Final week in South Africa!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hey everyone,
This summer has flown by, we only have ten more days in Africa. It really seems like we just got here yesterday. The girls are finishing up with their exams and beginning to pack up their rooms to head home for their winter holiday. Last week was an emotional week to say our goodbyes to the girls that have already finished. This week is the university’s final week for exams, which means it’s our last week on campus. Friday begins our journey to a different province for the Joint Winter Conference camp until Sunday and then we’re doing mercy ministry in a nearby township. I can’t wait for the camp and to see what the Lord will do over that weekend. Please be praying for boldness during these next few days on campus and during our time this weekend at JWC.
I am sad to leave Africa so soon. There are many many many things about this place that I absolutely love. One of them being the sun, their sky is gorgeous, the sunrise wakes me up every morning and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll also miss our team, we’ve grown such a strong bond, it’s sweet. I’ll definitely miss all the girls in Amper Daar, and learning zulu (Lauren and I are slowly becoming fluent). I'll miss our team Sunday workout days and late night McDonalds trips while jamming out to party rockin (It’s basically our theme song for the trip, as well as All My Fountains by Chris Tomlin). I’ll miss fat cakes. Fat cakes are pretty much a big fluffy donut. But it’s magic. Tomorrow Lele is teaching us how to cook them!
It’s been such a blessing to be in Africa sharing our lives with the students here,and witnessing the Lord do wonders in the hearts of these girls. We serve a loving and faithful God. It’s amazing how He uses wretched sinners to spread His gospel, the greatest news we will ever hear:
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 5:12-21
Things to be praying for:
As of right now there are four girls from Amper Daar committed to coming to the JWC and a few more who are strongly considering it. The four girls who are going are Ikho, Pretty, Lebo, and Gugu. Please be praying that the Lord would prepare their hearts and be at work in them during the camp. The girls who are considering coming (Jamee, Audrey, Katlego, Slee, Lerato, and Lethabo) have a few barriers with money and/or parents. Please be praying that these barriers wouldn’t keep them from coming, and that God would crash down all walls for them. Mark 11:22-24 says, “And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
That God would continue to be working in these girls hearts, giving them a burning passion for the Lord, and that He would be glorified in them.
For perseverance during this last week on campus to go out strong, bold, and fight for the gospel. “ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9
That the leaders in Amper daar would continue to be faithful with pouring into the girls.
For the truths of the gospel to be revealed, and protection against false doctrine.
With Love,
Lindsay
This summer has flown by, we only have ten more days in Africa. It really seems like we just got here yesterday. The girls are finishing up with their exams and beginning to pack up their rooms to head home for their winter holiday. Last week was an emotional week to say our goodbyes to the girls that have already finished. This week is the university’s final week for exams, which means it’s our last week on campus. Friday begins our journey to a different province for the Joint Winter Conference camp until Sunday and then we’re doing mercy ministry in a nearby township. I can’t wait for the camp and to see what the Lord will do over that weekend. Please be praying for boldness during these next few days on campus and during our time this weekend at JWC.
I am sad to leave Africa so soon. There are many many many things about this place that I absolutely love. One of them being the sun, their sky is gorgeous, the sunrise wakes me up every morning and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll also miss our team, we’ve grown such a strong bond, it’s sweet. I’ll definitely miss all the girls in Amper Daar, and learning zulu (Lauren and I are slowly becoming fluent). I'll miss our team Sunday workout days and late night McDonalds trips while jamming out to party rockin (It’s basically our theme song for the trip, as well as All My Fountains by Chris Tomlin). I’ll miss fat cakes. Fat cakes are pretty much a big fluffy donut. But it’s magic. Tomorrow Lele is teaching us how to cook them!
It’s been such a blessing to be in Africa sharing our lives with the students here,and witnessing the Lord do wonders in the hearts of these girls. We serve a loving and faithful God. It’s amazing how He uses wretched sinners to spread His gospel, the greatest news we will ever hear:
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 5:12-21
Things to be praying for:
As of right now there are four girls from Amper Daar committed to coming to the JWC and a few more who are strongly considering it. The four girls who are going are Ikho, Pretty, Lebo, and Gugu. Please be praying that the Lord would prepare their hearts and be at work in them during the camp. The girls who are considering coming (Jamee, Audrey, Katlego, Slee, Lerato, and Lethabo) have a few barriers with money and/or parents. Please be praying that these barriers wouldn’t keep them from coming, and that God would crash down all walls for them. Mark 11:22-24 says, “And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
That God would continue to be working in these girls hearts, giving them a burning passion for the Lord, and that He would be glorified in them.
For perseverance during this last week on campus to go out strong, bold, and fight for the gospel. “ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9
That the leaders in Amper daar would continue to be faithful with pouring into the girls.
For the truths of the gospel to be revealed, and protection against false doctrine.
With Love,
Lindsay
Last Update in South Africa!
Hey friends!
Only ten more days here in Johannesburg! Time on campus has looked a little different the past couple weeks with final exam schedules accelerating. Final exam schedules here can last up to three weeks and are coming to a close on Friday. A lot of the girls in Amper Daar have already gone home. Lindsay and I had to say some hard final goodbyes to girls this week that we have been pouring a lot into. Even though it’s been a little over a month, we’ve really gotten attached to these girls. It’s been such a blessing to get to know them and to be able to share our lives with them (1 Thessalonians 2:8). Lindsay and I had some pretty difficult discussions this week with a few girls where we had to be really bold with them. Please be praying that they would see the true gospel and that the Lord would reveal to them where they stand with God.
Our last day on campus is Wednesday and our final event with the students is the Joint Winter Conference which is Friday the 24th through Sunday the 26th in Delmas (after that we will be doing mercy ministry type things for our last few days here). So far there are four girls in Amper Daar committed to come to the Joint Winter Conference and about six girls who are still deciding whether or not to come. The conference will be a great time for girls no matter where there are at spiritually- whether it is to grow in their relationship with Christ or to get their questions about Christianity answered. I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do through this conference!!
Sadly this will probably be my last update before the team returns home on July 1st because we won’t have internet access while we are at camp in Delmas. I will be sure to update you all when I return home. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Can’t wait to see you and share more about the trip!
A few of the things I love about South Africa:
-Seeing God as a God of the nations
-The people
-Learning the native languages (more specifically Zulu and Xhosa)
-The beautiful scenery
-Pick N Pay (the grocery store where they have over ten flavors of marshmallows)
Prayer requests for this week:
-Prayer for the girls committed to come to JWC (Lebo, Gugu, Ikho and Pretty)-that the Lord would prepare their hearts to hear His word and be working in them
-Prayer for the girls still deciding whether or not to come to camp (Katlego, Jamee, Adri, Lerato, Slee, Lethabo)-praying that the Lord would break down any barriers that they have to come and fan into flame the desire to know more about Him
-That the Lord’s hands would be on the conference and that the Lord would use the speakers to glorify Himself and bring others to know Him
-Praying that five more students will come to know Christ before the team returns to America
-Energy and perseverance for the time remaining here (Hebrews 12:1-2)
-Unity in the team
-That we would be more captivated by Christ daily and that our eyes would be fixed on Him
With love,
Lauren
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
–Ephesians 2:1-10
Only ten more days here in Johannesburg! Time on campus has looked a little different the past couple weeks with final exam schedules accelerating. Final exam schedules here can last up to three weeks and are coming to a close on Friday. A lot of the girls in Amper Daar have already gone home. Lindsay and I had to say some hard final goodbyes to girls this week that we have been pouring a lot into. Even though it’s been a little over a month, we’ve really gotten attached to these girls. It’s been such a blessing to get to know them and to be able to share our lives with them (1 Thessalonians 2:8). Lindsay and I had some pretty difficult discussions this week with a few girls where we had to be really bold with them. Please be praying that they would see the true gospel and that the Lord would reveal to them where they stand with God.
Our last day on campus is Wednesday and our final event with the students is the Joint Winter Conference which is Friday the 24th through Sunday the 26th in Delmas (after that we will be doing mercy ministry type things for our last few days here). So far there are four girls in Amper Daar committed to come to the Joint Winter Conference and about six girls who are still deciding whether or not to come. The conference will be a great time for girls no matter where there are at spiritually- whether it is to grow in their relationship with Christ or to get their questions about Christianity answered. I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do through this conference!!
Sadly this will probably be my last update before the team returns home on July 1st because we won’t have internet access while we are at camp in Delmas. I will be sure to update you all when I return home. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Can’t wait to see you and share more about the trip!
A few of the things I love about South Africa:
-Seeing God as a God of the nations
-The people
-Learning the native languages (more specifically Zulu and Xhosa)
-The beautiful scenery
-Pick N Pay (the grocery store where they have over ten flavors of marshmallows)
Prayer requests for this week:
-Prayer for the girls committed to come to JWC (Lebo, Gugu, Ikho and Pretty)-that the Lord would prepare their hearts to hear His word and be working in them
-Prayer for the girls still deciding whether or not to come to camp (Katlego, Jamee, Adri, Lerato, Slee, Lethabo)-praying that the Lord would break down any barriers that they have to come and fan into flame the desire to know more about Him
-That the Lord’s hands would be on the conference and that the Lord would use the speakers to glorify Himself and bring others to know Him
-Praying that five more students will come to know Christ before the team returns to America
-Energy and perseverance for the time remaining here (Hebrews 12:1-2)
-Unity in the team
-That we would be more captivated by Christ daily and that our eyes would be fixed on Him
With love,
Lauren
–Ephesians 2:1-10
Update #5
Hello friends and family!
I know it has been 2 weeks since I last wrote, but securing a computer and internet to send a lengthy email can be a challenge. Its amazing that so many different things can happen in two weeks, and it will be hard to recap, but I will do my best to hit the big stuff.
The most important update that you need to be aware of is the JWC (Joint Winter Conference) coming up this weekend. If you’ve been watching the YouTube links in the past emails or on our blog, then you’ve most likely watched the promotion clip that we show each week at 3D. As it stands, we have 5 girls committed from Benjemijn (meaning we have their deposits). There are a few more prospects that we’re praying will attend, but the biggest barrier that we’ve come across is that parents are refusing to allow them to come. As our team has been studying Colossians these last 5 weeks, some of us have been clinging to verse 1:16-17, claiming that Christ’s power is over any earthly power, including parents. I’m praying that Christ would work through these barriers to allow the girls to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. Our team would also appreciate if you could be praying that God would be preparing each person’s ears to hear and hearts to receive the only story that is capable to provide everlasting hope and redemption.
Looking back over the last 5 weeks on campus, it is quite interesting to see the way the Lord has worked. Though I haven’t taken enough time to see clearly, it is evident that the Lord is sovereign in leading us to girls that He wants us to invest in. I never would have thought that these were these girls that I would spend all my time with, but I am so thankful that they are.
Though constantly pouring out is draining, I have learned a valuable lesson. Often times in the past week or so, I have been loving these girls and the Lord with all my mind, but not necessarily all my heart. Thanks to a sweet letter from a friend, I realized that I had strayed from the command “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)” I had switched from love to thought and from His strength to my own. The result was that come Friday, I had little left to give to these girls. I was not clearly or effectively communicating what Christ had truly done on the cross, I was just reading the words off a page. I’m thankful for the Bible’s promises: that he works through our weaknesses, that his grace is sufficient, and that his word does not return void.
-That I would fall in love with Christ, and not just try to gain knowledge of him.
-That I would clearly and effectively communicate the Gospel.
-That our labor would not be in vain.
That God would tie up all the loose ends as girls go home for winter holiday, and that he would continue to work in them as the head home.
-The God’s hand would be on all aspects of JWC-the talks, small group discussions, the varsity students attending, etc.
For now, that is all. I will most likely have to update you when I am home on July 1st. After JWC this weekend, we will be doing mercy ministry in a township. Therefore, there will be no internet access (I’m assuming). Please please please be praying for these girls and JWC. I cannot wait to proclaim the goodness of the Lord when I am back home.
Sincerely,
Karen
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all the nations.
Psalm 67:1-2
I Love SCC!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
One part of CCP that I have really enjoyed is being involved in the local church. Those older and wiser than me have always emphasized doing so, so attending a local church in Joburg didn't surprise me much. We've been going to Sophiatown Community Church (SCC) during our stay, and I just love it! It's where everyone involved with CO at UJ Kingsway goes, and it's just a five minute walk from our house! It's so charming walking to church on Sunday morning. That's something I can't do in Athens.
I remember our first morning there, we were greeted by the pastor and one of the women on staff. Since then it's been fun to see her and get to know her a little better each Sunday. They serve tea and coffee and biscuits (we'd call them cookies) after church, so we've met several other interesting people there who've been so welcoming and willing to teach us a little about the culture here in South Africa. It's a pretty small church, so it's been easy to meet most people. We've met people in different life stages as well, so we have an amazing opportunity to get to know other South Africans as well, and not just students. Everyone has been so hospitable.
Most of you already know I'm studying music education, so I'm sure this next point won't take you by surprise: I love the worship music there! We sing some worship songs that anyone in America would be familiar with, like songs by Chris Tomlin or Hillsong. That's actually one thing about S. Africa that has surprised me. But here's my favorite part: we sing songs in African languages! Well, the rest of the congregation sings, and I just listen. It's the most beautiful choir I've ever heard, and I'm standing in the middle of it with their praise washing around the room. Everyone harmonizes, and there's just a spirit to their singing that's not like anything I've heard before. And it's just really enriching to hear something different. The first Sunday we were there, they sang one and it gave me goosebumps! It was so cool to hear people praising God in other languages.
The pastor there has been going through a series on parables. For myself, parables are difficult to understand, so I really appreciate how clearly he communicates God's grace and that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Remembering that I don't have to manufacture my salvation and righteousness is definitely restful and perfect for the Sabbath.
We've had a couple opportunities to get involved. I helped set up and helped with coffee and tea one week, another girl helped lead worship one week. I was thankful to get a chance to serve with the members there. I could see myself thriving spiritually here in Sophiatown, but on the other hand, I still miss my church families at home. FBC Powder Springs and Christ Community, I miss you, and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!
I remember our first morning there, we were greeted by the pastor and one of the women on staff. Since then it's been fun to see her and get to know her a little better each Sunday. They serve tea and coffee and biscuits (we'd call them cookies) after church, so we've met several other interesting people there who've been so welcoming and willing to teach us a little about the culture here in South Africa. It's a pretty small church, so it's been easy to meet most people. We've met people in different life stages as well, so we have an amazing opportunity to get to know other South Africans as well, and not just students. Everyone has been so hospitable.
Most of you already know I'm studying music education, so I'm sure this next point won't take you by surprise: I love the worship music there! We sing some worship songs that anyone in America would be familiar with, like songs by Chris Tomlin or Hillsong. That's actually one thing about S. Africa that has surprised me. But here's my favorite part: we sing songs in African languages! Well, the rest of the congregation sings, and I just listen. It's the most beautiful choir I've ever heard, and I'm standing in the middle of it with their praise washing around the room. Everyone harmonizes, and there's just a spirit to their singing that's not like anything I've heard before. And it's just really enriching to hear something different. The first Sunday we were there, they sang one and it gave me goosebumps! It was so cool to hear people praising God in other languages.
The pastor there has been going through a series on parables. For myself, parables are difficult to understand, so I really appreciate how clearly he communicates God's grace and that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Remembering that I don't have to manufacture my salvation and righteousness is definitely restful and perfect for the Sabbath.
We've had a couple opportunities to get involved. I helped set up and helped with coffee and tea one week, another girl helped lead worship one week. I was thankful to get a chance to serve with the members there. I could see myself thriving spiritually here in Sophiatown, but on the other hand, I still miss my church families at home. FBC Powder Springs and Christ Community, I miss you, and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!
Hi from Africa!
Looks like I've failed at weekly updates, so I hope you'll let me get by with a 4 week update! God has been at work in ways we couldn't have imagined these past few weeks. We've seen Him grow students all over the campus and felt Him change and challenge us more and more every day. We're learning to love and depend on Him completely and are seeing His faithfulness shine through. Isaiah 43 has been one of my favorite passages this summer. It reminds me that our God is the ONLY savior, who has called us to be His own. He promises to be our God through all circumstances and makes us new so that we may work toward His glory alone. This is the truth that we tell ourselves before setting foot on campus and we hold tight to it throughout the day!
Ministry in Skoonveld has been great! We're learning that it's not our own words that are going to save these girls, but God's grace and His grace alone. Every day, we're trying to set our hearts solely on loving these girls and loving God with all that we have within us and praying that He would take it from there. There have been two girls to pray to receive Christ in the past 2 weeks. Praise the Lord! We've also met a few girls who are already really solid believers and wanting to pour into other girls. It's so exciting to see how God was moving before we got here to prepare these girls. We're going through Life Issues with seven girls. It's a great way to get into deeper gospel conversation with them, so we're praying that we'll be able to continue meeting with them to finish all four books. Exams have been our biggest barrier lately. They have 4 weeks of exams here and are in week 3 now. All the students are really diligent and want to study for days for their exams, so it's hard to find them when they're not busy. Emily and I have been helping them by going to hang out in their rooms and giving them a reason to procrastinate, whether they like it or not. We're convinced Jesus is more important than exams.
TK finished exams yesterday and has decided to be a full-time Skoonveld minister for the next two weeks while she's still on campus and has no schoolwork. It's been the most encouraging thing to watch she and Beaulah set aside so much time and thought for these girls when they're just as busy as everyone else. It's so motivating to see their devotion to the first years and their love for the Lord.
Emily and I are truly starting to LOVE all of these girls. It's been so great to just sit and get to know them. They're so much fun and it's going to be more difficult than I know to have to leave them. With exams finishing, some of them are leaving for home in the next few days, so we're trying to get as much quality time in as possible. Today, we learned all about weaves. It was one of the more enlightening conversations I've had so far. They're also starting to try to imitate our accents (They think our accents are cool and that they don't actually have one. We think it's opposite.) They say things to us like, "See you laterrrrr" and "Yeeeeeaaaahh." They're actually getting pretty close! My favorite place to hang out with the girls is in the kitchen because we get really good time together and they like to teach us how to cook SA food! Also, in other news, I have officially touched a bunny. I couldn't fully catch it, but petting one is enough for me.
Ok, thank you for all of your prayers for our team and for the students here at UJ. God is truly at work and it's incredible to see His faithfulness! Here are a few specific prayer requests:
- For JWC recruitment, that there would be 10 students from each res attending
- For JWC funding - We're praying for money for transportation and student registration fees to come in so that as many students as possible can attend
- We would use our time wisely on campus this week because it's the last time we'll get with some of the girls, and that our hearts would be set on God and His ministry alone.
- Praise for the new Christians in Skoonveld!
- Praise for Kira and Jeremy and how great they have been as leaders!
P.S. Need a pick-me-up? Listen to Chris Tomlin's "All My Fountains." Works every time!!
Looks like I've failed at weekly updates, so I hope you'll let me get by with a 4 week update! God has been at work in ways we couldn't have imagined these past few weeks. We've seen Him grow students all over the campus and felt Him change and challenge us more and more every day. We're learning to love and depend on Him completely and are seeing His faithfulness shine through. Isaiah 43 has been one of my favorite passages this summer. It reminds me that our God is the ONLY savior, who has called us to be His own. He promises to be our God through all circumstances and makes us new so that we may work toward His glory alone. This is the truth that we tell ourselves before setting foot on campus and we hold tight to it throughout the day!
Ministry in Skoonveld has been great! We're learning that it's not our own words that are going to save these girls, but God's grace and His grace alone. Every day, we're trying to set our hearts solely on loving these girls and loving God with all that we have within us and praying that He would take it from there. There have been two girls to pray to receive Christ in the past 2 weeks. Praise the Lord! We've also met a few girls who are already really solid believers and wanting to pour into other girls. It's so exciting to see how God was moving before we got here to prepare these girls. We're going through Life Issues with seven girls. It's a great way to get into deeper gospel conversation with them, so we're praying that we'll be able to continue meeting with them to finish all four books. Exams have been our biggest barrier lately. They have 4 weeks of exams here and are in week 3 now. All the students are really diligent and want to study for days for their exams, so it's hard to find them when they're not busy. Emily and I have been helping them by going to hang out in their rooms and giving them a reason to procrastinate, whether they like it or not. We're convinced Jesus is more important than exams.
TK finished exams yesterday and has decided to be a full-time Skoonveld minister for the next two weeks while she's still on campus and has no schoolwork. It's been the most encouraging thing to watch she and Beaulah set aside so much time and thought for these girls when they're just as busy as everyone else. It's so motivating to see their devotion to the first years and their love for the Lord.
Emily and I are truly starting to LOVE all of these girls. It's been so great to just sit and get to know them. They're so much fun and it's going to be more difficult than I know to have to leave them. With exams finishing, some of them are leaving for home in the next few days, so we're trying to get as much quality time in as possible. Today, we learned all about weaves. It was one of the more enlightening conversations I've had so far. They're also starting to try to imitate our accents (They think our accents are cool and that they don't actually have one. We think it's opposite.) They say things to us like, "See you laterrrrr" and "Yeeeeeaaaahh." They're actually getting pretty close! My favorite place to hang out with the girls is in the kitchen because we get really good time together and they like to teach us how to cook SA food! Also, in other news, I have officially touched a bunny. I couldn't fully catch it, but petting one is enough for me.
Ok, thank you for all of your prayers for our team and for the students here at UJ. God is truly at work and it's incredible to see His faithfulness! Here are a few specific prayer requests:
- For JWC recruitment, that there would be 10 students from each res attending
- For JWC funding - We're praying for money for transportation and student registration fees to come in so that as many students as possible can attend
- We would use our time wisely on campus this week because it's the last time we'll get with some of the girls, and that our hearts would be set on God and His ministry alone.
- Praise for the new Christians in Skoonveld!
- Praise for Kira and Jeremy and how great they have been as leaders!
P.S. Need a pick-me-up? Listen to Chris Tomlin's "All My Fountains." Works every time!!
Week 5 update from Lindsay
Hello everyone!At a dinner we had at Tebogo's house with Esethu and Lebo the other night.
“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods, in His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He formed it, and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand”- Psalm 95:1-7
This past week on the campus was incredible to witness God work in the hearts of the girls in Amper Daar. Lauren and I got the chance to lead bible study on Wednesday night. The topic for that bible study was how it looks to surrender your life and follow Christ. We talked through a few verses, the first being Romans 10:9-10 “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” We talked through this verse on how it is so easy to say you believe in Jesus, but that it has two parts- believing in your heart as well as saying it. We tied this in with a practical analogy of a man and a wheelbarrow. It goes like this, “a man claims that he can walk across a tight rope without falling to his death and everyone wants to see this so they cheer him on to do it. He walks across just fine and then he says I can walk this rope with a wheelbarrow and still not fall, the crowd eager to see this cheers him on once more. He completes that task, now the man asks if they think he can walk across this tight rope pushing the wheelbarrow with a person in it, the crowd says yes and so he asks who wants to jump in? The crowd was silent.” We explained how even though the crowd watched this man walk across that tight rope, they didn’t trust him with their lives and that’s the same thing as saying you believe in Jesus and confessing with your mouth for that to be true but not trusting Him with your life. Lauren and I then talked about what it looks like “once you’re in the wheelbarrow” and surrender your life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old as passed away; behold, the new has come”. From there we discussed what it looks like in our life to follow Christ, and how we are to die to ourselves and our kingdom and live for Him and His kingdom. Luke 9:23-24 explains this, “And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life my sake will save it”. This bible study opened the door for many conversations and tons of questions from the girls.
The next day, Thursday, we got the chance to meet up with one of the girls we have been spending a lot of time with, her name is Lebo. Lebo is always very attentive in bible study and at 3D meetings; you can easily see how she has been captivated by Gods grace. We talked with her about the bible study and she explained how she wanted to be in the wheelbarrow and follow Christ because she can see the joy that that brings and how things of this earth do nothing but perish. She wanted to pray to be in the wheelbarrow (become a Christ follower), so Lauren and I prayed with her. How incredible it was to witness God being glorified when Lebo gave her life to Christ. She has had a rough life growing up- she lost both her mom and dad and was raised by her grandma. Despite the losses that Lebo has faced she realizes that God’s grace is sufficient. Lebo is so precious and sees her need Christ and already all she is thinking about is how she can glorify God in her life. It’s amazing to see what the Lord has done in her life in such a short time. If you get the chance to watch the video on the blog page there is a clip of her. She says “My favorite thing about God is freedom, I’m free now”. Tears filled my eyes as she said this. “For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:2. God is for sure breaking down barriers and softening the hearts of the girls in Amper Daar. Praise the Lord, He is faithful.
Our team only has the rest of this week and next week on campus and at times that seems like not enough time, but God can do major work during that time. There is no such thing as time for God. It’s sweet to know that when we leave here there are already leaders in the res that will continue to be investing there time in these girls like Lebo.
Cultural Excursion:
This past weekend we went camping in Pilanesberg at a game reserve. We packed many layers since its winter and has been beyond cold outside. Thankfully that night was not bad at all! Friday night we ate lots of hot dogs and roasted marsh mellows to make smores and of course played an epic game of mafia. After waking up extremely early on Saturday we took our 10 person van and crammed all 14 of us in there to go on a safari. It was such an amazing experience. Basically there were roads in the middle of this huge piece of land that takes four days to get through, all sorts of animals roam around freely. We saw all the typical animals you think of when you think of Africa; giraffes, a buffalo, elephants, a snake (gross), rhinos, zebras, and many more I’m probably forgetting. By the time we were about to leave to head back home we hadn’t seen an elephant close up yet and we were all pretty sad about that. But then.. it happened. As we were only 3 kilometers away from the exit and there were two elephants standing right next to the side of the road. One walked behind the van and the other was in front of us on the road heading straight towards us. It was so terrifying all fourteen of us were in complete silence. When the elephant was coming for the van it went to the side of us and was so close we could reach our hand out and touch it if we wanted, but no one did that. Don’t worry y’all, we got the whole thing on tape so that will definitely be in the next video update!
A giraffe on the side of the road
Things to pray for:
-As we are gradually approaching the end we are only getting closer to the Joint Winter Conference. Please be praying for girls and guys to attend this and that God would continue to break barriers that seem to prevent them from coming.
-For our team to not grow weary- for perseverance
-that we would continue to ask God for big and specific things
-For the girls in Amper Daar- that their ears would be open to the gospel
-That they would see the difference between the truth of the gospel and false doctrine which they are so exposed to.
-Praise for Lebo becoming a Christian!
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” Ephesians 6:16-20
With love,
Lindsay
Week 4 in Africa
Hey friends,
Another eventful week! Lindsay and I had the opportunity to lead the Bible Study on Wednesday night in Amper Daar. We chose to focus on the topic, “What does it look like to surrender your life to Christ and to follow Him?” Before we started the study, I was able to share the story of how I came to know Jesus and what my life looks like now as a new creation. After my testimony, we went through three different verses: Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and Luke 9:23-25. Romans 10:9-10 says, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” I think it can be a confusing concept of what it means to really believe in God because it’s easy to grow up thinking that you
are a Christian if you simply say you believe in Jesus. A helpful analogy that Lindsay and I were able to share involves a famous tightrope walker who was on top of the Niagra Falls. There was a crowd on top of the waterfall and the tightrope walker was performing for them. He asks them, “Do you believe that I can cross this tightrope?” They all say, “Yes we believe that you can!” He does it successfully and they applaud for him. Next the tightrope walker asks, “Do you believe that I can cross this tightrope while pushing this wheelbarrow?” The crowd once again says that they believe that he can do it. The tightrope walker again crosses successfully and the crowd applauds. Next he says, “Do you believe that I can cross this rope with a person in the wheelbarrow?” The crowd again says that they believe he can. The tightrope walker asks, “Ok, who wants to get in?” The crowd is silent. They confessed that they believed in the tightrope walker but no one wanted to get in the wheelbarrow. I think this analogy relates a lot to Romans 10:9-10 and what it means to really believe in your heart in God. Really believing in God with our hearts means that we must jump into the wheelbarrow. What is keeping us from jumping in the wheelbarrow to follow Christ? Is there something that we are not surrendering to the Lord? Is it the pursuit of success, a relationship, or even just our own unbelief?
After our time on campus, it was time for another cultural excursion! Our cultural excursion this weekend consisted of camping at the Pilanesberg game reserve. We camped on Friday night and went on a safari all day Saturday. We had a blast and saw all kinds of animals! Elephants literally came right up to our kombi!
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Another eventful week! Lindsay and I had the opportunity to lead the Bible Study on Wednesday night in Amper Daar. We chose to focus on the topic, “What does it look like to surrender your life to Christ and to follow Him?” Before we started the study, I was able to share the story of how I came to know Jesus and what my life looks like now as a new creation. After my testimony, we went through three different verses: Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and Luke 9:23-25. Romans 10:9-10 says, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” I think it can be a confusing concept of what it means to really believe in God because it’s easy to grow up thinking that you
are a Christian if you simply say you believe in Jesus. A helpful analogy that Lindsay and I were able to share involves a famous tightrope walker who was on top of the Niagra Falls. There was a crowd on top of the waterfall and the tightrope walker was performing for them. He asks them, “Do you believe that I can cross this tightrope?” They all say, “Yes we believe that you can!” He does it successfully and they applaud for him. Next the tightrope walker asks, “Do you believe that I can cross this tightrope while pushing this wheelbarrow?” The crowd once again says that they believe that he can do it. The tightrope walker again crosses successfully and the crowd applauds. Next he says, “Do you believe that I can cross this rope with a person in the wheelbarrow?” The crowd again says that they believe he can. The tightrope walker asks, “Ok, who wants to get in?” The crowd is silent. They confessed that they believed in the tightrope walker but no one wanted to get in the wheelbarrow. I think this analogy relates a lot to Romans 10:9-10 and what it means to really believe in your heart in God. Really believing in God with our hearts means that we must jump into the wheelbarrow. What is keeping us from jumping in the wheelbarrow to follow Christ? Is there something that we are not surrendering to the Lord? Is it the pursuit of success, a relationship, or even just our own unbelief?And once we’ve surrendered and jumped in the wheelbarrow, what does it look like to follow Christ? I think Luke 9:23 can shed some light on this question. It says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Jesus gives us three things in this verse that we need to do in order to follow him: deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow Him. We must deny our own sinful desires and repent (turn away from our sin and turn towards Christ) to follow Him, and we can only do this by believing in Jesus. The verse also says that we must take up our crosses daily--meaning that this is a continuous, daily process and it’s not going to be easy.
On Thursday, Lindsay and I had the opportunity to meet up with Lebo to grab coffee in the cafeteria. We worked through one of the Life Issues books (a book series that goes through the book of John) and followed up with her on the Bible Study topic from the previous night. Throughout the time we’ve been in South Africa, a lot has been going on in her life. She realized over the past three weeks or so that she has not been following Christ like she thought she had been her whole life. She never before realized the weight of her sin apart from God. She has had a lot of barriers that she has been working through since then. She’s had a difficult time growing up--both of her parents passed away when she was a child and there’s a lot of pain there.
Throughout the past few weeks the Lord has really revealed a lot about Himself to Lebo. He’s the only thing that can heal her pain and bring her real joy. When talking through the wheelbarrow diagram last Thursday, she said that she didn’t feel like anything was keeping her from jumping into the wheelbarrow (becoming a Christian) but she wanted to there. We talked through what Romans 6:23 says about eternal life in Christ being the FREE gift of God, all she had to do was take it, and she did. Lebo giving her life to Christ is one of the most beautiful things that I’ve ever witnessed. She speaks of the joy and freedom that she’s found in the Lord and is amazed by Him. She’s already thinking and praying about how she can glorify God in all that she does. Her passion for the Lord is contagious. Praise the Lord for bringing Lebo into His kingdom! What a gift it has been for me and Lindsay to experience this! I’m realizing more and more each day what a privilege it is to be here serving the Lord in South Africa. Seeing how only the Lord can change people’s hearts and desires but the Lord chooses to use broken people like me to share the Gospel is incredible and something I don’t think I’ll ever really understand.
Throughout the past few weeks the Lord has really revealed a lot about Himself to Lebo. He’s the only thing that can heal her pain and bring her real joy. When talking through the wheelbarrow diagram last Thursday, she said that she didn’t feel like anything was keeping her from jumping into the wheelbarrow (becoming a Christian) but she wanted to there. We talked through what Romans 6:23 says about eternal life in Christ being the FREE gift of God, all she had to do was take it, and she did. Lebo giving her life to Christ is one of the most beautiful things that I’ve ever witnessed. She speaks of the joy and freedom that she’s found in the Lord and is amazed by Him. She’s already thinking and praying about how she can glorify God in all that she does. Her passion for the Lord is contagious. Praise the Lord for bringing Lebo into His kingdom! What a gift it has been for me and Lindsay to experience this! I’m realizing more and more each day what a privilege it is to be here serving the Lord in South Africa. Seeing how only the Lord can change people’s hearts and desires but the Lord chooses to use broken people like me to share the Gospel is incredible and something I don’t think I’ll ever really understand.
After our time on campus, it was time for another cultural excursion! Our cultural excursion this weekend consisted of camping at the Pilanesberg game reserve. We camped on Friday night and went on a safari all day Saturday. We had a blast and saw all kinds of animals! Elephants literally came right up to our kombi!Prayer Requests for this week:
-Praise for Lebo becoming a Christian and prayer that the Lord would fan the flame within her
-Prayer for time with the girls as they are taking
exams and starting to go home
-That the Lord would fuel a desire in these girls to know Him
-Prayer for the Joint Winter Conference from June 24th-26th (that girls would want to come, prayer that the Lord would speak through the speakers and the conference and penetrate hearts with His Word and prayer for logistics of the conference)
-Our team would be rooted in the Lord and be joyfully dependent on Him
-God would be glorified by the time we have left on campus
-Prayer for time with the girls as they are taking
exams and starting to go home-That the Lord would fuel a desire in these girls to know Him
-Prayer for the Joint Winter Conference from June 24th-26th (that girls would want to come, prayer that the Lord would speak through the speakers and the conference and penetrate hearts with His Word and prayer for logistics of the conference)
-Our team would be rooted in the Lord and be joyfully dependent on Him
-God would be glorified by the time we have left on campus
Update of Africa by Lindsay
Monday, June 6, 2011
Hey everyone,
It’s hard to believe that our time here in Africa is already halfway over. We only have 15 more days to be on the campus (3 weeks) and then it’s off to the Joint Winter Conference. Hopefully some Amper Daar girls will be joining us over that weekend! That’s something to be praying for..
Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! –Psalm 117
This past week I have definitely seen the Lord’s faithfulness. He has shown us girls in Amper Daar who want a relationship with Him, girls who are so thirsty for the word. It’s beautiful to see their eagerness in wanting to know more about what a life following Christ looks like.
On Wednesday at the 3D meeting, Evan spoke on a test of true belief, the assurance of salvation. After this talk some of the girls began to understand where they stood before God, with the realization that their salvation is not assured. It’s been huge for them to not only see that but to also acknowledge that. God is working in these girls hearts for sure. After the 3D meeting we have bible study in Amper Daar. This past week in Bible study I shared the story of what God has done in my life to draw me to Himself and we talked about John 3, being born again, and how that happens. After going through the parable they had many questions. However, their questions mostly go off the topic we are studying and drift to more general randomized questions on Christianity. The girls who attend 3D for the most part attend the bible study so this week they had a lot of information to take in and many things to process. It has been a great week for follow ups! I am constantly in awe of the Lord with the work that He is doing in these girls hearts as well as in me.
A few of the girls Lauren and I have been able to spend time with have are opening up and sharing more about themselves with us. For instance, one girl has shared about losing both her parents and how she grew up. She has been attending bible study and is really interested in learning more. It’s been so sweet to see how much she has grown and learned in just a week. The next step with her is to start going through how to read and study the bible. I can’t get over how amazing it is to witness the Lord at work. In times when I am so exhausted from the long days on campus the Lord is quick to show His faithfulness and reminding me who why we are here.
The Lord has taught me many things while in being Africa. The main thing is how dependent we need to constantly be on Him. Nothing that has been done in any of the res’s were done by any of the members of this team, it has all been the work of the Lord. I am so thankful for that, Praise the Lord. It always amazes me how God chooses to use broken people to be His instruments, His hands and feet, to bring Him glory.
Some fun things CCP does on Saturdays:
Two Saturday’s ago we got to go to the Lion and Rhino park. It was the coolest experience ever. When I think of Africa, I think lions, elephants, and tigers. You know, like the lion king. At this lion and rhino park we got to drive through where lions, tigers, rhinos, and countless other animals I can’t spell or name live. We would be driving and look down and lions would be right there at the edge of the road sleeping (that’s how close we were). We also got the opportunity to play/pet the baby lions and tigers. If you haven’t gotten the chance to watch the awesome video’s Lewis has been posting on the blog… you should, there are great pictures and footage from that day. The best part was that I got a scratch from a lion, so now I get to say that “I got clawed by a lion while in Africa” Legit. This past Saturday we went back to Soweto. We met K.B. and FiFi’s family; they are on staff with Campus Outreach Johannesburg. Seeing how they grew up really changed my perspective on comfort. In K.B.’s grandmother’s house at one point they had 21 people live there with two bedrooms, currently there are 9 people living there. While we were in Soweto we bought these sandwiches everyone has been talking about, a kota. Basically this is where they take a piece of bread cut out some of the middle and put in meat (Russian sausage and I think it was bologna) add French fries and combine all the sauces they had and then cover it with the flap that was cut in the beginning. It may sound disgusting, but it was delicious!
That's a kota (the picture doesn't do it justice, this thing was huge)
This coming weekend we are planning as a team to go camping at the Pilanesberg game reserve. That should be fun and adventurous but it’s definitely going to be pretty cold.
Things to pray for:
-For the JWC and attendance (for the Lord to break down all barriers)
-For boldness in conversations as we don’t have much time left here
-To continue to seek God first
- Patience
-Energy
-For this experience to be faith building
-For our wonderful team to continue to grow together in unity
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:1-3
Thank you guys so much for your prayers. I am so thankful for a wonderful support/prayer team that has been nothing but encouraging. I hope all is great back in the states. I’ll keep y’all posted on the next few weeks here.
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearring and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" 2 Timothy 4:1-2
The team in front of Soccer City
Love,
Lindsay
Week 3 Update
Dear friends,
Another week has gone by already! So much to update you all on but I'm trying to keep my thoughts concise. Last weekend, the team had a cultural excursion to the Rhino and Lion Park. We drove the kombi through the game reserve and saw all kinds of animals (lions, warthogs, buffalo, and more!). They also had an area with lion and tiger cubs that we could pet and play with. The cubs were so sweet. I wanted to take one home with me but I think it exceeds the weight limit for my suitcase. We also got to see the older lions and cheetahs get fed. I won’t go into a lot of detail about that but just know that it was awesome.
Time on campus this week has been really sweet. On Monday, Lindsay and I watched the Louie Giglio "Indescribable" video with a couple of the Amper Daar girls (it’s on YouTube if you’re interested in watching it!). The video talks about God as our Creator and about how the same God who created us created the entire universe. It walks through some of the known universe and the X-structure of the cross in the center of it. One of the girls who watched the video literally was in awe and her jaw dropped to the floor for the majority of the video. After the video she said I feel like we should pray, can we? Our response was OF COURSE. I’m continuously amazed at greatness of our God.
On Wednesday, Evan gave the talk at the Campus Outreach meeting. The topic was "Myth busters: I am a Christian" with the introduction of "Are you believing and living or are you resting in a false assurance?" A lot of difficult topics were addressed. Almost 2.1 billion people around the world claim to be Christians. But the Bible says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23).” We live in a world that taints what the Bible says Christianity is and what it means to follow Christ. Many of us live under the impression that by going to Church, praying, or doing good things that we are Christians. To further address this misconception and allow us to ask ourselves tough questions, Evan introduced the test of true belief. This test addresses five challenges (which I will briefly summarize): 1. Being complacent in sin (1 John 1:6) vs. a desire for godliness (1 John 1:7); 2. Trusting in yourself (1 John 1:8) vs. trusting only in Christ (1 John 1:9); 3. Loving the world (1 John 2:15-16) vs. love for God (1 John 2:17); 4. Living for yourself vs. living for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15); 5. Fruits of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) vs. fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-24). The Campus Outreach meeting raised a lot of really great questions like who/what am I living for? Why am I doing what I am doing? Who’s on the throne of my life? Being a Christian isn’t about cleaning ourselves up to make ourselves look good on the outside—it’s about a relationship with Christ. It’s really humbling to see my need and dependency on Him grow daily.
After the Campus Outreach meeting, we had our Bible study in Amper Daar. The talk at the meeting was a nice transition into our topic for the week, John 3:1-21, the idea of being born again and what that really means. Lindsay also shared her testimony with the girls and about how the Lord has made her a new creation. Tebogo, one of the student leaders, also addressed some questions about the prosperity gospel that had come up with girls over the past week. (There have been a lot of conversations about this in the past week—the Lord has really grown me and Lindsay in boldness through these conversations.) After following up with girls from Bible study and the Campus Outreach meeting, a few of them realized that they are not following Christ and are investigating what it means to surrender their life to Christ.
I need to tell you guys something awesome—a few updates ago we asked for prayer to protect the girls against these false teachers and false doctrines. One of the girls that we have been hanging out with a lot that goes to one of those churches was investigating some things that her pastor said and interpretations that he made from Bible verses and realized that his interpretations weren’t biblical. This is a huge prayer answered! These are just some of the ways that the Lord has been moving on campus. (To the left is a picture of me, Gugu, Lindsay and Lebo hanging out in the dining hall.)
Brief update on this past weekend: went to Soweto, had a kota (mine, pictured below, consisted of a quarter of a loaf of bread with french fries, russian sausage, special meat-still not sure exactly what that is-and every sauce imaginable), tried cow heart, and had an awesome time.
Prayer requests for this week:
-That we would run hard after Christ and be humbled by Him
-That we would have time with girls (students’ exam weeks have begun and their schedules have become more hectic)
-Energy and perseverance
-That the Lord would be working in these girls’ hearts and that He would give them a desire to know Him
-That students would want to come to the Joint Winter Conference and the Lord would knock down any barriers
With love,
Lauren
"The LORD your God is in your midst,a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." -Zephaniah 3:17
Another week has gone by already! So much to update you all on but I'm trying to keep my thoughts concise. Last weekend, the team had a cultural excursion to the Rhino and Lion Park. We drove the kombi through the game reserve and saw all kinds of animals (lions, warthogs, buffalo, and more!). They also had an area with lion and tiger cubs that we could pet and play with. The cubs were so sweet. I wanted to take one home with me but I think it exceeds the weight limit for my suitcase. We also got to see the older lions and cheetahs get fed. I won’t go into a lot of detail about that but just know that it was awesome.Time on campus this week has been really sweet. On Monday, Lindsay and I watched the Louie Giglio "Indescribable" video with a couple of the Amper Daar girls (it’s on YouTube if you’re interested in watching it!). The video talks about God as our Creator and about how the same God who created us created the entire universe. It walks through some of the known universe and the X-structure of the cross in the center of it. One of the girls who watched the video literally was in awe and her jaw dropped to the floor for the majority of the video. After the video she said I feel like we should pray, can we? Our response was OF COURSE. I’m continuously amazed at greatness of our God.
On Wednesday, Evan gave the talk at the Campus Outreach meeting. The topic was "Myth busters: I am a Christian" with the introduction of "Are you believing and living or are you resting in a false assurance?" A lot of difficult topics were addressed. Almost 2.1 billion people around the world claim to be Christians. But the Bible says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23).” We live in a world that taints what the Bible says Christianity is and what it means to follow Christ. Many of us live under the impression that by going to Church, praying, or doing good things that we are Christians. To further address this misconception and allow us to ask ourselves tough questions, Evan introduced the test of true belief. This test addresses five challenges (which I will briefly summarize): 1. Being complacent in sin (1 John 1:6) vs. a desire for godliness (1 John 1:7); 2. Trusting in yourself (1 John 1:8) vs. trusting only in Christ (1 John 1:9); 3. Loving the world (1 John 2:15-16) vs. love for God (1 John 2:17); 4. Living for yourself vs. living for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15); 5. Fruits of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) vs. fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-24). The Campus Outreach meeting raised a lot of really great questions like who/what am I living for? Why am I doing what I am doing? Who’s on the throne of my life? Being a Christian isn’t about cleaning ourselves up to make ourselves look good on the outside—it’s about a relationship with Christ. It’s really humbling to see my need and dependency on Him grow daily.
After the Campus Outreach meeting, we had our Bible study in Amper Daar. The talk at the meeting was a nice transition into our topic for the week, John 3:1-21, the idea of being born again and what that really means. Lindsay also shared her testimony with the girls and about how the Lord has made her a new creation. Tebogo, one of the student leaders, also addressed some questions about the prosperity gospel that had come up with girls over the past week. (There have been a lot of conversations about this in the past week—the Lord has really grown me and Lindsay in boldness through these conversations.) After following up with girls from Bible study and the Campus Outreach meeting, a few of them realized that they are not following Christ and are investigating what it means to surrender their life to Christ.
I need to tell you guys something awesome—a few updates ago we asked for prayer to protect the girls against these false teachers and false doctrines. One of the girls that we have been hanging out with a lot that goes to one of those churches was investigating some things that her pastor said and interpretations that he made from Bible verses and realized that his interpretations weren’t biblical. This is a huge prayer answered! These are just some of the ways that the Lord has been moving on campus. (To the left is a picture of me, Gugu, Lindsay and Lebo hanging out in the dining hall.)
Brief update on this past weekend: went to Soweto, had a kota (mine, pictured below, consisted of a quarter of a loaf of bread with french fries, russian sausage, special meat-still not sure exactly what that is-and every sauce imaginable), tried cow heart, and had an awesome time.Prayer requests for this week:
-That we would run hard after Christ and be humbled by Him
-That we would have time with girls (students’ exam weeks have begun and their schedules have become more hectic)
-Energy and perseverance
-That the Lord would be working in these girls’ hearts and that He would give them a desire to know Him
-That students would want to come to the Joint Winter Conference and the Lord would knock down any barriers
With love,
Lauren
"The LORD your God is in your midst,a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." -Zephaniah 3:17
Update #4
O Lord God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness
surrounds you.
This week has taught me of the great faithfulness that characterizes our heavenly Father. Day by day, He has been revealing to us those who are hungry for himself. Evan spoke at 3D (COJ’s evangelistic meeting) on Wednesday and challenged students if they were assured of their own salvation. This led to two days incredible of answered prayers.
We knew we had to be bold with the girls in Benjemijn after this talk, and their reactions required a response worthy of praise. However, feeling slightly ill and tired on Thursday and Friday, I was unsure if I was going to be of any use. I really understood for the first time that the Lord simply requires us to be faithful and obedient while He does all the work (Psalm 127:1- Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain). I have not seen him draw as near to me as he did in those two days. His power and faithfulness were evident, because nothing in me could have broken through to those girls. As we would meet with girls, we were able to push past salvation facades they had built up. Once the girls were honest and admitted where they stood before His throne, we began to dive in the Word and go through the Life Issue books (4 books that answer common questions of Christianity, while simultaneously going through the Gospel of John) with 10+ girls. These girls are consistently coming to 3D, Bible study, and our Friday night events.
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:8
The Lord has granted our team such a love for each of these girls in Benjemijn and we can’t wait to see His next move in their lives. I have learned so much from each of these girls through their personal stories, struggles, questions, and desires. The Lord has been so faithful and I have never seen Him more tangible. I’m so thankful for this opportunity in my life to grow in boldness, love, and the promises of the Lord. Though I am starting miss home, seeing the Lord work in such beautiful ways makes every moment worth it. This place is beginning to feel more and more like home.... but don’t worry mom, I’ll see you on July 1st. Thank you all for your prayers! There is no hope for us without calling out to the Lord and begging him to make his glory known.
Sincerely,
Karen
You heaves above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the Lord, have created it. Isaiah 45:8
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