Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Health Problems.

I am writing to ask for your prayers.



Over the last few weeks, my health has been slowly deteriorating. I have had Iron Deficiency Anemia for as long as I can remember, but it hasn't affected my daily life until just recently. 


What Iron Deficiency Anemia means is that basically I just lack the amount of iron my body needs for function properly. It didn't seem like a serious problem and I had kind of forgotten about it until I got my blood tested for Malaria in March. A doctor friend here in South Africa called me with the results of my blood test and told me that I was lacking a subsequent amount of iron and that I should consider iron supplements.


 It wasn't until I got back from Hungary that I started to see the change in my body. I began to feel incredibly weak and I lacked energy to do anything. I was fatigued and my body just didn't feel right. I began to look into Iron Deficiency Anemia more online and found that it could turn into a more serious health issue if I didn't take care of my body now. It is flaring up now due to the lack of iron in my diet. I assume it never effected me before because of my healthier diet.


I have begun to make as many dietary changes as possible in the circumstances I am in, and iron supplements are on my list to buy. But I am finding it to be a big challenge to eat properly as buying my own food is not in the support budget.


I am also getting discouraged! My body isn't responding yet to the dietary changes I have made and I am just so frustrated with feeling so weak and tired all the time. I know it will take time but it is really discouraging. 


Today is a bad day, and I guess that's what triggered me to ask for your prayers. Being in this state physically is draining, and it is having a direct affect on my ministry.


God has been growing me so much while I have been here, and I believe this is another trial in the process of me being shaped into the image of His son. I truly covet your prayers during this time! 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Long Over-due Update



These past few months have been a whirlwind! I am so excited to share with you what I have been doing over the past months and share with you a few prayer requests!

Within the first few days of being here in SA, I was already involved in getting the property ready for 10 students to join us. These 5 guys and 5 girls are studying at a Bible school through my local church here and Word of Life has partnered with them in the aspects of housing and discipleship.  I live in the upstairs of the main house with the 5 young ladies. Ntombi, Cremelda, Aneesah, Shelia, and Thobile.  My main focus for the first couple weeks was getting to know these girls because one of my purposes in being here is discipleship. I am blessed to have this daily ministry with these girls! We do devotions throughout the week and spend time in ministry together on the weekends! God is already doing a work in their lives, I am just blessed to be here in the midst!

So I am sure you can imagine, this house is quite busy. On any given day there can be up to 21 people staying and eating here. We have dinner crews, where approx. 4 people prepare and clean up dinner. I am the crew leader for Thursday nights! It has been a challenge, but a good experience, learning to cook for 20 people!

My main goal and purpose in coming to South Africa was to work with the ministry called Born Again to a Living Hope. It is a drama depicting the pain and suffering coming from addictions and the saving and freeing hope we can have in Christ! It has been an incredible journey from trying to find people to be involved, to scheduling practices, to figuring out costumes, and finally performing! The picture you see is of our first performance at Battlezone Camp.  Our desire is to be able to perform in schools and orphanages over the rest of the year, Lord willing, starting in May. Please continue to pray for us in this ministry! It is a new ministry and we are in what we call the “birthing pains” stage.  I believe God will use this drama to change lives! Please pray for me specifically, I know God has called me here and therefore He will equip me, but it is defiantly a growing process!

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mozambique and serve alongside WOL Mozambique at camp. We had about 46 campers from higher class international families.  We were located at a beautiful campsite right on the Indian Ocean! The campers were incredibly calloused and spoiled, but I know God worked in many lives that week.  A young lady named Melissa in my cabin got saved as well as a young Muslim boy named Sod. Please pray for both of them as they grow in their faith. Sod’s families, in his own words, are extremists, so please lift him up as he now has the daunting challenge of telling them of his conversion.  Please also pray for the leaders of WOL Mozambique, Carlos and Zeza, as they continue to work for the Lord’s glory in a difficult environment!

After camp we had the opportunity of seeing more of authentic Mozambique. Poverty and sickness were the two themes I saw as we ministered in a local bible club and visited a market. It was truly and eye-opener of just how desperately people need a savior! My heart broke for these children. They were wearing torn dirty clothing, the smelled bad; they had fungus growing on their heads and no one showing them love. I thank God for the opportunity I had to visit Mozambique and the change of perspective it gave me!   Thank you for your prayers and support! I think God is using Africa to change me more than he is using me to change Africa.


 Just a couple major prayer requests:
Ø  For me, as I serve in youth at my local church.
Ø  Born Again performances in schools
Ø  Strength and wisdom in ministry


 “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”   -2 Corinthians 3:4 & 5