Love Looks Like Something

Living amongst the poor has really opened up my heart to give more generously.  Before living in Africa, sometimes my thought process would take me to a place where I felt like I could only give to others when I had more than enough to give.  It’s easier to give when it doesn’t require any stretching or faith, right?!  Then I think about the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44.  While many rich people put in large amounts of money into the collection box, Jesus observed a poor widow drop 2 coins into the box.  It was everything she had. In the Lord’s eyes, this poor woman had given far more than all the other rich people put together even though her amount was smaller, because she gave out of a spirit of generosity.  All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all.  That is where I want to be!

Being out on the mission field overseas has been very stretching when it comes to finances, but it has also broken off the mindset that I can only bless others when I have excess.  I’ll touch more on that in a minute.  Mine and Josh’s heart is to have homes for abandoned children and to feed the poor, but on paper we barely have enough money to sustain our own family for the next couple of months.  We also recently found out that the owner of our car will be coming to get it on January 25th.  He has been so gracious to us, allowing us to keep his car much longer than expected, so we are truly grateful.  We are being placed in impossible situations where only God can get us through.

We fight to take captive every negative thought that would try to discourage us or get us to doubt why the Lord sent us here to Africa.  We cancel the lies of the enemy that tell us we’ll never have enough resources to do what God has put on our hearts to do.  If we listen to those lies, then the enemy wins.

So, rather than retreating to the old mindset, I am choosing to keep my mind and heart focused on the Lord and His promises.  In our family, I’m the budgeter and bill payer so when the enemy says, "You can't use your money to buy food for the poor. That is foolish. You need it for rent next month," I remind myself of the truths found in James 2:14-17.  It reads:

“What’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions?  That kind of faith can’t save anyone.  Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well,’ but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing.  What good does that do?”

In visiting the townships, God has put people in our lives that have very little.  Their food for the day sometimes consists of nothing or porridge.  We were just informed the other day that one of the boys we minister to, Tyron, was seen scrounging for food out of the trash and a dog dish.  This is NOT right!  I cannot sit back and think, “Poor me.  We have little monthly support coming in; not enough to meet our needs.  What are we going to do?” when I see others who are far worse off than I am that have no hope.  No, I will NOT sit back and do nothing and ignore God’s word!

LOVE LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING!

A few weekends ago we invited a precious family from Sonskyn to come stay at the farm with us for the weekend.  You’re going to read about this family a lot, as the Lord has created a special place in our hearts for them.  Edwin and Ronel brought their 9-year old son, Renaldo, and 2 cousins with them.  They slept in the extra flat while the children slept in the main house with us.  They enjoyed healthy meals.  They enjoyed eating at a kitchen table.  They enjoyed taking a hot shower and would have probably even been happy with a cold one.  I don’t know of anyone that has a shower in Sonskyn.  They simply wash with a rag and water bucket, so washing in a shower is priceless.  These things might seem simple to you, but to this family they meant a great deal.  Edwin was diagnosed with TB and HIV about 2 years ago.  He is at a stage 4, which is the highest.  The virus has caused blindness in both eyes.  His wife led him to the Lord almost 2 years ago where he was freed of alcoholism.  She married him even after he became blind.  She has a heart of gold!  Edwin used to have a good job but can no longer work because of his eyes.  Ronel just started working again and is expecting a baby in March.  She also has TB, which often times leaves her tired.  Now, before I continue, some of you might be thinking, “Oh my goodness.  Don’t you know TB is highly contagious?”  I will respond with this, “How are we to show the love of God to others (the sick) if we’re afraid of what they have?!”  We pray and use wisdom in certain situations but are not going to stop loving the ones God places before us.

We’ve been able to bless this family with food and fresh produce from our garden.  After their weekend at our farm, Edwin had a check-up and the doctor said his numbers look great.  Edwin shared how we’d been feeding him healthy foods that will help to strengthen his immune system to fight off sickness.  The doctor said he was lucky to have people like us helping him.  Edwin gave all the glory to God and said it was God who has blessed him.  Edwin has such a humble heart.  We are praying for and believing for a miraculous healing in his body!  Please join us in prayer for that.

We also invited 6 boys to stay at the farm for a night.  That was great fun.  We enjoyed time down at the river, hanging out and watching movies together.  They, too, enjoyed fresh showers and eating well-rounded meals.  Josh was presented with a teaching opportunity on “what love looks like”.  One boy, in particular, gets picked on a lot.  It also seemed like he hadn’t eaten in days by the way he devoured his and others’ food.  In this culture, boys have learned to respond physically to each other (throwing punches).  It happened on a few occasions at the farm, but Josh put that to a stop quickly.  Seeds being planted.

Ronel lives out James 2:14-17 and Matthew 25:35-40.  Even when she has little to eat, she offers what she has to a sweet, little boy whom I’ve come to love named Tyron.  He is 11-years old with downs syndrome.

I’ve shared about him before.  He has a younger brother, 3-years old, named Leroy.  Their parents are alcoholics.  Tyron frequently begs for food and often smells from uncleanliness.  The week before last Josh invited their family to attend a Christmas church service with us in Groot Brak.  Andres, the husband, said he’d like to come.  We didn’t know if he was sincere, sober enough to remember or would actually show up.  On Christmas Eve we delivered some food and gifts to them.  It was great fun to see the excitement on Tyron’s face when he unwrapped his new ball.  Every time we come to Sonskyn he asks us for a ball.  Now he has his own!  Martha, the wife, asked me if we were still going to church the next day on Christmas.  I told her yes!  I was ecstatic that she was approaching me about it.  That showed me that her desire was there.  Josh made arrangements for us to meet in Sonskyn the next morning and ride the bus together.  When we showed up on Christmas Day, no one was home, but eventually Martha came walking down the street all dressed up and ready to go.  My heart soared!  She and her husband smelled of alcohol and had hangovers, but we still got to spend the day loving on them and their children.  During the church service, I sensed that the boys hadn’t slept well.  As I was holding Leroy, I prayed that if he was lacking rest, that the Lord would give him peace and rest and silence out any noise.  Immediately his eyes closed and he went right to sleep, yay God!  A simple prayer.  Of course, I took advantage of the situation and began to pour out blessings over his life in prayer and declarations!

We are believing that seeds were planted in this family – seeds of hope, love and truth.  We will be frequenting their house often.  One lady said we need to adopt the children – take them away from their parents.  My heart is that the parents will come to know the Lord and be set free from their addictions so they can take care of their own children.  We want to see the community of Sonskyn changed, one family at a time!

If the Lord places it on your heart to join efforts with us in blessing those in Sonskyn and throughout South Africa, a tax-deductible donation can be made online at www.Four18.org by designating funds for Josh & Mindy Mason – Mossel Bay, South Africa.  Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Many people make life so complex, but it’s really quite simple – love God, love people!  Today, what are you going to do to make the simple gospel known to others?  Here is a quote from a story I read today, “The world has enough people that look the other way.  What the world needs is disciples of Jesus that can follow His teachings and live as He did.  When will YOU decide to become disciples?”

An Opportunity to Give - Christmas 2015

I am in the middle of writing another update on some things the Lord has been showing us about “restoring brokenness”, but in the meantime, there have been some families that have been highlighted to us at Sonskyn Valley that we’d like to bless this Christmas season.  Here is what we currently know about these families.

Family #1 – We met Edwin & Ronel about a month ago when her mother flagged Josh down in Sonskyn, introduced him to them and asked him to pray.  They both have TB and HIV.  The virus caused Edwin to become blind about 2 years ago.  His wife of almost 2 years, Ronel, led him to the Lord around this same time, and now they carry such joy!  They both have been freed of alcoholism and drugs, and we know God has a great plan for both of their lives.  Ronel has a 9-year old son, Renaldo, from a previous relationship, and she and Edwin are currently expecting a baby boy around March.  They live in meek conditions in a home that barely fits all of us in a room to pray.  They share one bed amongst all of them, and if they have enough food, will enjoy 2 meals a day…mostly consisting of plain maize (pap).  We love spending time with them and are enjoying getting to know them more.

Family #2 – We met the oldest child of this family on the first day our family went to Sonskyn back in July.  Tyron, a boy with downs syndrome, is such a pleasure to be around.  His silliness makes me laugh a lot.  We see him every time we go to Sonskyn, and it truly blesses my heart.  We know he doesn’t receive much affection, and many are actually quite abusive to him physically and verbally.  We have been told that Tyron begs for food most days because he isn’t cared for at home and both parents are severe alcoholics.  It is common for him to sleep in various different homes too.  He also has a younger brother, Leroy, whom I met a couple of weeks ago.  I’m guessing he is about 2-years old.  We had been praying for God to show us where this family lives, and He finally led us to their house this past week.  It is one of the worst conditions I’ve seen in Sonskyn – a small shack made of wooden slabs with gaps in between.  I now wonder about them when it rains.  I had the privilege of meeting their mother, Martha.  I understood most of her broken English and asked if we could come back to visit.  She said yes!

I don’t share their stories for you to think, “poor them” or to make you feel guilted into giving.  I share their stories because the Lord has created a special place in our hearts for these families, and we want to do our part in sharing our resources with those in need and provide you with an opportunity to do the same.  Proverbs 14:31 says, “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who help the poor honor Him.”  In my study Bible it reads, "God has a special concern for the poor. He insists that people who have material goods should be generous with those who are needy. Providing for the poor is not just a suggestion in the Bible; it is a command that may require a change of attitude and heart."

You may be thinking, “Well, they got themselves into this situation by choices they’ve made.” While some of that may be true, we know that we are commanded to bring love and hope to a broken world.  Jesus is our hope, and we want to share Him in a tangible way through spoken truth, demonstrated love and meeting practical needs – as well as giving gifts to bring smiles to their faces.  We want them to know they are seen and they are loved by our Father in Heaven.  These children did not choose their family or circumstances, and the Lord has shown us that these children are the open door He’s provided us with to bring restoration to these broken families.  Praise God!

These are families that many would treat as outcasts, not give a second glance or simply treat as a lost cause, but that is not how God sees them.  These are families that need hope, that need love, that need truth, that need healing, that need a second chance.  I mean, if you think about it, we were all given a second chance through Jesus Christ.  Why not them?!

If the Lord places it on your heart to join efforts with us in blessing these families this Christmas, a tax-deductible donation can be made online at www.Four18.org by designating funds for Josh & Mindy Mason – Mossel Bay, South Africa.  We will share an update, post-Christmas, on what your generosity went towards in blessing these beautiful families. We will also bless other children as the Lord leads and provides.

Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration in reaching out to these families.  We are grateful and know they will be too!