Well here I am in month 6 and I'm a little over halfway done. Time is flying by and I really haven't even had much time to look back and take everything in. It's definitely been a fast and crazy journey up to this point. Thus far I have been privileged to work with orphaned children in Ecuador, assist in the efforts to build an orphanage in Peru, assist in the outreach of impoverished villages in Romania, and last month in Ukraine we did a range of things such as loving on abandoned babies, teaching english classes, and made many relationships that we hope will last the rest of our lives.
However, this month is way different. I never dreamed I would be working in the ministry I am working in. Allow me to set the stage. Cape Town, South Africa is listed as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. It's crime rate and murder rate are astounding. In most communities it has been said that to live past the age of 25 it is considered your "mercy years." While South Africa is the most developed country within the continent of Africa it still has its communities that offer no hope for its residents. Racism plays a major role here and with that comes segregated communities that leave most people impoverished and destitute. This dangerous mindset leaves them with no where to turn except to drugs and gangsterism. Many in the "colored" communities grow up in this environment and live a lifestyle that I never thought I would encounter. Gangs rule the streets and in many areas it's ill advised for us as white people to go, but we can't let that stop us from spreading God's love to them. I refuse to cower to the fear the enemy attempts to place in front of me.
Our ministry this month consists of working in a rehabilitation center called Camp Joy. This camp is Christ centered and is their for most of these individuals who are attempting to change their lives and retreat from a life that leaves them so empty and hurting. Sadly, I can't say that everyone who enters the doors of this place stays for the duration and leaves completely healed. In the two weeks that we have been here we have seen new faces come in and leave the very next day. Most leave due to their addiction to hardcore drugs like heroin. They are so overcome with pain that they leave to get their fix and never return. For some it is their second attempt going through the program. After leaving, life becomes too difficult and they relapse back into a life that is more comfortable. Just the other day one of the girls going through the program left to go back to her life of drugs and prostitution. I will call her "Jane." Jane comes from a very dangerous neighborhood and the girls on my team left to find her. They were accompanied by a group of individuals who work in an organization based in the U.S called "Cease Fire." (Cease Fire is a program that plunges into these dangerous gangster communities and attempts to make a difference. They are a whole other blog to be written about later) The guys would not allow our girls to enter into to the neighborhood but knew who the Jane was. They went into the community to retrieve her so that our girls could speak love into her, but their efforts proved vain. They returned empty handed. She could not be found. She was last seen at a drug house and later prostituting on the street to support her drug addiction. She has a child and I believe with all my heart that she loves her child, but she is so trapped in this life that she feels their is no way out.
Joey and I are working with the men of this camp and we make it a point to hear their stories. We have heard stories of how they have murdered and stole. How from a young age they have been involved with their gang, and for some it still seems to be something they don't want to let go of. Some still find their identity in their affiliation with their gang and find comfort in it, but I don't want to focus on that so much as I do what God is doing in this place. Here God is doing a mighty work of redeeming individuals and healing them from wounds that the enemy hoped to destroy them by. Some of these guys were very powerful in their gangs and one story sticks out to me. I will call him "Thomas." Thomas was a very high ranking member of his gang and one who had a lot of respect and greatly feared in his community due to his fearlessness of doing whatever it took to gain respect even if it meant killing someone. He was a gun slinger and these men were hired to kill rival gang members. Thomas speaks of a time when he was going out for a hit with his gun in hand and a member of the Cease Fire program stopped him and talked him into coming to Camp Joy. Thomas didn't even want to go he says, but for some reason he agreed and today he is an inspiration to me. He is about two weeks into the program and he is totally in love with Jesus. His life has been radically changed. Thomas continuously quotes scripture and it is evident that he loves much because he has been forgiven much. I honestly thought my ministry was going to be ministering to these guys on a daily basis, but I have been ministered to. They are a true testament to the life changing power of God and I am jealous because I want to know the level of grace and mercy these guys have received. I'm not listing sins as greater or worse than my own, but to understand what they have been through and witness a life changing story…I stand amazed and encouraged.
There are so many more stories, and I hope one day I can share them with you, but just know God is doing amazing things. The month is halfway over and I realize I am only in need of $2,300 which is due at the end of this month. With your help I can achieve this goal. Please consider donating. I can't go home after coming this far. I want to keep going strong and diving into what God is doing around the world. His hand is tangible and I can see it doing amazing things. Please be a blessing and consider donating. I believe with all my heart that your gift will be multiplied and God will turn around and bless you personally for your gift. He promises this. He tells us to try Him in this.
I hope this blog has blessed you as much as the experience has me. My eyes were watering as I wrote this as it allows me to process what I have experienced. God is soooo good.
If you wish to give please click on the "Support Me" tab and follow the prompts from there. This isn't spending money. It's provides my bare essentials. Food, lodging, and travel. Be blessed!
