November Newsletter

Herewith the latest experiences from a training base in Pretoria, where community is grown, and disciples are made...

Laudium Outreach

2 weeks. Sleeping in a church. Street evangelism. Bible studies. Prayer nights.

I had just escaped the role of Monday kitchen team leader. That is, until my name flashed on the screen announcing myself and one of the guys as kitchen team leaders for the upcoming outreach. We were in charge of feeding 18 Reach participants.Organizing the kitchen teams, sticking to a budget, and working out a menu.

Thankfully, they chose the two participants who loved cooking. And knew how to organize.

We arrived at the church that would be our home, and set about creating the girls' room. It consisted of stacks of chairs, a rope, and a few table cloths. Reminding me of the infamous bedsheet Hilda would put up when upset with Oubaas in 7deLaan.

The boys were staying in one of the side rooms of the church. Getting up each morning meant facing the construction shower outside. While the only-cold water was a relief from the heat, the plastic flooring caused a bit of a see-saw when you stepped in one corner.

Spiritual Encounters

We set out for street evangelism. Separating into groups, we headed off into our designated areas. My group was assigned the neighbourhood where there weren't a lot of people outside. So we prayer-walked. I would pick up some flowers and leave them on the door handles of some of the cars parked.

As we walked, we saw a Muslim man approaching. When he saw us, he stopped dead in his tracks, staring at us for a minute. When we passed him, he greeted us warmly. The community knew what we were doing. That we were Christians.

I encouraged my team after the incident. We may feel like we aren't actively evangelizing, but we shouldn't underestimate what goes on in the spiritual realm.

On our last day of street evangelism, we passed a man on the opposite side of the street. He was carrying a paint can, his hands flailing about and muttering sounds. I silently prayed that God would heal him. I sensed something in him. Unbeknownst to me, my friend was also praying for him as we passed. We both spoke the name of Jesus at the same time. And then the man started screaming. We were amazed. The power of Jesus' name alone had demons trembling.

Hindu Hour

I sat staring at all the statues. When the time for questions came, I raised my hand. Did they believe that the gods were actually present within these statues, or that they were just a representation? Surely there were other temples who also housed Shiva. The truth: yes, that statue was in fact Shiva himself. Next question: Did they dust and clean the statues? Because if I believed that this is one of my gods, I would be terrified to touch it. Answer: yes, they take time to clean the statues.

We observed the families coming in to pray. Standing in front them, asking for guidance. I remember having a talk with Auntie Sally. Now a Christian, she once stood crying in front of the statues, realizing that they were just that. A friend invited her to church after that.

Mosque Mission

They knew we were Christian. Their task: to convert us. Their method: show us how the mosque was providing for the community. How even Christians were using their gym- and swimming pool facilities. After the tour, we joined them for lunch. The women were far more aggressive in their endeavours. We were asked questions about our faith, and told we could ask them questions.

One thing was clear: Jesus was just a prophet. He didn't die on the cross and was resurrected. He was taken up to Heaven, but it was one of His disciples who died on the cross. Us Christians believe Jesus was part of God, but if He was on the cross, He couldn't even save Himself then. Another question was asked. How can everyone receive forgiveness for their sins? Where is the justice for the victims?

If Hitler asked for forgiveness, what about the families of the Jews he killed? Where is their justice? Thankfully, we spent a week of training talking about suffering and evil. It grounded us in what we knew. That vengeance lies with God. We are not meant to judge others and take the seat of the Judge. Mercy and justice lie in His hand.

Door-to-Door Directives

We were three. Going to one section of the Himalaya-flats. At night. Two women. One man. We started knocking, introducing ourselves as students wanting to learn about their religion and possibly share about our faith. Most people were too busy to talk.

Then we came to a man standing outside making a video call. As soon as we spoke, he invited us in. We sat on the floor, eyeing the cockroach that greeted us.

Then the man came in, asking us what cooldrink we wanted and offering us a cigarette. Upon insistence, we accepted Sprite. In their culture, it was disrepectful to refuse a drink. Each were handed a polystyrene cup. After talking with him a few minutes, we got up to leave. The man from our group does not drink cooldrink, so as we left, I was promptly handed his cup. Swallowing my second cup of Sprite, we walked to the neighbour.

Again, we were offered something to drink. Insisted upon. Fine, Coca-Cola. He video-called his brother, speaking Punjabi and pointedly aiming the phone at myself and the woman next to me. Slightly uncomfortable.

20 minutes later, his brother arrived with a friend. I watched closely as he opened the Coca-Cola bottle, listening for the click of the cap signaling that it had not been opened previously. Watching him pour the drink, ensuring that nothing was added. The way he handed the glass to me, was his hand wrapped around the side, or hovering over the top to slip something in.

It was not a situation of mistrust, but rather the result of growing up in South Africa and being slightly outnumbered. We sipped our Cola and left, having had quite an experience.

Captain's Log

My heart is for Spain. That has been the vision. However, I need to update the itinerary. After joining Connexion (a program within OM that helps one navigate to the next phase after REACH), I was informed that OM Spain does not have an active church-planting team, but is partnering with the local church. Also, when I go, I would need to build the art ministry from the ground up. Something I have no experience of.

Applying for Connexion, I was told that OM Poland was interested in me. They are working with a Ukrainian artist, and aiding in trauma first-aid for Ukrainian refugees. I was interested, but needed to hear from God. Was this in His plan?

I went to the chapel, waiting expectantly for God's guidance. After receiving a vision of me lying with my head on a rock, I went back to read the story of Jacob. Genesis 28:15.

“Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

I always had the idea of first going to Spain, and then travelling around to where the need is. God was saying that Spain was still very much part of the promise, I was just being sent elsewhere first. Possibly travelling around before going to Spain. I am having my first phone call with OM Poland soon, and look forward to sharing clearer information regarding the next step.