Hey y’all! It’s been just over a week since I’ve landed back in the USA. The past 11 months flew by. This week I’ve been processing this past season of Squad Leading, and thought that it would be great for me to give you all a recap of my time in Africa (Lesotho, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.)
If you love photos, then this blog is for you.
Lesotho February 2018
I was able to take 2 teams (Team Mirador and Powerful Pinatas) with me to my first World Race host, Harvesters Bible Church in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. It was a cool experience to go back to the place where my World Race Journey started. I was able to meet up with old friends while also making new friends. We did a variety of work. We served in soup kitchens, construction, schools, prisons, and church services.
One of the coolest things about going back to Mokhotlong, Lesotho was going back to the prison where I first shared my testimony on the Race. When I was there in August 2016, we saw dozen of prisoners give their lives to Christ. What was really encouraging was to see one of those prisoners who gave his life to Jesus back in 2016 still following Jesus in 2018. Even though he still was in prison, he radiated with hope; and that hope was from Jesus.
To some of you that may not seem like a big deal, but to missionaries like me who travel from place to place, it is easy for us to question if people truly get “it”, especially if we aren’t able to stay in contact with them. When we see a multitude of people coming to know the Lord, one of the ways that the enemy tries to discourage us is with doubt of them truly understanding their decision. In that moment the Lord shut the enemy up.
What was also cool was that I was able to give the prisoners an update about my relationship with my father. When I shared my testimony with them back in 2016, I told them how the Lord had recently reconnected me with my dad. A year and a half later, I got to stand in front of some of those same prisoners and share with them how my dad had recently given his life to the Lord and got baptized. Isn’t God good y’all!
Well, you’re probably wondering where those photos are that I was talking about… so here they go lol.
My brothers Robby and Mporo.
Got to see Bulara again! That was a blessing!
Pastor Oliver, his wife Tebo, and their son! This is a picture of God’s faithfulness. When I was first in Mokhotlong in August 2016, Pastor Oliver asked our team to pray that God would bless them with a child. Shortly after we left, we found out that they were pregnant. A year and a half later, I was able to see God’s faithfulness firsthand.
I was able to see my Basotho Grandmother! Back in 2016, she helped to take care of our needs back at the mission house.
Team Mirador, Powerful Pinatas, and I with some of the church members.
South Africa March 2018
I loved my time with Team Dior in South Africa! We worked at a Christian camp in Pretoria. It was the camp’s first time having a World Race team, and it was my first time ever serving as a Camp Counselor. I LOVED IT! This was probably my favorite month this past year!! God taught me some major things in South Africa!
At the beginning of my time in South Africa, I started facing a lot of insecurities about leadership. God taught me a lot about how to overcome insecurity through Moses. Moses was a leader who struggled with insecurity.
If you look at Exodus 3, when God first called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses asked God “Who am I that I should lead your people?” What stood out to me was the way God responded.
A lot of times when you interact with insecure people who doubt their abilities, you tend to try to reaffirm their abilities or talents. You might say something like “No, you are good at this!” or “No, you aren’t that bad.”
But God doesn’t respond to Moses in that manner. If you look at Exodus 3:12 ESV God says:
“But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Did you catch it? If not, let’s look at another time where Moses struggle with insecurity.
In the next chapter, Exodus 4, Moses tells God “Oh, my Lord, I am not well spoken, I’ve never been a good speaker, but I am slow of speech and of tongue” paraphrased. Y’all look at how God responds to Moses when Moses trys to disqualify himself.
“Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go , and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Exodus 4:11-12 ESV
Both times when Moses brings his insecurities to God, God chooses not to affirm Moses abilities. However, both times when Moses brings his insecurities to God, God reminds Moses that God is with him.
“But I will be with you…I will be with your mouth.”
There is something in there for all of us who struggle with insecurity…GOD IS WITH US.
When God calls us to do things, we need not to worry about whether we are qualified, capable, or enough. We need to do as God called Moses to do in Exodus 4:12: GO and remember that God is with us.
To take it even further, God reminds Moses that He made Moses mouth like that. The very thing that brought insecurity to Moses, was the way that God uniquely made him. God will put you in places that challenge you, and magnify your areas of weakness; places that require you to be in close relation with Him in order to succeed.
Why would God do that?
I think it is because God is so relational, and He wants that close, intimate relationship with us. He is glorified when we are dependent on Him.
Oh those photos! Here they go! lol
