First Day of Ministry

First Day of Ministry:

On Thursday we went to the Kya Sands Impact Kids creche (preschool). We walked into the school yard and all the kids came running toward us. We were quickly smothered in hugs accompanied by giggles as they kept yelling, “Techa, techa!”, which is their version of “teacher”. I helped out in the 2-3 year olds classroom. The kids were mostly overcome with excitement to have me there, though a few shy ones stared at me with their big brown eyes. I picked up a little one who was crying quite loudly, poor little Lesed didn't know what to think of his first day of school! He fell fast asleep in my arms as I sat helping the other kids with crafts. Needless to say, it was a fun and very busy morning! Their need for love and attention was evident. What a blessing it was and is to be used by the LORD to love on His kids.

*Here is a picture of Lesed :)

Later that day we went to the Kya Sands squatter camp which is home to about 13 thousand people! It was as I expected: crowded rows of shacks (made up of anything people can get their hands on), smelly, unsanitary, and full of the feeling of hopelessness. I was then hit by the realization that the kids I was playing with earlier actually lived in this camp! The kids were running around playing in disease infested water, no one watching or really caring about them, they were literally at the mercy of whomever. Suddenly Impact Kids looked like a little bit of heaven on earth.

Desire of All Nations:

Here in Africa the need for hope seems more obvious. The people here are not surrounded by the material wants of this world, which too often serve to pacify the truth of our greatest need. Our greatest need is Jesus. He is our only hope and only in Him is the fullness of joy found.

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.”

Challenges:

We have been receiving some great teaching and encouragement from the Impact Africa staff. I have been challenged to:

-Know who I am in Christ. Look up all the scriptures, they're amazing to go over and over.

-Know Him as the one and only desire of my heart. Jeremiah 29:13

-Throw aside the variations of the old pattern of thinking, for there are new things in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

-Set my expectation on Him and Him alone.

-To take Him at His word, believing that He is who He says He is.

-And so much more!

I want to end with this quote that I've found inspiring:

“God shows himself great not only in shaping the universe to his design

but in reshaping our small hearts to accomplish his large purposes”