Hey guys I hope all is well! I’m so glad I get to miss out on an Iowa winter, because they suck so bad let’s be honest. I’m not sure what you guys will be doing for the Yuletide, but here in Mokhotlong, we’ll be visciously murdering a lamb and having a delectable African BBQ. I’m not sure there’s a better way to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior.
Anyway, today a couple teammates and I trudged about 45 minutes into the mountains to a small village to attend church. We got there covered in sweat and filled with Holy Spirit, and after we sung a few worship songs the pastor explained how we were going to go out into the village and do door-to-door ministry. Let’s just say it wasn’t your average church service where you grab a cup of joe, sing a few songs, plop down and listen to a sermon, then go stuff your face at your local breakfast place. I have never seen a church so serious about the Great Commission before. If you’re wondering what the crap that is, peep at Matthew 28:18-20. We broke up into groups of about 5 and set out to be the light of the world and ambassadors for Jesus Christ.
My group got the handcrafted blessing of chatting and encouraging two women in the community. The first woman was in a really low season in her faith. So we got to remind her how loved she is and that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing has the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). It was so beautiful seeing a spark in her, and a spark to share the gospel with her son that is currently in initiation school. The other woman we got to encourage and pray over was having some major health problems. We got to tell her how Lord is our rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, salvation, stronghold, and rest. Tears rolled down her face as we prayed over her, because she had not been trusting the sovereign God of the universe. She told us that we reminded her of how good Jesus is and that He is always right alongside us.
This is an account from my teammate Brandon on what happened in his group during our door to door ministry this morning.
“We came to a house with two men in their twenties sitting outside. They were wearing their traditional beanies, jeans, t-shirts, and rainbows. Through the translator, I introduced myself and asked if they knew Jesus. The first to respond, Deboho, said no. The other did. I proceeded to tell him about how Jesus, being God, came to earth to die for the sins of mankind. I walked him through the “Romans Road” that clearly explained the gospel to him. He accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, I then explained to him what happens when we accept Jesus. We prayed and Deboho’s relationship with Jesus started. I told him that hardship may come, but encouraged him in the constant presence of God. I also encouraged him to plant himself in the local church. My interpreter then told Deboho even more about Jesus.”
The greatest way you can love a person is pointing them more towards Jesus. Today we got the chance to point people towards and to Christ. Jesus has left me dumbfounded and in complete awe of His power once again. It was an incredible predestined blessing to be a part of God’s glory being made known in a small village of 300 people in the middle of Lesotho.
“The love of God is not God’s making much of us, but God’s saving us from self-centered sin so that we may enjoy making much of him forever. And our love to others is not our making much of them, but our helping them to find eternal satisfaction in making much of God. The only ultimate love is a love that aims at satisfying people in the glory of God. Any love that terminates on man is eventually destructive. It does not lead a person to the only lasting joy, namely, God. Love must be God-centered or it is not the greastest love; it leaves people without their deepest need and only hope.” – John Piper (Pastor Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota)
All the glory, honor, and blessing to Jesus Christ our Lord.
