Wow… where to even begin…
HIGHLIGHTS
This month has absolutely flown by. I can’t believe that we are at debrief already. So, what has taken place already?
Well, the first week was sports camp and I talked about that in my first blog. So after the first week, we had a relaxing weekend. Some of the team went shark diving that Saturday while some of us just relaxed. That next week was prayer walking and street ministry.
This is something that I was not always super confident on. Walking up to random strangers and just saying, “Hey how are you? I just want you to know that God sent me here all the way from America to share something with you…” and so on and so on. It was very much out of my comfort zone, but God is all about calling us into the uncomfortable. The first two days we stayed in Ocean View where we were living. It was so good to just walk around because people were already use to seeing our faces around the community. We made so many meaningful relationships in the short time that we were there.
The next two days were spent in Masi. Masi is a poorer community. It is pretty much a slums type of community. While we were there we were working with a team from YWAM (Youth With A Mission). We started both mornings with prayer and worship. Our time in that community was so amazing and God’s presence and power were so evident. On our second day, the group I was with had such an amazing moment of God’s love and glory shown to us. We were able to help a lady either turn back to God or finally embrace the love the father was so wanting to pour out on her! It brought us all to tears just simply being able to see her who attitude change from just before and after prayer and encrouragement.
The last day (Friday), was spent back in Ocean View. We wanted to go back to the people we had met the first two days of the week. I had my group go a mosque and just circle the building with prayer and songs to God. We were declaring that the people would know God’s truth and love in Jesus’ name! It was so powerful. God really made us uncomfortable to just be willing to stand around a mosque and pray in Jesus’ name! It was so freeing to know that God is our strength and that we do not have to be afraid of anything. He is our shepherd and our shelter! We can walk in confidence knowing that OUR CUP OVERFLOWS! It was really just and absolutely amazing day.
We had another relaxing weekend. Our weekend was finished off by a night service at Hillsong in Capetown. It was incredible. I loved the message so much more than the music. The message was about how we need to shift our focus to what God sees! It was such a perfect message for this journey that God is leading me down!
Monday we went to Cape Point. That was the southern most point of Africa. We had a brief scare where we were walking near the beach and us and our van got attacked and overrun by about 25 baboons. I know! Crazy right?! You’ll have to get photos from people posting on facebook.
WHERE I’M AT SPIRITUALLY…
This month has been really stretching for me. Only spiritually though. God has really showed me where and how he wants to use me. It is something I am wrestling with because I had ways I wanted to be used, but God has other plans. He says, “I know you want to be used certain ways, but trust in me. I am going to use you in mighty ways, but it may not be the way you think. Just say yes to me.” That is what I am working on. God has told me that one of the biggest ways I am going to minister on this trip is to my own squad mates. I am excited about it, but I was also blindsided by this. I must have faith and take rest in knowing that God knows best and he is with me every step of the way. God also has really been blessing me with the ability to memorize scripture. In one day I memorized 1 Corinthians 13. Also, I have determined to have the entire Sermon on the Mount memorized before January. So please just be lifting those up in prayer for me! Thank you.
NEW NEWS!!!
As of now, our route has been changed. Our squad will still be all together this month in Swaziland… BUT month 3 there are some changes. Half of our squad will be going to Mozambique while the other half goes to Ethiopia. I am still going to Mozambique. READY FOR MORE CHANGES??… months 4-6 are now Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam! There is still a possibility of going to India and Nepal, but the visa process has proven to be quite difficult. Also, as of now Thailand and Cambodia are no longer a part of our route. Obviously, the countries could still and probably still change and get moved around some! We are learning to be flexible and just follow Jesus where ever he leads.
WHERE THE TITLE OF THE BLOG COMES FROM…
My team did a morning devotion every morning that broke down Psalm 23 line by line. We got to “my cup overflows” and God just began speaking to me about it. This may sound silly, but bear with me please. I imagine everyone in a room holding a cup. No one knows how much is in each cup, but when a cup overflows everyone around notices. Also, if the cup overflows enough then eventually everyone else’s cups will begin to overflow. People get affected by just one cup overflowing. We contain the light. God is constantly filling us up and we overflow daily. We need to walk in that truth. He is overflowing his love in and through us. That is my prayer for all of you who read this! If you are a follower of Christ then I am encouraging you to embrace that truth. Your cup overflows! You are overflowing with the love, grace, mercy, patience, truths, strength, and joy of God! Walk with your cup overflowing so that others may be affected and people will ask where your inner peace and joy comes from. Then you proclaim that only Jesus fills me!
Thank you all! Until next time! God bless!
Love,
David
