What’s ministry been like for you the last couple weeks, you ask? Well let me tell you about the past two days.
On Monday we made our way out to a squatter camp we hadn’t been to yet. Zandspruit, a community that doesn’t have as many shacks, but more domestic houses than we’d seen in the other towns. We noticed that there were a lot more people sitting out drinking & we encountered more intoxicated people than we had in the previous weeks. Most people we walked up to told us they were too busy to talk which was different as well. In the other two camps we’d been to, the majority of people invited us into their homes immediately. Nonetheless, we still had some amazing encounters with people and some obvious divine appointments.
After lunch we were stopped on the side of the road, praying for a women who was making her way to work. I noticed a man out of the corner of my eye, watching us from a few yards down the road. After the lady went on her way, our Squad Leader, Aubrey, asked us where we should go next. Without question, Zane and I both, at the same time said,“That man wants to talk to us.”. We walked over to him and he invited us to his home. His entire house is smaller than my bedroom at home. It had one twin size mattress, and one full size squeezed in with like seven suitcases stacked against the wall. We sat in that house with John, his friend and two daughters.
Zane shared one of his favorite bible verses with them and John said the entire thing with him word for word. We found that John knew the bible like the back of his hand, and his daughter was SO hungry for the word and Jesus. They asked us question after question, whether it be about our lives and relationship with Jesus or about the bible. We shared stories and were honestly great friends by the end of our time together. We could tell John’s friend, Taboulo’s brain was spinning with questions and making connections here and there. When we asked if he wanted to give his life to Jesus he told us that he wanted to think more on it that night. Before we left we asked them if we could pray for them and they asked that we pray for job opportunities for them. Out of excitement for our new friendships we’d formed we asked if we could come back the next day and hangout.
Tuesday, bright and early, we walked straight to John’s house in anticipation of what the day would bring. They weren’t there, so we decided to come back after lunch. We walked back to his house and when Zane knocked on the door, John opened the door excited as ever to see us. We met John’s wife, Alice, and their friend was still there, literally in the exact same spot that we left him the day before. They were all SO excited that we were back. Immediately John told us that they weren’t there that morning because they had gotten a call for a job offer for John’s friend!!! HOW AMAZING!! We prayed for it the day before and then now we’re seeing the fruit of it! AH so good. That little, tiny room was filled with so much joy, laughter and smiles for that short hour of fellowship we had together.
It was the craziest coolest thing. Being in a house smaller than my own bedroom and sharing the space with such a positive, joy filled atmosphere. I sat there and thought “This is what I’m here for, this is why I signed up for the race. To meet people like this and encounter God in whoever he places in front of me.”
Yep. That’s why I’m here. I’m so thankful I get to do this. Wow.
