We have completed our first full week of ministry in South Africa and I would like to update everyone on what is going on. My team and several others from the squad are partnered with a local ministry in the Johannesburg area called Impact Africa. The staff has been super welcoming of the teams and has on staff a married couple who are The World Race alumni. Impact Africa has many out reach programs in place, Impact Kids is where we go into the local communities and minister to young kids, elementary age down to those just learning to walk. Impact Students, where we go into the local schools and teach Biblically based lessons. Community outreach, where we go into the communities and meet people at their homes and ask if there is anything we can help them with. This could look like any thing from helping to wash their clothes or praying over them. Impact Africa also has a program Impact Baby Rescue in which there are actual baby drop boxes located within communities. A mother can place a baby, that otherwise would have been abandoned, and know that baby will be taken care of, placed in a foster home for eventual adoption, or give time to counsel the mother who sometimes reunites with the child. There are also other ministry programs Impact is involved with here, needless to say at this point they are very busy and for me, I can already see God’s strong presence within the organization.
Our first ministry day as a team was working with Impact Kids, in which we would go into the community and minister. There are no words to describe the living conditions within these communities and pictures can only capture a small portion. I remember when I would see pictures of the Grand Canyon I would think the place looked pretty big and maybe I would like to go visit. Then I did go visit, now, pictures of the Canyon have taken a whole new meaning. I understand the magnitude of what I am looking at now having seen it in person. The same can be said about the size of these communities and the conditions within them. I can post picture after picture, but you cannot fully relate until you actually stand within the community. My very first reaction to my emotions was to think about all the need within the community, trash all over, broken buildings, sewage water running through some of the streets etc., but I something reminded me of how my life was in the US. I had everything as I have said before, the job, the house, the vehicles etc., I remembered at during this moment the words of Paul in Philippians 3 v1-9 where Paul talks about all the accolades the world tells us we need to have peace, and how it is all worthless if we do not have Christ. I also remembered Jesus did not bring items to people, He brought the news of himself and what He was about to do for us all, healing and forgiveness.
As we made our way through the community to an open area, the kids literally started jumping for joy and started running with us along side the vehicle. We did not bring much with us, a few simple items for games to play, items they could find already within their community, one simple speaker to play music to dance to, and 10 or 12 people wanting to love on these kids, kids who may only receive that love during this brief moment of their week. Seeing these little kids in complete joy amongst what is perceived to be miserable living conditions really changes your perspective man. They have so much joy in Christ. It will legit make you cry tears of joy to see all these little kids repeating Bible verses of hope and bowing their little heads in prayer and worship to Christ. Even some of the adults in the community where joining in and expressing complete joy in that moment. We may be able to doubt this is possible from afar, but you cannot deny the smiles from close up that Christ is good and Christ and His Spirit is making moves all over this world. I pray that all of us come to realize we already have what we need to be filled with complete joy, He lives within each of us and through faith and belief, our lives will be radically transformed.
