Celebration in Testimonies
UPDATE
Thankfully our last deadline has been extended. I apologize for not being able to inform you sooner. The official deadline is March 31st and the final amount to be raised is $5765.Adventures In Missions does its best to keep us on the field but ultimately we cannot move forward in some areas of ministry without funding. I am asking those of you who can, to partner with me through:
DONATIONS– Ask what God might be putting on your heart to give?
NETWORK– Show people in your networks about the World Race through my link. Networks like church groups, work, or anywhere/anyone who might be able to help.
MEDIA– Continuing to share Instagram posts, blogs and videos of my journey. This ultimately invites others to follow along.
PRAY– Continue to pray for the work that God is doing worldwide. Our local individual stories are only a small speck of his plan at work. I challenge you to zoom out and see the impact the gospel is having on LARGER scale. Ask God how he would have you be his hands and feet?
CURRENTLY
After another travel day adventure, I’d like to say: “Hello from Jefferies Bay, also known as Jay Bay (Jesus Bay), South Africa”. It is a beautiful city with the beach at our door step. Here we get to partner with an organization called Global Challenge but there are several other outreach organizations here such as: YWAM, Joshua’s Project, Sun Surf, XLP and a handful more. Our specific ministry is divided in two halves; part of the day manual labor and then Children’s Ministry.
For manual labor we have been volunteering at their elementary and high school called Global Leadership Academy (http://www.gla-jbay.org/)! Global Challenge had the vision of starting an elementary school which expanded into the high school and some buildings for lodging as well. Now it is the one of the top schools on the Southern Cape. The teachers and staff alike explain it by saying; they are building off faith since they started in a Mall and not to long after land was gifted for them to build on. Everything is built from the support of volunteers like our World Race teams! Our work is treating the logs used to make the cabin style buildings. It reminds me of the classic building set called “Lincoln Logs” except on a MUCH larger scale.
The afternoons are spent with a literacy enrichment program called “Beats and Books”. The founder’s name is Cornelius. His focus is to give the students a Spiritual, Intellectual and Musical experience at each time the children come. Ages ranges by grade are from 1st to 10th grade; it is a new outreach to help give the children educational tools through a love of music. (Stay tuned for updates, pictures, and videos!!!)
The biggest question(s) so far: What are some of the lessons you’ve learned on the race? Or how have you seen God show up?
While this is a great question, it is also a mouthful. This 11 month journey in missions is often referred to as a crash course of sorts. Month 6 of the race and it is clear that every aspect of this journey holds a lesson or two. These lessons include subjects like community, relational ministry, healing, spiritual growth, mission based organizations, traveling logistics, budgeting, maintaining personal health, fundraising and SO much more. I think the best way to dive into it is through stories of God’s goodness in it all! Here is just one but stay tuned for more.
Guatemala- Children’s Home at Los Gozosos
That day I saw the truth of God wanting to make himself known and evident to us no matter our circumstance. He did this through a young girl named Nancy. She is the oldest youth, 24, at the disabled youth home. She only makes constant noise, laughter and has occasional fits of rage that sometimes comes out on who ever she is nearest. In general she seemed to show a limited number of external responses. During my time God allowed me to bond with her and she would respond happily to my voice, even in times of progressing anger.
The nannies where on full duty and the scene was hectic. There were diapers to change, babies to feed, clothes to fold, house chores and spills to clean. All the while their always was a crying, laughing, stubborn and/or playful child needing attention but ministry allowed us to have breaks in the morning. I was trying to hide; noises of all types and no place seemed to escape it. Walking through the living room and out to the clothing lines, EUREKA, no one was around. I quickly pulled up a chair out of window view, plugged in my headphones and began my devotional with singing.
Three songs in and Nancy comes up slowly behind me. As I began another song she lifted her head to the sky and reached her hand out. In that moment we were both worshiping and I saw that her countenance even changed. Not only did God show up for me but he used that moment to speak directly to Nancy.
Thank You
