Wow Botswana! We ministered at three pre-schools. We evangelized gaining more brothers and sisters in Christ. We got the opportunity to spread the gospel with a local church. We reached new heights of unity and vulnerability with each other. We saw beautiful, majestic animals in our pristine surroundings.
My team was placed here in our ministry home in Kazungula as the first World Race team in this community. And, throughout my life I’ve learned that God has a reason for His plans that’s beyond my understanding.
On November 23rd we arrived home from a fundraising event when we noticed that the lights in our home was on and the doors were wide open. Thieves had entered and immediately we knew to expect that our belongings would have been ransacked and stolen.
In this moment of uncertainty, annoyance, anger, and shock my team and I did what we knew to do and what we believe is the best solution to problems like this — pray.
There’s nothing that prayer can’t fix. And, even when we don’t see the solution right away, we know that prayers that honor God get answered. We prayed a blessing over the thieves, peace for us, and softened hearts that won’t lead to anger.
Almost a week has passed since this event and we’re seeing the answers to our prayers manifest. God is showing us favor as we continue forward with ministry. And, if the reason for us being here was simply for us to pray for the men that stole our things, then I would consider this all worthwhile.
Our things don’t define us, but what lies in our heart is what’s important. We’re blessing our enemy and praying that God intervene in their life so that they may be saved and led to repentance. Eternity for them is more important.
Our team name 1010 FIERCE represents John 10:10 — “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” and our fierce passion for God’s word and His Kingdom.
This is our last month together as a team before we experience team changes in Zambia. And I know we’ve honored the name God inspired us to have. The enemy will try to literally steal, kill all joy, and destroy God’s work.
Things that are irreplaceable were taken, yet there’s one thing that the enemy cannot take, our Joy in the Lord. We should be discouraged, yet we are not. We’re laughing at happy memories, basking in the presence of God who protects us.
Our ministry host, Pastor John, has been so supportive of us, helping us get all of our documents sorted in order to ensure travel to Zambia in a week. Our passion for spreading Kingdom here has increased. There’s ministry here that we’re confident future WR teams can continue.
We’re going to remain joyful, trusting in the presence of the Lord. We’re going to keep fighting the good fight of faith, knowing that everything we’ve done in this ministry is for God’s glory. This is abundance that cannot be stolen. This is the life we choose in Christ, to bless our enemy and to love them.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5:44–45 NIV
