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
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