July 1st
I learned that sometimes you need to not go to others with questions, but figure it out by yourself and God. Whenever I don’t understand what scripture is saying, I would meditate on God’s word for a day. If I asked someone, they would say what I was basicly thinking. That I misread something somehow, but they wouldn’t say what it was. The next day, I reread that section if scripture and find out the meaning. Having no internet has really helped me rely on God more since I can’t look to anywhere else but God for the most part to get my answers. Another example was today. I asked a question and all they did was answer with what I already knew, not helping me. When I tried to clarify, the person would just say a technicality that isn’t false, but didn’t answer what I was asking. I’m not saying one shouldn’t go to others with questions, for iron sharpens iron, but there is something to be charished about God answering your question through either prayer, his word, or a “random” circumstance. Saying this, I have been guilty of saying technicalities. If you are like that, as I am, I encourage you to stop and think about if what you’re about to say will indeed answer what’s being asked. If you must say the technicality, say it but don’t stop there. Continue and answer the question. If you think you did, ask them if that answered the question or not. One of the most annoying thing in the world is being misunderstood, for when you’re misunderstood, you feel unheard and when you feel unheard, you feel underappreciated.
July 2nd
Cleaning the day before going to South Africa today. Reminds me of how God cleans us. There’s so much trash on the ground outside and the dirt inside even though I swept 2 days ago from the strong winds. We are the rooms and the Holy Spirit live in us. Around us, there is dirt and trash that comes from the world. No matter how much you pick up and clean, it will never be fully clean. As Jesus said, there will always be those who are poor in this world. Poor as in money and poor as in being backrupt, for anyone who does something without love as Paul proclaimed in 1 Corinthians, is bankrupted. Even if all were made rich in spirit for one day – believers and nonbelievers alike – I dread the thought that the next day those who tasted God will be dirt poor again. Because they would return to the things of this world instead of God like most people who claim to be Christian because they go to church every week. These type of “church Christians” taste and see the joy of God. Yet, when church is over, they go out to the parking lot and continue to follow the ways of the world. Even though they saw that they were happy because they heard that God died for them, they say, “Yes! I want this gift Christ offered me!” But then, they stopped at taking it. They don’t act and get continual joy from opening the gift and using it everyday because of their love for it – for Jesus. Who would get a present for Christmas and not open it? Why then would one see God’s glory and love and chase the illusion that the world can give them as much joy? God created everyone like a beautiful purse and when we run away from God and not accept his gift, it’s like trying to mimic an old plastic bag, just going through the wind without a purpose.
And for the house that the Holy Spirit dwells in, which is us. Sometimes dirt is blown into our minds from the way the world blows at us. The way it tempts us to do as it does. Dirt gets in through the crack of the door. We sin. The Holy Spirit hates sin. We turn from it in repentance. The Holy Spirit cleans it’s house and put our dirt onto Jesus on the cross, for he died so he can take away our dirt. He rose so our dirt won’t cause death anymore. Our life is saved through Jesus and our life is sanctified through Jesus’ Holy Spirit that is with us, for one of Jesus’ titles is Emanuel, which is “God with us.” He is in constant comunicate with all who believe so that more may believe and learn how to be loved by the one that loves us most.
July 3rd
On the bus forever today. A total of about 26 hours. Inbetween bus rides, we checked into a hotel (2 person place for 13 people to put luggage in as we went to the beach for a little). Was at the beach of the Indian ocean, where I ran a little sprint on the beach and watch some people dive in the salt water, adding their own salt to it, for we are the salt of the world. So far South Africa looks like a city. There’s actually side walks too! Hopefully the look means there’s more WiFi so I can blog more than I have. Was just so happy that I got to text my mom and Sarah today for 30 minutes at the hotel. Patients and cherrishing what you have seem to be big lessons that are put into action since fasting from technology really helps you enjoy the things around you more. We take so many things for granted in this world. So many thing that God designed for us to enjoy, love and cherrish and the sad thing is we live in technology and the future so much, we can’t ever enjoy it. Being alone together in a group is one thing I’m not looking forward to going back to. If someone does that, I’ll spend my time alone with God. Psalm 119 says to worship God 7 times a day afterall. That means since 7 is the number of completion and perfection, worshipping God 7 times a day is all day.
Another thing that stood out to me is that my mind thinks differently than others? Since the beginning of the trip, people say that what I say is deep while I’m just talking about things I thought everyone knew and when people say things that others consider deep, my mind is like, doesn’t everyone know that? Idk what to think of it. Only the Bible can get me to say, whoa, that’s deep. Idk, I’m just wired like that I guess. God is good all the time.
July 4th
After a long bus ride of a total of 26 hours, I’m in Jeffrey Bay. Can’t believe the difference between Swaziland and South Africa! There are actually sidewalks! A mall! A beach that is just a few miles away! Green plants! No bugs inside the house! A place for WiFi close by instead of 11km away! This is living good. Today, someone lost their luggage. Hopefully the insurance will cover it all. We also were told the rules and to watch out for petty crimes. Then we celebrated America’s birthday with Smores around a fire and the host told me about how to lead discipling groups as a way to bring in those who are newer to the faith so they may be able to build their faith up and learn from the ground, up. Perfect for what I want to do at my university when I get back. My aim was mostly just students in the healthcare feilds, but this seems to be a good idea for all.
July 5-6th
These 2 days at the camp to fill in space where school is still out made me so mentally drained that I didn’t want to be around anyone, but I can’t be by myself, for there was always people around. I even had the thought that I wished that I didn’t have a team so I can have rest so I can give more to the kids. I consently didn’t want to talk to anyone because of it. My introvert side can’t rest unless if I’m the only one in an area and there is silence because just being around someone makes my mind want to make them a priority even if I try not to. That’s probably is part of the reason why I ran so much in the past. I could have miminal contact with others and say it was a good day. I used to and still think that the perfect day would be to read my Bible for 3 to 5 hours, pray, run, eat, and talk to some friends. I love those kids of the camp, but leaving it was a mental relief.
Side note – the camp is a government ran camp, so you can’t talk about God unless they ask you. Also, the kids that got into the camp did because of their GPA and an essay that they wrote. The focus was math and science. What I did was helped with the activities.
July 7th
Today I woke up mentally tired. I didn’t want to be around anyone. In fact, it was the fist time in a while that I didn’t want to go to church. I am glad I forced myself to though. While we were singing worship to God, I closed my eyes and prettended it was jus God and and me. Was awesome and I was energized to hear the message after that. Today it was about giving people the Good News in different styles without changing the message, for this is what Paul did in his letters. Although they didn’t say this verse, it reminded me of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:20. That he becomes more like the people he hangs out with and gets a relationship with them to spread the Word of God effectively. I believe they quoted the Book of Acts, or as I like to call it, Acts of the Holy Spirit, for it’s the Holy Spirit in them that allowed miracles to happen. Anyways, Acts 17 was the chapter. Paul walked around and saw that everyone was worshipping idols, including an idol to the “Unknown God.” Paul used the Unknown God to make the one true God known. In the same way, we need to know our audience before we can preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to them. The message got me thinking and I want to aim as a goal of my life on earth to unite all denominations, for we are one body in Christ. I still don’t know how I’ll do it, I just know I will in Jesus’ name.
