Yesterday as I was chatting with my roommates I realized how quickly my time has passed. I leave for the states in eleven days. As I first realized this I wanted to panic. My train of thought was; “I don’t want to leave these kids, I want to continue building relationships, I am going to miss church, the Bethesda community, my life here. I’m not ready to leave”. I had to stop myself. This was a perfect opportunity to reflect on my time here. To think about some of my favorite memories and what God has taught me in Africa. Here are some experiences/thoughts I want to share.
Some Favorite Memories:
Chasing Rudolph (a boy I work with) around his house with a big inflatable yellow banana. Oh the fun we had that day.
I always forget to pray before I eat my snack in Grade R (whoops :D) Maria, one of the students always tells me afterwords with a big smile on her face. Oh how I am going to miss her beautiful smile.
Horseback Riding. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life (or have been more terrified). This was an amazing day!
I’ll miss playing games with the kids. Their version of volleyball is fantastic! Oh and I’ll definitely miss playing hours of marbles with the kids.
South Africa is a beautiful country. The hills, trees, flowers, animals, sunrises, and sunsets are unforgettable. This is a beautiful place to give thanks to God for his creation.
Listening to the children sing. They have beautiful voices. It’s been such a blessing to hear them worship through singing and dancing.
The hugs, smiles, kisses, and the times I have had with the children here. I am sure they have had a bigger impact on my life than I on theirs. It is going to be hard to say goodbye.
I’ll miss playing in the rain and twister in the dark. Oh the fun I’ve had with my roommates.
Some things God has shown me:
How beautiful it is to see people worship God. I’ve been able to attend church in the townships and in the city. Two completely different experiences, but it doesn’t matter how we worship God, as long as we are praising him. My experiences worshiping in the township churches have been powerful.
I have seen that a person or organization cannot solve an entire epidemic or problem, but a big difference can still be made. Bethesda is an amazing organization. They have taken in thirty or so orphans. These kids belong to a family – are educated – eat 3 meals a day – are ministered to. As Christians we are called to help the orphaned, widowed, and the oppressed. My heart has been changed. I don’t want to go back to my old way of life when I return home. It is time for me to help the oppressed in my community. I have a responsibility and it is time for me to fulfill it.
God has challenged and stretched me in sharing my faith, which I shared earlier. It has been an amazing journey. It’s okay if I don’t have the perfect words to say, God still uses me. I need to be faithful.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Planting Seeds
It has been amazing to see how God has used me to minister to the children here at Bethesda. In this past week alone I have had numerous opportunities to share Christ with the kids.
In Grade 4-7 the teachers have had the children and different Bethesda staff share their testimonies. As I was waiting to tutor my girl, one of the boys asked me to share my testimony. It was wonderful to share my story of how I came to know Christ and how my life has been changed. Oh my goodness, these kids had questions galore. I think I was up there for at least another 10 minutes or so. Praise the Lord! :D
I also had the opportunity to share Christ with the girl I tutor. It all started with a conflict with another child. We talked about how we need to love others even if they are not our friends, because that is what Jesus told us to do. By the end of the conversation she told me she couldn’t hear Jesus knocking on her heart. I didn’t quite know what to respond to that statement, but I did my best. Oh how I pray I was able to plant some seeds that day.
I just finished Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne (great book by the way!) He had a section on sharing the gospel of Christ. Here are two quotes from his book.
“In a distracting, violent, and tempting world, keep sowing the seed of love. Sow it everywhere, even when Herod cuts it down, and even when the world’s riches try to choke it. You never know when it will spring up and make great fruit!”
“Jesus’ revolutionary patience claimed that another kingdom is coming – one that you can participate in but not build, a seed you can plant and water but cannot make grow. You can’t drag the kingdom of God into the world. But you can’t stop sowing the seeds either. Sow them everywhere!”
Sharing Christ and the gospel is so important! I’ve struggled with evangelizing for a long time, because of the bad reputation it has received in our society. This past summer, I realized that I hid behind this belief – using it as an excuse not to share my faith. That realization hit me hard. I was ashamed by my lack of courage and faith. Now God has shown me how important it is to share my faith and has given me opportunities to do so.
Yesterday, the school principle asked me to lead devotions at the next school assembly. I didn’t know how to respond at first. I’m not the biggest fan of speaking in front of people. I perspire – my body shakes – and I fumble over my words. Despite these things, God still uses me and on the 19th of November I am leading devotions. God is definitely stretching and using me in Africa. Praise the Lord!
In Grade 4-7 the teachers have had the children and different Bethesda staff share their testimonies. As I was waiting to tutor my girl, one of the boys asked me to share my testimony. It was wonderful to share my story of how I came to know Christ and how my life has been changed. Oh my goodness, these kids had questions galore. I think I was up there for at least another 10 minutes or so. Praise the Lord! :D
I also had the opportunity to share Christ with the girl I tutor. It all started with a conflict with another child. We talked about how we need to love others even if they are not our friends, because that is what Jesus told us to do. By the end of the conversation she told me she couldn’t hear Jesus knocking on her heart. I didn’t quite know what to respond to that statement, but I did my best. Oh how I pray I was able to plant some seeds that day.
I just finished Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne (great book by the way!) He had a section on sharing the gospel of Christ. Here are two quotes from his book.
“In a distracting, violent, and tempting world, keep sowing the seed of love. Sow it everywhere, even when Herod cuts it down, and even when the world’s riches try to choke it. You never know when it will spring up and make great fruit!”
“Jesus’ revolutionary patience claimed that another kingdom is coming – one that you can participate in but not build, a seed you can plant and water but cannot make grow. You can’t drag the kingdom of God into the world. But you can’t stop sowing the seeds either. Sow them everywhere!”
Sharing Christ and the gospel is so important! I’ve struggled with evangelizing for a long time, because of the bad reputation it has received in our society. This past summer, I realized that I hid behind this belief – using it as an excuse not to share my faith. That realization hit me hard. I was ashamed by my lack of courage and faith. Now God has shown me how important it is to share my faith and has given me opportunities to do so.
Yesterday, the school principle asked me to lead devotions at the next school assembly. I didn’t know how to respond at first. I’m not the biggest fan of speaking in front of people. I perspire – my body shakes – and I fumble over my words. Despite these things, God still uses me and on the 19th of November I am leading devotions. God is definitely stretching and using me in Africa. Praise the Lord!
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