Shout Out

I just spent the evening with some amazing women. These women have overcome the toughest of life circumstances. They've endured things and situations that would make most people crumble in fear or lose hope. I can honestly say that they have a resilience that is inspiring. It springs from their faith that there is a God that loves them and has a plan for them. Even though they may have their moments of wondering how a loving God could've been present in the midst of some traumatic things, they choose to believe that He is the reason they have made it this far. They've seen evidence of His healing in their lives and that He has empowered them to use their trials to help those around them. Add to that they are all at least 3-5 years younger than me. I can't wait to see how much more amazing they are in another 3-5 years. They are truly going to be used to change the world around them.

Hope

I just returned from a long weekend in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. Words can't express the beauty of this place so I've included a couple pictures. That's really not what this blog is about. This entry is about an encounter I had with one of the guests where I stayed. I stayed at a small guesthouse called the Antbear. It takes on about 10-12 guests at a time. All the guests eat together with the owners for breakfast and supper. This allows for some great conversations among the guests. One evening I was discussing with a newly arrived guest why I was here in South Africa and what I was doing. She had been to Africa before and seemed to have an idea of some of the cultural norms. She was asking me questions about the amount of violence here as well as if I thought people who attended the life skills courses WCA does really left changed. She made some comments about how people will hear things similar to what is taught in the WCA life skills courses but end up going back to life as usual when it's all said and done. As I look back I'm mortified to find that I agreed with her. Later that evening as I got ready for bed God spoke. He reminded me that He didn't send His Son Jesus to this earth to preach a message of hopelessness. Likewise, He didn't send me to South Africa to preach a message of hopelessness. After all, I've encountered so many of the staff at WCA who started out on a dead-end journey but now live changed lives that are marked with freedom and opportunity. They have been touched by God and are changing the generational norms that their families have held for so long. I know that I was too easily swayed by this woman's negativity. Too many in the world today view problems with skepticism. There's enough of that going around that it's time for those of us who know that there is hope to start getting more vocal. Yes, we live in a world with tough issues and people who are struggling and hurting. However, there are many of us that have been blessed financially, emotionally and even spiritually. We can all be used in many different ways to be the hope that many need as they walk through their struggles and trials. If you're wanting to know how you can be a messenger of hope I encourage you to check out the website for Loving South Africa (http://www.lovingsa.org/). They partner with many organizations here in South Africa that are light in the darkness and hope to those living here. You can be part of that quite easily. I'd like to leave you with a verse that I hope will encourage you as it has me.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13