Keep Doing What You're Doing

"Keep doing what you're doing," were the very words that came out of 2 strangers’ mouths as Josh and I walked the streets of Sonskyn Valley on October 31st.  This same day is when we announced the Gager’s decision to move back to America.  On a day that the enemy would have loved to turn sour, the Lord blessed us with such sweet gifts of encouragement and a strong release/freedom in the spirit as we loved on people in the township.  While walking through the neighborhood, a guy asked me to come over to where he was.  Josh wasn’t far from me so I found it strange that he was asking me and not Josh.  Anyhow, I walked up to the fence where he was standing on the other side.  He asked where we were from.  I told him America but that we live here now near 8 Bells.  He was excited about that.  Josh came up to join in on the conversation.  The guy said we seemed like “church” people.  The man asked what we do for work.  Josh told him we are missionaries from America.  He said we were the nicest white people he’s ever met and to keep doing what you're doing! We asked him his name.  It is Cristo.  As we were walking off, he excitedly said that now he gets to tell others that he’s met people from America!  So precious of the Lord to love on and encourage us through the very people we came to love on!  Josh and I both sensed a strong shift in the spirit that day and are so thankful to be a part of what the Lord wants to do in the hearts of His children (young and old) in Sonskyn.  In English it means “Sonshine”….a place where The Son will shine – how prophetic is that?!!

People have flagged us down on the streets to have us come and pray for them.  When surrounded by children, often times they will follow us to these homes to see what it’s all about.  We pray that these children, especially our own, learn through example what it looks like to love on “the least of these.”  One particular day when I was not present, Josh had a lady approach him and asked if he’d come to pray.  She led him to where her daughter and son-in-law lived.  They both have TB and HIV.  About 2 years ago the virus caused blindness in both of her son-in-law's eyes.  His name is Edwin and he is 30.  Surrounded by many children whom followed Josh to this home, he laid hands on Edwin and prayed for healing.  A week later on November 21st Josh’s parents and I were able to meet Edwin and his wife, Ronel.  That day we also found out she’s 5-months pregnant and has to take medicine in hopes to prevent the child from receiving the virus.  She is having a boy, and guess what they are thinking of naming him???  Joshua!  Through conversation and getting to know them more, we found out that she is able to see a doctor and will deliver the baby at a hospital, but they can't afford an ambulance for transportation so they need a way to and from the hospital.  Without hesitation we offered to help when it is time.  They don’t have much to eat so the following week we were able to take them some food and invited them out to the farm sometime when they’re feeling up to it.  One week later they took us up on  offer!  Yesterday Josh, Dad (Renn) and I met them at their home and then went to their church, while Mom (Marita) stayed home on the farm with the kids.  We were honored, once again, by the pastor (Duncan) when he chose to translate in English so that we would understand the message.  He even asked Josh to come up front and share a little bit of our story.  What a privilege!  Pastor Duncan’s message centered around 2 Corinthians 3:5-8.  The gist of it – we can all walk around with a Bible in our hands and talk the talk, but if Jesus isn’t coming out of us through our actions then something is wrong.  We then are not letting the true and living God shine through us, and today in this world, that is what people need……..a God that is alive through the Holy Spirit, not a church that is dead or only reaches the shallow end of His heart.

Josh, Mindy, Ronel, Edwin

After the church service we drove Edwin, Ronel and their 9-year old son, Renaldo, to our farm to share some meals with them and spend time getting to know them better.  Typing their testimony in words simply won’t do it justice, but I did get their permission to share a little bit of their story so you would know where they are coming from.  By the Lord’s love, mercy and grace, they came out of a life of alcoholism and drugs and have been running after God ever since!  They are filled with such joy and peace, even given their health and living conditions.  They trust in a God that is full of love and compassion and power and miracles.  Not one time did we hear them complain!  Not about their circumstances, not about their health, not about God, not about their enemies, not about how we do things differently in our culture, not about the food placed before them!  We all can learn from them!  Josh’s parents brought some American candy with them in their suitcases, so our friends got to experience American candy for the first time.  Their response……..it’s sweet!  This is SO true – American candy is much sweeter than African candy.  As we sat down at the kitchen table together to enjoy a meal, we found out this was the first for them as well….their first time eating a meal together as family at a table!
  
We were so blessed to have spent time with them and look forward to building a friendship with them.  We would be grateful for your prayers over this precious family.  Please pray for healing in their bodies and hearts where wounds may still be present.  Please pray protection over the baby that he will be born healthy and strong with no HIV.  Please pray that we will recognize the Lord’s heart for this family and how He wants us to serve them.  We know that the Lord has connected us with them for a specific purpose, and we are thrilled and honored to simply have the opportunity to love on them.

Alcoholism and drug addiction runs rampant amongst the adults in Sonskyn Valley, and even children are following in the adults’ footsteps because that’s all they know.  Not all, but many of these children come from very broken homes.  One particular boy, Tyron, who has downs syndrome, begs for food and sleeps in various homes because his parents are alcoholics and do not care for him.  It breaks my heart.  It’s children like these that I’d just like to kidnap and bring home with me!  This past Saturday while in Sonskyn, Josh, Josiah and I walked the streets handing out limunas (oranges).  We headed towards the Rugby field where a game was going on.  Many children gathered there.  One boy in particular took a liking to me.  As we were walking back towards our car, which was about 4 blocks away, the boy continued to follow me.  He kept stepping on pokey stickers with his bare feet, so I picked him up and carried him until we got to the sidewalk.  He had the most precious voice and kept speaking to me in Afrikaans.  Oh how I wish I knew Afrikaans!  My heart was instantly connected with this boy, but I didn’t know exactly why.  As we’re walking back to our car, I became concerned about this boy following us.  Thoughts of 'Who's supposed to be watching him? Where are his parents? Who is he with? Does anyone notice he's gone?' go through my mind.  It was difficult to drive away, but I had this sense that he knew where to go.  It’s common to see children, as little as 2, wandering the neighborhood streets by themselves.  That is the culture in this community.  The next day as we spent time with Edwin and Ronel at our farm, we discovered that the little
boy I was carrying turns out to be Tyron’s little brother! Something in my heart
quickened.  Tyron has a very special place in my heart. For the Lord to cross our paths with these 2 brothers, we know is no coincidence.  Lord, what are you up to?!

Tyron’s little brother.

Tyron

On November 17th Josh and I were able to fly to Johannesburg to meet his parents at the airport.  Matt Gager came to the farm to watch our kids while we were away.  What made this trip so exciting is that I surprised them by coming with Josh!!  They didn’t know I would be there with him.  Their journey couldn’t have gone any smoother.  They were able to get some rest on the planes and were blessed with amazing people to help load and unload their luggage and push their wheelchairs to where they needed to be.  They were over their jetlag in just a couple of days.  We’ve enjoyed spending time in worship with them and will begin doing a Bible study together soon.  The Gager family returned to Idaho, USA on November 23rd.  So, here’s to the end of one chapter and the beginning of another for us!

On the 1st of this month as I was spending quiet time with the Lord, He gave me two words – RESTORING BROKENNESS.  I will be expanding on this in my next blog post soon so stay tuned.

Today the Lord provided the means to buy an extra freezer, as tomorrow we will be taking our 25 chickens to get butchered.  The garden is coming along nicely.  We, along with our friends, Edwin and Ronel, enjoyed the first fruits from our labor with a nice salad (lettuce and cilantro from our garden).  Josh has been hard at work.  We have about 5-6 more rows of potatoes to plant.  Please pray that we can get the irrigation system figured out.

Some may think we have the mission field all figured out.  We don’t.  Some may think we received a bunch of training prior to coming here.  We didn’t.  What we did receive was a transformation of our hearts 3 years ago back in Pemba, Mozambique where our lives took a dramatic shift and we will never be the same SO LONG AS we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord.  We have no plan B, no backup to go back to America when things get tough, money is short, things don’t go as expected, we can’t see the fruits of our labor, etc.  South Africa is home for us now.  We know that opposition is going to come and doubt and discouragement will try to sneak its way in, but we are sticking to the Lord’s leading no matter what.  Yes, even if it goes against all logic or our own understanding.  The one thing we do have figured out is that God’s love looks like something and we’re ready to lay down our lives for that!  We are thankful for each of you and pray the Lord awakens your heart to greater measures of His love today!!  What does God’s love look like to you today?  Now, how can you release that love to someone else?!