three beautiful women

During our first week in South Africa, I encountered three beautiful women. All different ages, different circumstances, and on different days. Here are our shared stories:

ONE

The second day of Outreach Ministry, we went out to visit with the community in one of the extensions of Johannesburg (extension = term meaning districts). As we walked from our first visit down a dirt path, we came upon a sweet mama (term used for women of maternal age). Our group of four, including our translator KB, asked if she would like help with her washing, so she let us rinse a few articles of clothing. While spending time with her, she shared that she had a daughter.

Naomi and Ruth came to mind, and I asked if I could share the story with her. One of my favorite parts is at the end when the women of the town tell Naomi that Ruth was better to her than ten sons, but I shared that one of the most important parts is how Boaz was an example of a Redeemer, and how Jesus (a descendant of Ruth and Boaz) became that for us. She seemed to be thinking on the story, but conversation carried on in a different direction.

Before we prayed for her and walked to another home, I noticed a butterfly tattoo on her arm, and felt as though the Lord wanted me to share with her about how in life we are born into sin and like caterpillars have to crawl on the ground and inch toward the things that we needs, like food and water. We can make it around, and don’t even realize that our vantage point from the ground is so limited. I shared with her that Jesus wanted her to have the opportunity to become a butterfly, and that the news that we brought about Jesus, when accepted, would bring about the metamorphosis.

Afterward she seemed to become emotional, but was reluctant to show it. She answered affirmatively when asked if she was born again, but I wondered if she knew what that meant. We prayed for her and continued on to meet other people that the Lord put on our hearts. Lord, I pray that your daughter would know You intimately and that this would be an opportunity, among many, for her to hear Your name and the truth of how much You love us, and will even speak words specifically meant for us. Please protect her and her daughter. Allow her to find good work and surround with a strong community of believers that she can learn from and share with. Thank you for the blessing of meeting her.

TWO

The third day of Outreach Ministry we rotated to another community, and our first visit was with a new friend, named Raquel*, and her mother. We were walking down a path between tin roofed houses, and a mama came out of her house, calling to us. We turned around and visited with them. Upon entering, two of my friends were sitting to the left with the mama who had called out to us, and looking to the right, I saw Raquel.

I asked her mama if I could sit with her, and she said it would be fine. From the time I looked at Raquel, I knew that she was different, but that was precisely why I wanted to sit with her. Normally, I can have a difficult time feeling comfortable around people who are different, but the Lord moved my heart for her. We found out that Raquel couldn’t speak, but that she was able to understand. She smiled so big at all of us, but kept most of her attention on me.

After asking her mom if she was able to walk, her mom cleaned her up, changed her, and put her shoes on, so that we were able to spend time with her across the street where some of the neighborhood boys were playing soccer. My two teammates went to play soccer, while KB and I stood with Raquel. I spoke to her throughout our time: asking her if she was having fun, introducing her to my friends when she looked at them, and telling her that she had a beautiful smile. While we were watching the soccer game, she got excited and hit her hands on her legs.

My heart grew so big watching her enjoy the game and being able to get out of the house and in the sun. I was sad to leave when they started lunch, but knew that for Raquel and her mother that hour meant a lot. It’s hard to walk away, knowing that you will likely never meet or impact someone’s life again, but that can make the one meeting even more special. I will not soon forget her.

Father, please bring care needed to Raquel and her mother. Allow her mother’s job to be enough to provide for them, and make a way for Raquel to have a caretaker when needed. Please continue shining your light through this precious sister and friend! I know that her story isn’t over yet!

THREE

Our team had the opportunity to visit an English speaking church on Good Friday. One of the vocalists caught my attention as soon as the service started, and I noticed that she seemed nervous, but her voice did not reflect it whatsoever. Thinking it was just one of those things that I observed, but nothing more, I listened to the sermon, and did not consider it again. Until, the worship team came back to the stage, and the Lord gave me the words fear and anxiety.

It seemed evident to me, that God wanted me to talk to her, but then I got nervous. So, I grabbed one of my teammates, who stood with me until she came down from the stage. I apologized for stopping her, but said that the Lord wanted me to share something with her. I didn’t know if it would mean anything, but the Lord put on my heart fear and anxiety, and shared that his Word says many times not to fear or worry. Last, I encouraged her that whatever may be causing her to be fearful or anxious, that He had it in His hands. Then, I waited for her response.

She thanked me, and at first I thought it was in the way of courtesy. For example, “That’s nice, but doesn’t really mean anything to me right now.” But after a short pause, she shared with me that it truly meant a lot to her as she had just had a baby boy, and this was her first time singing since his birth. She shared that she worried about him all the time, and thanked me again for being obedient to share what the Lord had put on my heart.

The conversation continued between us and a couple of my teammates. She found out that we were on the Race, and asked us how we got there, what it was like to live in constant community, and how cool she thought it was. We had to head to the bus, but I reveled in how the Lord had moved and created a bond, where there likely would have been none if He hadn’t spoken.

Jesus, I pray that you will continue to bring peace and joy to this new mama. To have the strength to love and care well, but also peace whenever she must leave her son in the care of another. Bless their family, and the little one to become a strong man after Your heart. Thank you for being a God who speaks what we need to hear in a moment, and who uses others to speak it to us in times when we have trouble hearing as well. You are so cool!

*Name changed for privacy

Prayer Requests:

• New Team – rest and redemption as we enter the last season of the Race
• Ministry – to serve the staff and interns well; to be expectant of what the Lord will do and to partner with Him in it
• Community – divine appointments with locals; for us to see and share words of knowledge and wisdom, healing, and casting out demons; increase in faith 
• Leading – for me to grow in communication, vision casting, but most importantly to EMPOWER the women on my team
• Intimacy – that I would grow in closeness with the Lord and know more of Him in this season
• Future – for clarity of next steps and to be led completely by the Lord and not my own desires