Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Cup of Coffee: Why South Africa?

Cup of Coffee: Why South Africa?

Why South Africa?

  As some of you know, I will be leaving for South Africa the first part of October of this year for a mission trip. Many have asked the same question as I have. Why South Africa?  I wanted to take time to explain the events leading up to the decision of going to South Africa for this mission trip.  Here is my story.

  You know, sometimes the Lord will tell you specific things.  When you hear those specific things, you want to ask questions.  A few years ago, the Lord had laid it on  my heart to go to South Africa on a mission trip and asked the same question as most others have.  Why South Africa?  Well, I put it in the back of my mind thinking that it is just my mind playing tricks on me.  I asked the Lord that if he is telling me to go to South Africa, to keep bringing it up to me and to show me specifics.  I know.  I should not ask the Lord.  I should do what he tells me to do.  Reminds me of my kids.  They don't need to ask why, just do what I have told them to do, when I tell them and how I tell them to do it.  The Lord knows me to well.  Time goes by, and where I work, I had a customer come in to ship a package.  As I was processing the package, I noticed that it was going to South Africa of all places.  I had never seen this customer before.  Never saw this customer again.  So I acknowledged the Lord in him showing me that I need to go.  But again I asked him to keep showing me.  (me of little faith).  A few months go by and yet a different customer comes in and to ship a package to South Africa.  I asked the customer, South Africa, huh?  He told me that Yes and that I needed to go there.  I was shocked of his statement and asked him why I needed to go there.  He explained that people in South Africa need to hear what I have to say and that they need to see someone like me that has a heart such as mine.  This customer has come in from time to time but never really visited with him and he didn't know of my dealings with the Lord on this matter.  So it seems that it is pretty specific that the Lord has called me to South Africa.  But yet I still ask the Lord if he was sure...Weeks go by and as I pull my till from the register to close it down for the day, I find a South African Rand coin in my drawer.  Those don't just show up around here very often.  Actually this is the first coin from South Africa that I have ever seen.  If that wasn't enough, weeks later a customer comes in and wants some prints made and some of the prints were about South Africa, so I begin to tell her my story.  She thought that it was wonderful and reminded me of Abraham in the Bible of the time that he was instructed to pack up and go and wasn't given specifics but left on faith and followed the Lord.  She mentioned that maybe the Lord wanted me to go so that he could instill in me a fire in my soul that would be needed  when I got back home and to carry out his work when I got back.
  Whatever the case, I know that the Lord has instructed me to go to South Africa.  I will be going the first two weeks of October.  I will be meeting up with a group that is already stationed there.  I will be working with children in Vacation Bible school where they normally have over 300 kids come.  I will also be helping distribute food to the local communities.  I have gotten my passport ready to go.  I am so excited to follow Jesus in what he has in store for not just me but everyone we come into contact with. I hope that each of you will be excited with me.  I still have to raise $3,000 more dollars for the trip but I know that the Lord will provide.  If you are led by the Lord to donate towards this trip, please feel free to contact me.  You can reach me at (870) 273-6357 or you can mail your donations to 445 CR 634 Bay, AR 72411.  Please be in prayer with me over this trip that the Lord will be so high and lifted up. That HE will receive all of the Glory for what takes place there.  I look forward to sharing so much more about this trip when I get back.  I will keep you all posted.            God Bless!!