"as it is in heaven"

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray and begins with “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But here is my question: how can anything on earth be as it is in heaven, when all you see among the nations is sickness, suffering, poverty, violence, and injustice...not to mention greed, anger, and pride? How can his kingdom come when everything God created seems to have gone the opposite direction from what he originally intended? How do you make sense of a prayer Jesus calls us to pray in faith, when the brokenness of this world makes it seem impossible? These are the questions I wrestled with, until God showed me the answer.

Last Wednesday, on September 30th, we received the tragic and shocking news of Carol’s death. Carol was one of the first caregivers at the Ukukanya Life Care Center, and one of Penny’s first friends in South Africa. Coming from a family of strong and faithful Christians, Carol joined Ukukanya at age 27 and decided she wanted to see the Lord use her to help build and start this Aids Hospice for his glory and kingdom. After permission from her father to move away from her home in the rural area into the busy township of Ntuzuma, Carol packed her things and began to help Penny, Prince and a few others build the foundation of Ukukanya. However, due to several setbacks and financial strains, Penny decided to go home to the States for a few months and dedicate that time to fundraising for the Hospice. During her time away, Carol began to feel her life being pulled between the temptations of this world and the life she knew God was calling her to. Several boyfriends came and went, when she remembered her purpose once again after hearing from Penny and the funds that were coming through by the Lord’s provision. Just days before Penny’s return, Carol spoke to her over the phone and with heaviness in her voice said, “I have a not-so-good surprise for you when you get back. I’m pregnant.” Carol gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Akanya, and recommitted her life to serving the Lord wholeheartedly. Penny spent every week with Carol, discipling her and pouring the Word of God into her heart. Their friendship grew and Carol’s heart was significantly changed by the work of God. By the time her daughter was a year old, she felt a strong desire to finish her studies and become a nurse. She wanted to worship the Lord by making those who were sick, well again. After sharing her passion with Penny, Penny felt the Lord put it on her heart to fund Carol’s education. She received her high school diploma and began studying medicine in just a few months time. Carol would visit Ukukanya regularly, but over time slowly began to distance herself. Months went by and there was no word from her. Penny tried to call and text to see how she was doing but there was no response. This past July, Carol came to visit the center for the first time since last year. Her body was frail and her face less radiant, though she tried to mask it with a smile. Her cough was severe and Penny immediately picked up that something was wrong. “Your cough is bad, are you okay?” Carol looked away and quickly responded, “I’m fine, it’s just a cold.” But Penny, having worked with several AIDS cases and TB patients, refused to accept it as a cold. “A cold doesn’t give you that kind of cough, are you sure you’re fine? Is it asthma?” Again, Carol responded and with certainty in her voice said, “I’m fine.” That day, she picked up all her belongings from the room she stayed in at Ukukanya and explained that she was moving back to the rural areas. Penny’s heart dropped with fear as it is common for people to move back to the rural area, as a means of escaping, hiding, or because they are sick and dying. But Carol’s reason was still uncertain as she refused to discuss what was going on. We heard nothing from her, until September 30 when her brother phoned with news of her passing. I cannot tell you the amount of grief and the weight of sorrow that was felt in that moment. But it was the heaviest I had felt in all of my time here.

The following day, we went to Ukukanya for our normal day of work...but it was far from anything normal. Our regular staff was there mourning over her loss, while old staff came to visit and mourned with them. While waiting for Penny to arrive, I took a moment to step outside and be alone with the Lord. I walked around the hospice building and before a word of prayer could be spoken, tears just streamed down my face. “Lord,” I prayed, “Lord, my Saving God..come.” I wanted to pray more, but God just silenced my lips as I sat on the dirt road and wept. This world is suffering. It is broken and not what God intended. I cried for Carol that day, for her family, for her 2 year old daughter, and for all those who loved her. But I also cried for the world. In that moment, I experienced just a glimpse of the heart of God and what He sees and feels everyday. It was a moment where piercing agony interlaced with hopeful revelation and I understood; His Kingdom, was coming.

That Saturday, we invited a group of our students to join us as we worked on the renovations at the Ukukanya Life Care Center. 18 students were there, worshipping the Lord as they painted rooms, planted a garden, moved furniture and transformed a once abandoned building into a center of hope. As I observed the work being done at the center that day, I was moved by how much the Lord opened my eyes to see the meaning of His Kingdom coming, ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ A couple of the rooms had marker graffitied on the walls with messages like “worried about sweety pie. suffering is sin thus cursed.” Another message wrote “very frustrated for my so called lover, she has been unfaithful to me!!” Before painting the walls, we scrubbed off every stain, every form of graffiti, and every trace of dirt until nothing of it remained. We then painted it with fresh paint and hung NEW messages on the walls made by AIDS orphans from the township. The cluttered rooms filled with trash and dirt were not just cleaned, but the floors polished, windows replaced, and new furniture was put in to welcome those who would be staying there. A concrete slab piled with fragments of stone, brick and concrete was cleared to make way for a growing garden. Everything was transformed from its dying state to have fresh life once again. In Ezekial, it is written, “The Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed. And when I will bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden!’” Sometimes I look around and see this world becoming a wasteland. Not always in a physical sense (although it is certainly true as well) but a spiritual wasteland where apathy and pride have become the easier route over compassion and humility. A wasteland where resentment is chosen over grace and truth compromised for pleasure. But in that same glance, I also see the fingerprints of God all over this world as He works to restore His land, bringing His Kingdom here on earth just as it is in heaven and changing this former, or current, wasteland to be like the Garden of Eden.

As we worked all day at Ukukanya, I thought about Carol and the suffering of this world, and how privileged I was to see God’s Kingdom coming right in front of me. Being in Africa and working with such extremes each day can be so difficult. One day you are holding the hand of a woman who just found out she has AIDS, and the next day you are rejoicing over the salvation of one of your students. I have seen the sick, the poor, the suffering, the dying and in the same year have seen transformed lives, renewed spirits, abundant blessing, and total joy fill the lives of so many people. But as the pendulum swings from one extreme to the next, I am constantly brought back to the beauty of the Gospel. One day, Christ suffers the sins of this world and is nailed upon a cross, drinking the cup of God’s wrath that he didn’t deserve. Three days later, he rose again, conquered death, and brought eternal life to those who believed.

One day, a beautiful woman named Carol died from AIDS. Three days later, 18 students brought Christ’s love, transforming the center where she worked, and saw God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

One truth, 19 stories

As the new semester started up again, the Lord handed me a garden of girls and said “Make them grow.” The first semester we spent our time sowing seeds all over campus, meeting new students, and sharing the gospel broadly to whomever we met. After following each student up and briefly connecting with those we led to Christ, the semester break came quickly and disrupted our new and developing relationships. I had no idea what to expect at the start of this month, but I am blown away at how much the Lord has done through the lives of so many girls. Since the semester started at the end of July, I have been meeting with 19 girls, growing them in their walks with God by the grace of His Spirit working through me. Each girl has a story to tell. God has pursued each of their hearts with the same Love, same Grace, through the same Gospel...giving them each a beautifully unique testimony to bear witness to His name. I praise God for the work He has done and the story He is continuing to write in the lives of these 19 women. It is a privilege to share and introduce these women to you as I explain what my time on campus has looked like this past month and a half. So I welcome you to come and walk through the garden God has entrusted me with, and taste the fruit of the labor that is rapidly growing here in South Africa.

My Follow-Up Girls

Anele and Donna are two girls who recently prayed to receive Christ just before the semester holiday. Donna grew up in a non-Christian family whose religion was highly forced upon her. Her parents and grandmother encouraged her to baptize with the church as a little girl but Donna continually refused. “I don’t know why, but I just didn’t want to do it.” After saying several no’s in primary school, as a teenager, and all throughout high school, Donna’s family , pastor, and entire church began to look down on her. “You would think I would finally give in, just so people wouldn’t dislike me anymore. But for some reason I couldn’t do it. It was like something inside of me kept telling me to wait for something greater...but I didn’t know what it was.” Even though Donna had no idea what that “something greater” was, the Lord so clearly prepared her heart to fellowship with His, since she was a young girl.

Anele is Donna’s best friend. Both growing up in Pietemaritzburg and receiving the Gospel on the same day last semester, Anele’s story looks very different. When I met Anele for the first time and shared my personal testimony with her, I will never forget the look in her eyes when she said, “That’s what I want. To know Christ the way you do.” Anele grew up with a Christian mom but a father who highly discouraged any mentioning of God in the house. “Deep down, I think I’ve always wanted to believe in Christ, but I was too scared to. And I didn’t know how to believe in something I didn’t know much about, since Jesus was never allowed to be discussed in my family.” Heartbroken, I held her hand and asked if she would like me to explain how to have a relationship with Jesus. “Please,” she said with a smile. After two hours of talking on a little bench on campus, after many questions and several readings from Scripture, Donna and Anele together prayed to receive Christ. Since that day, I have been meeting with these two girls every week to go through a follow-up series to help them understand their new journey with Christ. There are four follow-up booklets total, each one designed to help new believers walk confidently in their faith as they understand the meaning and effect the Gospel has in their lives. It has been such a joy to watch the Lord grow these girls into women who not only accept and understand the Gospel, but who passionately desire to be changed by it daily.

My Beginner's Bible Study

There are 12 girls in this study, who join together every week to fellowship with one another and grow in their understanding of Scripture. For ten out of the twelve girls, this is their very first time to ever experience Bible Study and true Christian community. At the start of the semester, we began the Book of Ephesians and have been going through the book each week, focussing on three main elements during our time together. The first element, is committing to reading the Word each week. As we go through the Book of Ephesians, I have tried to lead these girls in observing the text, understanding what it means, and seeking to apply it to their personal lives. For many of the girls, this is their first time learning how to read the Bible properly and it is amazing to see the growth in which they have come. The second element to our study is committing to nurturing the relationships we have with one another. Many of the students in South Africa, especially in the Zulu culture, keep their lives very private and personal. Vulnerability and deep conversations are hardly ever seen due to the lack of genuine community the students have with one another. I remember the very first Bible Study I had with these girls, I asked questions to help them get to know one another. Not one person spoke. There was such a deep sense of fear, insecurity, lack of confidence, and trust amongst the group which I prayed for weeks that the Lord would break. If you met my girls now, you would have never guessed that that was the case. They have grown so much in their relationships with one another and are continually seeing the value of confession, vulnerability, encouragement, and accountability as the Body of Christ. The third element to our study is focused on having an apostolic mission. Each week, I remind the girls that God does not just want us to grow as a body of believers, but He wants us to take what we have learned and share it with the world around us. Whether through our words or our actions, we are called to be Christ to others. As we grow to become more like Christ through the studying of His Word and in the fellowship we have with each other, we can boldly step into the world and reflect His goodness and love onto others.

My Advanced Bible Study

At the beginning of the semester, I had the phone number of a girl named Miranda who signed up to be involved with Campus Crusade during one of our outreaches. I called her one afternoon to meet, hear her story, and ask if she would like to join the bible study I mentioned above. When I met for our first appointment, I looked around for a girl who looked as lost as I did. Suddenly I spotted a table with four girls smiling and waving for my attention. “Hey, are you Ali?! I’m Miranda, and these are my girlfriends, Sindy, Peng An, and Nomfundo. We all want to be involved.” I couldn’t believe it. The Lord just kept handing me more girls! I was so excited and spent that first meeting just getting to know their stories and sharing the vision of Crusade with them. But I was taken aback when I found myself talking very little and spending most of my time just listening to their excitement and eagerness to see the Gospel sent out. These girls all grew up in Christian homes and are committed to growing in their knowledge of the Word, growing deeper in their relationships with each other, and being used by the Lord to send the Gospel outward. The maturity of these girls and their spiritual understanding of Gospel led me to start a more advanced bible study with them. Since the start of the semester, we have been going through the Book of James with the same three elements mentioned above as our focus. Last week as we finished study, Miranda approached me and said, “Ali, this is my favorite day of the week. I know I sounded excited about my faith when I first met you, but I also felt like I was being torn for the first time in my life, deciding whether or not I wanted to truly commit to the Lord or go my own way. But since that day, I have grown so much in my faith and am challenged to be a better woman.” Praise God.

My Disciples

You have all heard me talk about Slie, who I have been discipling since I moved to Durban in February. She was my only girl at the beginning of the year, and now there are 18 more! I am continually amazed at the work of God. At the end of last semester, I challenged Slie to think of two other women who she would like to see grow into leaders and disciples of Christ. The Lord aligned both of our hearts to pursue Zandie and Tha. Since the start of this semester, I have met with the three of them on a weekly basis to challenge their personal walks with the Lord, build them up as leaders, and send them out to make disciples on their campus. During our times together, we have been learning the different names of God and studying how His character both challenges us as individuals and how it compels us to be sent into the world as Christ’s ambassadors. To see these girls grow independently in their convictions, in their strengths, and in their knowledge of who God is and has called them each to be, is one of the greatest privileges God has blessed me with this year. We have spent a lot of time seeking to answer the question, “Where is God calling me?” and I look forward to hearing how the Lord uses them next year, as they faithfully answer “Here I am. Send me.”

Mid-YEAR

During the student's semester holiday, our team reached our half-way mark of the year. God blessed us with some time off to enjoy the country, relax, connect with our team, and reflect on all that God had done up to that point.

One of the exciting things I did was visit a Zulu village with traditional Zulu huts, dancing, and culture. Here are some of the pictures I took:

This is a traditional Zulu hut made of "ilala" which is a specific kind of tree, similar to a palm tree. Inside, there is a stone wall lining the edge of the hut for people to sit on. Men always sit on the right side and women always sit on the left. The reason for this is because men are always to be the protectors. If an intruder or wild animal were to approach the hut, the men would be able to protect the women faster and easier by grabbing their spears and aiming with their right hand. If they sat on the left side of the hut, it would be much more difficult for them to position themselves with their right arm to throw the weapon. All men are trained to use their right hand...so there are no lefty's :) One family will typically have at least 2 huts. One that is used for cooking and another that is used for dining, relaxing, eating, sleeping, and of course..partying.

These are the Zulu men wearing their traditional clothing, and demonstrating a proper marriage proposal. Men stand by the river, where women will commonly meet to do their washing, and decide whom they are most attracted to. They will observe the woman's personality, her interactions, her body and from there, decide whether or not to ask her for her hand in marriage. She may decline, but Zulu men are persistent. If they are able to persuade her, he then goes to her father and offers him a Labula, 11 cows, to buy his daughter's hand in marriage. If the father agrees, they negotiate a plan to move forward with the wedding.

Meanwhile, the woman goes to a fortune teller in the village and asks her to tell about her future marriage. The woman in the red is the fortune teller, and the woman next to her is the assistant, learning to be a fortune teller as well. The soon-to-be wife pays the lady and she puts together a recipe of dirt, plants, milk, fire..and whatever else her "mysterious mind" needs to predict the girl's future. If the fortune is good, the girl is pleased and moves forward in the wedding plans as well.

During the wedding ceremony, the woman receives a hat on her head that is shaped like a graduation cap, except with a round top. Beads line the outside of it, and it represents her commitment to her husband and the fact that she is now a married woman. It's the same idea as our wedding ring. During the ceremony, the men perform a traditional Zulu dance followed by all the women.

It's common that Zulu men have more than one wife. So this entire engagement process and wedding ceremony can occur multiple times for one man. But only...if he can afford that many cows.

For our team bonding, we all went to St. Lucia which is north of Durban. It's a beautiful place right along the coast, and our team of 8 had a chance to be back together again. It was a wonderful time connecting with the Pretoria and Johannesburg team, and hearing about all the wonderful stories God's blessed them with in their ministries. We had a great time evaluating the first half of our STINT year, reflecting on the things we had learned, and looking ahead to what God has stored for us as we finish the rest of our time.

We also had some great time to relax, enjoy the coast, and enjoy one another.

There were hippos and crocs everywhere!!

I made a solar system in the sand...

me and Amanda stood in the sun..

..and our team continued to look cuter every minute we spent together.

I am blown away at how fast the year has gone already! God has done incredible things and I praise HIM for His continued faithfulness. I am looking forward to all that lies ahead as we finish our Stint year strong.

The Reality of AIDS

This past month, I had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of my time working with the AIDS community here in Durban. The students at UKZN were on break for six weeks and we were allowed to spend that time however we wished. During that time, I committed to working in the townships teaching 10th graders about AIDS prevention, visiting AIDS clinics, and seeing the gospel sent in both word and deed. Prior to coming to Africa, I researched as much as I could about the AIDS epidemic that is known to be so prevalent in this country. Statistically, I may have known numbers. But when it came to real life stories, everyday experiences, and the depth of emotional turmoil that affects so many children and families...I knew nothing.

Still, I could never understand the weight of suffering that so many of these people carry. But my eyes have been opened and my heart continually burdened for the needs of this country, and for this world. To help explain, I've compiled a few different stories to share of the things I've done, the things I've seen, and the things which God is teaching me.

Life at the Crossroads

Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa has the highest concentration of HIV infected people in the entire world. Although our main goal is to share the gospel, it is nearly impossible to communicate the good news without reference to the AIDS crises happening right before our eyes. The Smart Choices workshop is designed to help combat the HIV epidemic by educating 10th grade high school students in the South African townships about their choices and their consequences. During the workshop, which is a total of 6 hours (2 hours for three days), students are given the opportunity to consider the choices they want to make about sexuality. They also discover that some choices may profoundly affect the dreams they have for their life. In the process of teaching them about HIV infection and transmission, we also spend time helping students realize that they are unique, valuable, and deeply loved. Towards the end of our workshop, we introduce the love of Christ and ultimately allow students to make a choice about their relationship with God.

Among the students we address, there are some who are HIV-positive, some who suspect they are infected, and others who have lost friends or family members as a result of the disease. The reality of AIDS has affected most, if not all of the children in the classroom. The expression on their faces and the heaviness of emotion felt amongst the students is both powerful and heartbreaking, and reflects just that. But to see the incredible change as they grow in understanding from the first day to the last, is tremendous. And the transformation done in their hearts as they recognize God's love, plan and purpose for their life is remarkable. To paint a picture for you, at the beginning of our workshop we let students know that there is an envelope for them to put in any anonymous question they may have. It is available to them all three days that we teach and throughout our time, we answer their questions whenever possible. These were some of the shocking questions we received on Day One:

Is it true that if a 60 year old man sleeps with a 6 year old girl, he can be cured of HIV?

What should I do if my boyfriend forces me to sleep with him? How do I say no?

I think I might have HIV. Is there still hope for my life?

My uncle said that if you eat bark from this specific tree, you can be cured of HIV. Is that true?

My family member has HIV and we have one bed in our house. Can I get HIV too, if I sleep in the same bed?

I am a virgin, but somebody told me if I sleep with someone who has HIV, I can cure them. Can I?

As I read these questions during our break, I was devastated. I couldn't believe how misinformed these 15 year old students were about such a deadly disease. Nor could I believe how present it was in their lives. As we resumed our session, we addressed their questions and helped answer and hopefully reassure them of what was true. These were the questions and comments we received on Day Three:

I want to change my life and stop having casual sex. I want to save it for marriage.

How do I receive Christ in my life?

How can I tell others about everything we have learned?

I am not a virgin anymore, but can I be a virgin again starting today?

Thank you for changing my life.

God did amazing things in that classroom and I pray they will be lasting changes that will have a ripple effect into the future lives of many others. Praise God that He is the God of salvation, redemption, and beautiful transformation.

1000 Hills Community Center

As we were preparing to head to the AIDS clinic in the Valley of A Thousand Hills, we were told that 70% of the people in that specific valley were infected with HIV. When we arrived at the clinic, we were corrected and informed that in fact, 96% were infected. I couldn't believe it. As I stood at the entrance way, I saw a crowd before me of mothers, grandmothers, children, fathers, brothers, sons, and daughters all waiting to be seen by a doctor. My heart was so burdened by these people whose lives were slowly fading away. As I continued to walk through, there was another line ahead of me of nearly a hundred people waiting for a free meal; possibly their only meal for the whole day.

Grandmothers sat shoulder to shoulder on the benches alongside the clinic doors, waiting for their infected grand-babies to be given proper treatment. It seemed as if every corner I turned, I was tripping over tragedy as injustice slapped me in the face. I couldn't understand the heaviness of this kind of suffering. It was beyond me. "God, where are you in this mess?," my heart cried. And as always, He opened my eyes. I walked into a tiny shop connected to the clinic and saw beautiful table cloths, hand sewn pillows, beaded jewelry and little dolls..all made by the patients from the clinic.

The women at this community center are given an opportunity to use their skills to find employment and make a name for themselves as they contribute to the society. They are taught different craft projects and are paid by the center as they try to make a living. A computer room offers computer classes to teach men and women more technical skills like basic typing and word processing. Next to the shop was a small daycare for infants and toddlers who are HIV positive or who are orphaned by parents who have died of AIDS. One child, Siyabonga (which means Thank You in Zulu), was born about a year and a half ago. Shortly after his birth, both of his parents died from AIDS. Siyabonga was tested immediately. With his parents having full blown AIDS, doctors feared how much longer this little boy hadleft to live. His results came back negative. Babies don't always test positive right away, so he went back for testing a few months later. He was negative once again.

One day, this boy will be told that his highly infectious parents gave birth to a miracle child.

As I walked back out, passing the clinic doors once again, I glanced at the people all around me. I remember seeing these two women whose laugh made the depths of my heart smile. They were SO joyful! Their laugh was so contagious, I began to giggle to myself. Where was God in this mess? He was right here.

HE understood

At Ukukanya, many immediate needs of the community have demanded our attention away from the center and into the homes of many families. The other week, we visited two homes and stepped into the lives of desperate people. One girl, I will call her Peace, is 26 years old and is HIV positive. She has never been to a clinic and has never received proper treatment or has even been seen by a doctor before. Her home is tucked away behind a one-way road and in between several dirt pathways. On occasion, her mother has tried to get her to a clinic in an emergency by pushing her in a wheel barrow up several hilly streets and through rocky dirt roads, to the nearest clinic about 4-5 miles away. Peace has two children,

a boy and a girl both under the age of 5. The three of them live with her mother in a one-room brick house, just big enough to hold a double size bed. They all sleep together with three other grandchildren, that Peace's sister left behind after her death. When we took Peace to the clinic for the first time, we were informed that her case was severe. She was diagnosed with TB, arthritis, and other health conditions with AIDS underlying. I held her arm and helped her walk into the office where she would receive her first medication. I tried to muster up words to start conversation, but it didn't last long. "How are you feeling?" ..."I'm o.k., thank you." ..."Are you cold?" ...."A little bit, yes." I had no idea what else to say. After we dropped her off, Amanda and I drove the rest of the way home in silence. It made me sad that I couldn't ever tell this woman, 'I understand.' I didn't understand! I have never suffered nearly the same way she has. I want so badly to tell her I understand and I'm here to comfort her, but I really can't understand at all. But then I was reminded of Hebrews chapter 4, where it says that Jesus Christ understands all our sufferings because he faced all of the same trials and testings here on earth, yet he did not sin. Though I couldn't understand, Jesus could. And though the comfort I could give was so limited, the comfort of God was more than enough. And in that moment I realized..that is why God sent me here: to see and experience the suffering of this broken world that HE endured and died for...for my sake and the whole world.

planting, watering, and watching seeds grow

Last year, a summer team came to share the gospel with students on the UKZN campus. Through the Lord's sovereign plan, one of the girls that summer was led to share the love of Christ with a first year student named Slie. After several conversations and a growing relationship with her, Slie began to question her relationship with God for the very first time. She was invited to the summer camp at the end of the semester, similar to the one we had this past month. As she learned more about what it meant to be a follower of Christ, it wasn't long after that Slie dedicated her life to the LORD.

Five months ago, Ryan, Amanda and I came to Durban to continue and grow the ministry that was reignited last year. I met Slie one of the first days I set foot on campus and have been discipling her ever since. Last month, as I mentioned in the previous post, we held a camp for the students at the end of their semester. The camp was designed for new believers, those interested in being involved in our movement, and the students already involved. The camp was staff-coached and student-led to empower our student leaders to step up in the movement which we hope to be self-sustaining in the near future. The week before the camp, I helped give Slie direction to write a talk that she would give to the students during the camp. The first night of camp, Slie stood up and spoke about the power of God in her life. Students were deeply moved and encouraged to see a fellow student share about the transformation the Lord has done in her life.

I sat there in the audience watching her speak and felt deeply grateful for the Lord's sovereignty in this girl's life, as well as mine. A year ago, she didn't know Christ. But she attended the same camp last year because a young woman cared for the salvation of her soul and was faithful to plant the first seed. This year, God privileged me to water her seed and now, she is standing before a crowd of students proclaiming the truth of the gospel. Truly, the work of our Lord is magnificent and it is the greatest honor and privilege to be used as an instrument for His glory as He grows the seeds which He allows us to sow and water.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says "I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow." The girl who did the planting, nor I who did the watering are not important. But my concern is not whether or not I'm important. Joy comes from the simple fact that God used me for His Kingdom! He used me for that which truly is important, which is the growth of Slie's spiritual life. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

When old is made new

My roommate vacuumed our flat the other day and as she proudly told me about the work she did, I couldn't help but to laugh at how excited she was. "Look at how good these lines look! Perfectly straight, parallel to one another..aren't you impressed??!" She was referring to the lines in the carpet. You know, the lines that the vacuum makes as you push it back and forth on the floor? Her over the top enthusiasm made me laugh, but I can't blame the girl for being excited about the transformation that vacuum lines made in our living room; prior to the cleaning she did, it looked awful! And anyway, aren't we all like that? Whether big or small, don't we all love seeing old things made new? A dirty carpet given clean vacuum lines, a cluttered desk re-organized, extreme makeovers, hurtful relationships reconciled, bad habits broken into a new lifestyle...the list can go on. But I think the reason why we love it so much is because transformation is a glimpse of the Gospel. God is constantly at work, transforming this world and the broken people in it, into what He originally intended it to be. This last month, God opened my eyes to see the beauty of the Gospel through the transformation of all things made new.

At the Ukukanya Life Care Center, we started the physical labor in reconstructing this abandoned building. I have never done such strenuous, intense, manual work before. Just to give you a visual of what the labor was actually like, you need to first understand that the materials we have available to us in the township are extremely limited. So unlike the hit TV series "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," where they have power washers, power tools, and fancy equipment..we make use of whatever is in front of us. We started on the tin roof where every inch was covered in rust. With 10 people, 20 hands, and a sheet of sand paper, we climbed on the roof and started to sand the rust with our bare hands. After two full days of sanding, we were ready to wash. We filled an old bucket of flour with dishwashing soap and water, and with three deteriorating mops we scrubbed the rooftop one panel at a time. If a mop handle broke, we attached a tree brach to the end and continued working. After mopping, we hosed the dirt away, but because water is so limited in the township we had to pray for the hose to even trickle water every afternoon. After mopping the center of each panel, there was still work to be done on the sides of each panel. So again, with 10 people, 20 hands, and 20 kitchen sponges, we used dish soap and mini square sponges to scrub the side panels of the roof until it was clean enough to paint on. Once the washing was complete, we were ready for primer and paint! It took us a full week to complete the entire roof. I remember as we were working on the last roof (there were three total), I stood with the hose in my hand, waiting for the water to start working again. Since it took quite a while, I decided to take a rest and lay on one of the roof panels. As I lay there with the African sun beaming on my face, my muscles ached, my back was sore, and my body felt weak. I was tired and exhausted, but as I lay on that tin roof looking up at the Africa sky and watching the clouds move with the wind, I felt the presence of the Lord surround me. What are you doing, my child? I felt Him ask. Why does God always ask us such simple questions? I never understand, but it's always the simple questions of the Lord that bring the most conviction. Well.. I thought to myself, I'm cleaning a roof. Of course God wanted me to see a lot more than that, so I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to listen to His voice. What was I doing? What did He want me to see? 

As I shut my eyes, I heard not the voice of my Father, but the voices of beautiful, innocent children playing in the field below me. I heard little boys and little girls, most of whom are orphans or soon to be orphaned by parents dying of AIDS. 

I heard the laughter of Zulu women and their powerful voices as they sang. I heard the suffering of countless gogo's (grandmothers) who hide behind their own strength as they care for their dying grandchildren. I heard a community crying for hope. I heard a nation pleading for God's intercession. And my heart was broken. You see, you are not just cleaning a roof. You are doing in small what I do in large, everyday. You are bringing transformation. This building once was new. It was built beautifully and with a purpose. But after time it was abandoned. It faced many storms and began to rust. The lack of care for this building shows in its cracked walls, broken windows, and trashed rooms. The people in this world are no different. The people who you are preparing these rooms for are no different. I have created each one beautifully and with a purpose, but they too have faced storms and suffering. But I have come to smooth away the rust. I have come to clean every inch of their hearts. I have come restore what was broken, heal what's been hurt, purify what's been defiled. I have come to restore, renew and redeem. 

As I sat on that tin roof in the African township of Inanda, I felt humbled by the privilege the Lord has given me to be used by Him to bring physical and spiritual transformation in this place. I stood up and looked out at the view in front of me, and saw God's power to bring renewal upon a broken and desolate land.

Also this month, we've had the opportunity to organize campus outreaches and share the gospel with crowds of students who were eager to listen at the University of Kwazulu-Natal. Within two weeks, nearly hundreds of students were reached with the gospel. Twenty-five students received Christ into their lives for the very first time and are being followed-up to grow in their spiritual walks as a new disciple. At the end of the school semester, we held a camp for all the students who were interested in joining our movement. Fifty attended. If you can remember the prayer letter I sent in early March, our Campus Crusade movement started with a faithful five. In a matter of three months, God has multiplied that number by ten through your faithful prayers, our obedience to labor, and the mighty work of His Spirit. Praise Him for using us together for the glory of His name and the expansion of His Kingdom! Though there are countless stories of the transformation He's done in the lives of these students, I want to share one that touched my heart deeply; the story of Rose. 

Rose is a first year student at UKZN. She lives with her brother and sister who treat with little respect. Rejected by her family and often pressured by her parents, she entered her freshman year with little hope for herself and her future. After school, she used to walk home and think about killing herself.  "I had nothing to live for..there was no purpose in my life," she explained. 

Rose had heard the gospel multiple times before, and the love that Christ had for her. But whenever God's name was mentioned, she ran away with an odd sense of fear that stirred within her. Just before the camp, Rose heard the gospel one more time. However, her heart was softened to the story of God's pursuit after her, and that day, she dedicated her life to the Lord.  "I've never felt so alive! It's like...this amazing feeling, I can't describe it! I just feel like a new person!" Seeing the joy of Rose in the way she smiles, in the way she speaks, and in the way she lives..you would never be able to tell that she once wanted to end her life. 

One thing I love about the work of God is that He not only moves on a grand scale among the nations and upon this earth, but He is deeply concerned about the individual lives and hearts of His people. In His grace, He brings transformation throughout the world. But more than anything, He is in the process of transforming each child of His into the glorious image of Himself. As I pray for the people of Africa and this nation as a whole, I pray that God will continue to transform my life with each breath I take. I'm seeing more and more that when our minds are transformed, our priorities change and we begin to see the world as God sees it. By God's grace, we should not remain as we are. But we should be clothed with compassion, abundant love, and joy in doing what is right before God. And so I pray, God, in your grace, transform the world. But begin with me, so that I can become an instrument for the transformation for which we pray. 

Spreading the Gospel

At the beginning of May, we had a group of 18 Americans come to be a part of the ministry here in South Africa with us. They stayed to partner with us at Ukukanya and on the UKZN campus for 6 weeks. It was such a blessing to have them here and to have extra hands reaching out, numerous lips to preach the Word, and more bodies to stand out on campus and make a difference in the lives of students. Being one of only three staff in Durban can often feel limiting to all that we want to do. Three people trying to reach out to thousands sometimes feels impossible. But God is good. And praise HIM for sending more workers into his fields! With the summer project, we were able to accomplish so much and spread the gospel to hundreds of students through multiple outreaches during the week. Here are some of the things we did:

Mental Toughness:

The majority of our students involved with Campus Crusade at UKZN are Sports Science majors. With their eagerness to share the gospel with their fellow classmates and faculty, we encouraged the idea and planned a Sports Science outreach. Amanda, my roommate, spoke in the gym on campus about "Mental Toughness." She used to be a black belt Tae Kwon Do instructor and shared a piece of her testimony with the sports science students about being tough in sports. It was amazing to see the students' eyes fixed on her and relating to her story in so many ways. "Yes, we need to be tough!" You could see the attitude in their faces as they proudly puffed their chests. But as Amanda carried on in her talk, she gradually began to reveal her understanding of her utter weakness. She explained to the students that her strength lasted her so long until she recognized the source of her strength came from the LORD. To be strong..to be tough..is ultimately to recognize your weakness and let God take control of your life. Students faces went from total self confidence to a deep understanding of being humbled. Amanda continued in her talk and began to share the gospel with these students and how the LORD completely changed her life. Afterwards, students stayed around eagerly waiting to discuss what they had heard. Some prayed to receive Christ, some re-dedicated their lives to Him, and some wanted to hold onto what they had heard and explore their spiritual lives for the very first time. Praise God.

Soularium Freeze Frame:

If you remember a while back, I explained an evangelistic tool called Soularium. To remind you, it is a set of 50 pictures that depict everyday life and emotions. As we show the pictures to the students we talk to, we ask questions to further our discussion and help them explore their spiritual life deeper. The questions are:

Which image describes your life right now..Why?

Which image do you WISH were a part of your life right now..Why?

Which image would you choose to describe God..Why?

Which image best describes what you've experienced spiritually..Why?

Which image best represents what you wish were true about your spiritual life or journey..Why?

When we use Soularium, we approach one, two, or three people and have a discussion with them in a more personal and private setting. It is extremely effective and allows us to really grow in our relationships with students on campus. SO, we decided to take the idea of Soularium and run with it on a much grander scale. What we did, was post all 50 pictures and the 5 questions onto poster board and displayed it in the main quad of the campus. Next to the posters, we set up a table with surveys to fill out answers to the five questions, information about campus crusade, and sign-ups to be a part of the movement. As students approached the poster of pictures in curiosity, they began to intently fill out the surveys. Staff and students in the movement stood around, available to those who had questions, those who wanted to discuss their answers further, and those who wanted to pray to receive Christ for the first time. In the middle of the quad, we acted out a few of the pictures to get the attention of others around us. 

One picture, is of a man with post-it notes all over his head. Anele, one of our student leaders, stood in the quad while his friend Sbu held the number of the corresponding picture next to him. One by one, students came up and yelled aloud different post-it notes and taped it to Anele's body. The post-it notes were things like "Failed exam," "Fight with parents," "Broke up with girlfriend," "Need scholarship money," etc. 

Another picture is of a guy dancing in the rain. One of the summer project students posed dancing with an umbrella while another held the number of the corresponding picture. As students passed by, they were drawn to our table and we were able to have hundreds of conversations with students about their spiritual life. It was such a success and an extremely fun way to evangelize with a little out-of-the-box thinking.

Think About It:

Every night at 8:00pm there is a South African reality TV show that is watched by every South African student, no matter who they are. When a student was first telling me about it, she said I was a complete alien for not knowing what she was talking about. In the Residence Halls, there is aTV room for students to watch movies, tv shows, relax, or just hang out. We decided to make most of the opportunity of having a large number of students in the TV room every night after the 8:00 show. So at 8:30, right after the show ended, we made an announcement for the students to stay and take part in watching a 10-12 minute Nooma Video. Nooma Videos are short videos made by Rob Bell, who is a pastor of a church in the States. He addresses many questions about faith and the Christian life. For three nights, we set up a big screen and played a different video for each night. The first video discussed sin in the world and in our lives. It talked about guilt and shame after doing something we know is wrong, but that there is a God who says there is nothing we could ever do to make Him love us less. The second video discussed suffering and the storms we face in life. It talked about walking through rainstorms and how sometimes we can't feel God is there, but He always is and promises to walk us through the storms in life. The third video discussed having a relationship with God and what it means to live in tune with the Creator of the Universe. After each video, we broke off into groups and led discussions with the students on a more personal level. It was amazing to see how willing they were to open up, how many questions they had about God, and how much the Lord allowed us to share the gospel through these videos. 

I really learned what it means to seize every opportunity to share the Good News with those around us. It really opens the doors for incredible ministry, and opens the hearts of so many souls.