God is moving…
Remember Lord what has befallen us. Look and see our disgrace!
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers; our homes to foreigners, we have become orphans, fatherless, and mother’s are like widows. We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we gather must be bought, we are weary and are given no rest. Our father’s have sinned and are no more and we bear their iniquities. Our skin is hot as an oven with the flaming heat of famine. Women are raped, young women in the towns. Princes are hung by their hands; no respect is given to the elders. Young men grind at the mill and boys stagger under loads of wood. The old men have left the city gate; young men have left their music. The joy of our hearts has ceased and our dancing has been turned into mourning, our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim. But you O Lord reign forever, your throne endures to all generations. Restore us to yourself, that we may be restored. Lamentations 5
As I read this passage something weld up inside me. This was written about Swaziland, this was written about South Africa… It was as if someone had written it yesterday. I could not give you a better description of the heartache and trails they face here.
We left Swaziland and headed to South Africa last Monday. God has really moved this week. I have spent a good amount of time at the hospitals and the squatter camps; the hospital has been my heart. I have never experienced a place so ripe for harvest, people come to you and ask for prayer, the say to you “Tell me about Jesus, I don’t know Him” yesterday I spent the afternoon in the ICU for preemies.
I prayed life for the babies and health; I prayed that God would use them for His kingdom and for His glory. I spent time with the mother’s getting to know the nurses and the peace that filled that room was heavenly. God has placed such a strong vision of taking care of the babies here but also he is growing the vision to help the women here, the new mothers, and those who have lost their babies. Please pray that God will continue to guide me in this process of starting my life here. Pray for peace as I follow blindly. Pray that the enemy will be silenced! I love South Africa, I am so glad to be back here. God is so faithful and I am still falling more in love with Him daily! He blows my mind!!!!
God’s word always rings true! What amazing work he is doing through you and your team! Praise God for the openness of those you are encountering.
Hello there sweetness! How precious you are to me and my heart! I love you girl and cannot wait to watch your face light up with God’s love as you tell me all about your experiences with His people! May God continue to bless you with His presence as you bless Him with your obedience!
Love ya!
Hello Heather!
Sometimes when you’re writing a letter, it’s really hard to transfer the excitement you feel in your soul to the printed page. I get that feeling when I read your words today. Exclamation points can only say so much, but I’m sensing an answer to prayer. I’ve prayed that God will allow you to get excited about Him and His work, even in a land of despair. You have such a big heart that it would be easy to be overwhelmed by the hurt and hate but our great God can take those situations and still do amazing things. How cool is it that YOU get to be one of the ones He uses to do those amazing things!!! He hears your prayers my sister and He has your reward!
I miss you and I miss hearing you sing, but you are where you’re supposed to be.
at least for now 🙂
You are loved,
Scott
Is it not amazing how we find Him ever so real in the most dimmest of circumstances!!! The dangers lie in so many comforts, we grow distant and cool. I love your heat!!! He is an awesome awesome God longing to show Himself strong to and thru those who love Him. Your love is waxing beautifully. Love you, Marsha.
Hi Heather, the following is from [email protected] and it is a reminder of the LIE being so aggressive against the TRUTH.
Prosperity Gospel in Africa
Posted: 01 Aug 2007 01:33 PM CDT
(Author: Bill)
Here’s a gripping article from Christianity Today which highlights the explosive growth of prosperity teaching in Africa. An excerpt:
…prosperity-tinged Pentecostalism is growing faster not just than other strands of Christianity, but than all religious groups, including Islam. Of Africa’s 890 million people, 147 million are now “renewalists” (a term that includes both Pentecostals and charismatics), according to a 2006 Pew Forum on Religion and Public life study. They make up more than a fourth of Nigeria’s population, more than a third of South Africa’s, and a whopping 56 percent of Kenya’s.
All the more reason why we want to support an important partner in their work to bring solid, biblical, God-exalting theology to South Africa