I’ve moved on. I finished up my class on Thursday morning. I couldn’t have been more thrilled at how the reality of the cross was received. The questions they asked and the freedom I saw in their faces was all I needed to know. The conversations with individuals assured me that Father had made himself known and invited many along the journey of his gracious life.
On Friday morning we were all back in the township of Ntzuma. It really is a bit overwhelming to see such poverty and brokenness. But the people are so amazing, the children so full of joy and life. And the people God has raised up to work among them demonstrating his life are some of the greatest treasures in his family. It was a day of contrasts to be sure. To witness such great pain and suffering and injustice and despair was an eye-opener. These are people just like us, with the same hopes and aspirations and yet they are suffering because their land was stolen and they’ve been held captive for generations by those who thought themselves superior. Most of that was justified by religion, by those who lived with luxury and privilege right alongside their brothers and sisters and couldn’t see the horror of it all. It is so incredibly sad.
And yet in every home we entered the power and life of Jesus made himself known in the most broken places. To watch young people suffering with AIDs laugh and grandmas cry in joy that we had come was amazing. Our God is truly amazing and his love truly holds no limits. May God bring justice and wisdom and compassion to bear in the suffering nations of Africa.
Now I’ve headed on to Ladysmith and have found myself among some brothers and sisters who are sorting through a very similar journey to my own. It was so fun to share with them last night and to be with them for the weekend. We talked a lot about how it is that we move on in this life in Jesus—that he doesn’t just want to free us from the system of religious obligation, but to take us on to greater heights and depths of his life and glory. I’m really, really blessed and honored to be among people like that.
This morning my host and I stole out to a game preserve and drove among the unique animals of Africa. Then we pulled into a breakfast place that looked over the wild bush. We could hear the birds as we ate and discussed the things that are close to our Father’s heart! What a refreshing morning. These are the moments I enjoy the most—unhurried moments were we are talking through the reality of this journey and refreshing each other why we do it.
I told you this is a land of great contrasts just like our own journeys—times of immense need and pain and times of absolute joy and refreshing. Our God is truly amazing.
