First blessing of the day: We arrived back in Capricorn around 8:30am. We waited around for the Support Group Leaders to arrive and take us around the community door-to-door again. As we were waiting, I was standing near the door way talking to some of our team. Clinton (the Capricorn youth minister) that I got to know and love last visit to South Africa came walking up to the door. I turned around and tears began; he gave me the biggest hug and said, "Melanie, the kids told me last night that you were looking for me yesterday. I knew I'd have to find you today! I looked up and there you were in the doorway!" It truly was a divine appointment. Clinton hopped on with our crew that day, Chad invited him to have lunch with us, and Clinton was able to tell our whole team his testimony- how he used to be a South African taxi driver, was into drugs, alcohol, cheated on his wife numerous times, hurt many people, etc. One of his gangster friends found the Lord, invited him to church, Clinton was moved as soon as he walked in the door of the church, surrendered his life to Christ, was so repentant that he immediately changed his ways and followed Christ with all his being. He got a job at the Containers in Capricorn- his only job was to build relationships- Living Hope was at infant stages in Capricorn and he was the one assigned to minister to that community. He didn't know how to meet people or minister to them, so he just decided to sit in the container and waste the time until he could go home. He did this for days; the Lord brought people to him! Clinton began seeing people come to the Container asking for prayers for their sick children, for counseling, for more information about Living Hope. When Clinton was at a loss on how to minister, the Lord brought people to him! That's the short version of Clinton's testimony; he's now working full time as the youth minster at Capricorn Church.
Clinton has turned over the Friday youth service to our team! Kevin will be brining the Word, Chelsea R will be doing Worship and others will give their testimonies! It's going to be a great night.
I was thrilled to reunite with Clinton- to pick up where we left off. He remembered specific conversations we'd had last year, asked me pointed questions about discipleship, my opinions on youth ministry and other things we did in the states, and the specific needs he has for his church and its youth.
Living Hope is missing the YOUTH piece. Once they're out of the Kids Clubs, Living Hope doesn't have a way- resources or people- to reach the ages of 15-19. This is where the local church must pick-up and help, but often the local churches here don't or don't know how. This is a huge prayer need! Clinton wants to take his youth to a camp, he needs transportation to get them places, he needs simple things like sheets of paper and pens to do the weekly things. The needs and possibilities collide.
Great things happened in our door-to-door again on Tuesday:
2 people were led to Christ!
We went into the home of a lady named Vanessa. When we told her about why we were here, the love of Christ that is in us, and asked her if we could pray for her about anything... she broken into whaling tears. After minutes of silence and trying to comfort her, we finally found out that she's in the middle of a divorce, has 5 children, needs food and help for her kids. She is desperate for hope! I prayed for her- lifting up the words of knowing that our God is perfect in power, knows what her tomorrow holds, has the hope that any of us need, will bring peace and joy in His time, is the one who is perfect love. We prayed that God would fill her home with His Truth and His love and His power to overcome anything that comes her way! She is a Christian, she told us that our Jesus was her Savior, she was just waiting for someone to encourage her. Our team was blessed by her desperation and hope for Him!
We also met a few Christians on our walk. When asked, "What do you know about the Jesus we've told you we love?" they would then give us the Gospel presentation and we would tell them that we believe the same thing! We would always remind them that our team from America will only be around a few more days in Capricorn, and it was their responsibility to minister to their community. With that challenge, we continue to pray that the Christians in Capricorn will rise up and minister to their township.
One of my favorite stops on this door-to-door trip was at a car repair shop... and I say "shop" loosely. We met two guys from Ghana that are in Cape Town studying. They were open to us talking to them and even found it interesting that Kevin was here in Capricorn as a photographer and videographer. One of the guys said, "Don't be taking pictures of these kids walking around in bare feet starving and take that back to America as the picture of Africa." We asked him to expound and he said, "Americans come here, find pitiful things to take photos of and tell the rest of America that Africa is all about the poor, starving people. That's not what my Africa is about." Kevin then explained to him that he was telling stories about people's true lives, how they've been transformed by the saving Grace of God, how they were once in sin, in a life in contrast to God, and now He has made them new. The guy changed his tone and said, "Now that's good stuff. That's what you need to take back!" These guys that we met there (Tony and Kenny) say they know Jesus, but admittedly don't follow. We shared our beliefs, our Jesus, our hope in Him. We even got into debate about some of the 'other books' that are out there about other religions asking, "But don't you get curious about what else is out there that the Bible doesn't talk about?" I clearly told them, "God has told me everything I need to know in His Bible. I don't need to look anywhere else for an answer. I have faith that God will tell me in His time what I need to know." Tony appreciated that answer and understood that it was my faith in God that sustained me.
God has been good!
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Today is Wednesday, June 10.
I woke up at 6:00 am to get ready for the day and was quickly thrown back in bed with a Migraine. I haven't had one this bad in years. I felt struck by the pain and couldn't move. I kept a trashcan by my bed due to nausea, and held my head all morning. Sweet Holly stayed the morning with me- we sent the team ahead to do the Testing today - and I finally got out of bed at 1:00 pm. Holly helped me get some cereal downstairs and I'm now feeling much better. My head is still sore, but I think the worst is over. I HATE that I missed a whole day of ministry (and made Holly miss the morning- I sent her on this afternoon after lunch), but it had to be done. I'm praying that God will heal my headache, help me eat tonight and be all better by tomorrow. I'd love your prayers too!
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