Hey Friends!
I would like to preface this blog by apologizing for not posting a blog for quite a while. Needless to say that my life has been a little crazy since I last posted, which shouldn’t account for the lack of updates. So I apologize. But here I am, sitting at a semi-fancy restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa, thinking about what God has done since my last post. Summarizing so much is nearly impossible, so I will tell you guys about one of my favorite ministry opportunities on the Race.
This was roughly a month ago, my team and I were in the beautiful mountains of Lesotho. We were presented with the opportunity to go to a prison and share the Gospel and love of Christ. I volunteered to speak, not knowing what exactly God wanted to say. Seconds before entering the prison, I asked one of my teammates to pick a number between 1 & 3. That number would decide what I would be speaking on, or rather what the Spirit would be speaking on. So we entered the prison, and I found myself standing in the middle of a rugged courtyard. It was as if I was sent back in time. The guards all seemed uncomfortably far from us. The prisoners created a wall around my team and me. Stunned, I stood.
“I am Nineveh, but God.”
Those were the first words that I spoke. Confused the translator (who will be referred to as Tsepo from now on) looked at me and began to translate.
“I am Nineveh, but God.”
I repeated it. Tsepo Translated.
“I am Nineveh, but God!”
I shouted. My voice seemed to echo across the prison. In my mind it felt like the walls of the prison vanished, and I, along with the prisoners, was able to walk into something new. God proceeded to give me words to speak.
The book of Jonah talks about this city named Nineveh. A city that was bound for destruction. A city that was unrighteous. A city that was dirty. Sinful. Sometimes we see ourselves as Nineveh. We see ourselves heading towards a path of destruction. We see ourselves as unrighteous people. We find ourselves dirty. Sinful. But God. But God had a plan for Nineveh. God had planned for Jonah to reach Nineveh and share the Goodnews.
I proceeded to speak about my story. Things that have happened to me throughout my life that many people have no idea of. I found that I was trapped in my own prison. I would look for ways to escape, none of which would suffice. I was ignoring the only way out: God.
You see, I was bound for destruction. I was unrighteous, dirty, and sinful. I am Nineveh. But the most beautiful part of it all is: but God. But God puts me on a path of freedom. On a path of righteousness, cleanliness, and grace.
As I finished speaking that one day, not knowing what God had done, I bowed my head and began to “pray out.” After I was done, Tsepo pulled me aside and said,
“ I felt as if God touched hearts this morning. Would you like to see if anyone here wants to walk into this path of freedom?”
Somewhat afraid, I spoke,
“ If anyone here felt like God spoke to them this morning, you can raise your hand and we would love to pray with you.” I also felt the need to add, “It’s ok if you don’t want too.” At the time I was afraid. I didn’t want to see if anyone would raise their hands. But God.
I bowed my head once more and began to pray, minutes passed and I looked up. 17 men were gathered around me, waiting to experience this new life Christ promises.
God is working. All it takes is one bold step. All it takes is allowing the Spirit to move in you. I am Nineveh, and for the longest time I let that hold me back. I was so fixated on that part that I forgot about God. Alone I am all of those things. Alone you are all of those things. But God. But with God we are capable of so much more.
I am Nineveh, but God
In Christ,
Diegz
