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Posted in Admissions Department by Natalie Schunk on 12/3/2011
These past few months here in Swaziland, I have really grown
in the way that I see myself. My team installed in my mind that I am a VERY
beautiful woman and I'm created in the image of God. They all made me do
exercises that help me be positive and not negative about myself and other
things. It helped me out a lot.
I found some quotes that really spoke to me during this trip
and helped me see my identity in Christ.
"You are a wonderful
woman, made by God to be just the way you are, completely loved and worthy of
being loved."
"God has given us life
to glorify Him. We are unique because God created us just the way we are. We
are fearfully and wonderfully made."
These quotes are so very true! We are ALL so beautiful and
we don't have to change the way we look to be loved. We are loved COMPLETELY
just the way we are.
Who I am in Christ:
I'm a daughter of God
I am Christ's friend
I am the light of the
world
I am righteous and
holy
I am alive with Christ
I am a new creation
I am God's workmanship
created in Christ Jesus to do good works
I am beautiful and
created in His image
I am loved by God
I am forgiven
And so much more!
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Posted in Admissions Department by Jillian Gray on 12/3/2011
Isaiah 42:1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to he nations.
This past week I was on a house visit to a woman of God who I have come to dearly love and she said something that has stuck with me since then. Her name is Gogo Flora and she is so amazing and so joyful in the Lord and we have had the privilege of cementing the floor in her small house because it was an uneven dirt floor that gave many problems when it rained and would fill up with water. God is so good to plan things for us to do and be blessed by.
Anyway, what she said was about the honour God bestows upon us. A full time missionary here in Nsoko was talking with her about how we can come and meet some physical poverty like food and floors but that through her God so often meets spiritual poverty we have by encouraging us. She just kept talking about honour and how much God must love us to bestow upon us the honour of being called to go so far away from home for Him and doing His purposes. He could choose anyone to come here but out of the millions of His servants God gave us the honour of coming to Swaziland.
God honours us.
Do you ever think about that? God could so easily shame us for the way we live as sinners but instead He does the opposite and honours us and allows us to work for Him. It is an honour to be a child of God. So often it is easy to get caught up in the tiredness of the tasks given to us but do we ever stop and think that being able to do that task for the Lord is an honour. Being able to do small things for God whether in Swaziland or Canada is a honour far greater than any we deserve.
Do you realize the honour bestowed upon you, Child of God, right now in the fact that God has called you to your work place or school or home to work for Him?
You, my friend, my sibling in Christ, are held in a place of honour whether you feel like it or not by the Creator of the universe because He sees you for who you really are. Holy and full of light.
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Posted in Admissions Department by Karli Stegner on 12/3/2011
This will be my last blog while I am in Swaziland. It's crazy how time flies! I have learned and grown so much throughout this journey. I can't believe it's almost over. It's not even possible to put it all into words. I'm sure I don't even know all that God has done in and through me. In this post, I'd like to share just one of the things I have learned.
I'm reading a book that was left here at the team house. It's called "This we believe."
This quote stuck out to me: "Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. All this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of all expression of which we are capable." -William Temple
I've learned that worship is my purpose. I was put on this earth to glorify God. He created me for Him. I've learned to live my daily life in worship to the author of my days. I've found so much joy just from taking my focus off of myself. I have so much to be grateful for and I will never be able to do or say enough to thank Him. Surely, I can devote my life to worshipping and glorifying my God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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Posted in Admissions Department by Kim Ickler on 12/3/2011
At the beginning of this trip one of my teammates told our team about a company called "I need Africa more than Africa needs me." For the past 3 months i've kept a list of why I personally needed Africa more than Africa ever needed me. Here is a short (well long) list of some of the life changing things i've learned and recorded during my stay in Africa:
1)to learn that others and their needs need to be placed before my own
2) to learn how to live fully with nothing
3)to surrender everything so my hands are free and open to God's abundant grace and blessings
4)to open my eyes of the oblivion and arrogance I've had to the injustices of the world
5)to gain a voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves
6) to become an advocate against world hunger
7)to learn what it feels like to jump and depend solely on God's strength and empowerment.
8)for God to fill me with his strength so i may accomplish far more than i could ever imagine
9) to realize how people can have nothing yet be so full of joy and love for the Lord.
10)to realize how incredibly spoiled and blessed i am
11) to make me see how amazing my friends, family, and boyfriend are and how they are an answered prayer
12) to give me quiet time with God and make me see how I need that more each day at home
13) to feel dirty, smelly, and disgusting; yet feel like a beautiful and beloved daughter of god.
14) to delve into the Word more fully and daily
15)to live and learn what community looks like
16)to value education and the opportunities i have both as a person and as a woman specially.
17) for my heart to be broken for what breaks god's
18)to hear the voices of singing children and value my own voice to bring Him praise and glory
19) to literally walk a mile in their shoes
20)to value more all my parents have done and will do for me and cherish our relationship more
21)to learn to be content in every circumstance
22)to learn to be present in the here and now, not living in the past/future/wishing time away. to cherish and live in every moment
23)to realize monetary things don't define me
24)to see that language is not a barrier when it comes to showing Gods love or my own love to others
25)to find fulfillment
26)to miss people so much so i may see how much they mean to me and how blessed i am to have them
27) to learn to talk less and listen more intently
28)to open my eyes to the realization of how enslaved i was to sin and through Christ i am FREE
29)to bring me into a great communion with the Lord
30)to take ownership of my life
31)to realize i am not my own. I was bought at a high price. Jesus paid it all and removed my sin. I am HIS not my own.
32)to make me value quiet/alone time with God and myself
33)to give me friends to become family
34)to learn sometimes you'll never know the impact of your work-but to do it anyways!
35)to learn to empower/encourage others more deeply
36)to learn to boast in my weaknesses so that god might be glorified and his power can be seen
37)to see prayer works
38)to learn to minister to HIS heart first
39)to be filled with his living water
40)to put Christ as my cornerstone and foundation
41)to realize silence IS an answer
42)to have a spiritual retreat/ time of life discernment
43)to value daily interactions with friends and strangers as ministry opportunities
44)to learn to ask people how they are and genuinely mean it and care about their answer
45) to physically feel the shield of god's protection
46)to humble myself (get knocked down a few pegs)
47)to get sick to appreciate health and learn to find joy in sufferings
48)to learn God can and does speak powerful words through me
49)to awaken my passion for the Word and yearning to know more
50)to experience joy directly from the Lord's heart, untouched by the world
51)to awake morning by morning to new and amazing mercies
52)to learn the way to heal, preach, teach, guide, and the way to achieve anything and everything is through LOVE
53)to work on learning patience
54)to feel and see the devil face to face and see we are at war; but God always conquers evil and protects us from the enemy
55)to open my eyes to my strengths and potentials that i do have what it takes to be a youth pastor
56)to walk out in honesty and not be afraid to speak up
57)to reaffirm my call into youth ministry
58)to produce in me a spirit of maturity for this next season of my life
59)to realign my ways with HIS
60)to be held accountable
61)to learn simple life lessons from kids half or one third of my age
62)to walk in selfless love
63)to find JOY..literally (the girl i met) and emotionally
64) to get over myself and get out of the way so god can move
65)to learn there is much that i could do/live without
66)to give freely as freely i have received
67)to learn about perseverance
68)to fall in love with god all over again and to view my relationship with him as a ongoing love story
69)to be surround by 13 amazing girls who challenge me to be a better person by watching their examples
70)to find my identity in Christ
71)CONFIDENCE- in all areas of my life
72)to know im enough
73)to learn i have wisdom to give and more to learn.
74) to learn that i am more than a conquerer through Christ
75) to have my heart captured by Africa so much so, that because this trip i will never be the same ever again. Africa will always hold a special place in my heart and has left me different then when i started.
There are countless other things that I could add to this list, it could go on for years. You see, while I thought God called me to Africa because Africa needed me, I've come to see, quite clearly, that I personally needed Africa so much more. Africa had so much more to offer me than i could ever imagine offering in return. Africa has changed my life forever, and for this I am a better person. No matter where life from here on out takes me I will carry life lessons and unexplainable and incredible God moments that no one could ever take away from me. And i have one thing to thank for all that…. Africa. The truth is, I needed Africa way more than Africa ever needed me , Praise God! :)
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Posted in Admissions Department by Kim Ickler on 11/24/2011
I've fallen in love with a boy and his radio. Not just any boy, but a 14 year old autistic child at one of the care points. His name is Sisifo. When i first saw him he was sitting under a tree with a old face plate to a stereo or boom box. He also had a front piece to a cell phone, which were his prized possessions. When you take a picture of Sisifo and show it to him, he will 100% of the time kiss the image of himself on your camera. He will then use the cell phone piece he has to 'take your picture" and proceed to show it to you and then you kiss his camera. The next time i saw him again we played a game where he would throw the ball as hard as he could the opposite was as me. So i would have to run far to get the ball. As tiring as it was, hearing the laughter as i chased this ball made it all worth it. The moment I met this boy I had such a heart for him. As hard as I tried to get him to speak or make some sort of communication with me, nothing worked. However what I did notice was his need and longing just to be touched and loved. His whole body would relax as he would just rest against mine. I quickly looked around to notice that I was not receiving the most joyful looks from adults and children around me. It was in that moment I realized that Sisifo was an outcast and people giving him attention was not an common occurrence. It was as if I was being looked at as an outcast simply because I was spending my time with him. However, not even for a second did i care what anyone thought. All that I cared about was showing other people that this boy deserved just as much, if not more love than everyone else. It quickly made me think of Jesus and his ministry. Most of his ministry was spent with the sick, the lame, the outcasts, the ones the community forgot about. People like Sisifo. Jesus wasn't afraid for one minute to be associated with these people, rather he preferred it. I'm no Jesus, but in the smallest degree i'm starting to see his joy in spending his days with the outcasts. Call me crazy but God has given me a special heart for the forgotten, for the outcasts, for the Sisifo's in the world. If i could I would spend everyday with him before any of the "healthy" and "normal" kids according to the world's definition. What a shame for a boy such as Sisifo to live in a society where his mental disabilities make him an outcast and shunned from most attention. While it is easy to say its cultural and its because its a third-world country he is living in, I beg to differ. I dare to say if you placed Sisifo anywhere in the world, even the U.S., even in my tiny little town of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania he would still be treated as an outcast by a handful of people. Our society has taught us if your not perfect and up to the worlds standards, your an outcast and not good enough. But thankfully, thats not what God says. God rejoices in our uniqueness, in those characteristics that the world would define as weakness. God looks down on Sisifo and doesn't see his mental disabilities he see's His PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL son. Just as He see's all of us. And he calls us to do the same. He calls us to look around at the people the world has labeled 'reject' or 'outcast' and he calls us to label them 'loved' and 'perfect.' Sisifo has taught me so much even in our brief meeting and interaction. He has challenged me to see others through the eyes of Jesus . There are lots of SIsifo's in this world, and while we may not be able to reach them all, we can at least try. If Jesus loved these people, so must we! If we don't, who else will? :)
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Posted in General Posts by Tara Murray on 11/24/2011
I have been blessed to spend three months in Swaziland with 13 amazing women who all have incredible qualities that I love and admire:
Jenn: her incredible servants heart, she loves to do voice and when God gives her something to say you hear the passion she has in her voice, I believe she is like a lion: soft, cute and cuddly as she is friendly, welcoming and relational but she things for others without drawing attention to herself, she is always one of the first people to offer to do the things others don't want to do and it comes so naturally to her. She also has a powerful also has this ferocious roar inside of her as she speaks out God's word powerfully.
Jill: I love how she notices and takes joy in the little things in life. She values the words she speaks and her words carry weight and value. When Jill speaks you want to listen because of the wisdom she carries form her beautiful relationship with the Lord. She has an incredible heart for people and Swaziland.
Kaitlin: The first two words I think of when I think of Kaitlin are joy and innocence. She has this beautiful innocence and purity that radiate out of everything she does. The joy the Lord has given her is contagious. I also love her passion for the word. I have never met someone who loves studying, discussing and being in the word like Kaitlin does and it challenges me and teaches me.
Natalie: has the Lord's heart for kids. She has the ability to see something really special in people and pour out love on them. I love to watch her play with kids because she gets in her own little world with them and doesn't care who else is around.
Brie: I LOVE seeing how Brie has grown over these last couple of months and seeing how God has moved in her life. She has a spirit of perseverance and consistency. Brie loves to learn and understand things and one of my favourite thing s about her is that she is not afraid to ask questions. When she doesn't know something or understand it she doesn't care what other people think and will ask questions; which shows the confidence she has in herself.
Karli: notices and values kids, like most people only value adults. She is gentle and soft spoken but is a courageous and strong woman whose faith in the Lord's calling on her life is powerful.
Aubrey: laughter, smiles, joy, fun, excitement, sweet, LOVE, friendly, RELATIONAL are all key words that describe Aubrey and reasons I love her so much. She has a gift of making people feel loved and comfortable. She is literally friends with EVERYONE! And it's an amazing gift God has given her.
Kim: is a natural leader. She has so much strength, more than she even realizes. She has the ability to let things roll off her back and make jokes about crazy situations bringing joy and lightening the mood and atmosphere around her.
Nikki: loves making people she loves feel special. She has a beautiful character that has the perfect mix of a sweet and gentle spirit with drive, determination, perseverance and fire.
Shannon: abundant joy and smiles. She has the ability to draw the attention of everyone in a room and bring joy into their lives. She is not ashamed of who she is and rocks it out like a rock star. One of my favourite things has been seeing her speak out the pictures the Lord is showing her without doubt or hesitation, even when they seem so random, her faith is amazing!
Colleen: prefers other people and puts them above herself ALWAYS! She is always the first person to offer to take someone's dish duty or sit in the crack in the kombi. She is carries a lot of wisdom and respect in the team. She is an incredible woman who is determined to enjoy each day because she knows life is what we make it.
Kelsey: is a woman who stands firm in her faith and convictions and is not swayed by anyone. She has a beautiful relationship with the Lord and it's evident in her life that she knows the fathers heart. She has taught me so much, watching her intentionally walk out in joy in every situation. She is an incredible woman, with who this team would not be the same without!
Cassi: is a woman who stands tall and strong, not only physically but in her character and spirit too. I believe Cassi holds a power and authority in her voice that when she speaks out she has the ability to send a rumble in the earth. Relational ministry comes so easy and naturally to her it's awesome.
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Posted in Admissions Department by Jillian Gray on 11/24/2011
I thought I would write a blog about the verses that have stood out to me and stayed with me during this time in Swaziland. Most of these I have shared or heard shared and God's voice was loud through them.
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
-Isaiah 43:4
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
-2 Corinthians 2:14.
...so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
-2 Corinthians 2:11.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you...
-James 4:8
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything to hard for me?
-Jeremiah 32:27
Love never ends.
-1Corinthians 13:8.
Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...
-Philippians 2:14.
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
-2 Corinthians 7:1.
You are the light of the world.
-Matthew 5:14.
But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
-Psalms 109:21.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
-1 Corinthians 12:31.
...which is Christ in you, ,the hope of glory.
-Colossians 1:27.
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Posted in Admissions Department by Natalie Schunk on 11/24/2011
Break My Heart
The song "Hosanna" sung by Hillsong has been a great song for me this trip. In one of the refrains it says "break my heart for what breaks yours, everything I am for your kingdoms comes, as long as I walk from earth to eternity". Being here in Nsoko, is breaking my heart. Playing with all these kids, and building relationships with people here, has had a huge impact on my heart, especially this week. At the beginning of the week, I met a little girl named Nopinimiso. When I held her, she was burning hot, so I took her to the clinic. She ended up having bronchitis and the doctor gave her medicine for her Gogo to give her. By the end of the week, she felt so much better! I held this little girl in my arms today and she fell asleep as I rocked back and forth on the swing. I loved it so much. This little girl broke my heart and made me love her so much more! Just holding her made me realize that this is God's daughter, and his heart breaks for her as well. Not just for Nopinimiso, but for all these people in Nsoko. I have learned so much more about God's heart and what breaks His heart this week. I have certainly had my heart broken. As I held this girl today, it didn't only break my heart and realize how much God loves these people and that they break His heart, but also realizing that this moment will only happen once and will never happen again. I will never hold this little girl in my arms again, so I need to enjoy each moment God has given me here and not wish time away because I will never be here in this time again and probably not seeing these precious children again. I have grown to love these children in Nsoko, no matter how crazy that they can get!
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Posted in Admissions Department by Kaitlin Akert on 11/24/2011
Imitating Jesus
"BE HOLY, because I AM HOLY"
Imitate: to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble. To follow. A challenge this week for myself is to be an imitator of Jesus. Jesus is holy. He chose me, his child to be holy and to live a holy life pleasing to him. Eph. 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Imitate his love. Love is patient, kind, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong. Rejoices in the truth. Always protects, trusts, hopes, persevered. Love never fails.
Imitate his graciousness.
Love on others Jesus' love.
Imitate his patience.
Imitate his kindness
Imitate his gentleness- Phil.4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Scripture:
2 Cor. 2:14 Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
1 Cor.1:4-9 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-
even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jer.33:6-9 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.
Summary of the week starting Nov 13th: Visited Gogo Flora. She is filled of joy from the Lord. Shared Jer. 31:3-4 and Phil. 4:19 with her. Christmas parties Tues.-Fri. Storms in the evenings, no electricity. Candlelight worship! Taught preschool Wed. and Fri. Visited by a dead Black Mamba on the front door step.
Summary of the week starting Nov 20th: Visited Gogo Flora, 3 days in a row, the best! Monday I read to Gogo Flora Ps. 57:10-11 and Ps. 13:5-6 both about Gods unfailing and great love. I see Gods love within Gogo Flora and her love for God. Excited this Friday we are fixing her mud brick house! Went on an ask the Lord drive for an hour. God planned and lead us to meet Linda, a high school boy who is recovering from mumps and a mom with her little children at a Jericho homestead. The following day we brought food and a paraffin stove to Linda: we found out he lives on his own, had no food and a broken stove. Taught preschool Mon and Wed in the morning. Womens Bible Study. Seeing Gogo Alvina (Gogo Flora's younger sister) brightens me. She is a strong women. She works 6-2pm in a sugar plantation everyday. She loves Jesus with all her heart and knows she is sheltered in His hands. Today at Bible Study she shared Psalms 91. Her spirit is filled with joy, dancing, praises to the Lord, love, wisdom. I am blessed to be a friend with this amazing Godly woman.
For thou Oh Lord art high above all the earth. Thou art exalted far above all the earth. I exalt Thee. I exalt Thee, Oh Lord.
With all we have and with all we are, we lift your name on high. It's all about you oh Jesus. We exalt Thee. We exalt Thee, Oh Lord. You are worthy.
All consuming fire. You're our hearts desire. Living flame of love.
Let us fall more in love with you. We want to know how high, how deep, how wide his love. Let us fall more in love with you.
2 weeks left living in Nsoko. God has much planned. I'm ready! Thanksgiving is tomorrow!
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Posted in Admissions Department by Cassi Mol on 11/24/2011
Nehemiah 8:10- “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The past week and a half, the team and I, along with the ministry partners in Nsoko, have been hosting Christmas parties at multiple care points and I have to say, Christmas parties are by far my most favorite ministry on this entire trip! There isn't much to the parties. We play 2 games: a relay race and a donut eating challenge. Then we sing some songs and have a reenactment of the Christmas story. Next, we feed them beef, rice, and potato salad. And finally we had out small care packages containing toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant for the boys, pads for the girls, washcloths, soap, etc. as Christmas gifts. But I can't tell you how much joy I get from doing this for them! I've never seen the kids more excited about games as they get for the two that we play. They sit in rapture as they listen to the Christmas story. They get a good, decent meal with lots of nutrition for at least once in who knows how long. I get to hand out presents, gifts, to the little ones, pray over them, and I feel like I have a purpose, a reason that I am in that kid's life. I get to supply the needs for multiple kids and I get to pray for their safety, health and blessings to pour on them and their family and I feel like it's going to come true. That God IS going to take care of them and He WILL bless them and their family. I just truly feel God on my side. It's the best feeling in the world: to spread joy to children in such small ways and be rewarded in huge ways. I'm so unbelievably happy that I got to take part in these parties and spread blessings to the people in this area. They have rewarded me SO much more than I have given them.
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