Hello Friends, Family and partners!
Today (as promised) I would like to share with you a little more about my mission trip!
Part of Charis Bible College 2nd year is going on a mission trip. The mission trip that I went on was one to Johannesburg. Wow, what a blessing! I have learned so much.
For me, before Charis I was a super shy girl, I did not really know how to communicate well with people and start conversations.
During my 2 years at Charis, I really started understanding who I am in Christ and not having to be afraid of what other people say about me, I overcame the fear of praying for and in front of people, I overcame the fear to speak in front of a crowd. But it was not until I went on my mission trip that I overcame my fear of walking up to people and start a conversation.
One thing I can say about this trip is, it was a SUPER blessed trip! Wow, we saw the Lord’s hand miraculously in so many ways!
A fellow college student/friend and I, drove up to Heidelberg the day before we met up with the rest of the team (it’s about a 3 hour drive from Cape Town to Heidelberg). It was my friend’s birthday, so we stopped at this beautiful restaurant in Swellendam, to celebrate her.
It was so blessed. Even our delicious lunch was a gift and we were surrounded by the most, beautiful nature.
On arrival in Johannesburg, our team leader Alfred (Dean of Students - Heidelberg) asked us to share what we are expecting to see on this mission trip. I have never been on a mission trip and grew up with the wrong idea of what missionaries do and so on.
Even though I did not think of this before, when it came my time to speak, I said the first thing that popped into my head - I want to see people the way God sees them.
As we started ministering in Diepsloot - a less privileged area. I have always tried not to look at the people and the way they lived. I always felt it’s such an underprivileged area - how on earth can I help these people?
As we went down the street to their small, fragile houses, praying for people, I felt so insecure. I did not know how to start a conversation, I kinda held back as I observed how my fellow students spoke to the people.
I would find myself among the children; they seemed less intimidating and I could just be myself around them.
I started condemning myself, feeling like I did not spend enough time preparing for this trip. I was about to give up.
Then, on the third night of our trip, I called out to God, desperate to overcome this fear and feeling of helplessness.
The Lord spoke to me, and said, “You do the Natural and I will do the Supernatural.” He told me to stop worrying about what other people thought of me, what I look like when I talk to people and just show them God! Tell them what God has done for me!
I can’t explain to you how much that meant to me, it was like this huge burden was lifted of my shoulders. I had peace, but not just peace, I had a supernatural boldness!
The next day as we ministered in Braamfontein and in Diepsloot, I started walking up to people, I was eager to share with people about how much God loved them!
As we were driving up to Johannesburg someone sent us a scripture as prophecy over us and what we are going to bring for the people in Johannesburg.
Isaiah 60:1 AMP
Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
Now some of us didn’t know what the Word prostration meant, so we google it’s meaning and it literally means you are so depressed that you are laying face down in the ground, no hope, no drive to do live!
One late afternoon after we drove deep into Diepsloot, we left the car and walked in, even deeper. There was this one house I was drawn to. I walked up to the lady standing there, I asked her if she needed prayer, or healing in anyway, she said no. She did ask me to wait, while she went calling someone who does need prayer. Two of my fellow students joined me as this lady asked us to follow her into a little house. It was a shack for that matter, very dark and so hot as we entered. As our eyes were adjusting to the darkness I just saw a man face down on a bed, he sat up on the bed as we started ministering to him.
I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical about the whole situation as this young man started searching around his room, finally he found it and pulled something out from under a pillow - to my relieve it was a Bible! It was in a different language, but we found Psalms and asked him to read certain parts as we minister to him. Let me tell you, this man started changing! As we told him about Jesus (he was already born again), about being baptised in the Holy Spirt, he just wanted to hear more and more. We prayed for him, he received baptism of the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues! He was a transformed man! He walked with us back to the street all the while praising God!
As we ministered further down the street, we came back down his street and past his house, this time the whole team. He was standing outside shouting, praising and thanking God!
It was then that the Lord spoke to me, reminding me of Isaiah 60:1. God told me that he was the man in the prostration position, so depressed, face down in the dark with no hope. We shone the light in his darkness, brought hope to a man who had non!
That man’s live will never be the same, there are countless other lives like this one that was changed!
From that day on, the burden was lifted. I lost the fear of walking up to people, speaking to people. It was different. I stared seeing people for who they could be, not for who they were or what they looked like!
And the last story I want to share was on the Saturday when we met up with the Braamfontein branch of Faith Hill Church. A Church we ministered in a few evenings.
The morning at the breakfast table, we were asked to share what the Lord revealed to us on whom we were going to meet that day - what kind of person.
I just felt from God that there was a girl, who needs to know God is not upset or mad with her, but loves her very much!
As we ministered, it was almost time to go, I saw a youngish girl sit on the steps. I walked up to her and asked her if we could chat with her. She had an ice cream in her hand, she said her sister had dropped her off early for her shift at the restaurant, so she had a few minutes.
As we ministered to her, I really felt God say, ask her if God is mad at her. I did and she said yes, she had done some things and she thinks He’s pretty mad.
I shared God’s love for her and man this girl just starts crying. Her ice-cream dripping and all! I then remember the morning, and God said this is the girl! I stopped praying and looked at her and said - God told me about you this morning! He was thinking of you then already! He loves you, He wants a relationship with you!
We then both started crying and she gave her live to the Lord! Leaving there with a whole different attitude - now an attitude of hope!
If you give God a change - He can do amazing and miraculous things through you!
If there is one thing this trip had taught me it is - Trust God!! He has a plan, He’s got you covered and He cares so much for people!
The Lord has shown me just a glimpse of how He sees people, I have seen the supernatural.
Thank you for your support and partnership! My life was changed! Something changed in my heart for the better!
Blessings
Heidi-Mari Lues
