When I started the race, I had a list of expectations. I wrote a little bit about this post training camp. My expectations lead me to some pretty big disappointments. Only when I was able to surrender my expectations, I allowed God to move.
And I know personally, when I have expectations I tend to put God in a box and expect Him to perform…God doesn’t work in a box (there is not a box BIG enough for Him).
I am in the process of letting go of any expectations and trusting that God knows what He is doing. So far the race has been challenging spiritually, mentally, and physically. We have abandoned our lives back in the states to serve the nations. At times I have found myself impatient, tired, irritated, confused, apathetic, questioning, and selfish. These are the moments I have been really seeking God. How am I going to make a difference in the lives of others when I still have “Stuff” to deal with.
The last few weeks I have been in a process of change.
I bought a new study Bible and have been diving into the word like I never have before. I have been sitting alone outside at sunset and at night talking to God, asking what it is He is doing with me. God has been answering me. I have had a complete attitude change, more energy, and a thirst for the word.
I had a fear of being on the race without being prepared spiritually, mentally, and physically but I have learned that it is not about being equipped, after all God does not call the equipped, He equips the Called. I have been called to serve the nations so here I am, in Pretoria South Africa working with Pop Up Ministries.
Pop Up is a Multi- Faceted ministry organization. Currently my team and team Redeeming Dust are staying here for the month. We each work in our own ministries. There is Pop Up Kids, Pop Medical, Kitchen, Ministry, and more. I work with Pop Up Kids. Pop Up caters to children ages 1-5. I work in a classroom with 2 year olds. In the mornings we teach life lessons, music, art, have playtime, snack, lunch and then they go down for a nap. In the afternoons we spend time just running around with the kids outside. I have really enjoyed working at Pop Kids this month. At first I was down about it because the kids would not listen and I felt helpless. After about a week I realized that I needed to remember with love comes attention. I spent the second week just loving on the kids and talking to them about Jesus. That is all it took. They started looking up to me as their teacher, and trusting me. I forgot how much I love serving until now.
This is my last week here in Pretoria. Next week all the teams that are scattered throughout South Africa will meet together again as a squad to debrief month two. We will be staying in Nelspruit, South Africa. We will spend 4 days doing feedback, hanging out, going on the worlds second largest Safari, spending time in worship and loving on each other before separating again for month three. We will all be spending month three in different parts of Swaziland, Africa.
Please pray for our teams as we prepare mentally, spiritually, and physically to travel to debrief and then to our next months destination.
So far, here are a few things my team and I have been able to do
· Preach the word of God in the church on the streets
· Love and teach orphans about Jesus
· Help with Adult Education at a Christian center and encourage the women who are here day in and day out, year after year, working diligently, teaching these young adults so that one day they can get a job and provide for themselves and their family.
· Bless our contacts in any way possible
· Play and pray with the sick kids in the hospital
· Teach different subjects such as English, math and science to kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn.
· Counsel young women about the word of God
I still have about $8,000 to raise. 3500 needs to be raised before December 1st. I am confident God will provide these funds so I can continue what I was called to do. If you feel lead in any way to give please click here and donate. I-squad has been in a process of such transformation and I am pumped to see what He has next in the upcoming months!
