It’s a bit hard to believe that in just a couple of days I’ll be hopping aboard yet another passenger van and continuing onward toward country number 6 and my 6th month away on the mission field! The time has gone fast, yet month 1 in Colombia seems like it has taken place forever ago. So many incredible experiences have occurred throughout these first five months on the race. Each day brings with it something special as well as some new knowledge or understanding to take away. These days just seem to hold so much value that it’s hard to believe that everything I’ve experienced so far has only occurred in a mere 5 months’ time! What a blessing to be learning and growing in such ways. I think back over these months and so many memories come flooding into my head.
- In Colombia, I remember the amazing relationships built with men overcoming and conquering addictions they’ve faced in their lives. We played soccer games together, intense games of uno, and also shared in some great bible studies about the wonders God has done in our lives. I can’t forget about the kids bible schools at both the foundation in Medellin and up on the impoverished mountainside of Manantiales. It was also a blessing to be able to deliver care packages to the displaced families up there and offer them some new hope! I remember meeting with and praying over drug addicts in the Bronx during street ministry and checking the homeless men into the foundation for a safe night of sleep. I saw a lot of hard situations in Colombia, but I also saw the power of our great God and how He can renew and restore lives!
- In Ecuador, I think of all the great relationships we built with such awesome people! Pastor Bob, along with his partner in crime, Lori, Josh and Karri, Javi and Carol, Ed and Miriam along with the rest of the Impacto International family all treated us as if we were family of their own! I learned a lot about intentionality and felt so blessed by all the people that poured themselves into my life. I remember powerful, Spirit-filled Sunday church services along with some special evenings with the youth group, washing each other’s feet. Of course, I can’t forget about the time spent working in the café and doing life in the house with Gregorio, Adri and little Matteis. I met so many incredible people in Ecuador and I really hope to see them again someday!
- In Peru, I remember partnering up with a new church and a wonderful family; helping them reach out to their surrounding community. We shared testimonies, held evenings of prayer and led some wonderful times of worship in this new church. I remember putting together and distributing Christmas goodie bags, both as an outreach opportunity as well as a way to help families in need up on the sandy brown mountain of Ventanilla. We sang and danced with kids who sure loved to sing and dance in Jesus name. We shoveled sand away to grade a flat space and erected kitchen walls that will help provide food to kids who could really use a little help and a good meal. I met some selfless people who have really devoted their lives for Gods kingdom and was inspired in big ways.
- Lesotho.. Wow, so many amazing moments and memories were created in this beautiful little country. I got to build relationships with some of the most obedient yet humble ministry hosts and volunteers. Some days, I could hardly believe the opportunities we were given to reach out to the people in the Malealea valley; sitting in traditional African huts, totally off grid and sharing the truths of who the Lord says we are.. talking with young shepherds about Jesus and what He has done for them.. Praying over countless situations and seeing God answer prayers.. worshiping along with faithful believers throughout the best 3.5 hour church services! The lifestyle of the Malealea valley was so real and so simple. It was a great place to connect more intimately with God and simply see Him in all the little things.
- This month in South Africa is not quite over yet, but there have certainly been some great experiences encountered here. We’ve gotten to sit in on college bible classes as well as join with students in reaching out to different places within the community including the hospital, prison, public school, and even out on the streets! People seem to be very open here and just last week, Neels and I got to be a part of a young mans decision to invite Jesus to rule as the Lord and Savior of his life. Praise God! We’ve spent some days at preschools, helping out where we can and loving on kiddos, as well as helping with afternoon kids ministry in the harder part of the east side of town. We’ve been taken in here by such a loving church family and have been blessed by our hosts, Phil and Tanya!
I’ve been blessed in so many ways and have witnessed so many things throughout these first five months. These little descriptions are just a brief little glimpse of all that has happened since leaving home. I haven’t even mentioned any of the adventure days that have taken place!! In the midst of all of it, one major highlight of this world race highlight reel took place here in South Africa and will certainly not be forgotten.
In the middle of the month here, I had the opportunity to be water baptized with a few others from the church congregation here at LCF. It was quite a powerful experience in the things that it signified for my life and the things that the Lord has done for me. I recognize that there might be some different opinions from those of you reading this, as reformed doctrine would trust that the covenant made during my infant baptism 26 years ago leaves this adult baptism of mine unnecessary. I’d like to touch a little bit about this adult baptism of mine, but I’d first like to clear the air that in no way shape or form do I hope to cause any tension or division amongst the Christian church! I love my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and only wish to encourage a deeper relationship and unity in Him. I also love those who don’t yet follow Christ. My desire is for all to rejoice at the sound of His name, because God is good after all! Disunity or arguments amongst us will not be of benefit to the kingdom and could even be of hinderance to those outside of the Christian church.
Back in Ecuador during month 2, the conversation of baptism among many other great topics of discussion were brought about with Pastor Bob Leek. Not at all did he challenge my doctrinal belief of infant baptism, but he simply inspired me to search for myself on what the Bible says about the matter of baptism. I searched the scriptures to find several examples of people believing in their salvation through Jesus Christ, being reborn in Him, and being baptized as a symbol of dying to themselves in sin and being made new.
In Acts 2:38 Peter tells the people, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the Holy Spirit.” This command is telling us to turn from sin to follow God with trust and obedience. Baptism is an act that symbolizes change. It pictures believers becoming clean from sin and emerging as a new person in Christ. Being baptized identifies a person with Christ and His followers.
Again in Acts 8:12-13, people believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Men and women, including Simon the sorcerer, believed and were baptized.
The pattern continues later in the same chapter as Philip preaches the good news of Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch. They traveled along on the road together and when they came to some water the eunuch says, “Look, here is water. What keeps me from being baptized?” Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. This sign of baptism is for all who believe, Jew or Gentile.
In chapter 9 of Acts we read about Saul’s radical conversion from breathing murderous threats against the disciples to preaching in the Synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus totally changed and renewed Saul while on the road to Damascus. Immediately after his transformation, Saul got up and was baptized.
Later on, in Acts chapter 22, we read of Paul speaking to the crowd in Jerusalem, “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and see the Righteous One and to hear the words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” In this scripture, these people are commanded to be witnesses and be baptized!
These are just a few scriptures that portray the pattern of people believing, and being baptized as born again Christians in the recordings of Acts as the early church was formed. Obviously, the act of baptism is a symbol of being washed clean and made new through Jesus crucifixion and resurrection as he paid the price for our sins. The water or act in itself does not bind with it some kind of saving grace. It is by grace, through faith alone that we are saved! However, this act of believing and being baptized is most certainly biblical and it’s a beautiful picture of being buried with Christ in sin, but then also being raised up, washed clean from sin and renewed in Him as well! It’s a testament to what the Lord has done to redeem His people. It’s really as simple as that, but what a joy!
The opportunity for me to be baptized arose and I couldn’t think of a better time for me to make the declaration that the things of God in my life are real and that I am made new in Him. I have been created by God, for God, and this life of mine is His to use and bring glory to His name. I was dead in sin, but because of God’s merciful love for me, I’ve been made alive in Christ. It is by grace alone that I’m saved!
The sun was shining away on this beautiful day of baptism. Pastor Phil and brother Manashe made their way into the tidal pool with me and prayed over me, speaking into my life as we stood in the water. It was so humbling to stand there, ready to signify what the Lord has done for me, even as undeserving as I am. I was dunked under the ocean water and came up to hear the loud cheers of my teammates along with many other brothers and sisters in Christ supporting me there. Praise God, I’m made new in Him! My good brother Jonathan burst into a prayer thanking Jesus for the beautiful display of what He’s done. Pastor Bennie also prayed over me, encouraging me as a mighty man of God, equipped to do His work and choose the Lord’s way throughout my years ahead. I couldn’t think of a better feeling as we later left that place and drove home with the windows rolled down. God blessed us with a beautiful day, and such a beautiful place along the Indian Ocean to celebrate the renewal of my life. I will remember February 12, 2020 in South Africa for the rest of my life!
We’ve had an incredible month here in Heidelberg and have been welcomed with open arms into this community. This place has been such a blessing to us! One of the hardest parts of the race seems to be the goodbyes that must take place at the end of the month after building relationships with so many great people. It’s once again getting to be that time already and we’ll be back on the road Tuesday afternoon to travel to our squad debrief location in Pretoria, South Africa. It’s about an 18hr drive so we’ll be spending the night in the van and driving on through. We’ll spend a couple days debriefing as a squad in Pretoria before getting back on the move again and continuing on to Manzini, Swaziland for month 6 of the race. Our squad of 20 will be all together at the AIM base in Manzini for an all squad month of ministry together! It also sounds like we’ll be putting our tents to use and camping out on the grounds for the month. It sounds like it could be another adventurous month, but I’m looking forward to whatever God has in store for Swaziland.
We will miss you South Africa!
If you’ve read all 2,200 words of this blog you’re a real trooper and I commend you for your loyalty!! This one got a little long, but as always, thank you for following along with me! I wouldn’t be where I am without your support and encouragement.
God Bless!
