YO! I absolutely love Africa.
Former team Sisterhood, now we are Team Harbor, (Holla!) are living with a pastor, his wife and their 7-month-old baby. Their names are Pastor Lamaz, Mahki, and baby Zahara. They are originally from Kenya, and have lived in Botswana for about two years now. Lamaz is 32 and his wife is 31. They are full of energy, life, have a huge heart for the church, the community, bust most importantly are overflowing with Jesus. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced. eeesh, are they passionate. If only each of you could experience it.
When we first arrived, my team and I started evangelizing at the University of Botswana, which is huge. Being on campus reminded me so much of being back in Arizona. It was a sweet feeling, and so fun to have another taste of campus life. Shortly after we arrived the students started going on strike because a large majority of them were no longer receiving their monthly allowance to pay for their every day living necessities, including rent. They were kicked out of their dorms and forced to sleep inside a civic center, crash with friends, or traveling hundred of kilometers back to their home village. The civic center, where about a hundred students slept looked like an empty gymnasium. The roof leaked and the ground was soaking wet, and the students were spread along the edges of the inside of this building. After three days, the University allowed the students to go back to their dorms, under supervision, to pack their belongings and move out entirely. Last we’ve heard is the University will be closed for another 3 weeks.
This was really hard for us because that was where the majority of our afternoon was spent, and our pastor had just started an evening youth group that would meet in one of the classrooms every Wednesday night.
However, before the school was closed, I had a few incredible opportunities to talk with some students about the struggle I’ve faced with having an absent father and the freedom I was able to experience after inviting Christ into my life allowing him to fill the void I’d been living with. The divorce rate is very high here and the students were receptive and heard my heart on it, especially since I knew exactly what they were feeling. We had something we could relate to. Being in a place where I am walking in freedom and stewarding the grace He’s given me, he’s using his story through me to reach people. Even more fulfilling was each time I shared the Gospel and shared my testimony, I grew closer to the Father and was given a much more clear picture of His love and pursuit for me.
One of my absolute favorite days evangelizing, so far, was when I visited this woman’s home with two of my teammates and my pastor. She was probably in her late 50’s and she was sitting outside of her home on the ground with a little baby boy. Her name was Grace. She was the grandmother of this sweet boy and when we asked her if she knew Jesus, she said “yes, I have seen Him in the pictures.” I started sharing with her the gospel message as my pastor translated. I shared all that Jesus has done for her, how much he loves her, how he wants to free her form the burdens and sin she carries. I shared with her the freedom I’ve experienced and I asked her if she wanted to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior, she said yes and my pastor led her in a prayer in their native language of Setswana. I sat there during the prayer and wept out of joy. I had never been apart of someone giving their life to Jesus and it was the most beautiful thing I had experienced. Right after she accepted Jesus, she said the pain in her back that she was feeling was completely gone.
Since that moment, I have fallen in love with the heart behind evangelism, but I don’t like calling it that. It’s simply making friends, building relationships, and being intentional.
It feels good to be seen. See someone. Step into their world, into their perspective, see what’s behind their eyes, hear them, love them, and show them that you care. That’s what it’s about.
