Jesus, for unity among my team, and for an even deeper intimacy with our Father.
Thank you so much for your support!
In Christ, Cindy
