Why am I here?
Why am I on this earth? Why am I in Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa?
Have you ever asked yourself a question like this?
Today officially marks one month of us being here in South Africa. This month has included lots of picking up trash, lots of “ice breaker” games, lots of trips to the beach, and LOTS of learning about Jesus. But are any of those the reason why I’m here? This is something I have asked the Lord a lot, and let me tell you about what He said…
1. I am here because… The Lord IS commanding me, asking me, telling me, to no only go out into the world and teach his people, but also teach my teammates, my squad-mates, my friends, and my family about who he is.
When I first started hearing this from the Lord I was like yeah, duh. The whole reason I’m on the race is to teach people about you. But then I was like, what does it actually mean to “teach”?
The google definition of the word “teach” is “impart knowledge to or instruct (someone) as to how to do something.” It’s a pretty basic definition, but what do I teach them? and how?
Well, to find that answer all I had to do was listen to the Lord and read the verses he gave me in his word…
“Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.” Proverbs 28:23
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” Proverbs 27:5
Have you ever seen someone doing something wrong, like committing a sin against the Lord? For example, stealing something or lying about something. And you want to correct them but you know it’s going to be uncomfortable and probably not end very well. That happens to me a lot. I used to just sit back and let it happen, thinking that someone else would say something. But the thing is, Jesus says that I need to be the one to say something. I need to be the one to teach them that what they are doing does not honor the Lord. And I need to do all of it through love and kindness. I have the responsibility to teach people about the Lord so they can look more like him and less like themselves. And by remembering that “to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord” (Proverbs 21:3), He gives me the strength and courage to do it.
2. I am here to…“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.”Mark 1:3
Lets take this apart a little bit…
“prepare the way” = in order for people to know the Lord, they need to be told about him!
“make straight paths” = find the people who are going down the path of destruction (drugs, addiction, sin) and teach them about the Lord. Teach them to repent and teach them that there is hope for their salvation.
“for him” = simple, it’s all for him and for his glory!
I am here, right here in South Africa, to find the people who are caught up in addiction, to find the people who don’t know the Lord, and to find my teammates who want to know the Lord more, and share with them the amazing being that He is!
In the words of David Platt in his book, “Radical” (10/10 book, please read)…
“Every saved person on this side of Heaven owes the gospel to every lost person on this side of hell.”
One of the best opportunities I’ve had here in South Africa is the time to go out and literally just talk to anyone we find on the side of the street and share with them the love of the Lord.
Here’s a story about that…
Gary! One day when we were walking down to the beach to do ATL we passed a man named Gary. Immediately the Lord put it on my heart to stop and talk to him. I had no clue what to say and I was honestly terrified, but I walked up to him and just said “hey! What’s your name?” At first he was hesitant to talk to us. He kinda scooted away and didn’t respond, but after a minute I asked him again what his name was and if he was ok. He looked back at me with tears in his eyes and said “no, no I’m not ok. I have lost everything today.” wow, that hurt my heart a lot. He didn’t want to talk about it anymore than that, but it was clear that he needed to be shown some love. He told us his name was Gary and we asked if we could pray for him. By the end of a 5 minute prayer, half of us were completely in tears (including Gary), and he was hugging us so tightly like it was the first time anyone had ever noticed him. We were able to give him some cans of food and a bowl of hot Mac and cheese left over from dinner the night before. And we were able to see him, to tell him that he is a child of the Lord and that he is so so loved. We may not have radically changed his life that day, but it doesn’t matter. By showing Gary love we were able to pull him closer to the Lord and give him comfort that the Lord has a plan and he is going to be ok.
I challenge you to live out these words from the father in your own life. Whether it’s in your work place, your high school or college campus, your neighborhood, or anywhere else you may find yourself. Teach someone, anyone, about who the Lord is. Show them His kingdom here on earth, make them look more like Him. And I promise, He promises, that you will gain favor in the end. Because “what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and who no human mind has conceived – the thing God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
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Also, my whole entire team is fully funded now so thank you so so much to everyone who donated to any of us! We literally wouldn’t be here without you!
& thank you to everyone who has been praying for my team and I, we can feel your love and support from 8,000 miles away!
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Prayer Requests from my team:
1. Continue to see the Kingdom here on earth
2. That our thoughts, actions, and words be lead by a desire from the Lord
3. Guidance for the future (post-race)
4. An overwhelming desire to know the Lord
5. the strength to love people unconditionally
6. for Him to ear down and rebuild our hearts with no barriers
7. The flame in our hearts to keep burning
8. More of Jesus
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If you have any prayer requests or comments or stories or jokes to share please please reach out to me! I love emails!!
Thank you!!
love, melina
