Human Trafficking, Philosophy, and Thinking... #JustThinking

Before leaving South Africa I decided to cut my hair for many reasons. I would like to share a specific thought. A thought that will ask me to think, to wait, and to see.

At this moment I'm in Europe, Holland. The red light district of Amsterdam, better known as Walletjes Straat, will be my next destination. For me as Christian it seems important to know what is happening in the Trafficking capital of the world, and to have an opinion about it. Cambodia and Thailand are destinations soon to be visited. Other than their authentic eastern traditions, they are infamous for the trafficking of women and children. What can humankind be thinking to have these practices as acceptable? Is man thinking at all!

But what about the Church, how is it possible that we can sit by while the widows and orphans of the world get caught in such practices? Have we become so complacent and indifferent towards the difficult situations in the world that we rather keep quiet than be honest about what happens. Is it fear that keeps us silent, or are we merely selfish, to not engage on the behalf of those being mistreated. Do we not know or understand what the monumentality of the truth is that we believe in.

Reading on philosophical ideologies I become enraged about the misguided thoughts of men. Men refusing to acknowledge God and the truth that is Him. But no amount of anger can overcome those misguided ideologies.

In silence I wait. Seeing the west becoming entangled in intuitive practices and indulging in eastern practices like Zen Buddhism, and the east submitting to communistic thought patterns I find no comfort for our world other than the existence of God. A supernatural, engaging, active, real God who engages with the world. Engaging to show His character.

Should we wait like the Taoist's to see the universe balance the yin yang? Or should we keep our minds busy with material scientific thoughts? Where do you focus your mind in times of nonsensical circumstances.

Commissioned to observe the Bride's choices - a prayer for the future

The end of the Trek affirmed my new nature. I have been spoiled for going back to business as usual. God answered so many prayers, but it all boils down to one:

"May the Lord grow you and and destroy you for ordinary living"

I would like to share my story, how newness turns to ordinary and God ignites new life. I decided to leave Dietetics and Senekal October of 2010. Believing that God called me to serve the global Church, Mist | Ministry Support would be this place of this service, or so I thought.

I started serving ministries or communities part time while finishing off in Senekal. Mobilizing their communication capacity and discipling others to go and serve the church. I dreamed of networking and mutual support within the Body. This was my initial aim, but God had greater plans. That Desember as the doors to my old life was closed I received a vision.

In my dream God told me to go and see what the Bride is choosing.

This commission had me asking two questions:
1. How would I be able to see wrongs and not engage?
2. Does God know how big and far and wide His Bride is today, and where I would have to go to get a true image of what She is choosing?

Needless to say, I accepted this loving invitation to follow Jesus and obey His next action. Part time, full time - I have been seeing and serving the Church in many different forms. Mobilizing, strengthening, encouraging, and doing local evangelizing work with and for the upbuilding of the church. Oh, how blessed these two and a half years of walking in obedience.

Mist was and continues a valuable mobilization tool for missional serving and living. Interaction with e-church and the network of missional minded believers continue to challenge. Serving through communication and technology optimization at Benoni was a cover for learning to live in the local family of God. The introduction to the global church and body through InContext Ministries and Opened Doors and the trials the persecuted believers go through activated a love and burden for supporting and loving them. OM's Freedom Climb opened the reality of the world of slave trade and prostitution, and I was left stunned, shocked, shaken, and ignited

My passion for the global church were fanned into flames when Mist's doors were closing for me due to insufficient funds (a problem still today). This obvious nudge made me take the next and obvious step and I applied for research in church communications. With the opportunity to take an exam and be admitted in 2014 I praised God for the new venture. And God surprised me with the Trek. A five month trek with Operation Mobilization through SA, Namibia , Zambia , Malawi, and Mozambique. We were visiting and mobilizing local churches. I was discipled in different aspects of following Jesus and Kingdom living and I discovered and were set free from lifelong lies. More then getting to know God, was the relational discovery of God with His Church. Seeing what He's busy with in the Church, and how he uses the vessels humbled before Him. Walking in submission, I seek to be part of this mission God is on.

As evangelist and mobilizer I have been spoiled for going back to mere ordinary living. And I'm ecstatic about it, looking forward to what lies ahead. Unfortunately some doors are closing. Yet, I'm looking to the next one to open, and holding onto the promise that God continues the work He started.

I want to research church communication regarding relevance in our time and among countries and cultures. I want to serve the church with my passion and burden for the lost and young in faith. I want to encourage and mobilize ministries and believers as I travel and meet. I want to tell the stories of being transformed and of other's transformation through and for God. Above all I want to follow God completely, and if convinced or convicted, to act accordingly.

I do not know yet what lies ahead. Maybe continue with Mist, serve a local church, go to Europe and learn how to care, go to Asia or the Middle East and teach English on an secret mission, or just stay in South Africa. Maybe I'll be able to still do research through all of this. It's all depending on God to provide. I pray for guidance, provisions, wisdom, but above all faithfulness to the call God has charged me with.

Let our prayers continue to raise up for all the saints and our hearts be set on following Jesus. I would like to invest in any Kingdom venture as long as my hands are available to serve and God approves, so feel free to let me know of anywhere that I can serve.

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9 (NET)

The Light of the Clinic

Die waarde van ʼn ma as lewe-gewer en ligdraers het vandag nuwe waarde gekry. In ‘n wagkamer in `n plaaslike kliniek kom die mammas van babatjies, peuters en kleuters maandae bymekaar vir hul gereelde ondersoeke. Party van die kinders is siek en huilerig, maar baie is rond, raserig, nuuskierig en gesond. Daarenteen is baie mammas stil en selfs somber weens die onbepaalde wagtyd.  Weens die armoede en werkloosheid word die mammas wel nie uit die werk gehou nie, maar tog word die potensiaal van die byeenkomste rakende gemeenskaplike ondersteuring en groei nie ontgin nie.

Oorlaai met lêers en dokumente val ek keer op keer die kliniek binne, maar altyd met ‘n glimlag en ‘n “Dumela, wena o kae?”.  Met volharding (of dalk dom astrantheid) het die groete begin vrugte afwerp.  Tog is verbale kommunikasie moeilik weens taal verskille.  Vandag was dit wel nie-verbale kommunikasie wat die aandag getrek het.

Die krioelende gesig wat my vandag by die kliniek begroet het, het gepaard gegaan met ‘n gees van buitengewone liefde en ontvanklikheid. Nuuskierig oor die troosryke liefdevolle gevoel, soos die van ‘n belofte van lewe, het ek ondersoek ingestel. Tot my verbasing ontdek ek ‘n ma wat met haar babatjie speel en straal van lewens vreugde soos haar vreugde voortvloei vanuit die kind se skater laggies.  Soos duistende skitterende klokkies verbreek dit die stil-swart-nag van onsekerheid en ellende wat hierdie vroue verstrik. O, die rykdom van ‘n gelukkige kind, maar meer onmeetbaar is die juweel van ‘n ma wat daardie kind se vreugde werk. Alhoewel die ma niks minder behoeftig en selfs armsaliger was as enige van die ander daar, en ten spyte van kwelvrae wat ek self nie kan dink draaglik is vir enige iemand, het daardie moeder gekies om uit dankbaarheid haar dogter te seën met haar selfopofferende liefdevolle teenwoordigheid om liefde en lig te bring. In dit – en onbewus – was sy vir die ander mammas ‘n inspirasie en vir party ‘n skaamte oor hul eie verwaarlosing van die taak om hul eie kinders so lief te hê.

My vraag aan jou liewe leser, is ons nie tog almal vir mekaar in ʼn mindere of meerdere mate na gelang van volwassenheid ‘n “ou vrou” soos vanuit Titus 2 nie?