Expectations. They are so real.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect about Zimbabwe. After our first month in South Africa I was sort of dreading coming here. I was unsure of what the ministry would be like. I didn’t want to leave my South Africa family. I didn’t know what Youth for Christ would entail. I was dreading the change even though I’m used to change. Oh how I was hit with the unexpected.
I can honestly say Zimbabwe has become a home in just 3 weeks. The people we work with, the ministry we are a part of, and the out-of-comfort zone experiences have made this place, home.
The people
Wow. What beautiful souls. In just 3 weeks I can say I love the staff and volunteers of YFC. Their stories will cause your heart to break, their smiles will cause you to laugh obnoxiously, and their heart for God will cause you to light up inside and hunger for Him more. The first week here I felt like we didn’t do any type of ministry. Yet I was reminded that these people are part of our ministry. Hearing their stories, playing hours of basketball, dancing, jamming to music while packed in the back of the truck, supporting them in their comedy shows and poetry slams is ministry. After all, “Ministry is life and life is ministry”. I love these people. I can’t bare the thought of saying goodbye in less than a week and a half.
The ministry
Last month I realized I really have a heart for youth. Specifically junior high to high schoolers. Good thing Bulawayo is full of schools filled with youth that is hungry for more. More than just graduating high school, becoming a parent at a young age, getting involved with drugs or alcohol. Just something more. That is something we were able to help with this week. We got to minister to them in a unique way. This is where out of comfort zone experiences come in.
Out-of-comfort zone experiences
I’ve always loved acting. Yet I have stage fright so that’s good. All week we performed skits at schools. In the skits I was either portraying an alcoholic or a porn addict. Imagine someone who has stage fright, stepping up in front of thousands of kids and yelling “I am so addicted to pornography” or “Because of porn I’m sleeping with all these strange men”. But yet, I got more and more courage to step out and speak out these things when I saw the faces of the kids. When I saw that many of these 12-18 year old kids struggle with these things. Not just porn or alcohol, but feelings of not being good enough, rape, abortion, greediness, suicide. Through these powerful skits and sharing our testimonies (which let me tell you, standing in front of 800+ students and being vulnerable ain’t easy) thousands of kids raised their hands and asked the Lord to enter their lives and take over.
This week we are focusing more on street evangelism. I’m not gonna lie, not my favorite way of advancing the gospel. But this week God has really been showing me the importance of telling people about Him by any means. Through Matthew and the book I’ve been reading this month, Radical, the same questions keep popping up. Would you leave everything to follow Jesus? Would you leave your family, your home, your possessions to go tell people about Jesus? I guess in a way that is what I am doing with the World Race. No it’s not long term but here I am in Zimbabwe. So why am I nervous, or shy to tell others about God. I was given the privilege of growing up in a house that knows Jesus. I should not be keeping it to myself.
Its a good thing I have beautiful people by my side, a strong ministry, and a desire to be out of my comfort zone.
Thank you for your continual prayers and support. I am so close to hitting my fundraising goal! 🙂
Love you guys,
ITR
