This month swiftly ends. I leave tomorrow morning at 6Am to Johannesburg South Africa with Ray Sabon. It will just be the two of us to settle logistics due to unavoidable circumstances. This month has really flown by we have been in Mozambique, Maputo at a place called Beacon of Hope. Beacon of Hope is a boy’s home that teaches, houses, and builds up several boys. I have gotten to teach and work alongside these boys this month, which has been a blessing and a challenge. The blessing is obvious as I enjoy Mozambique and spending time with the boys. The challenge this month has really been to focus on my own life and whether I glorify God in my day to day actions. I have been constantly reminded of 1 Cor. 10:31 and Col. 3:23.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
These versus have come to mind often this month in the small mundane tasks of my life here. Such tasks as hauling 45lb water jugs so we can shower and cook, painting the Hope house, setting up my tent every night inside to avoid malaria, and I can’t forget gardening! Not my most favorite things to do in the world but I do hope and pray that my life will reflect the will of my Heavenly Father more and more bringing glory to his name even in the small things in life. A friend of mine in Korea just received a care package and made the statement “It’s really the small things in life that bring joy,” (As he holds up a bag of U.S. candy). It really is true that God uses the smallest of things in our life to bring joy to us. Last weekend I was able to go to the beautiful Mozambican coast on our day off and relax. I walked up the sandy beach and started practicing my Portuguese with some local fisherman when they offered me an orange. I responded, honestly, that I had no money, but surprisingly they just wanted to give it to me! ….Complete shocker….I know I mentioned it was an orange but it really was a “muli,” or what most people would call a tangerine. My point is it’s not just any fruit but a “muli,” which is actually a tok pisin word from Papua New Guinea. I had been eating “mulis” this entire month as they bring back pleasant memories of my early childhood where I would nearly eat one every day. Surprisingly, it was not the Mozambican clear, beautiful ocean that rejuvenated my energy and joy but this small “muli” given to me. After walking on I found it odd at just how much joy was within me and I accredited it to a joy that only the Lord can give.
It was the week before this when I was pondering whether or not there will be food in heaven. I pondered this for a while and then just asked the Lord childishly, “Can you give me a muli on arrival?” I don’t fully know what to expect in heaven but I imagine it will be much greater than the instance on the beach when I was completely filled with such joy from the Lord. I still wonder if there will be food in heaven, after all muli’s are so very good. But one thing is for sure the joy I have in the Lord will be so complete that there will be no need whatsoever for even the pleasure of food. So if God decides to give me a “muli” on arrival it won’t be for my appetite, but for me to realize more of his glory. If i said anything out of the ordinary forgive me as it’s 1:30Am here and i need some sleep.
I guess my take away this month was to focus more on myself and how I can glorify God in all that I do (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:23).
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Beacon of Hope! There are 7 boys and a lot of work to do
- Pray for our safe travel tomorrow, and the rest of the squad on the 27th
- Pray also that arranged transport for the 28th can be made and completed
- The health of our squad this last month
Us doing some amazing painting of BEACON OF HOPE
ME and some of the boys waiting for our turn in soccer with our “doo-rags”
WE went to an orphanage one day and did a carnival like event there as well as Beacon of Hope.
