In my last post, I briefly mentioned all of the incredible things that we saw the Lord do in the lives of our team and in those who live in the community. We figured that instead of taking my word for it, it would be better for you to hear from the students themselves. The quotes below are excerpts from the year-end evaluations that our students filled out. In them the students answered questions dealing with everything from community life to life in the community to their own personal walks with the Lord. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!
Do you feel like you have been discipled? Why or why not?
“Yes. I’ve had quite a few people to walk along side of me and push me towards Christ this year. I feel like I’ve been invested in and there is a lot of fruit from that.”
“I do feel like I have been discipled. I had someone that I trusted and someone that was a consistent truth speaker to me.”
“Yes, I feel like I have been discipled. I feel like I can look back on my walk with Christ and not only see how I’ve grown, but can see how God used my leaders to help me get here.”
Best thing AIM did:
“AIM has provided for us very well. We were provided with excellent accommodations and unbelievable leaders. Both of those were huge in the success of our ministry here – having leaders who cared for us and built into us and having a place to come home to and rest.”
“I think AIM does a great job of coming along side of ministries to assist and support rather than take over and do things the “American” way. I have learned a lot from that.”
Which topics were the most beneficial and why?
“I think Identity was great. Its always good to build up who you are in Christ because that is the foundation of everything else we do and how we act.”
“Searching for God Knows What helped me solidify what I believe and gave me freedom in knowing I’m
not tied down by rules and regulations but rather freed by Christ.”
“The topic of identity ended up really blessing me. It made me more confident in who God has called me and how He has created me. God really spoke to me and used that time to encourage me and show me his faithfulness and love.”
What was the coolest thing you saw God do?
“Change me and teach me and love me.”
“Transform a women’s life and take her away from alcoholism and bring her back into his arms.”
“I saw God push me to do things I never imagined I could do, and I have to give him all of the glory because I could not have worked in a clinic, talked with strangers and live with twenty people on my own strength.”
Please share a story about one of your ministry experiences this year.
“Okay…how about the fact that we bought a piece of land and building and set it up as a feeding point for kids????? That was pretty amazing! It feels really awesome to hand the keys and a bank account to a precious woman and let her go wild with her dreams for her community! I mean I could cry at how sweet it was to bless her like that. It is the people of this community that will reach this nation.”
“Ministry was certainly very challenging. I was stretched and pushed in a lot of ways, and I feel I’ve also grown alot. Working with kids from underprivileged family and living situations definitely gave me a deeper sense of gratitude and appreciation. It’s also hard to keep on pushing in ministry day after day in those times when you see little or no fruit. And there are those days when you just feel too exhausted to continue pouring out yourself, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But God is faithful, and the hard times are well worth it.”
Most impacting aspect of the semester:
“The most impacting part was probably to opportunity to step back from my life that I was making a mess of and get literally alone with God. For Him to put me in a country I never thought I would got, and for him to start changing everything. He gave me a safe environment with a great “family” and awesome leaders that desired to push me a ton:)”
“The most impacting aspect of the semester was watching JBay turn into my home, my ministry partners turning into my friends, and my roommates turning into my family. I cannot pin point one thing that impacted my life the most while I have been in Africa. The process of growing and learning impacted me the most.”
“I think that the most important thing we can do in our ministries is assist the people that are here. We should never take over, but we should encourage the people that are here living….It was amazing to see how God was using the workers to impact their own community. It is so comforting to know that even though I am leaving, God is still working and will use the people here to build His Kingdom.”
Advice for future FYMers:
“Be flexible. Bite you tongue when you have questions that don’t really matter. Make sure to rest. Find time every day to press into the heart of God. No sense in coming across the world to make a lot of noise like a clanging cymbal.”
“Realize that this 9 months is not about you and it’s going to be the hardest and greatest thing you have ever done in your life!”
“No expectations. I know this is always stated, but it really is true. Just be open to new things and really seek to learn all you can and do all you can with God. Also, be careful of the mentality that you are going out to do something for God. Realize that he is already working and you are simply partnering with Him.”
These are just pieces of the many things that we witnessed God do. We are amazed at how He continues to work in mighty ways here in Jeffreys Bay. For all of you who gave in any way, whether through your prayers, your finances, or even your encouragement, know that you partnered with us and played in a role in these things. So together we can all praise the Lord. Amen!
