Everything Africa

Some beautiful ladies in a Mozambiquan village.  They came to enjoy seeing pictures of themselves with big SMILES!

This year has been a whirlwind -- and an amazing one!  Hopefully you've been able to see some of the posts and snippets, but to express all that I've experienced and all that God has done this year would take a few hours to talk about.  I've spent the year with Iris Global ministries, involved in their discipleship and missionary schools, initially as a student, and now as staff and moving to working long-term with Iris.

Father's House 1 (FH1)

The Lord first took me to Robertson, South Africa to be a part of FH1 (then 5 weeks plus a 10 day outreach) as a student.  The Father's House School of Ministry is a discipleship school for those who are interested in ministry, missions, learning to live as the body of Christ, growing in their knowledge of God's word, and growing in their relationship with God.  The best way to describe what this school was for me: it allowed me to live as the family of God and body of Christ in close (very close!) community.  One house (with a couple of side rooms) for 17 people!  God also used this time to really soften my heart in areas where I had tended to protect myself.  Saying goodbye to this amazing bunch of people was not easy!  Thankfully, I've seen 6 members from this part of my world-wide family since the school ended!

Harvest School 20 (HS20)

Three weeks after FH1, I arrived in Pemba, Mozambique to attend HS20, which is an on-site, practical, 9-week missions training school.  We lived surrounded by villages where running water and electricity were incredibly scarce at best, and typically non-existant.  While I certainly enjoy the modern conveniences of running water and electricity, God gave me the grace to never feel deprived while I was hauling water from the well and cleaning dishes from water in a bucket.  Most of the world has to haul water much farther than I did!  This school impacted me in several ways.

• The incredible value of one person to God.  On my trip to a village out in the bush, the Lord highlighted a little girl about 10 years old to me, saying that He would have sent me to Mozambique just for that one girl.  He feels the same way for each person!  Never underestimate the power and importance of stopping for the one in front of you!
• There are many who live in external turmoil, and also many (even Christians) who live in internal turmoil -- God wants to rescue, love, and care for them both.
• The Person and Presence of God is so valuable, that the greatest thing we could ever "do" is simply carry His presence -- simple clay pots filled with Him.

Madagascar

This was both one of the hardest and one of the best trips I've ever been on!  I don't want to be unaware of the enemy's schemes when we go into his territory, and everything was a battle while I was there: my thoughts, emotions, time with the Lord, health -- I even had nightmares!  We spent time at the orphanage there, which had a boys' and girls' home.  I'd determined to spend time at the girls' home every day because they don't receive much attention -- and I fell in love with several of the girls! (Including the girl in my profile picture.)  We had a princess dance for them, and while watching all the girls dance and laugh, and watching the girl in my profile picture dance, I realized I felt like her mom should feel -- so much pride and joy at watching her dance, so many hopes and dreams for her.  These girls were so valuable!!  And they were worth every trial I faced while I was there.

Father's House 2 (FH2)

While FH1 was 5 weeks long, this school was nearly 7 weeks long, and this time I was there as one of the staff members.  I was doubly blessed this school because I got to staff it with two gals I'd done FH1 with -- and I got to watch 16 people be transformed by the love of God and living in a close, family environment, experiencing what we experienced in FH1!  We (staff) ran non-stop from sun up to sun down, available in every way from providing bandaids (plasters) and ibuprophen to being a listening ear and praying.  And we also got to see the amazing call and destiny God has for each person who came, watching them love the poor, and grow in love for each other.

What's Next?

I'm currently helping out with the HS21 extended outreach here in Robertson, South Africa.  After that, I'll be staying on here long term to help with the administrative side of things - communicating about the ministry here, answering emails, and helping prepare for the next Father's House school.  I'll also explore various ministry opportunities here -- visiting the local farm-workers' school and a nearby school for Deaf children.  I'll also continue seeking the Lord concerning the vision I have to see a house of prayer and worship started which has both ministry and sending components.  The ministry component would focus on missionaries, pastors, and leaders, providing for them a place for rest, refreshment, refilling, and restoration.  The sending side would focus on going to unreached places to pray, worship, and honor the Jesus where very few (or no one) acknowledges Him and inviting His presence to come so that people may know Him.  During the next year, I'll continue to do more traveling to learn from others who are currently ministering to missionaries and pastors, planting churches, and inviting the Lord to come make Himself known!  I greatly appreciate prayers in all this, for the Lord to make clear what this road looks like as I walk down it, and to open the doors for a long term visa or orchestrate everything to work out with temporary, 90 day visas.

Love and blessings to you all!  I'd love to hear from you and know how you're doing!