Hey, guys! I wanted to give you an update on what I got to do last week here in Bulawayo.
As I said in my last blog, this past week was called Proclamation Week, or “Bulawayo For Jesus” week. A week where local churches from all over the cities (all denominations), to evangelize and preach Jesus all over the city. Since I am working with the ministry Youth For Christ, our week was spent primarily in schools. We went to 8 (maybe 9) schools, preaching the Gospel and doing skits in front of 2000-3000 high schools total. It was such a great week! We saw countless salvations and rededications. Bulawayo For Jesus brought a harvest in this week.
One of my favorites days, was at an all girls school with 1,000 girls attending. I was able to participate in a skit called the “Problem Skit”, and then share my story with the girls. The photo below shows the hands of the girls raising their hands so we could lead them in a prayer for a relationship with Christ.
Then, on Saturday, we attended a girl’s program (the same one as the week before). 45-50 girls ranging from 6-16 years old were in attendance and we were able to love on them & teach on purpose. I taught on King David and how he wasn’t anything special and was a shepherd boy, but God had a purpose for him and he became King. Then, our team set up stations for the girls to make crowns, bracelets, and a letter to themselves with declarations in them (declarations like ‘I am smart, beautiful, etc.). After all the stations, the girls put on their dress-up clothes they brought and we did a fashion show! It was such a fun day for us.
Some “non-scheduled ministry” things (but life is ministry & ministry is life….amirite) we’ve been to do this past week is support our friends Falton & Siboe at their shows. (Comedy show & Poetry slam.) I LOVED both of the events.
I love Bulawayo. It is a beautiful city and I have made life-long friends here. I joke and say I would spend the rest of my race here if I could, but I know I can’t do that. These people and this city have marked my heart forever, and one day, I will be back.
On another note, on Sundays, our team teaches at an all-girls boarding school before church. This Sunday, I got to speak about Peter walking on water, a story that has spoke to me tremendously over the last 4 months. My favorite part of the story is not when Peter gets out of the boat (although that’s the main point). My favorite part is when Peter begins to sink, but as he shifts his focus back to Jesus, Jesus already has His hand out waiting to pull Peter up.
“But when he saw the wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’, he shouted. Jesus IMMEDIATELY reaches out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith’, Jesus said, ‘Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:30-31
I spoke about how Jesus is with us when we are walking on water and when we feel like we are sinking. Many of the girls resonated with the sinking aspect of the story, and after my team was able to pray with several girls. However, one girl in particular, got my attention and my heart breaks for her. As a 15 year old (her birthday was last week), she has face so many hard things in her life. AH* told me & a teammate that she doesn’t feel like God hears her or even loves her. Just in the last year alone, she has tried to commit suicide 5 times, has been bullied at school to the point of a broken nose, and she doesn’t believe any truth about herself, only the lies her classmates feed her. My heart physically hurts for her and I just wanted to hold her like my mom would hold me, and take away all the hurt and pain she feels everyday. She just wanted someone to hear her story and actually listen to her. Calla & I were able to love on her and speak truth over her. I wish I could take it all away, but all I can do is pray and let God do what only He can do.
I wrote the last paragraph not to just share AH’s* story, but to ask you all to pray for this young girl. That she would experience the love of the Father like she hasn’t before. That she would turn to Him during the trials and release all of the bitterness she has towards the world. Last, but not least, pray that a mentor or close friend would come into her life, so that she doesn’t have to carry the burden on her own.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!
Much love,
AC
