Merry Christmas & an ever so happy New Year! I pray God seeks you harder, challenges you more, and that growth accompanied with more of His Spirit is blessed to you in 2015! I write to you now from in our humble abode for New Year’s; a nice circular hut with a straw roof, an oasis in the middle of Gaborone, Botswana. Yes, I have already made the 25 hour multi-bus trip from Cape Town into Bots and are preparing to head out to ministry in Maun early in the A.M. But, before I commence I wanted to write you all on the breakthrough that happened just in the last week back in Ocean View, Cape Town, ZA.
Our last week or so was packed full of fun times, both in and out of ministry. But as our host would, our lives are our ministry, so it never is ending! Guys went Skydiving, shark diving, surfing, hiking Cape of Good Hope & Table mountain (though gnarley weather hindered our completion to the top). We had a heavier emphasis Christmas week on Street ministry as many of the kids were out with their parents or family. This gave us ample opportunity to pray over more people, sit and be with the community, and even by God’s grace impact the prominent gang in Ocean View (OV). Just opposite the poor excuse of a field where we daily played soccer with the kids, was a beat up ole playground that wasn’t used by elementary aged children. The inhabitors of this area were a group of 20 somethings, a bunch of dreaded out Rastas claiming it as their turf. They were intimidating, a rough & ready type, not taking shit from anyone. Day & night they were at that playground, maintaining their presences in OV and pedaling drugs left & right.
One night, Bradley and us fellas assembled in the field to pray and ask God to point out where we should begin our night. Right after prayer Joe spoke up saying “I feel like we should talk to those rastas.” We all were a bit hesitant with that call, but finally decided to overcome the lingering fear we all felt. An so, a group of white dudes, approached the group of colored rastas, which according to our host, when these guys see a group approaching them it always is a rival gang as no one in the community approaches them. As our intimidation factor rose significantly after that comment, we begin to greet the gang as they continued on in there all day drink-a-thon. Throughout the nearly 2 hours we were their conversation begin to be fruitful and have some Jesus stuff being brought up. We were all comfortable with them. We juggled a soccer ball with them, sat down with them, and built relationships with them. We even opened our fat mouths and challenged them to a soccer match. They all took to this like bees on honey, as drugs and soccer are the sum of their lives. That is until we challenged that Status Quo with Jesus!
During those few hours we had with them. We talked life with these Rastas, spoke of Christ’s impact in our own lives, stopped them selling drugs for that time, and even built enough relationship to meet up again! After this meeting Bradley (Our host), told us how crazy it was that we just walked up and sat down with those guys. No one does that; if anyone approaches them, young or old, these Rastas throw bottles at them or cuss them out. But God had opened a door for us into their lives. How cool is it to be obedient to His Spirit’s leading! We had our soccer match after Boxing Day (a holiday actually celebrated in ZA) and it was epic. The boss of the Rastas actually went out throughout Ocean View gathering his guys of the street, told them to stop selling and come play soccer with the Americans. Played a legit match, halfs, referees, and by the time the towns folk saw what was up, a small fan section gathered. Though we ended up losing in OT on a sudden death score, it was a fruitful day.
We had been told after the match, that the leader wanted to invest more in the kids of OV, and help them to not be on the streets selling like He is. Our host had said, this man came to that conclusion because he saw a bunch of Americans willing to sacrifice their time for others, so why not me! The doors that have been open are immense here, and it is only by God’s anointing could this have ever come to fruition. But even earlier that week we had gathered with a good friend of Bradley’s who was nearly losing faith in God. After hours of prayer and truth spoken into him, and a little bit of man time around the Braai, God used us to tear the chains of pornography off this once known evangelist! We went toe to toe with the devil and freed a brother in the enemies clutches. It was truly a wild ride, and a battle that I will never forget as so much truth was just poured into this month from all of us! There is so much to this month, I am sorry for the seemingly rushed blog, but please ask me to take you our for a cup of coffee when I get back and I would love to tell you just how much God moved in Ocean View during Manistry. Totally Epic!
By now I hope you are wondering, why the negative title with so much breakthrough Nate? I received an awesome Christmas letter (accompanied by Christmas treats) from the fam and one thing stuck out to me the most, literally bringing me to tears. My old man reminded me of where I came from. My Grandpa was a bastard child, of illegitimate birth. He endured beating after beating from his step-father and grew up to be a bit of a hard father to my dad. But I only new my pops to be the most loving, kind-tender hearted grandpa who loved the Lord with ceasing. That’s the Grandpa I knew. You see, I’m the grandson of an illegitimate birth, in worldly terms a mistake. Be Christ used this horrible situation my Grandpa grew up in and forever changed His heart and soul, which in turn forever changed the Deloof family for generations to come!. From an illegitimate Grandpa, to a unapologetic on fire Father, to a kid just trying to follow God on this journey as a missionary. My family, for generations, is forever in Christ because someone came alongside my Pops and showed him what true life was. I pray that this past month as my team & I have come alongside many, that God will change their families as they did the Deloofs. From Illegitimate to grafted in Sons of the Most High!
…maybe my squad calling me Melvin is a sign for that change
