Hello all,
Be encouraged! Christ is ALIVE and moving in our world!
"This same Good News that came to you is going out ALL OVER THE WORLD. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about GodĄŻs wonderful grace." Colossians 1:6 (NLT)
Perhaps, I should begin with the political and social happenings here in Southern Africa. You may be aware of the riots, which have broken out in Cape Town and Johannesburg (South Africa). The violence is directed towards refuges (foreigners) from nearby Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The South Afrikaans fear that these foreigners are taking their jobs and their women.
Zimbabwe is currently in a state of political disarray, there is an upcoming re-election to determine whether the country will continue under its current leader or whether it will be turned over to a new democratic candidate. Zimbabwe is below poverty level, inflation is 1000%. In recent years the government initiated an operation called "Project Clean up the Trash," where they imprisoned street children and leveled homes and violently relocate people during the winter months to the urban areas of Zimbabwe, where they could control the food rations and in turn--the people and the election. The people of Zimbabwe are starving. Very little food and supplies are being imported into the country. The gas stations and the groceries are clean out. Naturally, the people are fleeing the country in search of jobs and provisions.
80% of South Africa claims to be Christian, however very few refuges have recieved mercy. On the contrary, many refuges have become victims of theivery, assault, rape, violence, and murder. However, THERE ARE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE PUBLICALLY TAKEN A STAND AGAINST THE RIOTS. In my newspaper readings, I find that most anti-riot-peace-loving-activists are university students. One photograph really touched my heart, there were two men with signs around their necks. One of the signs read: "Jesus was a refuge in Africa." Johannesburg has been the concentrated center of violence, BUT I find that it is also the center of MERCY. I have changed my plans. I will be traveling to Cape Town in South Africa tomorrow (21 hours of bus, ah!) to partner with my friend Casey. And then we will continue onward to Johannesburg. We are both feeling a pull towards refuge relief.
We had previously hoped to travel into Zambia to see the Victoria Falls (the largest waterfall on earth), and continue doing Backpacker Evangelism. BUT we have decided that we would rather be where GOD IS MOVING POWERFULY--AND HE IS MOST DEFINATELY MOVING IN JOHANESSBURG. We may not see His glory in the falls, BUT I AM CONFIDENT IN HIM THAT WE WILL SEE HIS GLORY AMOUNG THE PEOPLE AND THE CHURCHES. I have written a couple of my contacts requesting information on local churches and their efforts to relieve the crisis. A number of churches are cooking and providing food...sometimes serving from sunrise till 10pm...this really EXCITES ME! I want in! What an amazing opportunity to share the LOVE (mercy) and TRUTH of the gospel...it really is a two handed GOSPEL...you cannot seperate the two.
Anyhow, I know that it is of no coinscidence that GOD SENT us here to South Africa JUST DAYS before the refuges fled and the riots broke out. He needs workers in His fields HERE, and He has called in extra recruits, for it WILL BE A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST! I am currently reading in 2 Colossians and I feel God is saying to me that THERE IS A WIDE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY HERE....and the Lord knows I am eager and willing to run on through it---oh the Heart and the Spirit we have in CHRIST JESUS(I had a heart of stone)! I feel SO ALIVE...I feel the Holy Spirit rising within me, I know that God is preparing and equipping us with ALL that we need. I believe that I will even have free lodging with a few Christian locals! HOW INVIGERATING!
FAMILY UPDATE:
Lindsey and I shared my tent last night, and will continue to do so tonight. The ground is hard, but I have found this to be A BI-FOLD BLESSING: I'm saving money AND we have the best pre-slumber conversations. Last night, I asked her if I could ask her some very personal and deep questions, and she was up for it. We really digged deep into the core of Jesus, why Christians do what we do, live how we live, and preach what we preach (our conviction), we talked about truth...and for the most part we ALMOST ALWAYS disagreed, which is discouraging, BUT it was such a respectful and easy flowing conversation.
I told her that I was not going to try and convince her of anything, God is perfectly capable of revealing Himself, all I am to do is be a faithful witness of WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US. I feel like I am battling against strongholds of human reasoning and pride, PLEASE pray for Lindsey in this area AND for Jan and Jaqueline as well. I have handed each member of my "family" a track warning about the Lord's judgement. They all read it, but were not open to talking about it, however somehow they still accept me...although I am beginning to feel more and more like an alien.
I really am looking forward to some Christian fellowship. I have been speaking truth and living as light without a fellow sister or brother...it is hard not having someone to relate to. Character building for sure, sometimes people dispise and crack at you for loving Christ. They find you foolish. I have the Lord's approval, I would rather please God....however, that is not to say that it isn't lonely and uncomfortable at times.
Well, that is all for now.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership!
God will never desert me and although I am without Christian fellowship physically, I feel connected to the Church in prayer and in Spirit, ALL MY LOVE,
Living in Grace and Peace, Christine
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