Thank you so much for being obedient to Christ and partnering with me financially. This race is just as much yours as it is mine. I pray that God blesses you ten fold. I can’t even begin to tell you how much God is doing here. It’s a ripple effect that we can’t even see the ends to. This is by far the hardest thing I’ve done. There have been many days where I think “How in the world am I going to do this for another 10 months?” but God is good and has provided everything I need to get by. I have had my moments of brokenness but by His grace he uses those moments, days, weeks, to draw me closer to him. Not only has he been revealing more of himself to me but he’s also been revealing who he has created me to be. I can’t even begin to explain how much this first month is changing me. Someone once said the race has nothing to do with you and everything to do with you. Although our ministry is all about helping, encouraging and teaching others about Christ it’s also a lot about us and how God is using these circumstances to shape us into who he created us to be.
One thing I’ve been learning is how to listen to God. It seems like such a simple thing but I have never heard so much from God as I am now. He has been speaking into my life so clearly and even very specifically.
So far, here are a few things my team and I have been able to do
· Preach the word of God in the church on on the streets
· Love and teach orphans about Jesus
· Help with Adult Education at a Christian center and encourage the women who are here day in and day out, year after year, working diligently, teaching these young adults so that one day they can get a job and provide for themselves and their family.
· Help map out the inner city of Pretoria for a group of NGO’s and medical professionals so they can determine the best places to build medical clinics. (There is a extremely high rate of HIV/AIDS & TB here)
· Share my testimony to young women, encouraging them in their walk with Christ.
· Bless our contacts in any way possible
· Play and pray with the sick kids in the hospital
· Teach different subjects such as English, math and science to kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn.
· Counsel young women about the word of God
These are just some of the practical things my team and I have gotten a chance to help out with but God is doing SOOOOO much more in the big picture.
Please continue to pray for my squad and myself. A girl named Laine on my squad had to fly home to the states because her mom suddenly passed away. So please pray for her and her family and that she would be able to come back and finish her race.
Once again, thank you. You have been a part of ALL OF THIS. One thing I’ve learned is that God has a plan and he’s going to get it done with or without you. But how much better is it when we allow him to use us in His plan? When we allow Him to use us in whatever way he sees fit, he is pleased and he pours out blessings on us in this life and the next.
I still have a little over $5,000 to raise. $700 needs to be raised before December 1st. I know God will provide but please continue to pray because that’s what he calls us to do. If you feel called to partner with me please click the "support me" on the left hand side of my blog. God is doing amazing things with I-squad and we're only on month 2!!
Much love from Africa,
Emily
Playing with the kids after church one day in the village
Teresa and April incorporating a Bible story into their english lesson
Beautiful Aimee – During my visits I pray for her, play with her,
sing to her as well as move and massage her little limbs around because
she spends most of her time lying in her crib.
