So, I’m sitting here in a coffeeshop in South Africa at the start of MONTH 11 of my Race, billowy whipped cream clouds floating in my coffee, being SO grateful for a trip with my team into town to come get wifi and coffee after life in the bush in Swaziland the past few weeks… (which was AWESOME but crazy!)
We’ve made it to Pretoria, South Africa, where we are working with an organization called BEAM Africa (Biblical Education and Ministry). They work to give education and life skills to adults here so they can be more self sustaining, and they also run a center that gives one free meal and some life skills/Biblical education to children in a nearby township. They are a WONDERFUL and loving family who has welcomed us into the work they’re doing for the Lord in just a matter of days! We are SO excited for what the Lord has in store for us all as we partner with this ministry. The family has asked us to partner with them mostly in prayer, as the work we put in diving into prayer and asking our Lord for things will endure long after we leave.
Here are a few prayer requests for this ministry so far:
–VISION: BEAM Africa has endured a lot of opposition from communities and the corrupt leadership therein. Pray that the Lord would protect their ministry now and guide them with clarity on what He wants them to continue doing in the future in these communities. Pray that He would help them grow and change with each road block they encounter, knowing He is for them and is fighting for them and for His will here in Pretoria!
-STAFF: BEAM is currently understaffed, and they are praying for more people with their same heart and vision to love and reach the people around them with the love of Jesus and the hope of the Gospel to partner with them. Pray the Lord stirs hearts to assist them with passion and energy to help make His vision through this ministry possible.
-SOUTH AFRICA: Erika and Louis (the married couple hosting us :)) have asked us specifically to be in prayer with them for South Africa. We are asking the Lord to intervene with justice, love, and grace through the hope of Jesus into these communities where we are serving. We are learning quickly about some issues South Africa faces (not that we’re South Africa experts in only a few days, but we’re learning from our hosts and from our experiences!) such as racial tensions, corrupted government, ignorance paired with hostility and desperation which combine to threaten the safety of residents here, and fear that keeps people divided and isolated from each other.
THANK YOU for your prayers! We’re only a few days into the FINAL month of ministry on the Race, and my team and I are already so excited to dive in and savor everything in this last leg of this journey.
And I’m realizing I have a LOT of stories to tell since being in Africa and wifi being so scarce, so I will be TRYING to post a few blogs at a time to make sure all the amazing stories I’ve witnessed and encountered are told and that Jesus is glorified in all He is doing!
LOVE YOU ALL!
-Abby.
