Tomorrow
As I wrote in my last blog, it is now high time to start preparing for the future and thinking about what I should be doing in the year of 2012. Since Allan and Annie arrived at the beginning of September they have been encouraging us to think about our passions and how we can use them to serve the Lord in the best way that we can. It is amazing how a year of living in community, doing ministry, and being stretched and challenged in many different ways teaches you so much about yourself and who you are in Christ.
Something I have realized about myself is how much I love mentoring youth and seeing them grown in their faith. We had a youth retreat at the end of August with about 100 different youth from different areas of Swaziland. The youth along with about 20 youth leaders all stayed at the Hawane Resort for the weekend. During our times of worship, the Holy Spirit was with us, breaking down walls and mending hurt and broken hearts. We had been speaking to the kids on the gifts of the spirit and how to encourage and uplift the body of Christ through them. Throughout the weekend we as leaders prayed over them and spoke into their lives. But on the Sunday morning, we had those who wanted prayer raise their hands and then we got the youth themselves to minister to one another. It was so incredible; seeing everyone in the room on their faces before the Lord; seeing 15 year olds weeping and crying out to God. Seeing them lay hands on one another praying and calling out to God on behalf of their friends. A lot of the leaders just sat back and watched … praising God for what He was doing, what He is doing in lives of these kids. I have a lot to learn from them.
As the year is coming to a close I am getting really excited for the next season of life. The year of 2011 has been incredible and thinking about saying goodbye to my family here in Swaziland makes me extremely sad. Even though it will be extremely hard, I know that God called me here for a time and He has something new and exciting waiting for me in the New Year even though all of the details are not clear to me yet. Psalm 32:8 says “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you!” The year before I came to Swaziland I applied to do missions with other organizations but God shut all of those doors and he clearly lead me to Africa Revolution. He worked out all of the details, and knew what was best for me. Going home is a scary thing but when I look at how God has continually weaved things together in my past I have no reason to worry. I am excited about all of the things I have learned and excited to live them out in the next season of my life, whatever that next season may be.
