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Paradise… Lord, I can’t believe you gave me a month of paradise!
And of all months to have been in paradise, you chose Month 5 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe…
I love that you are not playing a trick on me!
Our ministry hosts’ names for month 5 are Adam and Vicki Burke. You have never heard me say this statement before and I doubt you will hear me say this statement again… Being with this family in Zimbabwe has been, BY FAR, my best month on the Race!
We arrived on Monday and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with my new team. Only hours into our time together I was already grateful for this group of people; Kayla, Bliz, Daiva, Walker, Josh & Nathan. I am so excited to spend this next leg of the Race as a team. Later that evening we got to meet Vicki as we had dinner with the couple allowing us receive an introduction to ministry for the month. Our first evening was fun, but quiet. That was as long as quiet lasted…
The next day we were scheduled to rest and be prepared to start ministry with them on Wednesday. But on Tuesday morning, Adam, Vicki, and their 3 year old daughter Gracie Joy were going out to a school to give out Bibles from the Gideon’s International organization. None of the team committed to going out since this day was our chance to get rested and ready, but on the next morning when it was time to leave all, but two, were in the truck and ready to go.
Half of our team sat in the back of the truck and rest in the cab with the couple. It was great because we got to talk and we all started getting to know each other. Vicki is energetic, spunky, and on fire for Jesus. Adam is meek, reserved, and on fire for Jesus. What an amazing combination!!!!
We arrived at the school and helped to carry the boxes of Bibles through the mud as we walked up to the school. We weren’t able to actually help or speak to the children on behalf on the Gideon’s ministry, but we did have the chance to see the Holy Spirit work through these 2 amazing people as they used the gifts the Lord has given them. It was so beautiful that I cried through the message in every single one of the four class rooms!
Adam started…
“My name is Adam Burke and I am a part of the Gideon’s Ministry. We are here to share the Word of God with you! Just as you eat food to fill your stomach and nourish your body, this Bible is how you will fill your heart and nourish your soul.”
Adam continues by explaining that every child, and even every teacher, will get their own Bible for them to write their names in the beginning pages.
“And a great part of this Bible is that it is small and can be carried with you wherever you go! When you are on the mini bus, you can read it. When you are in between classes, you can read it. When you have something specific going on in your life, you can read it. In the front of this Bible it has a list of topics that may apply to your life for you to reference. When you are going through something go through the list and find the topic. Next to the topic you will see a reference scripture that you can read about the topic to find direction from God. In the back of this Bible it shares the scriptures directly related to what Jesus has done for you.”
Adam looks to Vicki to pass the mic, so to speak. She takes a deep breath and greets the class in their native language. As I have been experiencing Vicki, I am sure that she was silently praying during that breath. I admire how she constantly takes a second to pray and ask God for His guidance in every situation, and in this case, what she needed to tell these children. I was in awe as hung on to every word of her illustration…
“The Devil is a deceiver that wants to kill, steal, and destroy! He wants to distract and tempt you away from the path that Jesus has for you” as she pulls at one of the girls shirt. Then she whispers in the girl’s ear to instruct her what to do next. “I am pretending to be the devil and I am here to tempt you” she tells the girl. But this time the girl retorts “NO, GO AWAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS!” Vickie shrieks and runs to the door as smiles of glee and understanding spread across the faces of each child in the room.
“Yes, just like that cast away the devil and flee from temptation. But sometimes we fall to temptation. Sometimes we lie, steal, cheat, and do things we are not supposed to do and it dirties our hands. Put your hands in the air. Now say ‘Jesus, please clean our hands’. Sometimes our hands can get dirty because we sin, but do not hide in shame from Jesus. Now, again, put your hands in the air and give it to Him. Say ‘Jesus, please clean our hands’.” As the children, and our team, followed along I was overwhelmed by what God was and is doing through this couple.
I’m 32 years old, compared to the 5th and 6th graders that were spoken to, and was captivated and learned so much from this experience! What a gift to explain the Gospel so simply!
As I said, for month 5 our ministry is to work with the Burke’s, but I can already see that God is going to blow the top off of that word “ministry”. Through this couple we are going to learn to truly “live a missionary life”. The hostel that Adam & Vicki own is called Burke’s Paradise, but the true paradise is getting to live with the Burke’s as they bring God’s Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven so that people can get to know Christ.
