It’s hard to believe that one semester of FYM is already done. It seems like just a week ago that we were arriving in South Africa with lost luggage, buying sheets for our bed, trying to learn how to say “thank you” in Afrikaans, and still learning everyone’s hometown on the team. But the time has really gone by fast. Hopefully that means because we’ve done a lot, experienced many new things and tried to keep up with what God has been doing in others lives. We arrived here on Sept 12 and today is Dec 17. As I look back at the last 3 months it’s hard to really see the fruit of our labor. I can’t give you a number of how many people were saved, I never saw the miracle of healing immediately happen after we prayed for someone, and I will never know the joy we brought when we hugged those kids day after day, but I do know that God has been working powerfully in each and every one of our lives.
We just came back from our debriefing site for the past 4 days and here’s what some of the students had to say about their semester here in South Africa:
• “I am more in love with Jesus now than I ever have been in my life.”
• “I think I’m becoming addicted to praying and hearing God’s voice.”
• “I learned a lot about my identity and authority in Christ.”
• “My intimacy with God is so sweet. It’s like talking to your best friend.”
• “Jesus has freaking rocked my world by giving me a bigger family than I ever imagined.”
• “My relationship with God is ever changing and growing. It went from superficial to a deep friendship.”
• “I’ve been able to recognize and live in the Holy Spirit.”
• “I saw God bridge the gap between 3 white Americans and 1 disadvantaged family in Africa”
• “I find fulfillment in the Christian walk not in the fireworks but in the quietness of His voice.”
When I read these things, I can’t help but to bear witness that much fruit was produced this semester. It is such an honor to be chosen to be a part of God’s work here and to be able to see some of this fruit being birthed. I am excited for big things next semester because I know God is a big God! Praise God for all that He has done in and through this team of servants!
This is our entire team before we left for debrief.
This is our whole team by the best Christmas tree ever! 🙂
Many of our students go home tomorrow to America for the holidays. In fact 9 of them will go home and return on Jan 8th. Chris and I will stay here for Christmas along with 4 other students (2 boys and 2 girls). We also will host 4 other students from other FYM sites (Kenya and Swaziland) for Christmas.
