Halfway Over!

I cannot believe my time in South Africa is halfway over! God has been graciously doing SOO many amazing things during our time here. First, He has been cultivating/ growing a bigger heart for the nation within me. It kind of scares me to write this but I feel like He has been softening my heart to fulltime campus ministry. I’m not saying this is a for sure decision, but He has just been showing me that I have not had an open hand to Him as far as my short-term future after graduation. I have absolutely loved laboring on campus. It has been one of the hardest things I have done during my walk with Jesus, but it has pushed me to Him in tremendous ways! Laboring in Jubs has been very hard, but extremely rewarding. We have had quite a bit of opposition from the resident staff and guards, but I can honestly say I am thankful for this opposition. Through this suffering it has pushed the girls I am laboring alongside and myself to trust in God, knowing I cannot do this on my own!

Secondly, despite opposition from Jubs, God has been so faithful in bring women to us and giving us favor with them. Just this past Thursday Arika and I met a girl named Mpumi. After sharing the gospel with her, we could see God pursuing her and penetrating her heart. I have full confidence and faith that Jesus will change this woman’s heart very soon! Please be praying for her!.

Before I say goodbye I want to leave you all with a small excerpt from the book Humility by C.J. Mahaney

            “In Mark 10 we find Jesus and His disciples on the road, going up to Jerusalem. This is the last journey of Jesus’ ministry, and the final destination is in full view. The hour for which He ultimately came now approaches. The cross is on the horizon.

             This long journey to Jerusalem and the cross will apparently be a lonely one for the Savior, for He’s making it without the full understanding and support of His disciples. They continue to be blinded by selfish ambition, so He must continue to teach and instruct them and confront their arrogance.

            And yet, however grieved His heart must surely be at this moment, we see Him “walking ahead of them” (v32). No one is prodding Him on; no one is forcing Him. He’s leading the way. And the One leading the way is the only One in this group of travelers who’s aware of what indescribable anguish awaits Him there.

            Pause, if you will, and picture Him in your mind. Behold this lone figure out in front, fully aware and informed of what awaits Him in Jerusalem. See Him steadfast in heart, determined, setting the pace for His disciples, striding purposefully forward.

            Where?

            To Jerusalem

            Why?

            To die.

            He will not be deterred. He’s full of resolve as He keeps this appointment in eternity past. Relentlessly He proceeds to a place where He’s be betrayed and arrested, where He’ll be accused and condemned, where He’s be mocked and spit upon and flogged and ultimately executed. And there’s no hesitation, no reluctance in His steps. Though unimaginable suffering is before Him, He’s walking ahead, leading the way”

This is a sweet picture of the Savior, right before He took the wrath of God we all deserved! Wow. That’s love!

First Week in South Africa

Hello everyone!
I'm sorry my last post was so short! We have limited internet time and limited amount of computers, so I will try to update asap. Where to start??? First, I am happy to say the women I am rooming with this summer are Olivia Graber and Cara Hartman! I have a feeling we are going to have a wonderful summer together getting to know each other and growing closer; which I have already seen begin to happenJ

During the beginning of last week we took a tour around the city of Johannesburg to become more familiar with the area and I must say it is a beautiful city. Everywhere you look there are trees and is very hilly. The view from our place is gorgeous. After a sweet time of orientation last week, our team found out who our ministry partners are and where we are laboring. My ministry partner is Arika Carpenter! I am so excited to walk along side her this summer, sharpening one another, while we share the gospel together! We are laboring in Jubilee resident hall (aka Jubs). Its has been a sweet first few days on the campus, meeting girls in the res hall and coming alongside the Campus Outreach leaders to impact Witz together. However, it has also been challenging at time. When taken out of my comfort (the U.S.) I have been seeing myself try and run to thing here for comfort instead of Jesus., which has made some days really hard. It has been extremely neat at the same time to study through Mark and read more of who Jesus is and how He ministered. I really want this summer to be a summer that leads me to take my eye off of myself and focus on the One who really is worthy....Christ! Just in this short time here, I have seen His faithfulness in my sanctification and the growth and sanctification of my brothers and sisters here with me.

Finally, this past Saturday, our team attended an Orlando Pirates soccer game. The game was extremely fun and hyped. The Pirate’s fans were crazy (in a good way) and they actually ended up winning the championship game! The game was located in a township called Sueto. I am thankful we had to opportunity to visit this township. Quick honestly, this is a very poor part of Johannesburg and it was a sobering reality of how sin has really made our world fallen. All I could think is the need here is not food and shelter, but Jesus!!

I am looking forward to seeing what God will do this summer while we are here and will be keeping you all updated and much as possible!

We're Here

AHH!! By God's grace our team to SouthAfrica has made it :) Our theme is Down and Out. We are hoping that the Gospel will penitrate down deep and then go far out from us. We are studying through Mark during the 8 weeks we are here. I'm so excited to see what God teaches each of us on our team through this we book! Today we took a tour on downtown Johannesburg...its beautiful!!

Well that is all for now. I'm sorry this is sooooo SHORT but I only have 5 minutes on the internet:)

Until Next week I love and miss you all !

Mark 1:15 " The time has come he said the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good new" :)

Post Vier

CCP Team 2011!!

Hello all!
Since my last post God has continued to work in sweet ways through support. My last post (March 4th) God had graciously raised up $2,381 out of the $5,500 I need. Well.... we just had our third CCP meeting this past Saturday (the 19th) and our goal was to have raised $4,000 by that date. Up to that point in my support raising I had never reached the goals we had set forth. It was really neat to see our Heavenly Father grow a peace within my heart about support raising after our second meeting in which I was about $1,700 short of our goal. A verse that has been continually coming up in my heart is:
1 Thessalonians 5: 24 "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."
Its a short verse, but so sweetly to the point. God has graciously been whispering in my ear " Beloved, I have called you to South Africa. Please trust that I am faithful and I will get you there!" WOW Thank You Jesus :)

So, I am sure you are wondering: "Okay Alicia, so how much do you have in hand??" lol Well, our last meeting (March 19th) I had in hand a totally of $4,426!! AHH It really does bring me to worship, even as I write that, because I can honestly look back and say wow God I have no idea where this money came from, except from You!! I love that He has been raising this support in a way that does NOT allow me to boast at all in myself, but only in the cross!

Lastly, our last CCP meeting was a very special meeting because it was our parents meeting! Right before all the parents (including my parents YAY) arrived at World Gospel (the church ISU attends) our team prayed for the meeting. It was so neat to see God hear our prayers and answer each of them in abundance! When our parents began to arrive at the church, I could tell there was a little tension in the air; after all these parents were about to see their children off to another country, I would be nervous too if I was a parent :). Then as the meeting progressed and the Spirit spoke sweetly through Wally (aka Kyle Wallace) I could see each parents' heart begin to soften. By the end of our meeting we went outside in front of the church to take our CCP team picture and it was like we were being photographed by the paparazzi LOL All the parents were lined up behide the person taking our picture, with their cell phones out taking pictures!! I love it pahaha. It honestly, to me, was just a sweet example of God answering our prayers! That may seem like a weird statement, but honestly I could tell on each of their faces that they were excited/proud of us! So neat!

Thank you all so much for your continued support!

Totsiens!

Alicia