Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Today I'm serving in the ministry department of POPUP, here in Pretoria, South Africa. I am serving alongside squadmate, Conner McMakin, in CPR classes. (Click here to read his ministry highlight. It's go an awesome worship video!)
CPR stands for Continuous Personal Restoration. POPUP stands for People Upliftment Program and is dedicated to ministering to the community here through a holistic approach: meeting their practical needs (medical/dental, childcare, career skills…) and their spiritual needs (preaching the Gospel, teaching the Word of God, equipping the saints…)

It's my honor and privilege to share a highlight from ministry today.

Her name is Tshegofatso. 25 years old. A vibrant, beautiful, young woman. Strong in character. Black South African. Feminine. Long hair. Blonde highlights, lipgloss. Sweetheart. Extroverted. Her name means "Blessed" in Sesotho. You pronounce it like "tsay-go-fah-zu."

Today I met her as I leafed through pages of evaluation papers of the learners here at POPUP. POPUP is a ministry dedicated to the upliftment of people through a holistic approach: this ministry meets the practical needs of the people (medical, dental, career skills…etc) and the Word of God.

Tshegofatso was a born again Christian before she came to POPUP, but during the week she was here to learn life skills she experienced a revival that brought healing to her life.


This is her story.
[These are her written words.]

 
Tell us something about your life before you came to POPUP:
 
I was on the road bt it was vague & directionless. I was hurting & broken and acting all tough about it. I’ve been to hell & back in life and now since I came to POPUP I’ve started facing my issues.

God just through me into a pool of love and I enjoy swimming in it I don’t fear drowning cause it feels safe to just be.

Describe in a few sentences what you experienced these last 10 days during the life skill course at POPUP:

Wow at first I thought I go to church on Sundays already why do I got to do this every day now!!

But as time went on I realized that it was by God’s plan that I be here in this time because as a person I learnt a lot of things as in like really lot that has helped me figure out or answer a lot of questions that I had concerning & Christianity.

So I’m glad to say that after the 1st 2 days I was eagerly looking forward to coming and absorbing all I could.
I think it’s safe to say I am dangerously armed not only spiritually bt with also a lot of things that will help me to face the world out there from now on when I take risk with whatever I’m venturing in to it will be an educated risk. Needless to say Thank you!!!

Tshegofatso penned these words on her evaluation form on March 21st, 2012.
In pencil, her counselor, wrote at the bottom of her page:
Tshegofatso died tragically 3 April 2012.
We will always keep you in our hearts, sweetheart.

Today through tears falling down my face, I met a woman who was transformed by the ministry here at POPUP thorugh her written words.
 
She was ready to take on the world — but Jesus had prepared her for heaven.
 
I'm sharing her story with express permission.