More of the Outreach story

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The weather has turned off cold and rainy, so a trip down to work in the field is out of the question. Amazing how quickly it turned…yesterday we were in short sleeves and today we’re all in our coats! Our day was supposed to revolve around cutting more field and going to the church around 2:30 to spend time ministering to the children, instead it turned into going into town and then to the church. Before we headed into town we took some time to have a team meeting and talk about what had spoken to us during our quiet time. We all shared what God had shared with us, but Lafo had a beautiful word that I felt needed written down.

Lafo was reading in Matthew about the birth of Jesus. She talked about Herod and how he was threatened by the birth of Jesus because the wise men said He was to be the King of the Jews. A grown man was afraid of a child! One child shook up an entire kingdom. In the Old Testament Pharaoh wanted the midwives to kill all the male children so that the Jewish people would not multiply. Jesus told the disciples not to turn away the children and that we are to have faith like a child. Her words were beautiful and powerful. I guess the words that struck me the most were…to be a threat to the enemy is to have a child like faith… I’m going to leave that one right there and let you think about it.

After we had a little time as a team, we called Petros and Elizabeth in and spent some time encouraging them. The Lord took me to Ephesians 2:10 For we God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. The Lord had me share that He has prepared this work that Petros and Elizabeth are doing in advance of their saying yes. Not many people have the right kind of heart to take in orphans. The kind of heart that says “it’s not about getting government money, but it’s about giving an orphaned child a Christ-centered home. A home that teaches them their value, encourages them to do well in school and gives them a “mom and dad. That’s the kind of home these children live in with Petros and Elizabeth and it’s the kind of home every child deserves. This man and woman sacrifice so much for these children and, the beautiful thing is, these children know it!

After our time with Petros and Elizabeth came to a close, we headed down the hill to catch a taxi into town. I’m going to stop here and share something else that we talked about in our team meeting. We, as a team, had been spoken over that we “would lay hands on the sick and see miracles.” Well in order to see miracles by the laying on of hands, one must lay hands. When we were in town last, there was a woman that God moved on several of us to pray for. We didn’t. What stopped us? We could make many excuses like it was at the mall and I didn’t know if security might get called, I don’t speak her language or what if God doesn’t heal her. Thing is, those are exactly what I called them…excuses! So, today I decided that I would pray for her if she was there. I would grab one of the Siswati speaking members of the team and we would pray for her…no matter the consequence. She was there and we prayed. There was no instant healing but I believe we planted a seed and that God will send someone to water that seed and then someone else will get to see a harvest. That’s what it’s about in the Kingdom…doing what you’re asked to do in the Word and let God handle the rest.

Got back from town and had to head immediately up the mountain to church to minister to the kids. I will be honest, I was expecting about 50 kids and what I saw was about 120! We started by doing our joy skit. This is really a fun skit to do. It goes like this…one “little child” comes out with her “joy.” The “joy” is something that they really love, like a teddy bear. They walk around the stage showing everyone their “joy” and are so happy with their “joy.” In the meantime, the enemy is stalking around waiting to steal their “joy.” At just the right moment he grabs their joy and runs off. From here the “little child” starts crying about her “joy” being stolen. Enter the next “child” showing off their “joy” and the first “child” is trying to tell them about the enemy stealing their “joy” and that he’s coming to steal theirs too. You got it? There are tears about “joy” being stolen, of course the children in the audience are laughing at the antics on the stage and trying to warn the “children” that the enemy is coming to steal their “joy.” Enter the adult. The adult comes in, tries to figure what in the world is going on. You parents out there can picture this pretty good…chaos as every child tries to speak at once about the enemy that stole their “joy.” You finally get all the children settled down and begin to share with them about true joy. Jesus is our true joy; the other stuff is exactly that, stuff. Sitting here typing this, the Holy Spirit is sharing a word with my heart. Children wrap their world up in the stuff they own because it’s all they know. Adults wrap their world up in the stuff they own because they’ve worked for it and they deserve it. We love Jesus but He can’t take the place of our stuff. Our stuff brings us joy. Really?! Jesus is the joy giver. The joy that stuff brings is temporary, but the joy that Jesus brings is everlasting. Is your joy wrapped up in stuff or in Jesus? After some time of sharing how Jesus brings us joy, we asked the children if they would like to receive this joy in Jesus. I loved it when every single child raised their hand. Those of you who are saying “well they’re just children; it doesn’t mean they truly accepted Jesus.” STOP RIGHT THERE! Do not spend time judging, you are not the judge. I believe God planted a seed of love in their hearts and one day every single one of these children will meet me in heaven and say “I remember you! That was one great skit and on April 11, 2013, I gave my heart to Jesus and I’m so glad to finally get to see you again.” Amen!

Going to lighten things a little here…after we had finished ministering we went a little further up the hill to help the women who feed the children who were there, some of which had walked there from all the way down the hill where we cleared the field. They walk that far for school every day and get a meal at the church every day. On Thursdays the women fix these wonderful little things called fat cakes. It’s a deep fried ball of yumminess!!! One lady handed me three and I ate all three! A little later she patted my stomach and told me that eating fat cakes is what makes us fat…LOL! Of course I’m learning that in Africa for a woman of my age, who has had children, fat is a compliment and, kinda expected, so I’m good…well sort of!

Thank you for taking the time to read about journey and I hope you enjoy it enough to share it! Have a beautiful day!!