Life here….

Hello everyone! Things are okay here – I have been struggling the last couple of weeks with a few things. I know God is in it and I know that He is working in me through this. I actually didn’t sleep well for almost two weeks. I went and saw Karen, who is the doctor in our church clinic, on Wednesday, for four different reasons, one being the sleep issue, and she gave me a couple of recommendations… and I have actually slept for the last three nights, and it’s felt so great. The two things she recommended are no caffeine after noon (obvious, I know) and spending some time before God before going to sleep. She even recommended that if there are certain things that I am struggling with, to write them down on paper and give them to Him. I have done this for the last three nights, and it has not only help me to sleep, but brought me closer to Him. Also discovered on Wednesday that I have ringworn (sp?) on my leg… eeh.

I have struggled this year a bit in feeling productive. I had coffee with a friend yesterday and talked to her about this a bit. She came here about five years ago on this same program and struggled with this, as well, and has seen others struggle with it since. She said that this year is often a year that God works more in us than through us. So, although we may not feel too helpful or productive, He is actually working in us in ways that we may not see right away.

Youth. Yesterday for youth group, several of us leaders made about 100 brownies for all the kids. It was quite fun, and kind of got me in the mood to do more baking. It is quite different to bake here, as they use different measurements… and then there’s the whole Celsius thing. ☺

Our youth pastor and his wife have recently been blessed with a new house. The couple who lives in the house are going to the states for a minimum of nine months and have allowed Chris and his family to live there free of charge for as long as the couple is in the states. How amazing! A group of us went there last Monday and helped clean and paint. It was a fun day.

We have winter camp for youth from July 2-4. Please pray that God meets with us and prepares us for this. I am excited. The group will be a bit smaller, as a lot of the leaders and kids are on holiday, but I am excited to see what God does here. Chris asked what area each of the leaders would like to be involved in, and I chose God focus. I am excited about this, but don’t have a lot of creative ideas in this. Please pray that God gives me ideas and that these kids get excited about God.

Prison. I am speaking at the prison on July 8th and believe that I now know what God is directing me to speak about. As I was reading my Bible a couple of days ago, I read in Corinthians 7, “An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs; Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.” My most wonderful friend, Christine (I miss you!), has been telling me for years that it is an amazing opportunity for me to be single and be able to be wholly devoted to God. Of course I believe that, but still have that desire to want to be married. Anyway…. So, although some of the women in prison are married, they are not living in the role of a wife or mother now, as they are in prison. So they can use this time to be wholly devoted to Him. God has also been working in my life and teaching me to be more of a Mary, than a Martha, which has been a challenge, but I think I will speak on this a bit, as well. I love how God uses our challenges and struggles and uses us in them. I would love prayer in this… that God helps me in preparing and speaks through me.

Bookshop. As I have been working at the bookshop and wondering why God brought me to South Africa and why I am running the bookshop here, I have been reminded of how much I love books that have changed my life. I am not a huge reader… another reason I have wondered why I have been placed in this position… but I have read a few books that have increased my passion, love, vision, character, etc. So, getting the right book in the right person’s hands at the right time can be a very impactful, life-changing thing.

Steven Van Rhyn, the head pastor here at Jubilee, asked me to put a book on hold for him last week. As I have had it in the office here, I decided to pick it up and see what it’s about. I think it’s one of “those” books…. Impactful, life changing, exciting. As I have been reading it, I have decided I need to buy this one and get Steve another one off the shelf (that is in “new” condition).

So, if anyone is wanting a good book to read, I recommend “The Power of Vision”, by Andy Stanley. I have taken a few quotes out of the first several chapters (as that’s all that I have read) and have put them here.

Quotes from Andy Stanley in his book, “The Power of Vision”

What is a vision?
Where does it come from?
Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be. Anyone who is emotionally involved – frustrated, bronkenhearted, maybe even angry – about the way things are in light of the way they believe things could be, is a candidate for a vision. Visions form in the heats of those who are dissatisfied with the status quo.

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For a vision to become a reality, someone must put his or her neck on the line. Vision requires visionaries, people who have allowed their minds and hearts to wander outside the artificial boundaries imposed by the world as it is. A vision requires an individual who has the courage to act on an idea.

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A God-ordained vision will begin as a concern. You will hear or see something that gets your attention. A thought related to the future will generate an emotion. Something will bother you about the way things are or the way things are headed. Unlike many passing concerns, these will stick with you. You will find yourself thinking about them or in your free time. You may lose sleep over them. You won’t be able to let them go because they won’t let you go.

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There are always more questions than answers when God births a vision in our hearts. There are always obstacles. There is always a lack of resources. A man or woman with a vision usually feels alone. Even isolated. Often there is little to go on other than gut-level, unquenchable, insatiable desire. And hopefully a sense of destiny: a feeling that this is what you were made for, an assurance that God has called you out into uncharted waters with a divine purpose in mind. If any of that rings true for you, you may be on the brink of something divine.

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Our tendency is to pray for miracles. But in most situations, it is more appropriate to pray for opportunities. More than likely you need an opportunity rather than something supernatural.
If you are a parent, you probably have a vision for your children. Instead of simply praying that they would become men and women of character, pray for opportunities to build character into their lives. Your vision involves you You have a role. You have a part to play.
If you have a vision for unbelieving friends (or family), don’t simply pray that they will be saved. Pray for an opportunity to speak to them about Christ. If you pray for an opportunity, more than likely you will recongnize when God brings it along.

Love you all!!!