So I am sitting at an accomodation lodge in Coffee Bay South Africa which is ran by an amazing couple from the outer banks of North Carolina. I just finished doing haircuts on the whole family (which by the way means i have officially done haircuts in six different countries around the world- can i add that to my resume?) As they feed me a chicken salad wrap with green apples and feta cheese i think to myself- life cannot get better than this. I can see the ocean from the front porch of this place and the fall- like weather is perfect. Only thing that could make this better is if my family was here with me!
We are celebrating and rejoicing in the 26 boys that were baptized in the last 2 days and the fact that they are all interested in starting a bible study and really surrendering themselves to God- such a victory! Its easy to think that this is normal or that its easy for these kids to make these decisions but it isn't. We learned quicky how confused the people are around here about christianity and how they easily encorporate things that aren't of God into their religious practices.
Last Sunday we took off early in the morning to go to a church service of a friend of ours named Sipho. We see him every day where we stay and talk with him about God. As we finish about 2 miles of walking STRAIGHT uphill.. we arive to a hut with women and children layed out on the outside. They have white clay-mud spread all over their faces, they have pipes in their hands. I knew something was up but couldn't figure it out. I walked up to a women and greeted her in her language and as she went to shake my hand she had to shift the marijuana from one hand to the other and I stepped back in slight shock (which has definitely been offered to us in abundance along with mushrooms in this area) I felt the darkness and realize quickly that something isn't right. We were invited into the hut and we went tentatively knowing that the Spirit didn't want us to. As soon as we entered i smelled something so terrible but it looked like they were cooking so i just figured it was something they were eating. After sitting for a few moments I had to get up to leave because of the stench until someone beside me pointed out what was on the other side of the hut. I saw a bowl with blood poured over the edge of it.. and to the side of that a huge dead animal skinned and raw. Not exactly sure what was going on- and i prob never will be but im pretty sure it was an animal sacrifice.. and by pretty sure I mean it was- I don't really know exactly what else it could be. All i know was it STANK! shooo wheeeeeeee (perfect scenerio to turn this into a sermon on sacrifices and how Jesus is the final blood sacrifice etc etc- you get the point… thats my new thing by the way. Turning everything i do and see into sermons.. you should try it) But it is also a quick slap in the face on how much spiritual warfare there is in this area and the way the enemy will work his way into the community.
As we leave,we pray over the area and the people there.. we are informed that it was some ancestoral worship and the person was a sangoma which is a traditional healer that has dreams and is one step down from a witch doctor. So much for Sunday morning church.
Our first experience with the spiritual darkness in Africa. Crazy to see all the different ways the enemy will lie to Gods children. Beka said something that really struck me when we left- as weird, crazy and wrong as all that was- we have to remember that those are Gods children and anointed people as well. That God loves that man dressed as a healer that is confused and lost just as much as He loves me (who by the way is usually just as confused and lost as the next- but in a more literal way, thanks mom) Also we realize we need to be more specific on who Jesus is and the difference between tribal rituals and really living out Gods plan for their lives. Its hard to explain the difference when these tribes have been doing these things for decades and decades. I know seeds have been planted here and now we have to just pray and know that others can come and water the seeds and from there God can make it grow. 1 Corinthians 3 6-7 "I planted the seed in your hearts , and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow."
We are here for 3 more days.. then we head to Maputo, Mozambique for August (the 11th is my 28th birthday WHAT WHAT?!) We will be staying there working with prison ministry, evangelizing to the people in the prisons and the children and families that have been affected by people in prison. I am so excited. The different ministries I have been blessed to work with have been so amazing- So far in Thailand- prostitution ministry and manual labor, Cambodia- teaching english, Australia- backpacker ministry, Malaysia- teaching/evangelism/feeding/remodeling/haircuts for orphans , India- manual labor (remodeling school/ministry site- spending time with orphans), Nepal- teaching, South Africa- soccor and surfing ministry, Mozambique- Prison minsitry. I've pretty much covered it all!
Keep praying for us- only 4 months left of this journey- hopefully finishing with a BANG! xo
oh and here's some glimpses at south africa
