Greetings Family! Friends! Prayer supporters! Generous givers! Lovers of God who are declared RIGHTEOUS in God's sight through faith in Jesus Christ! This entry discloses MY LAST DAY, May 30th, in Windhoek, Namibia.
It was a day of happening. Things happened on this happening day.
But first YESTERDAY, MAY 29TH: When Estelle [Namibian, 31] and I exchanged greetings, I knew that the Lord was working VERY POWERFULLY in her. I HAD TO talk to her. I WANTED to talk to her. God's presence literally surrounded her like a THICK CLOUD...the Holiness of His work in her was UNDENIABLE. I could taste it. Lindsey (the self-same "family" member), Estelle, and Monika (a woman from Johannesburg who descends from Chile) had invited me to join them to a bar and later, a club. I declined. I have never been as tired as I was that night and without natural explaination. I also knew from experience that these locations are not optimum environments for ministry...too loud...however, as I laid in my tent alone that night, I could not help but to pray in wonder and in worry if I had failed to "make the most of every opportunity." I was afraid that I had been unfaithful to my God, to Estelle, and that I had cheated both her and myself of a divine appointment. You know something? In all truth, I think that I was most afraid that I had no conviction/guilt over passing up this "opportunity." I felt guilty because I did not feel guilty. I over-analyse. If I had rested in His peace, I would not have robbed myself of a few hours sleep.
TODAY (May 30th): I had no reason to worry. It is good to question, but not to worry, for God is faithful and he provided an opportunity of PREMIUM QUALITY to speak to both Estelle and Monika. The two ladies invited me to chat with them post-breakfast at our hostel over a QUIET assortment of teas and coffees. AGAIN, AN OPTIMUM SETTING FOR A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION...OUR LORD HAS A FLAVOUR FOR SETTING AS WELL AS TIMING. Yes, only the French spelling of the word will do I'm afraid. Anyways, as 3 women representing 3 different races, colors and countries, WE TALKED. WE TALKED problem of evil (mostly racism) in our world. WE TALKED South African politics. WE TALKED current Xenophobic attacks (fear of foreigners). Their response was fear, helplessness, apathy and self-preservation. I spoke of my convictions in Christ towards compassion, mercy, grace and service. I shared the plans God has given me concerning Johannesburg. It was a VERY LONG, respectful, and yet diverse conversation. Estelle asked questions of why God allows evil and pain. God allowed me to answer in Grace and Power. Monika became disinterested with our talk for some time, and so Estelle began to tell me her story. It never fails to interest me how much you talk when you have no peace. In the same way, when you do have peace, God seems to give you the grace to listen more.
ESTELLE'S STORY:
Estelle's parents struggled with alcohol. Her mother had very real problems. As a result, Estelle and her brother were left to fend for themselves on Windhoek's streets. She was a self-proclaimed "street kid." They lived day by day. They found their own shelter and used the money they earned begging to buy bread. She has a deep knowing that God or "a power" (she often shifts in terminology)protected and provided for her in those early years. In all of her years of steet living, she was never abused or raped. THIS IS PROFOUND & UNDENIABLE. She cannot explain why, but during this time she found a curiosity and hunger for in God. She attended church and read the Bible whenever she could. It pains me that the Church saw her skin, not her God's gold. The Church failed to extend mercy to the homeless, the hungry, the orphans. It pains me to say that this has resulted in Estelle's sour taste for church and religion. Estelle forgives the Church; she understands that they were blinded by ignorance. This GOD GIVEN ABILITY TO FORGIVE is the same forgiveness which nursed her mother in her last days. AIDs slowly and painfully took her mother's life. Estelle responded in grace and compassion. Daughter took care of mother, even though mother never took care of daughter. My eyes got all wet and glossy. Naturally. I told her that she had no idea how much WISDOM GOD HAD GIVEN TO HER. I told her that God was her Teacher. I asked her if she knew that the truth she had found in life was also God's truth. I told her that she often NEARLY quoted Scripture without knowing it. God peirced my heart through her story, I realized:
God is ALWAYS working, even when His Church does not.
God is ALWAYS faithful, even when His Church is not.
God is ALWAYS working, even when I do not "feel" like it.
God is ALWAYS faithful, even when I am shamefully disobedient.
This realization was painfully convicting. I liked it. It was freeing. I praised Him, He is SO HOLY. I am not, only through Christ~! Estelle admits that she is still searching for something. She has become totally disinterested with the world. She has removed herself from "the system." SHE SERIOUSLY CLINGS TO NO EARTHLY THING FOR COMFORT-not food, not work, not people-SHE KNOWS THAT SHE DOES NOT "NEED" ANYTHING. NOTHING BUT HIM/THE WIND. She knows she has found wisdom and a right way to live, BUT she knows she still lacks "something" deep down in her spirit. She believes it is "peace" that she lacks. peace? Peace AGAIN I AM AMAZED AT WHAT SHE "KNOWS", JUST BY LISTENING THE HOLY SPIRIT, HOW DOES SHE POSSIBLY "KNOW" ALL THIS?!?! SHE HAS ALLOWED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE HER TEACHER. I told her that if she remembers ONE thing that I say, it would be this: JESUS. I said please hear this. Please understand this...DO NOT forget this. JESUS. THE BIBLE SAYS IT IS ONLY THROUGH JESUS THAT WE CAN RECIEVE PEACE. One of His titles is "THE PRINCE OF PEACE." I told her that there is no counterfeit for PEACE. ONLY JESUS GIVES PEACE. Even Satan cannot make a good or lasting counterfeit. I said Jesus is THE ONLY WAY. He is THE GATE. I told her that in my personal experience the floodgates did not open until the day that I found JESUS. She told me very respectively that she did not want to be pursuaded or influenced by people and their arguments [partially wise, partially not], but that she will follow as the Spirit leads. I told her that I respected her decision, because I trusted the Spirit she followed. That He would lead her to the Truth, and that I believed the Truth was Jesus. She will continue to follow as the "Wind" blows. I have read passages in the Bible that refer to the Holy SPirit as "The Wind."
PLEASE PRAY FOR ESTELLE AND AGAINST THE STRONGHOLDS OVER HER LIFE:
-PRAY THAT SHE FINDS PEACE (AND SALVATION) IN JESUS. Pray that Estelle is convicted of sin, and seeks mercy and grace through Christ Jesus. She makes excuses. The Bible says in Romans 3 "That the entire world is guilty before God." Pray that the Spirit convicts her. Lord, may she confess her sins and turn to You.
-Pray that Estelle will see the Bible as GOD'S HOLY WORD TO US...and that she will read it DAILY.
-Pray that any other LIES in her life will be identified and uprooted. Ask the Holy Spirit what they are and pray into them. Estelle does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. She believes that we are all God in man. This is a lie from Satan. Please pray against it.
-Thank God for her beautiful testimony that He will soon add to His Kingdom for His Glory and the strengthening of His Church!
-Pray for the Church. Pray for the churches in Namibia and South Africa.
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