***Quick update– I’m currently in Swaziland until July 27th. Before arriving in Swaziland I spent three weeks in South Africa doing children camps for orphans and community youth. Our team was lead to come back to Swaziland for two weeks. We met up with one of our teams that has spent the
past month in Swaziland. We are tent camped on a Zebra and Giraffe reserve and are working with four different care points in very rural Swaziland. A care point is a very small piece of land with two to three small huts/buildings that serve food to abandon children once a day. For most of these children it will be the only meal they will get all day. The children are as young as 1 and are as old as 10. Many of the children’s parents have died of aids; older brothers as sisters who are only 5 to 10 years older do much of the parenting. Many of these children walk many miles to these care points. On July 27th I
will begin to make my way back to South Africa with my team for debrief. Where we go after that is still up to God. There’s talk of one team going to Mozambique, other teams going to Botswana, and one team staying in Swaziland continuing with the ministry that my team has been a part of. Pray for our direction and for the will of God to be done. I’m not attached to any location or any specific work I’m just happy to be here, but I want to go big for God and His kingdom. If that means staying hear or going on, so be it!***
Timothy 4:1 I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.
I was called to Preach… My team attended a church in Maputo Swaziland this last Sunday. During worship the pastor asked one of us to preach. Each one of us looked at one another and said, “who’s going to go up?” After about 90 seconds I knew I was going to be the one. I said I will go up, and my team, seemingly with relief, said ok.
I was called to trust… I asked how much time I would have to speak. They said about an hour an a half. I realized I had only 15 – 30 minutes left of worship time. So I pressed in praising God. I told him, “you brought me to Africa. You knew I would be in this church this morning preaching your word. So I put myself before you and claim that I am nothing a part from you.. I am willing to do whatever you would have me to do. I am willing to say whatever you would have me to say. Come God and guide my words. Move in this place the way I have dreamed. May only your words be remembered and not mine. I am yours; I commit my tongue and my spirit to you. In Jesus name I speak against the spirit of fear and all that would come against me. Amen”
I was called to choose… The moment I chose faith over fear the spirit of fear left me. I felt Gods gentle spirit upon me so I knew I wasn’t alone. During worship I was given a couple verses. I had an Idea of what I was going to speak on, but I felt like God was saying lay down what you want to tell these people and allow me to work through you. I had no real idea what was going to come out my mouth until the moment I spoke. I choose to lay myself in front of God and in front of his church only willing to do what He wanted to do.
I was called to be bold… I felt the spirit of God guide me while I was preaching. I felt no fear only confidence. The church was packed. Over 100 people were present in this small church. Many of the people walk many miles to come to this church. I felt greatly humbled as I looked out from the pulpit. As I was guided to speak, I spoke on Gods love and power. The pastor translated everything I said from English to SiSwati. The words flowed like a river. I used the verses I was given and spoke from my spirit. I didn’t care about anything accept Gods truth and simplicity. After speaking on Gods power, I called for a time of prayer. I told the church, “I can talk about Gods power but let us see what He will do here today!” I called for everyone who wanted prayer for healing, prayer for spiritual growth, for Gods touch by the Holy Spirit, or to accept Jesus into their heart, I called for anyone who wanted prayer for anything. The line went almost out the door as everyone got in line. I called for my teammates to help me with prayer. What a beautiful time this was! As the line formed the church began to worship in their beautiful songs. I layed hands on everyone who came before me. Men that had trouble seeing, old women that could barely walk, a young women who had Aids; A woman who said Satin would make her fall a sleep every time she tries to read the bible; People who are being attacked by demons; Some who accepted Jesus for the first time. I prayed for everything and everyone. My faith was big enough to believe that God could meet all these people and all there needs.
I was called to be free… Before I prayed on the sick, I prayed to God and confessed that it is not the man but God who has the power. It’s not about the gift but rather the gift giver- God. That it doesn’t matter how I pray or who I am. It only matters that I believe and that God will determine what will take place. It makes me think of when Rinehart Bunkie Evangelized in Africa to almost a million people. When it was time to pray on the sick he didn’t have time to pray long prayers for each person one by one. He had to group them together by sickness. 100 blind people over here and a 150 cripple people over there and so on. He only had time to pray “In the name of Jesus” and touch them on the head. After many were healed the media coverage that was present came and asked him, “what about the people that weren’t healed.” He said, “what about the ones that were.” I prayed with all my heart for the people of Swaziland. I stirred all my faith and walked in it. I gave God the burden about those who wouldn’t be healed and thanked Him for those that would be. “Thank you Jesus that I’m free and that it’s all in your hands!”
I was called to follow through… After I preached the pastor asked me to come back every day except Monday. I was able to come on Tuesday and will preach again this Friday and possibly again this Sunday. As long as I can remember I’ve been terrified of preaching or being a pastor. I never want to speak of anything that’s not God or preach a diluted Gospel. It would have been so easy to preach on Sunday and to leave it at that. But I know God is calling me to follow through. To use the moments He gives me. Every time I speak it will be another step of faith. I thank God for this opportunity and for using me in His work. I claim nothing. I don’t claim to be a preacher but I will preach all hours of the day if it means winning souls for God.
Stay tuned- Part two will be posted shortly!
