Outreach the first

This past week was our first week of outreach, though it’s early and in the middle of our lecture phase as well. During the week we went to two different orphanages, a street kid’s ministry, an afternoon church service and also did some local door-to-door evangelism in the surrounding area. We saw many blessings from God during the week, with God moving in each area we went to and using each one of the people that went to that place.
Monday and Tuesday we had the honour to go to Mioni orphanage, or Christian resource Ministry orphanage that Charles spend a couple years in while doing school. Our biggest goal for going here was to get to know some of the kid’s and to get them to know our faces as we are planning to go there on Christmas day to have a big celebration with them there. Monday was the day that I was able to go and we had a great morning of singing and dancing with the kids, something that they do incredible well. The students on the DTS also did a drama called “the thief of happiness” which is a hilarious skit that gets the kids involved and speaks about how God is our true joy/happiness and no one can steal him away like other things in our life. The afternoon we finally got to put our DTS team together and play some soccer/football. We had a great time playing with there team there and really worked together well and playing incredible well. Though while playing in net I happened to kick a good sized root while running for the ball and scratched my foot up pretty good, I’m fine just can’t really play soccer for a little while (though I finished playing that game that day of course). Everyone really seemed to enjoy the day and we came home in high spirits even though we had some confusion before coming home.
Wednesday we went to a completely different type of orphanage. At Mioni there are about 250 kids and very view overseers and the kids are able to do whatever they want. The place we went to on Wednesday was like a really big family with about 30 kids and a host family. The kids were very blessed and had so many good things going for them, It was interesting to see how different two orphanages can be even though they are less than 50 km’s apart from each other. Though we had a great time on Wednesday we felt as though it’s not somewhere we would be going back to often as these kids are very blessed and have much justice and we are more focused on those that have no justice in their lives.
Friday afternoon we headed out to a church for an afternoon church service that we would be running. The church was in a village that two of the guys come from so we were privileged to go and see/meet there families. Once we came back from seeing family we started paying some games with the kids outside the church. Once we were reading to start we could hear the soft sound of rain drops falling onto the tin roof of the church. By the time we were ready to start our drama, which is set to music, we couldn’t hear much and the stereo wasn’t very powerful. Before finishing the rain was falling so hard that no one but me, holding the speakers, could hear the music. So we just went straight into singing some more worship songs and just singing and dancing with the people there. We couldn’t complain about the rain though since we have been praying for it for a couple weeks now and rainy season normally starts back in October. The team made the most of the loud rain and we had a great time dancing and eventually, almost shouting we were able to share some words of encouragement and finally explained the drama that we did. Before we left the rain somewhat stopped so we figured it would be a good time to leave, yet as we walked the rain picked up and within 10 minutes we were all soaked down to the bone. Despite the walking in the rain, this was one of my highlights of the week as everyone on the team was still so happy and just filled with joy. As we walked in the rain, freezing cold, we just sang and rejoiced over the day and the rain that was digging into our skin. Once we caught a minibus back to the base we scared the people on the bus nearly to death I’m sure. We hopped onto the bus and just starting singing again as loud as we could. It was a brilliant experience and a memory that we will all hold dear I’m sure.
I have left out Tuesday and Thursday seeing as I was elsewhere as I had to work on getting my Visa updated for the duration of my trip. Tuesday was a nightmare as I went there and had them complain about my form that the week before they told me I needed when I went and tried to apply the first time. The rejected me once again but this time I just went to a local internet cafe to type the form out, thankfully I had a local friend in town that day to help me out with some things. So Thursday I went back and thankfully found out that I was approved for the Visa and now am just waiting for the forms to come in before I can go get my passport stamped. The whole ideal has been a hassle but I have been approved and that’s what matters.
This whole week was a big learning point for all of us, especially us as staff. We struggled a lot with communication and that caused confusion between us and that in turn affected the whole team. Thankfully the team is amazing and didn’t let it affect them too much, though we know that some people were hurt on the inside and we have since then worked things out. Being part of the leadership of this team has really shown me a lot of about myself. This week especially I have seen that though I can be a great leader, I’m not good at being a co-leader. I struggle with standing beside someone both have full control and coming to a conclusion together. Part of this I’m sure is my being prideful and always thinking my way is the best. I have a great team though and they have pointed some things out to me that I have done wrong, but all in a loving way that I can learn and grow and be the best leader I can be.

Prayer:
-We are in the midst of organizing two Christmas parties and still need some funds/ideas for those so pray that those come in
-Our leadership is strong and isn’t selfish and we have good communication
-Two people are still seeking funds for our outreach
-Friend back home lost her Nana this weekend, pray for peace/joy in this time
-For a boldness and increase in Faith in these coming months of Outreach
-also for energy and strength as Outreach is tiring and exhausting at times
-BIGGEST NEED is that we need fuel, we have on gas in any of our cars and none in our generators and are in need of getting some. Pray that we get some quickly and easily.


Thanks’ everyone.

Have a very Merry Christmas, I pray that you will remember the true reason for the season and not get consumed in the commercialism that has taken over Christmas in the last century.

Many blessings from YWAM Blantyre and myself.