Overcoming Evil
28 Aug 2010 3 Comments
God has been teaching me lots of things through my time here. He has shown me his faithfulness and provision (as I have shared in previous blogs). He has continued to bless me with friendships and support here, as well as from home. I have been encouraged to hear that God has used my obedience here to give family and friends at home an opportunity to share how God is working. I can’t tell you the joy I feel knowing God can use my experience to strengthen others.
People here often ask me if I miss home, if I miss my mom and my family and friends. I always kind of laugh it off. Of course I miss home and my support system there, but I have not been overcome by these feelings. I can feel their support all the way across the oceans and countries. I can feel their love and most importantly I can feel God’s love and his call on my life. I have seen God open doors here for me and I am now praying God would further clarify what his purpose is for me during my time here.
Although I have experienced encouragement, support, and love, I have also experienced some heartache. It can be hard to hear the stories of the people I am working with, the stories of physical and sexual abuse, rape, robbery, abandonment, death, hunger, and poverty. Yesterday I let myself become overwhelmed by the evil in this world. Reading the news I couldn’t help but notice the evil that seems to be invading countries all over the world. To read about mass rapes, torture, floods, and murder. Then to experience it here…to hear true life stories of the people around me…to see it with my own eyes. I could feel a sense of hopelessness and fear take over. I not only felt sorrow for the victims I have read about and seen, but fear that this evil could tangibly impact me as well.
I came home and wanted to flood my mind with God’s word–his truth. There is so much evil in this world…but yet God has overcome this evil. He is greater! These are the scriptures I want to claim and cling to:
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:5
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-12
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
No in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
I am praying that God can use me to make a dent in the darkness around me… use me to bring his healing and restoration. I need to give myself fully to His work and let nothing move me…for I have victory over evil through Christ!
Albertine…
09 Aug 2010 4 Comments
There is a song that has powerfully affected me since coming to South Africa. Brooke Fraser, wrote this song after a trip to Africa. Some of the lyrics reflect my own experiences here. They drive me to take in what I see here and do something about it…”now that I have seen, I am responsible…” There is a big part of me that wants to shut off from experiencing the feelings that arise when I look at a child and know the trouble they are going through, but I want to take these feelings and use them productively…take them and initiate some sort of change. I just thought I would share the song with you as well, I will try to upload the song if I can figure out how to do it!
“Albertine” by Brooke Fraser
I am sitting still
I think of Angelique
her mothers voice over me
And the bullets in the wall where it fell silent
And on a thousandth hill, I think of Albertine
there in her eyes what I don’t see with my own
rwanda
[CHORUS]
now that I have seen, I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
now that I have held you in my own arms, I cannot let go till you are
I am on a plane across a distant sea
But I carry you in me
and the dust on, the dust on, the dust on my feet
Rwanda
[CHORUS]
[BRIGDE]
I will tell the world, I will tell them where I’ve been
I will keep my word
I will tell them Albertine
[CHORUS]
I am on a stage, a thousand eyes on me
I will tell them, Albertine
I will tell them, Albertine
Firsts…
08 Aug 2010 3 Comments
I have been in South Africa for a month now and have experienced several firsts! I have started working in the schools in order to counsel children in need. Structure here is very different than I am used to. We have had some trouble getting counseling starting following the winter holiday, and now the teachers are planning to go on strike next week. I have had to learn to adapt to changing circumstances and just try the best I can, even when I am unsure of what is going on. I have had to depend on God for wisdom and strength through it all. There are times when I feel inadequate in my counseling skills. There are kids with horrible circumstances and life experiences; it is hard to know how best to work with them. I know that after this year God will have taught me so much about how to reach kids with all kinds of problems. For now, I know God has called me here to work with these kids and so I just have to continually pray for his wisdom, power, counsel, knowledge, and strength.
On a lighter note I ate my first chicken feet the other day- something I had never planned on eating. Chicken feet are actually a common dish in some cultures here. I got to work on Friday and a friend asked me if I was feeling adventurous…she then informed me we would both be trying chicken feet! They taste like chicken…in case you were wondering!! But the toenails and everything are still attached, which made them a little hard for me to eat. Next they want me to try fried worms…..we will see how that goes!
I also went to my first rugby game last Saturday. I had a little bit of trouble following everything that is going on because I am used to American Football. I was able to sit in the front row and take pictures with the mascot. It was a great night!
God is continuing to faithfully provide. The women I work with are amazing and becoming great friends. They have taken me under their wing and are making sure I don’t get too homesick. I feel blessed by them and by the children at the Bethany house who I get to see everyday. Overall I am excited to be here and see what all God is going to do.
