Where He leads me, I will follow.

God was at my bank this morning!!

2010-05-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

You know when you are going about "your" day and God decides to step in and completely MAKE your whole day!? Well, that was this morning at, of all places- the bank. I had walked in expecting to spend 2 minutes with the teller, when God redirected me to the Customer Service Lady for an hour! During the "bankish" talk, South Africa came up when she saw International Fees on my account, one thing led to another and I was sharing with her about my time in South Africa. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she began to tell me about her 18 year old daughter who is going down a very dangerous path because of anger from events in her childhood. I could hear a voice in my heart telling me to open up to her about my own past and issues that I had faced. She then began telling me even more, right there in the middle of the bank tears in her eyes about her own past. I was able to tell her that God had changed my life and was in the process of healing me, and that I had witnessed many youth experience God's restoration and that there was hope for her daughter too! What is even more crazy is that as she looked down to close my account on her computer she sees my address; we live in the same neighborhood! How funny is God!! Please be praying for "the bank lady and her daughter" and for God to open doors as she gave me her card and has asked that I call her to talk more. Please also be praying as her and her daughter look for treatment centers for her daughter. WARNING: Your next trip to the bank could take an hour and could have eternal results! Let's not get too busy in our own lives to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Back in America and no where to go.....

2010-05-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hello all!!
I have been back in America for about three and a half weeks. It has been very very busy at my house! During the past three weeks, my older brother has graduated from Samford University and has gotten married, my younger brother has had awards banquets and chorus concerts, and my sister has been to her Prom and is getting ready to graduate this weekend from high school. I have also had a very eventful time getting settled and trying to listen to God about where He is directing me. I had applied and been accepted to Seminary; however, I now do not feel this is where God wants me to continue my education. After much praying, crying, and seeking counsel, I will be taking the next few months to study, take the GRE and apply to Graduate schools in order to get my Masters degree in either Counseling or Social Work. I struggled with this decision, but knew this is what God wanted at 1am last Friday night. He gave me Isaiah 45 to confirm this decision.

Isaiah 45: 2-3 " I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I am Lord, who call you by name, Am the God of Israel."

Isaiah 45: 9 "Woe to Him who strives with His Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'he has no hands'?"

God has promised to go before me where ever He sends me, even if the path seems "crooked" to me or I see gates and bars ahead (studying for the GRE, applying to competitive schools, attending a secular university). He promises to see me through for HIS glory! I wanted to question, and say "Why, God?" "Why didn't I know this before I applied and was prepared to leave for Seminary", but God gave me verse 9 of Isaiah 45, and He reminded me of Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord." I have come to see that the classes offered at public universities will better equip me to handle the type of issues that have become routine and that I expect to be dealing with in South Africa working with at-risk youth and families in the future. I would ask for your continued prayer while I am making this transition and as I continue to seek God about exactly where He wants me to be for the next couple of years. Thank you all again for walking with me on this journey the past two years. I can't wait to see where God takes me next!! I will continue to update my blog if you would like to follow as I am continuing this journey with God.

Italiano!

2010-02-23T01:23:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday Night, I was given the opportunity to host a dinner for my weekly Home Cell group at my apartment. Home Cells are weekly Bible study groups made up of church members that live in the same general area to get together for a time of study, worship and prayer. My home cell has been my family since I have been in Johannesburg, and I am so very grateful for them. We have about 20 members that meet each Wednesday night; since I live far from the church and the home cell that I attend, I am not able to rotate and host. So, last Wednesday we had an Italian Dinner at my apartment and had a sweet time of fellowship and singing. God showed me how blessed I have been to have such support and love around me these past two years; I could not have asked for a better home cell family.

2010-02-23T00:56:00.000-08:00

God has been working the past 2 months, and I would like to share specifically about our time at youth camp this year. Lyndhurst Baptist Church youth traveled 7 hours to Kimberly, South Africa for the Southern Africa Baptist Union Camp. We took about 40 youth to the camp; many other churches were also represented. We experienced much spiritual warfare from the time we got on the buses until we arrived back in Johannesburg beginning with vehicle troubles. The bus broke down several times, and we lost a tire on the way back; the other vehicles in the caravan also experienced car troubles. What should have been a 7 hour trip took 10 hours going and 11 hours coming back. Needless to say, the devil did not want us to go to camp. God moved in many of the youth’s lives while we were there especially in one of the breakout sessions and night services which dealt with sin and transparency. The campers were also given an opportunity to go out into the community and have a time of ministry in one of the nearby townships where they could interact with people and share Christ’s love through sports. This camp will not be remembered by our youth for the “spiritual high” that camps are usually remembered for but for the intense attacks of the devil to discourage and distract. One of our youth was taken to the hospital in a stretcher for a neck injury acquired on the waterslide, and another had an asthma attack.

However the most devastating and biggest attack that the enemy tried to use was deep routed prejudice. Our youth group is made up of black urban youth and the camp leadership was majority white; as you can imagine this made the week interesting and at times very intense as our youth were treated differently. This experience although very disheartening to everyone was a time of learning and sparked a flame in our youth to use their voices for change. The youth learned how to appropriately react to authority and how to go about handling grievances while not reacting violently or out of anger; this was not an easy lesson to learn especially in the heat of the moment. Each of us, youth and leaders at LBC, also began to look at our own views of people who are different than us and allow God to open our hearts to our own personal prejudices.

We are all called to be one body; however even in the churches (and sometimes especially in the church) we claim to be one body, but we are actually several bodies – the white one, the black one, the Indian one, the Chinese one. Granted worship styles may be different, the level of comfort might not suit us, but whatever excuse we might be using or trying to hide behind, I challenge us to look inside our own hearts. We can’t begin to ask others to change their views and prejudices until we have dealt honestly with our own. This isn’t an easy topic to address here in South Africa as racial segregation only ended in 1994; it is a struggle for South African Christians, black and white, to live surrendering deep racial views to Christ allowing Him to shape and chip away all that He disdains while having grown up learning contrary views rooted in culture and perpetuated in families. These views are also prevalent in our own American Christian culture although they might be masked and even so accepted that they are glossed over. What goes through our mind when a group of young black guys who don’t quite dress like us come into our churches? How do we choose the schools where our children attend? Is the “level of education” a mask for separating your children from those who might need the light of Christ that your child and family could portray? How many blessings have we missed out on because we chose to surround ourselves with friends and acquatnances who look, act, talk, and live exactly as we do? I pray that we as the body of Christ live out equality and open our lives up to whoever Christ puts in our path. Can the world see Christ in how we relate to others or are our churches and homes to this day still more segregated than even the world?

Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 12:12
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”

Serving With You in South Africa,
Sarah Maddox

Unforgettable November 2009

2009-12-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

This month has been a month in my personal walk with God that I will never forget. It has been one of the hardest months of my life, yet it has been one of the most freeing and rewarding months of my life. God began to show me at the end of October that there were several issues that I had deep within my heart that I had to feel, to express, to deal with, and to let go of. Through every single step and in every moment God was with me in this journey. God spoke to my heart and whispered that He wanted everything in November; HE wanted to BE everything to me this November, and He wanted all of Sarah this month. I surrendered not fully knowing what I was about to walk into but knowing that deep healing from my past needed to take place that had me in bondage for many years, and God was the only One who understood it all. He asked me to let go of everything, and I mean everything for 30 days... ANY involvement with the youth at Lyndhurst Baptist Church, girl's Bible study, caffeine, make up, home cell group, relationships, communication, music, other books.

God taught me that He IS more than enough for me; He IS big enough to heal me. He IS "God" enough!! He showed me what true unconditional love is and what it means to trust. He held my heart very gently as I walked a journey from the very beginning of my life to today looking at issues, circumstances and memories that had become my identity and had affected my relationship with God and how I relate to others. God peeled back layers of hurt, anger, doubt, worry, and fear that I had built up around my heart for many years in an effort to protect anyone from getting too close to me and that I had used as response mechanisms in dealing with my past. I experienced what people mean when they say "minute by minute reliance on God." God was my strength and got me through literally each minute on those very difficult days when everything that I had come to rely on and run to had been taken out from under me. God showed me that He uses everything we go through to bring Him glory and to bring others to himself. I know this will be a continued process for me as I take steps each day toward healing, restoration, freedom, and liberty, but the end of November marked a new beginning for Sarah Maddox because I have found who I am in Christ; I have found freedom in being who He created me to be, and I have learned that He (without anyone or anything else) IS more than enough for me!

Psalm 18:20-24 (The Message)
"God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes."

John 8:36
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

"Definition"

2009-11-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

Watching quietly in the background;
Listening silently in the shadow.
Waiting to see it lived;
Longing to see it defined.
I did not have;
But I desperately need to see.

Daddy.
Pa.
Man.
Husband.
Baba.
Father.
You are defining these titles for me.

One can see in your little girl’s eyes, you make her world spin. She fully trusts as she
jumps into your arms…
…she feels the definition of “Daddy.”
Your eldest son still believes you aren’t afraid of anything. He wants to be just like you…
… he sees the definition of “Father.”
You both were arguing as you stepped out of the car, but you gently squeeze her hand as
you walked into the church…
… she experiences the definition of “Husband.”

I wonder what it’s like to have a father.
How different it would be if mommy weren’t alone.
I wonder what it feels like to say “Daddy.”

Since I don’t know, I’m watching you. Yes, You. I am
Watching quietly in the background;
Listening silently in the shadow.
Waiting to see it lived;
Longing to see it defined.
I did not have;
But I desperately need to see.

You aren’t only daddy to the ones you look like.
You aren’t only father to the ones you conceived.

You are building a definition of “Father.”
You are shaping a definition of “Daddy.”
You are modeling a definition of “Husband.”

…What are you defining for Me?

My chains are gone; I've been set free!

2009-09-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

I feel God is telling me to open up about some of the personal struggles that I have been going through for the past several months. While being in South Africa I have come face to face with insecurities, temptation, and battles like I never did in the States, but I have also experienced God's grace, love, faithfulness, and healing like never before in my life. He has healed me from bondage that I has been strangling me since I was very young. This has not been an overnight revelation, but four months ago was the turning point. Was I going to allow God to search me (every part of me), deal with issues, and cleanse my heart and life, or was I going to continue running and denying that there was an issue I had to face, ignoring that it was affecting my relationship with my Heavenly Father? Fearfully trusting (if that is possible), I surrendered to God's spiritual operating table.

Since I was in 8th grade I have struggled with my self image; at times it was more extreme than others and it manifested itself in various forms throughout the years. This issue stemmed from many things that I faced when I was younger. However, God made the severity of the issue very clear to me a few months ago and showed me how much this was hurting my relationship with Him. At times this issue manifested itself in the way I was eating (not eating some months or emotionally over eating), at other times it was the way I dressed hiding myself because I did not believe I was good enough or that people would judge me, other times I would pass up opportunities because a voice inside of me was telling me I was not worthy or pretty enough. It not only affected me psychologically and emotionally, but it also affected my relationships with other people. I would keep my distance emotionally, not allowing anyone close for fear they wouldn't love me and that they would hurt me. These are just a few of the areas of my life that this issue had a hold over.

In April, I began seeing an IMB Missionary here in Johannesburg, South Africa who is a counselor. These past few months have been very difficult at times, but God has been SO faithful to me. He has healed me and restored me. He has shown me that I have value and worth to Him and that He loves my unconditionally no matter what. He will never reject me or hurt me; He LOVES me! I have value because of God's love for me. This has been an issue in my life for many years, and I know the process of healing will still take time, surrendering every day, each meal, every moment, every thought, but God is powerful! He is my healer; when we surrender it all to HIM, our hurts, struggles, and fears, He takes it and does a mighty work. When I couldn't; He was able! When I felt rejected; He responded! When I hated myself; He loved me! When I stopped; He began!

Isaiah 49:16 "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
Zephaniah 3:17b "I will take great delight in you. I will quiet you with my love. I will rejoice over you with singing."

My journey to the Homelands this weekend...

2009-09-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

I went to Pietermaritzberg, South Africa for the weekend with Aunt Joyce, BoyBoy and Precious to visit their family in the rural areas. It's hard to imagine life that side without experiencing it, but it's like Tranquility....let me try to put it into words. In Rural Africa, one might say life is in slow motion; however, I've come to the conclusion that everyone else sprints through life and forgets to take time to soak in the "small" things. We wake up automatically in "Go Mode" - get the kids fed and to the bus, us to work on time; next, we check our messages for the day, o, and book our nail appointment for Saturday afternoon, make some coffee to get through the morning meeting on stock control; during our lunch "break" we take the car to the shop for an oil change while we run into WalMart to get a few things; we grab a Starbucks Mocha Frappachino before heading back to work; we get "off" at 5pm; we rush the kids to football and cheerleading, then the drive through at McDonald's is the next stop before heading home; hopefully while the kids bath and do their homework we can stay awake for our favorite TV show and maybe the news to find out what is actually happening in the world before falling asleep on the couch only to repeat this again and again and again.....sooner or later you wonder where did life go?

See, in the Homelands it's like you get to breathe in God's blessings each moment...you enjoy bathing even though it may take an hour to wash your hair with a cup and a bucket, one appreciates looking at the beauty outside while walking to the store to buy a loaf of bread or a role of toilet paper, you find such joy in seeing a child chase a cow in the backyard and spending time with people you love doing the simplest things like brushing your teeth beneath the stars...

God wants us to appreciate the beauty He created. How do we get to know our Creator if we never take time to even ponder what He has made? (Are we too focused on what WE can make in this life... financially, with our families, careers, churches, our social life.... ) SLOW DOWN and LET GOD!! Take time to fall in love with His creation and make time to spend with Him each day. Every relationship takes effort and energy to build; one has a desire to spend time with that person each day, and an overwhelming and unexplainable love for them. Are you in a relationship with Jesus Christ or are you in a relationship with yourself, your job, your life, your stuff? Find YOUR "Pietermaritzberg" YOUR Homeland where God wants to take you this week and show you His beauty, His rest, His joy, His peace, HIS TRANQUILITY!

August 12 - 22 or 23 or 24 or 25, 2009

2009-09-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

My mom and grandmother came to visit SOUTH AFRICA and me :) We had a great time seeing animals at the Pilannesburg Game Park (well....i endured the animals), visiting the people I have fallen in love with , attending Wednesday Night Home Cell and Friday night youth meetings, and relaxing together for a few days. Relaxing means eating alot of food that I hadn't had in over a year like homemade biscuits and gravy, tacos, meatloaf, spinach dip....yum!! We saw a play called Umoja that traces the history of music in South Africa, enjoyed an AUTHENTIC African-American dinner with my South African family one night at my apartment. We visited Alexandra (the township closest to the church where I serve) and spent some time at the orphanage one afternoon. It was such a blessing for them to come and see the faces that I talk about and experience some of my life here in Johannesburg. However, they were very ready to leave by the fourth day of driving to the airport each night trying to get a seat on their plane (they were given buddy passes by a friend...what a blessing!!). Thank you to everyone for your prayers while they were on this journey. Thank you to the individuals and churches who contributed medical supplies for the homeless shelter ministry here in downtown Johannesburg and for the encouraging cards and goodies I continue to receive. My mother and grandmother were such a blessing to me during those 2 weeks! It helps tremendously knowing that my family supports me, loves me and was even willing to come on a 17 hour plane ride to Africa to see what God is doing in my life. I am very grateful! I love you mom and nanny!

What if he walked into your restaurant?

2009-07-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

i'm 16 years old, and ive been on the streets for 6 months. My mom and i got into a fight last December; so I left. She wouldn't pay my school fees...well, she can't. She uses all of her money on alcohol! I'm not from Joburg; I live a couple of hours away….well... i use to. i heard there was money and jobs in Jo'burg, but it hasn't turned out how i thought it would be. i'm all alone; my older brother knows where i am, but i don’t have any contact with my mom. See, i go to different shelters or churches to get food during the days and at nights i sleep in the park or wherever i can find a place. There are these two restaurant owners who are nice to me and a couple of the others; they always give us food if we go in and tell them we are hungry. This is my reality as i wake up each morning to people walking by me on their way to work, each afternoon as my stomach begins to ache from hunger, and each night as i look for a place in the park to sleep ….i'm not just a body under a blanket by the bridge...my name is Lawrence.

I have had the opportunity several Wednesday nights to take part in a homeless ministry in downtown Johannesburg. We met Lawrence during our last stop of handing out soup and bread last night. He looked so young and scared; hopeless. He needs HIS love. ....and Lawrence is only ONE....there are sooo many more like him.

When you do it for one of the least of these; you have done it unto Me (Matthew 25:45). Our world would be a different place if Christians began putting action to the faith they claim to have. Don't we have Jesus??? ...why is it people think it is strange when a Christian wants to be out there or on that side of the ocean or on this side of the tracks no matter what the cost... Obedience shouldn't be the exception if we are Christians; it SHOULD be the norm. Wouldn't you rather live with others perplexed by your devotion, than die and have your Savior questioning it? Let's live a radically obedient, irresistibly contagious, and fervently devoted life so that the Lawrences in our world become a priceless soul, someones child (HIS child) that needs to hear about His love and not just a body under a blanket by the bridge!!

Kids Day Camp at LBC

2009-07-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

This past week Lyndhurst Baptist Church hosted a Day Camp for children in the community. We had about 50 children come each day; only a few of the children attend the church regularly so this was a great opportunity for outreach into the community. The youth came during their holiday break to lead classes, set up games, help with the crafts, and serve 50 children and 30 workers snacks and lunch. It such was a blessing to see our youth take ownership of this and to use their gifts to love on these children. The theme for the camp was "The Hand of God." The children learned about a different Bible character each day and the attribute of God that was displayed through that character's life. Please continue to be in prayer for the youth as God molds and stretches them into His image.

A Year of BLeSsINgS

2009-07-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

A dozen yellow roses, a new Bible Cover, adorable Nikes, alot of baked goodies, 13 boxes of pizza Wednesday night, Mexican dinner Thursday night, a traditional African dinner Saturday night, my very own Strawberry Cheesecake!! ...I am soo amazed, and not because of all this stuff that I was blessed with during this week of celebrating my 23rd birthday, but because of the love I felt and the time I got to spend with the people who are so very special to me!! Thank you for your love each and every day; I always feel at home when I am with you and you have blessed me this past year in more ways than you will ever know or can even imagine. You have embodied 1 Corinthians 13 :7 " (Love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Thank you for walking with me through everything, supporting me and giving me your unconditional love!

I love you ALL!

Confederation Cup 2009

2009-07-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

USA v Italy June 15, 2009

Tshepi, my brother and I were able to attend the USA v. Italy Confederations Cup game! It was quite memorable. Besides the two random guys sitting in front of us waving the American flag, we felt like the only US supporters in the whole stadium. We didn't let that discourage us; we made tshirts and went out in full support! It was very exciting. The US lost this game, but they went on to place 2nd among all the teams in the Confederations Cup....now all eyes are on South Africa as they are also hosting the World Cup in 2010! Saying soccer is big here is definitely an understatement; it's a way of life, and it definitely gets in your blood. Let's go South Africa! Let's go USA!! (...hopefully they won't play each other in 2010)

Kenya: Time Out

2009-07-08T23:12:00.000-07:00

For a week at the beginning of June my brother (who had just arrived in South Africa) and I were given the opportunity to go to Nairobi, Kenya. We, along with two others, were responsible for working with the missionary kids (mks) during their annual East African Sectional Meeting at Brackenhurst Conference Center. Brackenhurst is beautiful! We were responsible for the 2 to 5 year olds each day from 8am to 4pm while their parents were attending the various meetings. We played games, did crafts, had Bible stories, enjoyed the playground, and became experts at some Veggie Tales (thank God for movie time). The children were wonderful and such a blessing throughout the week even though some points were challenging. During the evenings and nights I was able to have some precious God and I time; I sat in the coffee shop at Brackenhurst and was able to listen and breathe... Sometimes life in Johannesburg can get very trying emotionally and spiritually and you don't really realize it until you intentionally remove yourself from the situations, make yourself breathe, and just rest in God. That's what this week was for me; even though our "job" was to minister to the missionary children in East Africa; God also ministered to me and gave me a refreshing drink of His peace, love, and His sustaining presence....at the end of the week though I was ready to get back home to Johannesburg.

Bound or Free????

2009-05-27T02:36:00.000-07:00

May 22, 2009 10 17am: I enter a room with about 100 others and take a seat for one for the usual Friday worship meetings. Everyone stands and one person from the group begins singing praises to our God; the whole place fills with voices, worship, singing, and praising in a way I have not experienced in a very very long time...if ever! There was freedom in their worship; there was power in that room because of the God they were praising. I begin to look around me (not understanding the language in which they were singing yet still experiencing the powerful moments of praising our God). The passion and love for Christ in this place is overwhelming; they have a reason to sing!!!!!!! The service proceeds with testimonies from over 20 people unashamedly sharing their own personal stories of how God saved them. They are not focusing so much on the past and WHAT they were doing, but concentrating on WHY HE saved them- to tell others- and WHERE they were going. I felt so welcome and at home; no fake "How are you?" or "Glad to see you at worship today", but there was a genuine love that they had for each other ...kind of like an unspoken understanding. I realized it was almost 1pm and the service was nearing it's end. I did not want to leave, but it was time; I couldn't stay and experience this type of worship tomorrow or fellowship with these believers during lunch. It was time for us to leave....see, we were in prison.

What I didn't tell you was that we walked through black revolving steel doors to get to the room which is about the size of a gymnasium. It is cold from the winter that is approaching; the walls are made of steel, and the seating is not your typical nice padded church chairs but beat up wooden benches. The audience is made up of over 100 15 to 23 year old males; however, they are not dressed in the latest Holister top, American Eagle jeans or Fubu hoodies. They all sport the same uniform, a jean jumpsuit and maroon jacket. Yes, you and I would call this a prison; they call it the institution, but I have been thinking.... what would God call this place? Would God call this home??????? There was more spiritual freedom in that place on a Friday morning than most of our churches see on any Sunday; more forgiveness being offered, love being expressed, pain being remembered, gratitude being shown. Why do I have to go to prison to see the most freedom I have ever witnessed before in worship???

....This group of young convicts who had just finished a 16 week course on Jesus and Christianity in prison IS free although you and I may not see it that way.

......would GOD be more likely to call a gated prison with a few growing believers His Home or a steepled church packed with the religiously stagnant ? ...let's wake up church; we have a reason to sing IF you are His child!!!!!

Is it just a batch of cookies?

2009-05-27T00:20:00.000-07:00

ahhhh... (that's us yawning). friday night we had a girl's sleepover at my apartment. what happens when you get 13 girls in a confined space with endless pizza, ice cream, music, and movies? memories happen. this weekend we had a great time of just chilling, hanging and having fun. i think alot of times as Christians we overlook the "little" ways that we can show others Christ's love...bake that person some cookies (when was the last time they tasted Christ's love?), open your home up to those kids for the night (you never know what is going on behind the doors of their homes), do that thing that God has been calling YOU to do!!!

I recently read a book called Under the Overpass about a college student who answered God's call to leave his normal American life to live on the streets of America for several months trusting God to meet his every need; during those months he grew in his faith in amazing ways. This quote from that book really spoke to my heart; the author says, "Suddenly I was shocked to realize that I had just driven 20 minutes past the world that needed me to be the Christian I say I am to hear a sermon called, 'Be the Christian you say you are'."

....when are we going to stop just saying we are Christians and actually begin doing what Christ did? - reaching the WORLD with HIS love through OUR actions ...are we too busy to live like Jesus did? what is stopping you from changing the world for Him? ....it begins with that one batch of cookies.

2009-05-18T00:41:00.000-07:00

---Someone forwarded me this recently; thank you to whoever it was. God equips those He calls!

Thank God for my shoes.

People don't know how far you've come, they don't know what lies ahead of you, and neither do they know how dissatisfied you get with yourself from time to time. People don't know the troubles that you've had or the price you had to pay to get to where you are. Why should you wish you were in anybody's shoes when you hardly know how they fit? When you've worn your shoes for a while, they take the shape of your feet and align to the way you walk. If you were to wear my shoes, you will not be comfortable in them. So I stopped wishing that I am in someone else shoes because they might not fit; rather I thank God for my shoes, because they fit! I am unique; God is not in the cloning business He makes originals.

Live it all for Him in the shoes He has given you!!!!!!!!

Annual IMB Mission Team Meeting

2009-04-21T02:04:00.000-07:00

I must confess. I was not looking forward to being in a week of meetings to hear about the new changes in the International Mission Board (although this was not the whole point of the meeting). However, God changed my bad attitude, and worked in my heart INSPITE of me. Throughout the week, we had times of worship in the mornings and the evenings, and we were able to see and hear reports from around the region about what God was doing in the lives of other missionaries and the people that they serve. The conference center where the meeting was held was about 10 minutes from my apartment, and Johannesburg was decended upon by over 300 other IMB missionaries from around CESA who attended this conference. So, needless to say, the Guest House where I work was, and still currently is, very busy from the traffic coming in and out of Joburg for the meeting. This conference may have been just another annual meeting for many other people, but for me it was very special. God did some amazing things in my heart, and He is currently dealing with me on some issues in my life. I feel I will only know the full the significance of this past week in the near future as He continues to direct me and I process how He is guiding me. I am sorry for being so vague, but I am not exactly sure what God is calling me to do, but I can hear Him leading my heart in the direction of change in some areas and in a specific direction for my future. Please be in prayer for me this week as I process some of the things that were spoken about during the worship sessions and while being in that environment with other people who share the same heart and passion as I. This time was very refreshing and has given me a new outlook towards those I am serving alongside. God also brought more healing to my heart and life from an area in my past; step by step God is molding me, breaking me, healing me, growing me, guiding me. I am yours! I want to be a light for you; take my life and let it be all for you and for your glory! God, you are my Healer, my Redeemer, my Father, my LIFE!

(This is a picture of my team)

Sugar cane fields and a Pet zebra

2009-04-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month I, along with two other journeymen, was able to go away for the weekend and visit a missionary family, the Warrens, who work in SWAZILAND. It is a beautful country with many gorgeous mountains and hills; the Warrens minister among the people who live and work on Sugar Cane fields. On Friday when we arrived, we visited the Swazi Candle factory (of course I did a bit of shopping here for some very beautiful hand crafted candles), and Friday night we spent time with the Warren family watching movies and playing Wii (I won Bowling!). On Saturday, we had lunch with Hobbs, the pet zebra at a local country club; we then took time to find our grade school roots and played on the swing set and giant slide. Saturday night the guys grilled out, and we had steak! It was yummy! Sunday morning we were able to attend village church where the Warrens minister; the church is in a woman's living room, and they squeezed about 40 people in there. Please pray for the Warren family and their ministry and the people of Swaziland.

The Freaks, the troubled, the weirdo....What does God see?

2009-04-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, before you ask; this is me. This was Freak Night at youth; if you can't tell I dressed up as a Gothic. We dressed up as anyone or anything that our society labels as a "freak" "weird" "outcast" ... The youth really got into it; some of them dressed up as homeless people, prostitutes, nerds, punks, businessmen; it was quite interesting to say the least! We even had a Freak Fashion Show and awarded the "Best Dressed Freak." That Friday night at youth we talked about seeing everyone through God's eyes. Why do we judge? What does it mean to be "not normal"? There is a story behind the faces, the clothes, the tattoos, the business suits.... but many times we walk right by them ignoring them or even commenting on their appearance writing them off as "weird" never even thinking about praying for that soul who may be hurting and searching for an eternal hope to fill the void they have inside....Next time you go to take a second glance at that person who doesn't fit into YOUR idea of normal why not take that opportunity to pray for them and maybe even take a moment out of your busy day to offer a smile or speak an encouraging word....you never know how your actions could change eternity!

Inside the gates, behind the bars, and on the streets

2009-04-14T00:39:00.001-07:00

I would like to take you on a journey during one of my recent weeks of working with the youth at Lyndhurst Baptist Church; God’s faithfulness can be seen even when I encounter circumstances that are WAY bigger than me. Some of you may recall my asking prayer for a group of guys that I referred to as GPG (God’s Potential Gang) who are heading down a dangerous road. Last month three of them were arrested for assault; they got into a fight with another guy in the neighborhood. After spending a night in jail, they were released and told to appear in court in a week; that night after they were released Tshepi and I went to talk with each of the guys. We didn’t really know if they were listening or not since they were very tired from standing the night before crammed in a jail cell and were still processing everything that had happened. After talking to them and listening to the emotions they were experiencing (or lack thereof), we went to drop the guys off at home since it was getting late. (Let me stop here and explain something. In Johannesburg, it is very difficult to get inside people’s homes because of the physical gates everyone puts up due to the high crime in the area and also the emotional guard people build around themselves. Hence, we never actually know what is going on in the home lives of the youth except for what they are willing to share. We (Tshepi and I) are very close to the youth, but we had yet to be invited into homes by the parents themselves; this is a very difficult obstacle to overcome. We had been praying for an opportunity to begin building relationships with two of the mothers of the guys in GPG specifically by name…we just didn’t know it was going to take a court date for this to happen).

We pulled up to the gate to drop off one of the guys, and the mother came outside of the house, outside of the gate and asked Tshepi and I if she could see us the next night to talk!! Wow, ok God…. This mother of two with a nice house, a car, and a job wants to talk to two twenty something year old girls? We prayed the whole next day that God would use us however He wanted that night. It was one of the most humbling experiences that I have ever had. We walked behind the gates into a very nice two story home, drank tea, and listened to this mother pour her heart out for the next three hours! She told us how she got in her car to take her life the week before because she felt there was no hope. She wants to see them grow up, get married and have families, but with them continuing down this path she doesn’t believe it will happen. She cried and cried while her two sons, Tshepi and I listened to her pour her heart out in the middle of the living room. We didn’t have magic answers to make all the problems go away or a way to erase another court case that had been opened against her sons and the guys that we love very much, but we listened. She is not a believer; therefore, she does not understand the peace in the midst of the storm that we can have because of Him. At the end of the night, we prayed with her; she was very grateful. Tshepi and I got into the car amazed at how God was using a court case to answer our prayers to get into this home….not how we had exactly pictured it.

God was not finished wowing us! We arrived at court at 8 30am and sat with the guys and their mothers until 4pm; we were literally the last ones to leave the court walking out with the social worker and the guards who were locking up, never appearing before the judge. However this time was not wasted! We sat in one hallway until noon and were then moved to another area which was right by the holding cells where they take youth who have been convicted and were going to prison. We watched as kids walked by about to be taken to prison to face the consequences of their actions. We saw 13 year old girls chained together who we learned had been convicted for selling their bodies; we learned of three 15 year olds who were arrested for selling marijuana; other crimes ranged from assault to housebreak ins to fraud. Our guys sat there for four hours watching young people who looked just like them being taken in because of their actions. I believe this was more of a wakeup call for them than any length of community service could have been. We never went into court because no one had ever carried the case to the judge to be reviewed; so as the judge was walking out to leave for the day he dropped the case after finally reading it (the father of the guy who they were fighting had beaten many of them across the face and back with his belt in the midst of the fight between these youth). As we were walking out of court, Tshepi and I were able to speak with the head of the youth Social Services Department; she was familiar with our faces since we had been sitting there all day. We introduced ourselves and tried to share our hearts with her; she wants to meet with us and take us around the jail, show us the youth rehabilitation programs, and discuss issues that they face each day. This opportunity would have never been available if we were not in court that day… God can and does use “bad” circumstances for His good. We are so excited to see how God opened this door for us; please pray for Tshepi and me as we meet with her next week to learn some of the stories of the young faces behind the bars; our prayer is that God will use us in whatever way He wants. As we were leaving the court house with the guys, one of their mothers said, “This isn’t going to be the end for us, right? We want this to be the beginning of a relationship with both of you girls.” WOW! They are reaching out; we have open invitations into each of their homes; we know it was GOD who used this situation to open the physical gates of homes and the emotional guards of hurting families who are crying out for an eternal hope. Please pray for Tshepi and me as we begin to minister to these mothers. Three days later two of the guys came to me and Tshepi separately expressing their realization that if they stayed with this group they would continue to make wrong choices and end up paying a high price for their actions. We prayed with each of them and encouraged them to stand up and to help each other back away from this lifestyle; please pray for these two guys who are the two who became Christians at camp the year before last and who stood up at this past camp and confessed vandalizing their neighborhood in front of the whole camp and asked for forgiveness. These two are battling and are trying each day to live a life that will include an abundant future; pray that they find boldness and strength in God, their Heavenly Father.

My Savior He can move the Mountains!

2009-04-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, I do not know how to tell you how God has worked in my heart in the past month and a half. He has renewed a passion in me for His purposes, given me world vision beyond what I could have ever imagined, and ignited a fire in me that I can barely contain. I can promise you this has nothing to do with my circumstances; this has been one of the most difficult months for me since I have been in Johannesburg, but this has been the best month by far because God has been faithful to walk with me every step of the way and has shown me His heart like I have never seen. I gave up and gave it all to Him. When I did this, He made himself so evident to me. It is not about me; it is all about Him! When Sarah stopped, He moved! He has freed me in areas of my life that I have been holding on to for many years; He is showing me His heart for the unwanted and outcasts of our societies, and He has revolutionized the way I act, love, and seek Him each day. I no longer can go a day or a week without spending quality time with Him; He is what I must have each day! Just like eating and sleeping; He fuels me giving me spiritual energy, passion, drive, and love like I have never had. There are so many needs in this city and only so much time in each day; it can be a struggle not to get in the car and run every time there is a need or an activity or a crisis. I am learning to guard time for myself and my relationship with God each day, and through this I have seen how He extends the hours in each day and opens doors for ministry that I in my own strength could have never opened or ever imagined.

2009-01-26T00:47:00.000-08:00

As I write this letter, my heart is hurting for the youth in Johannesburg who are falling to temptation and experiencing the consequences of their actions; and I am feeling so inadequate and insignificant to do the tasks that God has entrusted to me... But my heart is also overflowing with the blessing of amazing friends and family that God has blessed me with here. I am excited about the opportunities God is giving me in this New Year, and my heart is exploding with love for the people who have captured my heart! I remember learning this familiar phrase in Sunday school; “God is good; all the time; All the time ,God is good.” When I am on the highest mountain and when I am in the lowest valley, God is always, always good!

Just to give you a glimpse into some of the issues that are occurring here so that you can know how to pray I will sprint you through a recent week in JHB, SA . Please pray for Tshepi Makume, my best friend and the youth director at LBC; she was in the hospital this weekend and will be going in for tests in two weeks. Her apartment also caught on fire as the result of lightning. God protected her; however it was her bedroom that experienced the damage, and she breathed in a lot of smoke before she woke up. Also, three of her friends were killed in a car accident at the end of last week; they visited LBC the Sunday before the accident, please pray for their families as they grieve the loss of these three in their early 20s. As you can see, she has been under heavy attack from the devil; please pray for her physical healing as well as emotional encouragement during trying times and spiritual strength to withstand temptation, as well as for wisdom as she counsels youth at LBC and in the community.

Please also be in prayer for the BIMS Guest House where I work and the safety of the missionaries who stay here. The IMB is undergoing major reorganization and assignments of missionaries who visit BIMS may be changing; please also remember the leadership of the IMB as they make decisions about the reorganization. Over the past few days, four of the missionary units staying here have been targeted because of their foreign license plates by men posing to be police officers; one family had their laptop and a large amount of cash stolen. Please pray for this family specifically whose young son was in the car at the time. This type of incident occurs very often all around this city; please remember to pray for crime to end in JHB.

The words of this Casting Crown’s song sum up what I am feeling about some specific youth that I am working with at LBC. “Lord, I lift my friend to You. I’ve done all that I know to do. I lift my friend to you. Complicated circumstances have clouded his view. Lord, I lift my friend up to You. I fear that I won’t have the words that he needs to hear. I pray for your wisdom, oh God, and a heart that’s sincere. Lord, I lift my friend up to you, my best friend in the world. I know he means much more to you. I want so much to help him, but this is something he has to do. Lord, I lift my friend up to you. There’s a way that seems so right to Him, but you know where that leads. He’s becoming a puppet of the world; to blind to see the strings. Lord, I lift my friend up to you.” This has been the prayer of my heart; God I can’t but You can!! There are a several youth who are entangled in sin and cannot/will not let go. Marijuana has been a part of one of my very close friend’s life for several years, and the addiction has taken over his life; he dropped out of school after failing the last two years, left rehab and has no direction for his life. Please pray that he would long for God with more vigor than he seeks in this drug, and that he will have a desire to quit using the drug. He is a Christian, was raised in the church, and God has blessed him with so many talents, but right now he is a slave to this drug. Please also pray for a group of our guys who are going down a dangerous path, I will refer to them as GPG (God’s Potential Gang). Many of the youth here do not have families or at least stable ones; so they look to the streets and the activities that surround it for identity and acceptance. Some of the guys in GPG are young believers and others are not followers of Christ, but they faithfully come to youth and church, and Tshepi and I spend a lot of time with them. They define their territory by fighting; they have their identity in their group, and they find their escape in smoking and drinking. Please pray that they will open their hearts to what God is saying to them; they have such radical potential to make a difference for God in our area. Please pray that their behavior changes while they are young and before they encounter any more trouble.

I want to thank God for the amazing things that He is doing here; at times it may seem quite hectic; the devil wants to kill, steal, and destroy, but God is the victor, and we overcome with Him! About 40 youth attended LBC youth camp in December; six accepted Christ as their Savior, and many other made decisions. The youth who made decisions are shining brightly, and God is using them to confront their friends on the streets, speak and lead at youth on Fridays, and witness to their families. Many of the ones who just graduated from Matric (highschool) are seeking God for direction about their future jobs, education, and relationships. Please pray that they continue to shine brightly for their Heavenly Father, that He blesses them, and that we can be an encouragement to them as they daily encounter the lure and temptations of the world. God has surrounded me with wonderful friends and 2 amazing South African families that have adopted me while I am here. This was such a blessing to me during the holidays especially when I was away from my family in the States. Please pray for wisdom and enthusiasm, as I am beginning the girl’s Bible study on Tuesdays at LBC. God is so amazing; when I think I am inadequate He reminds me of His sufficiency, when I don’t have the answers to tough issues, He gives me the wisdom, and when I am fearful; He quiets my heart. Thank you God and thank you everyone for your prayers and support. I love you all.

Serving with you in South Africa,
Sarah Maddox

My Zambian Adventure

2008-12-02T23:19:00.000-08:00

Muli Bwanji? (“How are you?” in Nyanja, one of the official languages of Zambia)
Thank you for your prayers! I survived Zambia and Zambia survived me. This journey began on October 22 when I left Johannesburg, South Africa for a month of hands on training learning about the various lifestyles and cultures in Africa; Zambia was my classroom for the month. Each day we studied a different cultural issue; for example we learned about Health and Medicine in Africa, Community Development, and Births, Weddings and Funerals. We received a lecture and information from our cultural experts; we would then go into the city or village to speak with the locals about their views and experiences on the topic for the day. I along with a group of 33 other IMB missionaries who had also recently come to the field and would be dispersing to many different areas around Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa began our time in the capital city of Lusaka for 12 days. I lived in the Baptist seminary, experienced my first ride in a taxi, and brushed my teeth using bottled water.
We then moved to the town of Petauke seven hours away in the bush where we camped, pumped our own water, and went to bed way too early because it was so dark outside since there was no electricity. Here I learned to kill and cook a chicken, to wash my clothes in a basin, and to balance a bucket of water on my head…still working on this one. After camping in the town of Petauke for almost two weeks, I moved in with the Mwanza family in the village of Kapaya. This began the most rewarding part of my whole time in Zambia. I was able to experience real African life - no longer was I in a classroom or research setting but I was able to live with a Zambian family of eight. I slept in a mud hut with a straw roof, got up and went to the well with the mother and daughters, attended a funeral and church services with the family, learned many Nyanja phrases thanks to my older brothers, went to the fields in the mornings to pick mangos, and took baths out of a bucket under the stars!! After the home stay portion of my training, I was able to stay a couple extra days and go to Victoria Falls with some friends. Wow! God is amazing and has made some incredible sights! It was such a blessing to spend time relaxing with friends and to enjoy God’s beautiful creation before we split up and went our separate ways around Africa.
God taught me so much while I was in Zambia this past month. My time there was just as difficult as I expected, if not more, but I was able to experience the awesome grace and strength of God. I was reminded again that true happiness does not come from material things but relationships with our Savior and with those He has placed around us. God also confirmed my calling to Johannesburg while I was in Zambia. I realized that He has equipped me for exactly where He has me and has been preparing me for my job assignment at the Guest House and with the youth at Lyndhurst Baptist Church long before I was ever aware that I would be living in Africa. My last month in Zambia was quite an experience and a blessing that I will never forget. Thank you to everyone who was praying for me; I cherish your prayers and miss you all!
Serving with you in South Africa,
Sarah-Michelle Maddox
P.S. Lyndhurst Baptist Church youth camp is next week December 8- 12. Please be in prayer for the leaders as we are preparing and for the miracles that we are trusting God will perform in the lives of the youth.

The closest I'll get to Georgia Football in Africa

2008-10-01T00:38:00.001-07:00

.... kick off was set for 5:05pm, the smell of alcohol was in the air, the stadium was filled with a sea of red, black, and white, the guys ran on to the field as the crowd began to yell... sounds like a Saturday in Athens, Georgia, in Sanford Stadium, eh? BUT it's not. This was last Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa at Coca-Cola Park watching a rugby game. The Lions whose colors are red and white were playing the Sharks who are black and white; this explains the sea of colors that reminded me of being between the hedges. As I watched the game; I realized that I was very confused...maybe I should have read up on the rules of rugby before coming...ooops, maybe next time. Why was a touchdown called a try and why do they randomly kick the ball in the middle of running down the field? As I listened around me I did not hear "Gooo Georgia Bulldawgs....sic'em!" Actually what I heard was not even in English; they were cheering in Afrikaans; so I just made sure that I cheered when I saw the flags and fans from "my" team the Sharks go up all over the field...I am now one of their most dedicated fans...ok, maybe not, but I did enjoy the game. It was a fun Saturday that reminded me of being back in Athens for a little watching one of the best teams in the land. Goooo Dawgs! ...so next for me is a soccer game and a cricket game...am looking for tickets, anyone selling??

Drums, Bananas, and Police...it's the life!!!

2008-09-25T02:20:00.000-07:00

Sawubona!!

When do you know that you’re in Johannesburg, South Africa? When you are listening to the radio and the traffic lady reports that there are delays on the N1 (like Interstate 75) because a man is playing homemade drums in the middle of the median and passersby are stopping to watch…. When you must have your bananas weighed in the produce section BEFORE getting in line to check out to avoid having everyone behind you in line wonder what planet that you came from…. And when you have to go through THREE police checks just to get to church from the apartment…listen in on one of the conversations “How are you today my sister? Ahh, you are from America my sister. I am not fine today my sister, but I pray you are fine today my sister, you may now go my sister.”

Now that you have experienced a little bit of living in Joburg, here’s what’s going on with me...God is showing me so much. Sometimes it isn’t in the most pleasant situations, but I am learning to find my strength in Him each day. The work with the youth can be draining at times going from one crisis to the next. BUT it is during those times of crisis that I see God working in their lives to draw them to Him. The Sunday before last I left early service to go take a youth to the hospital with chest pains, and this Sunday we took another one of the youth to the hospital with severe stomach pains; by the time we arrived at the hospital she was unresponsive. I spent the last 3 days at the hospital with her and her family. She was released, and the doctors have no idea what caused the problem. As I write this, she is resting at my apartment; please pray for her and her family that God would continue to work in their home. Last night I was able to have that family over for dinner; it was a very sweet time of fellowship. Please also be in prayer as we begin to make decisions about camp (remember we have summer camp in December here). We want to seek God in every aspect. This is a very special time that the youth look forward to all year long; this is the only time some of them get to go on vacation or holiday. My job at the Guest House is also going very well; I am getting to meet many missionaries as they pass through to the States or on to their place of service and as many stay for medical needs. Please pray for me personally as I will be leaving to go to Zambia for a month on October 22; this is a time of orientation that my region requires. I must confess that I have not had the best attitude about going. You see I really REALLY love my hot showers, my various forms of communication, and my apartment free of rats and snakes. I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; it’s just sometimes I don’t want to do ALL things. I know this will be a time of growth and stretching for me as I lay it all before Him. I will definitely let you know how it goes.... O, I am also learning to count in Zulu; maybe by the time I leave for Zambia I will be able to count all the way to ten by myself… :)

LOVE YA'LL!!

Hebrews 12:1-2

a little retreat to the Indian Ocean

2008-08-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll,
This past weekend I was able to attend a prayer retreat near Durban, South Africa. It was a very refreshing time of prayer (obviously), worship, and fellowship with other missionaries in our cluster. It was awesome to see the years of service that many of these families have dedicated to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and the miracles of changed lives that they have witnessed. During our free time , I was able to visit the Indian Ocean for the very first time. I walked in the ocean (a little to chilly to get in) and picked up some sea shells (although it took about an hour of looking just to find like 10 shells...there weren't that many where we were). I also ate at a restaurant called Durban Delights; an authentic Indian Restaurant....the food was a bit to spicy for me, but it was good. Although it was a good weekend, I was definitely ready to be back home in Jo'burg....where my heart is.

One month into it....

2008-08-07T00:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for your prayer support; it is cherished. I have been in South Africa almost a month; during this month I have learned how to drive a stick shift car (on the opposite side of the road), settled into my apartment, and made many new friends. However, the biggest thing that has happened since being here is being able to witness God working in miraculous ways in my own heart and in the hearts of the youth that I am working with at Lyndhurst Baptist Church. I have been expanded, stretched, broken, and grown by seeing the needs here and how God wants to work through those He created; it is very humbling. I was in Johannesburg last year for 2 months and worked with Lyndhurst Baptist; God has been faithful! He has raised up leaders among the youth. However, one of the prayer requests that we are lifting up to God is for Godly South African men to step up to help in youth. This past Friday we had over 50 youth in attendance (only 7 were females); the leadership included the interim youth leader (a 23 yr old female) and myself. We had about 20 come up for prayer and to make decisions; it was very powerful. However, these youth need to see an example of a Godly South African male who can model for them a Christian example. Most are suffering with abuse, addictions, anger, broken families and lives, to mention only a few. Please pray that they would turn to God to heal them and not to temporary things that the world has to offer. This Saturday some of the youth will be attending a conference called Passion in Johannesburg. Please pray that their hearts will be open to hear what God has to say and that their lives will be lights for God in this city because of the changes that will take place.
I do have one personal request for prayer. I found out Monday morning that my two roommates college roommates at UGA and close friends were in a car accident on Saturday. One of the girls (Miley Duvall) was killed instantly and the other (Hannah Redd) was life flighted to a hospital. Please pray for the families, for Hannah's recovery, and for me as I try to grieve so far away. I know God has put people around me to support me here, and He is my strength even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death!
I am very grateful for your prayers and love you all!

Serving with you in South Africa,

Sarah-Michelle Maddox

I'm finally in SOUTH AFRICA!!

2008-07-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

So, I arrived in South Africa on Friday, July 11 about 5pm, and I went straight to Lyndhurst Baptist (where I worked last summer) to see the youth. Although I was a little jetlagged, I had an awesome time getting to see everyone; they couldn’t believe I was there. They had a bonfire, and we roasted marshmallows and hung out. The missionaries that I worked with last summer (the Tadlocks) took me to my apartment, and I stayed there my first night in Johannesburg (Joburg); it is a very nice place, just very cold. I have a three bedroom/two bath apartment; I’m going to turn one of the bedrooms into the dining room/office I think so I can have more living room space to have people over. I went to church on Sunday; I have really missed the service and people here. Please pray especially for Lyndhurst Baptist Church during the next few months as the Pastor announced he is most likely moving to pastor a church in Australia. He is a great man who has served there for 11 years, and he will be missed. On Monday, I began training at the Guest House; the Guest House has 8 permanent residents for missionary families and 18 hotel like suites for people traveling through or receiving medical attention in Joburg. My main responsibility includes driving missionaries to the airport and helping in the front office. Please pray that I will be able to learn how to drive a stick shift on the opposite side of the road and in the opposite side of the car; I have been practicing each day, but it is very difficult for me. I would like to be able to be comfortable driving to church and work at least soon. I will continue to practice each day! I know that God is my strength; He gave me strength to receive all of my shots without passing out, and I know He can give me peace and endurance when driving in the city. I am going to go organize and unpack some things I bought at PickNPay (kind of like a mini WalMart). Till later!
I am claiming this verse: Psalm 4: 7-8 “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

What makes a Real Live Missionary?

2008-06-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Hey ya’ll!!!
I have been at training in Richmond, Virginia since May 11; I will be leaving here on June 27, and going to the field on July 10. I have really enjoyed my time here at FPO. I have been learning so much, but the best part is definitely the people. I live in a quad with three other units (families), and there are about 15 or 20 different quads full of people about to go out ALL over the world. At home, it was as if I was unique because of my desire to leave the US and move thousands of miles away, but not here. Everyone here has the same heart; we are all in this journey together, learning how to share our faith in culturally appropriate ways, experiencing our own fears of learning a new language, leaving everything familiar to us, and learning how to eat whatever is placed in front of us. We have had several cultural worship services, a Spanish one, African, Russian, and Arabic service. I helped lead the African service be learning a few songs in several different African languages and singing them with my quad; it was such a blessing. However, the Arabic service was the most touching for me; even though I could not understand the songs or the message in Arabic, the house church setting, gender split seating, and heads covered made the experience very powerful.
Thank you for everyone who has been praying for me during my time here. God has answered prayers in a very personal way....I hate shots, but I was able to get all of my shots…a total of 10 with a TB test, without passing out! That is a miracle! A lady from Fayetteville, GA who I met here at interviews in January went with me every shot day on Fridays and held my hand encouraging me the whole time. She is such a blessing! We get icecream, stickers, and face painting on shot day (it’s mostly for the kids, but it is for grown ups who act like kids too). On Sunday, I had my first stick-shift driving class; it went fairly well, although I have trouble going from clutch to gas on a hill without rolling backwards, but I am getting extra practice this week. Hopefully, I will have a good grasp of the driving by the time I get to the field. I have also been able to learn how to quilt; there is an amazing volunteer couple here from Texas, Mr. Reagan and Mrs. Bobbie, who pour into us. She is teaching about 20 or 30 of us how to quilt, and he is always available to chat or to hang out and watch Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy; there quad feels like home whenever we need to just get away. It has been amazing to see how God puts people in my life while I have been here. He knows exactly what I need!
I am in my final full week here at FPO. I have ordered my prayer cards, finalized my plane tickets to the field, and made my final to-do list for my last 2 weeks in the States. I am almost a RLM (Real Live Missionary)! Please pray for the people of Johannesburg and the violent xenophobic attacks that have been occurring the past couple of months in and around the city. Please also pray for the people that I have become attached to while at FPO who will be going all over the world. Will see ya’ll in a couple of weeks!

When you watch the clock, time goes sooo slow!

2008-02-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

I am waiting to receive my letter that determines where I will spend the next two to three years of my life....the letter will be mailed TOMORROW, February, 6, 2008! God is calling me to do mission work in the country of South Africa, and I am patiently waiting for the day that I can take that 21 hour plane ride back to the people who have captured my heart. I was able to spend two months this past summer in Johannesburg, South Africa. God made it very clear to me while I was there that He has a plan for my life beyond what I could ever comprehend, and He wants to use me if I give everything I have to Him. God works in miraculous ways, and my life is an example of how He can use anyone. God has drastically changed my life, and the only thing I want to do is to serve Him with all that I have. Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."