A year ago today, I arrived to South Africa to where there and Swaziland would quickly become another home to me, and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I embarked on one of the biggest journeys of my life, that by God's grace He made possible. Now that I am back in the States many people ask me if living in Africa was life changing. It was that and more! My time in Africa was not only life changing, but Africa became home and opened up my eyes to see the need for love throughout this world. I went to Africa praying that God may use me to share His love and for Him to give me His eyes to see the need. To break my heart for what breaks His. To mold me, humble me and change me. To become more selfless and care for the hurting. He did that and SO much more! Africa has changed my life forever! Being a missionary was not about snapping photos with the children to get praised for giving 10 months of my life to missionary work. It's never about that. To God be the glory and praise always! It was about truly loving and making a difference in the lives of the beautiful people there, who have now become family. It was about meeting them where they are at, truly getting to know them, living life with them and amongst them. Being there to not only tell them that they can succeed in the midst of adversity but actually helping them succeed. About telling them and showing them that there are people who love them and that most importantly God loves them. Helping them meet their needs and helping them strive towards sustainability. Like they say, "Not only giving them fish but teaching them how to fish." That although I may never fully understand their life, that I have a heart to reach out and give my all to do what I can. It's not about what I did for them but it's about how God used me to help them. Yes, I fell in love with their culture, Africa has become my other home, I learned new languages, how to cook different traditional African dishes and more, but most importantly God changed me and opened my eyes to see the needs in this world. He changed me and ignited a fire in me to continue to do international development aide. GOD CHANGES US AND HELPS US GROW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND US. HE HAS CALLED US ALL TO BE MISSIONARIES IN SPREADING LOVE AT OUR HOMES, AT OUR JOBS, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE WORLD. God continues to open my eyes to see that we all need more of Him and that we all need to love more selflessly. That there is pain, hurt, poverty, need, depression, and so much more all around us in every part of this world. That we all need to rise up and truly love our neighbor as we love ourselves and as He has loved us. To offer those in need our best, not our scraps. To be open to listen and reach out to our neighbor. To truly show God's love and not be consumed in our own selfish wants, that we forget about those around us. We need to show them and remind ourselves as well, that we are all loved by Christ regardless of the color of our skin or social class standing. To care about something going on in this world not only because its happening to you or until it happens to you, but to care about the worries of this world because you love like Christ loves us. Because you love your neighbor like you love yourself and like He loves you. Because you hurt when they hurt and you join them in their pain. Showing them that you are there for them and being that shining light of love and peace. If God gives you His all and you always strive for whats best for you, why not for your neighbor? We must stand up for justice, peace and love! Showing all those around us that violence, hate and lies are not the answer. Showing them that love truly conquers all because He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die in the cross for our sins. In June, a few days before flying back here to the States, I fractured my wrist while in South Africa. Due to the pain and trying to figure out if it was a fracture or not, I spent some of my hours of my last night in Swaziland at the hospital. I was frustrated because at that moment and those days, I was limited to what I can do and carry because of the injury. It was then though that God gave me the reality check that throughout this whole journey it was God working through me. That I didn't do it all alone! That He was my strength and that it was time to trust that God will continue to bless my Swazi families in the midst of my physical absence. That it was more than ok to ask for help and that I needed to trust those after me to continue to do the work that needs to be done there. That they will continue with the work that God has started while I was there. As a volunteer group that we had from Canada helped us during my last two weeks in Swaziland and I trained one of the girls that would stay there for a few more weeks after the group and I left, I looked around me with such gratitude to God for all that He has done. I pray that God will continue to bring more help to the beautiful people in Swaziland and everywhere else where help is needed. Saying "See you again soon' to my beautiful children and families was so SO hard. I sobbed and till this day find myself thinking of them every day and crying. When I dream of my cuties it feels so real and I can't believe how quickly the time went. Those plane rides this past June were a challenge because of the pain I felt, as my arm became swollen and as I looked at those screens in each plane, showing me that I was going farther and farther away from my home in Africa. But I am beyond thankful to God because in each flight and layover God showed me that He was with me by placing certain people there. From a lady who sat right next to me whom had an injury as well and together we comforted each other. To another lady on the same flight who was leaving South Africa to go back to her homeland in Ecuador because her french husband, whom she met in SA, passed away and he was all she had there in SA. We were both leaving a place that became home to us. To a mother and a baby behind me, who I was able to talk to in siSwati, having a piece of my Swazi home with me, as I spent 10 hours on that flight. To meeting amazing people at the airports who were so loving and helpful. God showed me that He is always there! The moment I stepped onto American soil my heart started pounding quickly because I wasn't ready to face life in America again. At that point, the re-entry culture shock began to hit me like a ton of bricks. It was strange to look around me and feel out of place in my own country. Till this day the re-entry culture shock is still a challenge. I came back a different person! Not only with a tad bit of an accent, new lingo and added languages but with a completely different way of thinking and being. I miss the humble rural area living, spending time with my cuties and focusing on them. I quickly grew frustrated as upon my arrival my mother, brother and I walked into an In-N-Out place and I was overwhelmed with watching as some families are no longer spending quality time while they eat, but instead glued to their phones. The children playing games on their tablets, while the parents are on their phones, as they eat their food. After being away from the easy access of internet for so long, I have learned to truly appreciate it for what it should be used for and not letting it consume my life. I grew frustrated to see how technology here and in many other places have consumed our lives and taken away the beauty of family time and a childhood of playing outside for so many. How we quickly become more worried about capturing our every move on a photo or video to post it for the world to see. Being glued to your phone as you see those likes or comments add up, while missing out on those priceless moments with those around us. It's ok to want to take photos and videos because they are precious moments that we can look back at, but don't let it be your main concern and don't let social media consume you. Don't let it take away those actual face to face conversations and in person quality precious moments. Use technology and social media for the good. Let's not just post about something and share it without actually taking action. Let's actually let our actions speak louder. Let's not let something tragic happen, shake us for just that moment and let it be a trend that we share at that moment and it quickly fades away as we continue with our lives. Let's pray for this world! Let's take action in whatever way we can! Let's continue with those conversations and continue to see what we can do to make a change. Lets see how God can use you and the career/gifts/talents that God gave you to make a positive difference. To be that change and light in the midst of all that is happening around us. Let God lead and lets show His Love to all, in the midst of all this chaos. Lets truly love our neighbor like we love ourselves because the One loves us. This world needs more people who will stand up and love selflessly without expecting anything in return. Lets break the chains of selfishness and be more selfless. Lets break the chains of poverty, violence, hate, discrimination, racism and more by being that positive change and taking action for a better tomorrow. Actually caring and loving all people. This week God reminded me that there is hope for this world! That there are people who want to make a difference, who want to love others like Christ loves us. That yes, this world is full of hurt and evil but it is also filled with many people who will fight with love and compassion because love conquers all. This past Saturday night and Wednesday night my family and I went to Eisenhower Medical Center with friends from Destiny Church for a prayer and worship night for a friend of my little brother. As we prayed and worshipped together we not only prayed for Patrick, believing in healing over him but we also prayed for our valley and all those who are hurting. God reminds me that we need to unite in prayer and action. As I apply for jobs and my masters program I don't know exactly what is next for my life but I do know that my purpose is to continue to help people grow, to love on them, to be there for them and to show them that there are people who loves them and that there is a God who loves them even more. Just because I am not in Africa for this season in my life, it doesn't mean that I will stop loving them or being a part of their lives, My prayer is that God may continue to allow me to be there for them in any way possible until that day comes when I go back. I can't wait for that day that I can go back to South Africa and Swaziland to see my beautiful children and the people that have become family, but for now I thank God for allowing me to be here for my family and I know that He has me back here for a reason, to make a difference in the community that I grew up in. I want to be used by God to make a difference in my community, my khaya(home) in Africa and everywhere in this world. For His honor and glory to share His love! My prayer is that God continues to give me that heart that hurts when others hurt and that He keeps me humble and grounded in Him. That I may never stop seeking growth in all aspects of my life, so that I can continue to bless others. We need to be that light in this world that God will use to bring HOPE, LOVE and HEALING to those in need. We can't become comfortable in our own little world, only caring about our needs. There are needs to be met all around us and someone who needs love everywhere we go. Whether it be your parents, siblings, another family member, friends, acquaintances, your community or others around the world that need help, REACH OUT to them and show them that they are not alone. Let's show EVERYONE around us that they are not alone! That we are all loved by God and by each other! That we will lift each other up and be there for each other. Allow God to use you and be that shining light of love where ever you go! "Staan op genade. Wandel deur geloof. Leef in liefde" (In Afrikaans) "Stand for grace. Walk by faith. Live in love" With love, Patty
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