Monday, April 14, 2014

The Road Ahead

The Journey

2014 is showing itself to be an interesting journey of discovery. The above collage gives a glimpse of my year thus far. As I have been seeking the Lord in intense study and prayer and through helping with other ministries (to be mentioned later) and individuals, He has continually showed me His love and power and passion. Even through obstacles, like my broken right wrist, He has shown me blessings and joy and an understanding of the enemy in using loneliness, isolation and inabilities to tear down people's hope. He has allowed me to be in the right place, at the right time to love on, encourage and become friends with others during their difficult times. I feel humbled to be used by God as I feel He is leading me to start my own ministry. It is not because I think other ministries are not bringing God glory. On the contrary, I long to plug into an existing ministry and add support. But each time I have sought out God's direction to connect long term with a ministry that I am currently helping, I feel He has said "no". Therefore, I ask that you diligently pray for me as I take the first steps toward starting a new NGO (not for profit organization) to be named GABRIEL ministries ...Bringing the message of God's love. (GABRIEL is an acronym  for Girls And Boys Receiving Instruction, Education & Love). The goal is to offer a safe home for orphaned, abandoned and/or at risk children in South Africa. It is the passion God has placed in my heart. The need is beyond what I can even imagine. GABRIEL's focus will seem to be a drop in the bucket of the large number in need. But my prayer is that it is the few that might otherwise fall through the cracks and not know the transforming power of God's love. I admit that I am naive at this point of what that actually will entail. But when I came to Africa, God told me to go without ever visiting because He told me "If I say it is okay, you don't need to go visit first." I've never regretted that decision. And so now, I am all in for this journey. I have no clue how it will unfold and I will probably mess up a lot of times on the way but I feel that God is saying to do it. I will trust God, like Gideon and so many examples in the Bible, that He will provide what is needed, when it is needed. For the present I am working on meeting with the local and area Dept. of Social Services and other support organizations to see what they feel the need is for the children in this area. It is hard to find an overview for the need in extended areas or to know which areas lack the most assistance, but I trust God will continue to shed light and show me where He wants me to start. I am also seeking out the administrative logistics of what I need to do to actually start an NGO. Step by step. I have stuttered in His presence long enough about the overwhelming task so this is my public acknowledgement that I am stepping out in faith and praying fervently that in my definite lack of ability and my weakness and fear that He is glorified. May I hold on to the verse God gave me when I arrived in Africa...Ephesians 3:20 "Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope."

Bomake "bow-mah-gay" (women) Retreat
The bomake who cook and/or teach children at feeding sites in and around the Badplaas area were blessed with a retreat the first week of April. It was to give them a time of renewal and encouragement, to minister to them spiritually and physically and to teach them in a variety of areas. The picture above is when they were given a crocheted flower to share with someone else and to pledge to pray for each other. The picture below was the bomake learning how to teach through play. It was so much fun. The retreat was hosted by Emoyeni "Em-oi-yea-knee", in support with Children's Cup, Hands and Feet Ministries, Spark, and Swazi Serve. I had the privilege of assisting in logistics for the meals and getting to love on these amazing ladies, including dressing up more African (head wrapped) on one special evening of the retreat.




Michael's Children's Village
Besides working with Emoyeni, I have been working with Michael's Children's Village (a part of the International Iris Ministries). I have assisted with a few administrative tasks and I help weekly with watching the younger residents during staff meetings. These guys and gals (pictured above and on the right) are adorable, inspiring and of course full of energy and personalities.
Jonny and Bex Gilling are missionaries from New Zealand and the directors of Michael's Children's Village. They are definitely a model of leadership and love for me to emulate. They have been an encouragement to me to seek God and let Him direct even if it means not coming and working alongside them. They are constantly saying that whatever God's plan is, that is what is best. Michael's Children's Village has given me exposure to what my passion looks like in the real world. The ups and downs of logistics in house parents, child behavioral issues, cultural sensitivity, handling personality conflicts, financial limitations and the prayerful hard calls of saying yes or no to new children are invaluable insight into the journey ahead. I am thankful that God has provided such divine and loving connections! Please pray for Michael's Children's Village and the children they are providing love and care for. Pray that God will work through GABRIEL ministry just as powerfully. Thank you!





Possible Logo


After doing something that hurt the other, these precious boys at Michael's Children's Village
were asked to give each other some love.
A lesson we could all benefit from.


Emoyeni
"Em-oi-yea-knee" (Siswati for in the Spirit)
, is one of the ministries I have been assisting with since the beginning of the year. They work with pastors and communities throughout the Badplaas and surrounding areas. God's love oozes from their heart with a passion that is humble and pure. They are raising up Christians who are foundationally strong and with a heart to serve. I have mainly been helping administratively but sometimes get to go out and love on children and encourage the bomake and help with logistics of the retreat and teams.



My new friend Rita
We met at the gym in water aerobics and we would get together weekly since neither of us have family around.  Then after she broke her right femur and I had the schedule flexibility with no spouse/children to care for and no large ministry commitments, we have spent a lot of time together. As you can see we make each other laugh. With her broken leg and my broken wrist we have made quite a team. Please pray for Rita's complete recovery and for her to know God in a more intimate relationship.