I must confess,prior this mission I really loved health expos as I felt they were more relevant to my field and they really are a door to reaching out people.Often,some people are less open to the Word-God's Word that is.But the minute you talk about health,they listen.So,I've learnt that the health message must go hand-in-hand with the gospel.
But this time around our audience was different.We spent three weeks at a Cape Town community in KuilsRiver.When we started we were about 11 and we stayed at different places.Since the schools were closed,we had to move out of student residence and it would not have been convenient for us to travel to and fro anyway.So,each family at church adopted us and I am so glad they did.I'll share about that some other time,under the title "adoptive parents" or something like that :).All I can say is,I found another family in Cape Town that is just awesome.
The idea for the mission was that there were going to be two groups:one for the vocational bible school and door-to-door group.But due to lack of a venue for the school,we couldn't have them and as I look back I am thankful.When our plans seem to fail,God has something better in mind,that will accomplish much than the failed plan.
.
One part of the community consists of coloured people and most houses are brick and they have electricity.It also has many young people and children running around.The place is rife with drug use.It also consist of some foreigners from Angola,Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
So,ja,we started doing door-to-door and handing out VOP lessons and sharing stories with children on the street.All I can say is,there is a group of people that is really hungry for God's Word.They are waiting and when we come,they will readily listen.There's another group that is surrounded by the bond of the devil and they need to be pointed back to the Saviour who is mighty to save .
We would meet each morning at 9 and have personal devotion.We were reading the book of Acts and each person shared.Then after that we'd have a study on the lessons we'd share with the people.We covered the purpose of man,the origin of evil,the character of God,judgement,repentance,and so forth.We worked in pairs-two brothers or a sister and a brother.
These are some of the lessons I learnt:
-As a missionary,you must have a personal experience with God and you must have a consistent walk with God.When you have an experience,then you carry much conviction.You speak about what you've seen and what you've experienced yourself and what God continues to do in your life.So you are acquainted with the struggles of those you are trying to win because you are a sinner.To put it clearly,"As His representatives among men,God does not choose angels who have never fallen,but human beings,men of like passions with those they seek to save.Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity.A divine-human Saviour was needed to bring salvation to the world.And to men and to women has been committed the sacred trust of making knows the 'unsearchable riches of Christ' -Ephesians 3:8"-The Acts of the Apostles,p.318
-You must first love those you work with before you can love the souls outside.This sounds easier than said.Honestly,it's hard.What makes it hard?Self and different personalities.Initially,there were clashes.Why?Because I'm someone who expects others to act in a certain way.Don't command me around without a please *coughs*.I really need the meek and quiet spirit-pray for me as I pray for myself.But I later understood that we're different and it was really hard initially.But as I prayed for these individuals I begin to love them truly and I even miss them.I've learnt that love is a choice.Often,it's easy to love those who think like us,held the same views,not too loud etc.But I guess one has to spend more time with people and understand them.I had one brother teaching me on social relations.Also,unity is very crucial :) or the work fails.Also,the Holy Spirit is needed.Why am I sharing this?To let others know this journey is a struggle and one needs to continue pray and overcome.Also,for those who think they are struggling.For some loving is not a problem,it's something else.But God is faithful!These statements really kept me and they keep pushing me as I go on to relate to others:
"Every association of life calls for the exercise of self-control, forbearance, and sympathy. We differ so widely in disposition, habits, education, that our ways of looking at things vary. We judge differently. Our understanding of truth, our ideas in regard to the conduct of life, are not in all respects the same. There are no two whose experience is alike in every particular. The trials of one are not the trials of another. The duties that one finds light are to another most difficult and perplexing.
So frail, so ignorant, so liable to misconception is human nature, that each should be careful in the estimate he places upon another. We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others. What we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when, could our eyes be opened, we should see that upon it depended the most important results for good or for evil."-Ministry of Healing,ch.41,p.483
"So long as we are in the world, we shall meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If Christ dwells in us, we shall be patient, kind, and forbearing, cheerful amid frets and irritations. Day by day and year by year we shall conquer self, and grow into a noble heroism. This is our allotted task; but it cannot be accomplished without help from Jesus, resolute decision, unwavering purpose, continual watchfulness, and unceasing prayer. Each one has a personal battle to fight. Not even God can make our characters noble or our lives useful, unless we become co-workers with Him. Those who decline the struggle lose the strength and joy of victory. "-Ministry of Healing,ch.41,p.487
I really advise that missionaries to read chapter 41 of the Ministry of Healing.Actually the whole book is great-practical tips on being a Christian and a missionary :).
To be continued,hopefully,since I have so much to write about that making a series of one subject just ends up in my journal etc.God is great and He is faithful <3!
But this time around our audience was different.We spent three weeks at a Cape Town community in KuilsRiver.When we started we were about 11 and we stayed at different places.Since the schools were closed,we had to move out of student residence and it would not have been convenient for us to travel to and fro anyway.So,each family at church adopted us and I am so glad they did.I'll share about that some other time,under the title "adoptive parents" or something like that :).All I can say is,I found another family in Cape Town that is just awesome.
The idea for the mission was that there were going to be two groups:one for the vocational bible school and door-to-door group.But due to lack of a venue for the school,we couldn't have them and as I look back I am thankful.When our plans seem to fail,God has something better in mind,that will accomplish much than the failed plan.
.
One part of the community consists of coloured people and most houses are brick and they have electricity.It also has many young people and children running around.The place is rife with drug use.It also consist of some foreigners from Angola,Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
So,ja,we started doing door-to-door and handing out VOP lessons and sharing stories with children on the street.All I can say is,there is a group of people that is really hungry for God's Word.They are waiting and when we come,they will readily listen.There's another group that is surrounded by the bond of the devil and they need to be pointed back to the Saviour who is mighty to save .
We would meet each morning at 9 and have personal devotion.We were reading the book of Acts and each person shared.Then after that we'd have a study on the lessons we'd share with the people.We covered the purpose of man,the origin of evil,the character of God,judgement,repentance,and so forth.We worked in pairs-two brothers or a sister and a brother.
These are some of the lessons I learnt:
-As a missionary,you must have a personal experience with God and you must have a consistent walk with God.When you have an experience,then you carry much conviction.You speak about what you've seen and what you've experienced yourself and what God continues to do in your life.So you are acquainted with the struggles of those you are trying to win because you are a sinner.To put it clearly,"As His representatives among men,God does not choose angels who have never fallen,but human beings,men of like passions with those they seek to save.Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity.A divine-human Saviour was needed to bring salvation to the world.And to men and to women has been committed the sacred trust of making knows the 'unsearchable riches of Christ' -Ephesians 3:8"-The Acts of the Apostles,p.318
-You must first love those you work with before you can love the souls outside.This sounds easier than said.Honestly,it's hard.What makes it hard?Self and different personalities.Initially,there were clashes.Why?Because I'm someone who expects others to act in a certain way.Don't command me around without a please *coughs*.I really need the meek and quiet spirit-pray for me as I pray for myself.But I later understood that we're different and it was really hard initially.But as I prayed for these individuals I begin to love them truly and I even miss them.I've learnt that love is a choice.Often,it's easy to love those who think like us,held the same views,not too loud etc.But I guess one has to spend more time with people and understand them.I had one brother teaching me on social relations.Also,unity is very crucial :) or the work fails.Also,the Holy Spirit is needed.Why am I sharing this?To let others know this journey is a struggle and one needs to continue pray and overcome.Also,for those who think they are struggling.For some loving is not a problem,it's something else.But God is faithful!These statements really kept me and they keep pushing me as I go on to relate to others:
"Every association of life calls for the exercise of self-control, forbearance, and sympathy. We differ so widely in disposition, habits, education, that our ways of looking at things vary. We judge differently. Our understanding of truth, our ideas in regard to the conduct of life, are not in all respects the same. There are no two whose experience is alike in every particular. The trials of one are not the trials of another. The duties that one finds light are to another most difficult and perplexing.
So frail, so ignorant, so liable to misconception is human nature, that each should be careful in the estimate he places upon another. We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others. What we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when, could our eyes be opened, we should see that upon it depended the most important results for good or for evil."-Ministry of Healing,ch.41,p.483
"So long as we are in the world, we shall meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If Christ dwells in us, we shall be patient, kind, and forbearing, cheerful amid frets and irritations. Day by day and year by year we shall conquer self, and grow into a noble heroism. This is our allotted task; but it cannot be accomplished without help from Jesus, resolute decision, unwavering purpose, continual watchfulness, and unceasing prayer. Each one has a personal battle to fight. Not even God can make our characters noble or our lives useful, unless we become co-workers with Him. Those who decline the struggle lose the strength and joy of victory. "-Ministry of Healing,ch.41,p.487
I really advise that missionaries to read chapter 41 of the Ministry of Healing.Actually the whole book is great-practical tips on being a Christian and a missionary :).
To be continued,hopefully,since I have so much to write about that making a series of one subject just ends up in my journal etc.God is great and He is faithful <3!
