We’re wrapping everything up here in Bulawayo. Our team spent this week doing our last Bible studies, painting at the church, meeting with the employees at church, and saying our last goodbyes.
We have had lots of projects this month and spent so much time with Jesus loving people in the church! I could not be more excited about everything that God is doing through Bulawayo Baptist Church. It was such a privilege to serve along side of them this past month and I know that God will continue to bless their faithfulness.
I’ve been in a season this month, as I’ve shared, learning to trust God. I’ve been learning to prioritize him. The beautiful thing is that the more I remind myself, the more I want to spend time in his word and learning about him. More than anything, I want to know Jesus.
I have spent this week meditating on the truth that I am FULLY KNOWN by Jesus. Jesus knows everything that I think about and he sees everything inside of my heart. He hears me speak but he doesn’t even have to because he knows my thoughts too. At first this terrified me, because I’m a human and my heart and thoughts aren’t always clean. But, the best part is that I am not only fully known by Jesus, I am FULLY LOVED by Jesus too! This is the greatest news ever!!!! You are fully known by Jesus and you are fully loved by Jesus. There is nothing that we can do to change how much Jesus loves us.
So what could be a better way to thank Jesus for all he’s done except for to love the people we’ve been surrounded with! I have had so much fun loving the people in Bulawayo this month and I am heartbroken to have to leave them. In particular, I will miss the girls I have gotten to hold and love on at Killarney this month. The children there are so excited to have visitors and they just love climbing all over us and laughing with us. I don’t even understand their language or their names when they share with me but it doesn’t matter! Those kids and I all love Jesus and that makes us siblings. I am so thankful I got to show my brothers and sisters how much I love them because of how much Jesus loves me!
Everyone’s reaction when we say goodbye is the same reaction that I’m feeling. When we say goodbye, they often respond, “it’s been a month already?” And that is exactly how my team and I feel. This month has FLOWN by and I can’t believe it’s almost over already. We are leaving for South Africa on Tuesday! We have a 16 hour over night bus ride to get to Johannesburg. Everyone is hopeful about the ministry work we’ll be doing next month! I don’t know what next month will look like yet but I know that God is already there and I am so excited to see how he will use us!! Thank you for all of your prayers and support.
Please continue to pray for my team to stay healthy as we travel to our next country. And please pray for continued growth and trust in the Lord! Please pray for safe travels and our new opportunities to love the people we meet along the way to South Africa! Please pray that we can adjust well to our new community and home. Lastly, please pray that we can embrace where God has placed us and take advantage of the mission we’re on as it’s getting hard while we get so close to going home. Many of us are getting homesick and it’s hard to stay present where we are.
Please pray for me to continue to trust in the Lord and be present on the trip! Please pray for me to continue to have my eyes open to what God is doing in our lives here and to be obedient when he wants to use me. Our next trip is a lot of door-to-door so please pray that I will have the courage and boldness to step out of my comfort zone and share about Jesus in new places!
Please pray for Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to continue to grow in the Lord. Please pray that they would trust in him and learn about God’s grace in their lives. Please pray that they would know their blessings are from God alone and please pray that they will love one another well.
Please pray for Bulawayo Baptist Church to continue to reach out to the community around their church and to the people who want to learn about Jesus. Please pray that they will be able to find a balance between helping their community and providing for their community. Pray that they would continue to be faithful and run fast in the race until they finish! Please pray that they will trust God to provide the resources they need and the help from people around them.
