Made it safely to South Africa (it's winter and it's cold!) and I have never been so sure that this is where I am suppose to be!
Short story: We didn't know where in Africa we were going to go until one day before launching out of Chicago this past Sunday. Originally, we were going to go to Zimbabwe, but because contacts fell through, we had a last minute changes. My team and 3 others would stay in South Africa supposedly working with children in a soccer ministry where we could have possibly met professional soccer players (too good to be true!) and do some painting around the facility – which was very nice and looked like a resort….we stayed there 2 days in Eikenhoff to rest and send out the other 5 groups to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. The Eikenhoff center in Johannesburg was out of season for soccer and they only had painting for us to do which wasn't much for 27 people. So we left Eikenhoff – which I was glad to do because we hardly had any contact with Africans and it was so nice there that I felt like we didn't even leave America. We boarded on a 2 hour bus ride and left to Pretoria Falls where we will begin ministry on Monday – and I'll be working with a social worker named Dudu working with people in group counseling who have AIDS and learn from her as she herself battles with HIV/AIDS.
I can't tell you how over-joyed I am to be serving at POPUP (People Upliftment Programme) ministry this month! From my last post, you can see how it has been a desire for me to see men rise up to be the men of integrity the Lord has called them to be. Coming into this ministry Thursday afternoon, a man named Russell who has a passion to love and serve came to talk with us about POPUP and about his life and what his passions are.
One of the first things he said was that he has a heart to raise up men. I thought 'I can't believe this is happening and I am hearing a testimony of a man who has been redeemed from a life of sexual immorality, adultery and has allowed the Lord to work in him so that now he can free other men and teach them to rise up as leaders, fathers, husbands and to love well in honesty, integrity and responsibility!'
Wow. God has good timing. The day before, I shared my testimony with my team about how a lot of my life I thought I wasn't good enough. I shared about how I felt rejected by my dad and how those scars have prompted me to continually pray for my biological brothers, but also my brothers in Christ. I am tired of seeing children without fathers, wives without husbands, abuse – emotional and physical, lack of responsibility and care for their families and I am tired of proud men who won't admit their faults to other men and to others who they have hurt. I am not blaming men for everything that is wrong with society because women also share this responsibility too. However, more often than not, men are typically not taking part in the roles they should be spearheading in.
It's so awesome to me to see how God has divinely put this all together and how He knew that every single one of us is suppose to be here. The men in our teams are learning so much from Russell. His tender heart, patience and willingness to drop everything to listen, sit and pray with a young man on our squad spoke volumes to me. It was very Jesus like. The string of events are coming together to form a story in my life that I am sure will leave an imprint in my heart and in my life.
***********************************************
On a very random and completely off topic note – I have approximately $3,000 more to go for my next deadline in November. Please consider giving as the Lord has already begun to show me great and unexpected things that I am sure will continue to multiply as the race continues.
AND mami…the CEO of POPUP ministry wanted me to tell you that I am fine and that I am in good hands and that I am safe. I love you!
