The next week, we stayed in the town of Mtenguleni. Our home was slightly more developed with more open space and daylight. During our stay there, I was definitely challenged, as our main ministry was door-to-door evangelism. Right off the bat, I had to learn to let go of some of my insecurities (such as saying “I don’t know” or “Nevermind” – my bad habits of being unsure of myself) and embracing the confidence that I can only get through the Lord. Through this ministry, I found a new joy in evangelism – more of in connecting with people in deep and meaningful way and sharing the joy that we have in the Lord.
In Africa, people will take time with you. If you show that you care, they will open their lives with you and go deep, even in a short amount of time. I love how honest they are…how open they are, even with a complete stranger. I’ve learned that it only takes a moment. One moment of sincere, unreputable love – of caring and openness to touch someone’s life and lift their spirits.
This may seem completely different from our culture in America, but what I’ve found is it really is no different. People want to be loved, cared about, and encouraged. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter by who, because the Lord will take it the rest of the way…
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When I first heard we were doing door-to-door ministry, for some reason I was excited even though normally I wouldn’t think this ministry would be for me. I was paired with my teammate, Taylor, and our translator was William. Though we somewhat stumbled with knowing what to say to the first family, it all started coming together at our second house, in meeting Mary Zhulu.
Mary shared that she has had two miscarriages already and is very new in her married life. The only longing in her heart was to have children. She told us her history of having visited many witch doctors who told her that she would be barren her entire life. After going to church, though, the congregation prayed over her and she got pregnant for the first time. Despite the miscarriages that came, the idea that a baby was formed in her womb gave her a lasting hope. We prayed over her. Taylor was able to share about her mother’s miscarriages and connect with her through that.
I finally mustered the courage to share with her what the Lord had been playing on my heart. While walking from the first house, I kept hearing the word PROMISE and that it was meant for the next person we were to meet. Not only that, but earlier that morning, I happened to read Genesis 15 in my devitional– the Lord’s covenant with Abram. This story was of Abram and Sarai and their struggle with barrenness and how the Lord had spoken a promise of children over Abram’s life. It all came together in that moment. I was able to share with Mary this word of encouragement, and that the Lord has promises for her life as well. Mary was crying, I was crying… it was beautiful. As William put it: “That was wonderful. Wonderful is far better than good, right?”
Though not so direct every time, the Lord continued to speak to people as we went. I believe that. Praise God, all the glory to You. Letting go of my reservations was the first step of faith, allowing Got to work through me. When we truly let the Lord in, He can conquer our struggles, our insecurities, and our fears. The words will flow, because it’s not our own words we are speaking – they are His.
