Maybe you have never had to experience giving of yourself day-in and day-out almost never seeing the rewards of your labor, but, if you have, you can fully identify what it is like for me as a missionary sometimes. While I can honestly say that I do not do what I do just to see the fruit of my labor, it is easy to find yourself discouraged and lose sight of the Lord’s plans and purposes, when you work tirelessly to see little or no evidence of your work’s impact or influence. In recent weeks, I did find myself falling into this pit, but the Lord was gracious enough to not allow me to lose all hope and motivation. He, time and time again, gave me glimpses of the impact of what He has called me here to do! On a couple of occasions the Leadership Summit Director, who happens to be my roommate, had come home after a long day spent in Qwa Qwa, to share with me some things that 2 of our former coaches, in particular, had told her to share with me. They were reports of thanks and gratitude for all that I had taught them during development meetings last year. Now they have gone off to university, and had not seen me since November to tell me, they wanted to be sure that I was told that they are using a lot of the information and skills that I had taught them on a regular basis and that they would be struggling in their studies were it not for me. While it was encouraging to hear this from my roommate, it did not carry with it as much meaning as it did when I was able to hear it first-hand just a couple of days ago! David assured me that the classes in which he is using what I had taught him months prior are now his strongest subjects! God used David, to remind me that when you work for the Lord you do not labor in vain!
Hand-In-Hand
Early this month, we held our first Hand-In-Hand pastors’ conference of the year. For this conference we welcomed, Pastor Tim and Rhonda Forsthoff, who came all the way from Michigan to be the special guest speakers at this conference in which they spoke on marriage. Abram Moloi, one of our Basotho staff members and Niel also spoke at the conference, encouraging the pastors, as well as, increasing their knowledge of the life and ministry of Jesus. I had the wonderful privilege of being in attendance at this conference, which happened to be the first one. Not only did this grant me the opportunity to see the pastors’ hunger and thirst to know more about Christ and His plans and purposes for them as pastors, but I also got to serve at the conference. As the pastors arrived I made sure that they received the warmest welcome and that registration ran smoothly. I also made sure that all of the tea break items and lunch was set-up for them. I really enjoyed participating in the conference and especially enjoyed being able to serve the pastors, even though it was in such a small way.
Curriculum Distribution
Last month I had mentioned that the curriculum had finally arrived after months and months of getting each of them to their final product. I had never thought or anticipated that I would be able to be a part of seeing them handed to the students, whom they were specifically written and designed for. It was a very rewarding experience when I was given such an opportunity. As Jennifer, our Leadership Summit Director, and I walked into each class with a box of books, there faces just lit up with sheer excitement, fully convinced that they knew the contents of the box. They were so eager for the box to be opened and even more so when they actually had the books in their hands. After all of the books hand been given out, Jennifer introduced me as the writer of the curriculum and that there were many other people involved in the task of making the books look the way they did that were still in Harrismith and even in America. After all of that was said, they were all over me and adamant in getting their photo taken with me! Their smiles, enthusiasm and appreciation for the book were all contagious! The curriculum has now been put into the hands of 3, 750 young people! Please join me in praying for these youth that the Lord will use this curriculum to not just change lives but transform lives for eternity!!!
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