This is the title of a song God put in my heart 2 weeks ago. It's funny how the words only began speaking to my heart and situation this week. Or maybe I just wasn't prepared to listen to Him then.
"Coming Back"
I'm tired of walking this dark road
And I can't do it on my own
I'm at the point of desperation
Crying out in my frustration
Why can't I feel you?
Does that mean you are not there?
And if I can't hear your voice-
Does that mean you do not care?
I'm coming back...
I'm coming back...
I'm coming back...to You.
Let Me speak some truth over this situation
Let me speak some truth over this situation
Let me speak some truth over...you
Yes, I can hear you-
And yes I care.
Yes, I am with you...
I've always been there.
I am your Father
I am your Saviour
I'm your Deliverer and Redeemer...
I am I AM.
You know those times where we just completely shut God out of the picture?? Where you know full well He is speaking to you but you choose not to listen or to make dumb excuses...like "oh he can't be talking to me...or that doesn't apply directly to what's going on" Well...that's been me...for a few months now. I can't go into detail about what's been going on but let's just say it's been a struggle. Don't worry I wasn't on drugs and I haven't accumulated a drinking problem guys!!!....but it was something I never thought I would struggle with. At first I could hear God speaking clearly to me...."come back"..."this isn't right"...but as my heart became harder His voice became weaker and weaker until the point where I think He just gave up trying to speak directly to me. That's when He started speaking through other people. 2 sundays ago at church we were worshipping and the Lord spoke through Brother Ron, a powerful man of God who also goes to HPC. He said "How dare you call me Lord when I am not master in your life?"
You would think I would have gotten the message...I felt my heart stirring but I wasn't ready to deal with the situation, so yet again I ignored Him. I simply quit singing the song.
I had convinced myself that nothing was wrong even though I knew otherwise in my heart. It is so easy to let our flesh and feelings control how we live and the choices we make...I guess once you are convinced that everything is okay what your heart cries out seems irrelevant because you become "comfortable" in your situation. I am soo thankful that God loves me enough not to give up on me when I totally turn away from Him. I only realized how much He wanted me back when He spoke to a lady I don't really even know...and told her to be praying for me. Finally He showed her why and everything was illuminated. It's actually quite funny...God was tired of me not listening so He decided to fill everyone close to me in on what I was sooo desperately trying to hide. Thanks God!! :)
So this past week has been like a war for me. Every moment of the day I have to choose what to believe and to let Jesus be my master. Sometimes the pain in my heart is so unbearable, I feel like giving up...but then I remind myself...God didn't, hasn't, and WON'T give up on me!! Not ever...and I simply cannot understand that kindof love...but I am so grateful for it. Jesus did speak truth over my situation and continues to do so every day, especially through the amazing people He has put in my life. So I want to thank them for allowing God to use them to speak love and truth into my life: Jacci, Jessie, Zinty, Sarah,Mrs. Susan, Natalie, Jordan, Pat, Busie, Lizette, Angelle, Crystal and mostly...my parents. Thanks guys for keeping me on track and watchin out for me. Y'all mean the world to me!!
Dang...this year has been a emotional and spiritual roller-coaster so far!! I know satan has been trying to bring me down the whole year but God has held on to me when I refused to hold onto Him. His love overwhelms me...I cannot even begin to explain the way my heart feels each time I think upon it. Even though He has gotten me this far...it's still hard. My heart still hurts and I know it will get better with time...but your prayers would be deeply appreciated. Pray for wisdom, strength, healing, and complete restoration. Please also pray for my friend and sister in Christ, Ntisiki, who is also going through a lot and yearning to be all God has planned for her to be.
Okay now for some happy talk...I got to play and sing the song this past Sunday in church...with Zinty. It was scarry but I think God has really been taking me out of my comfort zone lately, so that's always good I guess. :) I'm taking mock exams now. They finish thursday. Cant wait! BUt then we still have the real ones....17 of them!!! Oh my... Oh and I got my prom/graduation dress in Capetown. It's really pretty. They call it "leavers" here...its kinda like prom and graduation mixed. Its November 15th. Wish you all could come!!
Going to soccer practice now....yay!!!
God bless!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
If God is for us, who can be against us??
The title of my blog is the truth that is keeping me going today. I don't know why...but these last few weeks have been some of the worst of my life. It seems like ever since coming back from the Passion worship conference in Jo-berg, life has been so confusing, relationships have been confusing, I've been struggling with things I never thought possible, I've had to make decisions that have been unbearably painful, and worst of all I haven't been doing my part in the battle...through prayer and getting into the word.
Passion was awesome!! God really touched our lives and afterwards I was sooo on fire and ready for whatever!! But then it was like back to reality and the reality is....as i'm still realizing...that some things needed to be changed. If I want to stay on fire and truly go deeper with Christ...He has to come first in my life, above all the things that I love like soccer, and even some of my relationships with people. So what do you do when you want to be closer to God and know you need to be in order to live a life that is pleasing to Him and worth anything....but the desire isn't there to do what needs to be done. Is it normal to have these dry seasons?? How do you quench the thirst when the only water sources in reach are polluted?? I know there is one available that is ready to fill me to overflowing with love and mercy and peace....His name is Jesus....and I desperately want to get there. I'm on my way!!!
Passion was awesome!! God really touched our lives and afterwards I was sooo on fire and ready for whatever!! But then it was like back to reality and the reality is....as i'm still realizing...that some things needed to be changed. If I want to stay on fire and truly go deeper with Christ...He has to come first in my life, above all the things that I love like soccer, and even some of my relationships with people. So what do you do when you want to be closer to God and know you need to be in order to live a life that is pleasing to Him and worth anything....but the desire isn't there to do what needs to be done. Is it normal to have these dry seasons?? How do you quench the thirst when the only water sources in reach are polluted?? I know there is one available that is ready to fill me to overflowing with love and mercy and peace....His name is Jesus....and I desperately want to get there. I'm on my way!!!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
GUESS WHAT!!??
SO....I have sooo much to write about since I am not a faithful blogger, and by the way my dad is making me update my blog more often, so hopefully you will be hearing a lot more from me in the days to come. :) Life just gets so busy and before you know it there are tons of stories that need to be told, but simply not enough time or space or concentration span (for u guys) to tell them. This is why I need to blog more often huh?? I know, I know.
Most recently....I applied for the IB program at my school ( a 2 years pre university course ), and I found out Monday that I was accepted! SO that's pretty cool. I'm happy and relieved, but not really looking forward to the work-load. I pray that God continues to give me the strength and patience and faith I need to get through it, and still be on fire for Him. I've seen many Christians come into my school and unfortunatelt many of them are no longer Christians by the time they have finished. I pray that doesn't happen to me. I know I can't live with out Christ so I pray I don't become lazy or stupid and give Him the backseat in my life you know?? I finish high school in November after our final exams. Right now school is okay...just a lot of revision because we have a 4 week break coming up in 3 weeks and then when we come back to school we have mock exams (practice exams before the real thing).
My best friend, Angelle, is coming here with HPC next week on a missions trip. I am sooooo beyond excitement I don't even know what to say on this matter. I can't even believe its really happening......God is awesome!!!!!!!! I really want to kidnap her for a few hours so she can meet my friends at school who are DYING to meet her, so we'll see how that works out. DOn't worry I'm not really gonna kidnap her (just in case your parents are reading this, angelle) :). There is going to be a huge youth day next saturday called Streets on Fire. God willing, it will be amazing!! There is going to be a 3v3 basketball tournament, DJ's, music, dances, food, etc... Please keep that in your prayers. Jordan and the guys have been going around to different schools advertising it.
As most of you probably have heard by now....my parents no longer work with Children's Cup. It sounds sad at first, and it kind of is because even though we aren't leaving Swaziland......it feels like we're somehow being separated from our 'Cup family. But God is in control and He has plans for my parents' ministry here as well as for us.....so I will fear not!! :) I just pray that through this separation from Children's Cup, God can make stronger the bonds between my family and the Children's Cup family, and not allow us to drift apart. I am excited about what my parents will be doing here.....my dad will be doing skills training for I guess teens and young adults who are unemployed. This is really cool because there are many unemployed young people here, many who never had the chance or money to attend school, so hopefully through this, God can use my parents to touch people's lives and draw them to Himself in the process.
I've been really busy with soccer the past few months. Our season just ended last weekend, we came in third in the league.....how sad. Muchachas were first and Kappa Ladies second. It's been a rough season for my team, most of the time we were short of players because one girl (Tema) hurt her knee and is currently recovering from surgery, and for some reason ( i think it's because my coach is unable to pay them) we lost a few players earlier in the season. With teams like Muchachas and Kappa who have sponsors, tracksuits, transport, and money.....finding players isn't really difficult I guess. I really want to become a Swazi citizen so I can play on the National team (Sitsebe) because the coach keeps asking me and I think it would be a really cool experience, since I dont think I could ever play for team USA. :)
Over the past few months, I have been blessed to have a new friend and sister in Christ. Isn't it cool how even before we were born God knew who would be our friends and who would end up being closest to our hearts......and it's also cool how God brings these people into our lives.
A few months ago, actually back in January, I got an sms (text message) from a player on the Muchachas team....her name is Nontsikelelo Mkhonta, or Ntsiki. But at first I had no clue what people were saying when they said her name, so I called her Ziggy... and it stuck. :) She asked me if we could be friends and I was like .....sure, why not!?!? But it was different....with the girls on my team, we're friends, but all we have in common is that we play soccer. With Ziggy, it was like we both knew we would be friends even before we met. It was a God thing. Even though at first, we didn't talk much because her English wasn't so good at the time, we clicked, and now I can talk as fast as I want (almost) and she answers right back....usually with some hilarious sarcastic remark that I end up rolling on the floor laughing about. :) Anyways.....she is like the best female soccer player in Swaziland, she's 21, and she loves the Lord with everything she is. This past weekend she came to play with my team in a friendly match against another women's team. It was sooo much fun because I actually got to play with her, instead of having to defend her....which is close to IMPOSSIBLE!!! But a lot of the time she had to scream at me to get open because I would forget that I was playing and just watch her dribble everyone on the field, and pass a brilliant ball .....(to me who was supposed to be anticipating the pass and going to the goal to score)....and then of course, I ruined everything and missed the goal all together!! Yea...it was one of those games. She laughed at me a lot. Everyone did. I even missed a penalty kick......yup, i kicked it straight to the keeper. I laughed at myself for this one. It was fun though. I think I am most happy when I am on the field with my soccer buddies. I love playing with them, I learn something new everyday.....most recently: SPECTATORS SIT OUTSIDE THE FIELD.......gotta get my head in the game. :)
She is part of a ministry at her church called Vessel of Glory (or V.O.G.) They share the word and love of God through dance, poetry, singing, interpretive dancing, and step....and they write their own music. God is using them to touch Swaziland and He shines through all the 10 girls and Pastor The-The (tay tay) so brightly. We just recently went to one of their shows called Dvumisa Acts...The revelation continues. Wow.....u can feel the anointing before they even begin singing. Seriously I recommend that all of you some here just to see them dance and sing, with everything inside of them....all for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's awesome what God is doing through them and I can't wait to see all that He is going to do. They have blessed us so much and now we want to bless them. Jacci and I were talking about having an evening where we minister to them instead of the other way around...( hey it won't be as good as theirs BUT).... there comes a time in ministry when one needs to stop for a little while and be renewed, refilled, and ministered to....now it's their turn, so please pray that God uses us to bless them.
Please keep my friend Ncamsile in your prayers. It is actually from her that I got my Swazi name Gabsile Shongwe. She is also a Shongwe. Ncamsile is on my soccer team and is an amazing soccer player. She can just about dribble anybody....boy or girl and sometimes you just have to stop and stare because its like "what did she just do, and how did she do it??" My coach started calling us sisters last year because she has a lighter complexion than the other girls on my team lol. ANyways.....I think she is sick and it makes me sad because there is nothing I can do about it. I mean she is fine now....but it just scares me that one day I will go off to University and leave all my close Swazi friends here.....and what if when I come back.....some of them aren't here anymore..... My mom was just reminding me that probably 1 in 3 of my friends here has the virus. I guess it never really clicked before because I am ,in a way, protected at my school and with the other missionaries. But its different now....a few months ago I was only really close to the other missionary people......now some of my closest friends are girls I play soccer with....and I just pray that God uses me somehow to touch their lives and help them find Him...so they can experience the love, joy and peace that comes through knowing Him. I guess its just hard because it seems unfair that I don't have to go through the things that my Swazi friends do, because of where I'm from and how I was raised and all. I wish I could somehow do something that would bless them and show them love like never before. And I know I can't do that in my own strength.......I need Jesus, they need Jesus.
SO...there were all the main stories. Obviously there is so much more I could write about but Its late and I don't even know where to begin. Or end. Basically...I'm still alive, the family is doing well and God is still in control!! Thanks for your love and support. I'll wrote more soon....I promise.
God bless!!!
Gabsile Shongwe
In the pic--> Ncamsile, Shisa, and Gabsile
Oh and funny story....I made a fool out of myself in South Africa yesterday...ok so I dont get out much. I got in an elevator....first time in a LONG time, and I just stood there. About 5 minutes went by and then Ziggy asked me...."why aren't we moving?, did u press the button?" I was like DUHHH I pressed the close the doors button. Then I started thinking we were stuck on the elevator. Ok so I forgot that you have to press the button for the floor you want to go to......eish technology. I really need to get out more. :)
Most recently....I applied for the IB program at my school ( a 2 years pre university course ), and I found out Monday that I was accepted! SO that's pretty cool. I'm happy and relieved, but not really looking forward to the work-load. I pray that God continues to give me the strength and patience and faith I need to get through it, and still be on fire for Him. I've seen many Christians come into my school and unfortunatelt many of them are no longer Christians by the time they have finished. I pray that doesn't happen to me. I know I can't live with out Christ so I pray I don't become lazy or stupid and give Him the backseat in my life you know?? I finish high school in November after our final exams. Right now school is okay...just a lot of revision because we have a 4 week break coming up in 3 weeks and then when we come back to school we have mock exams (practice exams before the real thing).
My best friend, Angelle, is coming here with HPC next week on a missions trip. I am sooooo beyond excitement I don't even know what to say on this matter. I can't even believe its really happening......God is awesome!!!!!!!! I really want to kidnap her for a few hours so she can meet my friends at school who are DYING to meet her, so we'll see how that works out. DOn't worry I'm not really gonna kidnap her (just in case your parents are reading this, angelle) :). There is going to be a huge youth day next saturday called Streets on Fire. God willing, it will be amazing!! There is going to be a 3v3 basketball tournament, DJ's, music, dances, food, etc... Please keep that in your prayers. Jordan and the guys have been going around to different schools advertising it.
As most of you probably have heard by now....my parents no longer work with Children's Cup. It sounds sad at first, and it kind of is because even though we aren't leaving Swaziland......it feels like we're somehow being separated from our 'Cup family. But God is in control and He has plans for my parents' ministry here as well as for us.....so I will fear not!! :) I just pray that through this separation from Children's Cup, God can make stronger the bonds between my family and the Children's Cup family, and not allow us to drift apart. I am excited about what my parents will be doing here.....my dad will be doing skills training for I guess teens and young adults who are unemployed. This is really cool because there are many unemployed young people here, many who never had the chance or money to attend school, so hopefully through this, God can use my parents to touch people's lives and draw them to Himself in the process.
I've been really busy with soccer the past few months. Our season just ended last weekend, we came in third in the league.....how sad. Muchachas were first and Kappa Ladies second. It's been a rough season for my team, most of the time we were short of players because one girl (Tema) hurt her knee and is currently recovering from surgery, and for some reason ( i think it's because my coach is unable to pay them) we lost a few players earlier in the season. With teams like Muchachas and Kappa who have sponsors, tracksuits, transport, and money.....finding players isn't really difficult I guess. I really want to become a Swazi citizen so I can play on the National team (Sitsebe) because the coach keeps asking me and I think it would be a really cool experience, since I dont think I could ever play for team USA. :)
Over the past few months, I have been blessed to have a new friend and sister in Christ. Isn't it cool how even before we were born God knew who would be our friends and who would end up being closest to our hearts......and it's also cool how God brings these people into our lives.
A few months ago, actually back in January, I got an sms (text message) from a player on the Muchachas team....her name is Nontsikelelo Mkhonta, or Ntsiki. But at first I had no clue what people were saying when they said her name, so I called her Ziggy... and it stuck. :) She asked me if we could be friends and I was like .....sure, why not!?!? But it was different....with the girls on my team, we're friends, but all we have in common is that we play soccer. With Ziggy, it was like we both knew we would be friends even before we met. It was a God thing. Even though at first, we didn't talk much because her English wasn't so good at the time, we clicked, and now I can talk as fast as I want (almost) and she answers right back....usually with some hilarious sarcastic remark that I end up rolling on the floor laughing about. :) Anyways.....she is like the best female soccer player in Swaziland, she's 21, and she loves the Lord with everything she is. This past weekend she came to play with my team in a friendly match against another women's team. It was sooo much fun because I actually got to play with her, instead of having to defend her....which is close to IMPOSSIBLE!!! But a lot of the time she had to scream at me to get open because I would forget that I was playing and just watch her dribble everyone on the field, and pass a brilliant ball .....(to me who was supposed to be anticipating the pass and going to the goal to score)....and then of course, I ruined everything and missed the goal all together!! Yea...it was one of those games. She laughed at me a lot. Everyone did. I even missed a penalty kick......yup, i kicked it straight to the keeper. I laughed at myself for this one. It was fun though. I think I am most happy when I am on the field with my soccer buddies. I love playing with them, I learn something new everyday.....most recently: SPECTATORS SIT OUTSIDE THE FIELD.......gotta get my head in the game. :)
She is part of a ministry at her church called Vessel of Glory (or V.O.G.) They share the word and love of God through dance, poetry, singing, interpretive dancing, and step....and they write their own music. God is using them to touch Swaziland and He shines through all the 10 girls and Pastor The-The (tay tay) so brightly. We just recently went to one of their shows called Dvumisa Acts...The revelation continues. Wow.....u can feel the anointing before they even begin singing. Seriously I recommend that all of you some here just to see them dance and sing, with everything inside of them....all for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's awesome what God is doing through them and I can't wait to see all that He is going to do. They have blessed us so much and now we want to bless them. Jacci and I were talking about having an evening where we minister to them instead of the other way around...( hey it won't be as good as theirs BUT).... there comes a time in ministry when one needs to stop for a little while and be renewed, refilled, and ministered to....now it's their turn, so please pray that God uses us to bless them.
Please keep my friend Ncamsile in your prayers. It is actually from her that I got my Swazi name Gabsile Shongwe. She is also a Shongwe. Ncamsile is on my soccer team and is an amazing soccer player. She can just about dribble anybody....boy or girl and sometimes you just have to stop and stare because its like "what did she just do, and how did she do it??" My coach started calling us sisters last year because she has a lighter complexion than the other girls on my team lol. ANyways.....I think she is sick and it makes me sad because there is nothing I can do about it. I mean she is fine now....but it just scares me that one day I will go off to University and leave all my close Swazi friends here.....and what if when I come back.....some of them aren't here anymore..... My mom was just reminding me that probably 1 in 3 of my friends here has the virus. I guess it never really clicked before because I am ,in a way, protected at my school and with the other missionaries. But its different now....a few months ago I was only really close to the other missionary people......now some of my closest friends are girls I play soccer with....and I just pray that God uses me somehow to touch their lives and help them find Him...so they can experience the love, joy and peace that comes through knowing Him. I guess its just hard because it seems unfair that I don't have to go through the things that my Swazi friends do, because of where I'm from and how I was raised and all. I wish I could somehow do something that would bless them and show them love like never before. And I know I can't do that in my own strength.......I need Jesus, they need Jesus.
SO...there were all the main stories. Obviously there is so much more I could write about but Its late and I don't even know where to begin. Or end. Basically...I'm still alive, the family is doing well and God is still in control!! Thanks for your love and support. I'll wrote more soon....I promise.
God bless!!!
Gabsile Shongwe
In the pic--> Ncamsile, Shisa, and Gabsile
Oh and funny story....I made a fool out of myself in South Africa yesterday...ok so I dont get out much. I got in an elevator....first time in a LONG time, and I just stood there. About 5 minutes went by and then Ziggy asked me...."why aren't we moving?, did u press the button?" I was like DUHHH I pressed the close the doors button. Then I started thinking we were stuck on the elevator. Ok so I forgot that you have to press the button for the floor you want to go to......eish technology. I really need to get out more. :)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Its been a while
Hi everyone!! Yes I'm still alive n' kickin! Just been extremely busy with school and sports. I'm leaving tomorrow for Johannesburg, SA. I made the senior bball team and we are playing in a tournament at the American International School in Joberg this weekend. I'm excited, but really scared. I just started playing basketball last year and I still have a lot to learn. Tips are needed ;) We dont have much competition here in SD, our usual score against the local schools is soething like 75-2. Our aim is to usually not let them score at all and for us to try and get 100. SO Ive gotten used to easy games, and I've heard that the competition at AISJ is rough. Its okay though, I'm kindof a bench warmer. hehe.
Hmmm....lately....I've been doing nothing but homework, soccer, and basketball. Literally. I've totally been pushing God aside, and not making time or room in my life for the most important part, He is my life. My family and Jacci have been trying to keep me on track though, I love them so much. It's just so easy to get caught up in life. And its been showing too.....last week was the worst...I fell asleep in Physics, English, and oddly enough during lunch. I would be in the middle of writing a sentence and then the pen would fall to the floor and I was OUT. Thank God I have wonderful friends though, they kept an eye on me and tried their best to keep me awake. I only got kicked out of one class. ;) oops.
Jacci just moved to Mbabane, right down the street from our neighborhood and in the middle of all the 'cup people who live in Mbabane. It's awesome! Me and danielle have been taking turns staying with her...until she gets settled and feels comfortable staying alone. SO I guess I'm kindof like a body guard. Eish. Her house is soooo cute!! ANd she has the biggest yard out of all of ours put together. It's a really amazing testimony, how she got the house. A major test of faith and display of God's faithfullness to His children. I gave up hope when the owner said it was already taken, but Jacci stayed strong and felt like it was going to be her house even though the situation seemed impossible. I learned a lot through the whole process and screamed in the middle of bball practice when I found out she got the house. You don't understand.....she had seriously been looking all over swaziland for MONTHS!!! Totally God. SO last Friday night all the 'Cup people and our other american missionary family people got together at her house and prayed. We walked the property and invited the presence of God and demanded anyone/thing else that was not God to LEAVE or HAMBA!! :)
I have a really long story to tell about something that took place next door to our house a few weekends ago...but I'm not sure if I have enough time to fully describe it. Short version:
In the middle of the night (jacci was sleeping over) we heard this loud wailing and really loud drums coming from next door. At first I thought maybe it was a church service ( they had a big tent up) and maybe someone was getting a demon cast out of them or something. But something didn't feel right. I was overwhelmed with a sense of fear. Jacci and I prayed for a while before finally falling asleep. The drums played the WHOLE night. COme to find out, my dad and mom had a rough time sleeping, they both wrestled in their sleep, and our other neighbor who is also a Christian couldn't sleep. And he didnt even hear anything that was going on. Also, Roger, our swazi brother who lives in our house could not sleep so he stayed up and prayed the whole night. He knew what was going on next door, so the next morning (sunday) we didn't go to church so we could have a family meeting. Roger explained to us what was happening because by this time we were all scared. We went outside to see the people next door sacrificing goats right next to our fence. Our dogs were going crazy and the guy with the knife ( he looked completely possessed or something) was swinging the knife at our dogs.
SO here is what was happening: They were having a graduation ceremony for a lady who had just become a witch doctor, and during the night she was basically giving her soul to the devil. It was her wailing the whole night. All day sunday people would come to test her and see if she really had 'powers'. There was some scarry stuff going on over there, I wont go into detail. What made it even more scarry was that all day it was dark and cloudy. Me and my siblings went outside and startd singing worship songs really loud. Then these 3 guys who were chanting something over the goats body all of the sudden turned at the same time and stared at us. We ran inside. :) It was scarry, but it just opened to our eyes to what the devil is up to. It was hard for us to understand because we're not really used to this having grown up in the US. God really comforted us through the body. We had a prayer evening that night and everyone came over to pray with us and around the house. Everyone was crying. I love them soo much.
Well....I have to go...this is kinod random because its rushed. I'll write more soon. Wish me luck this weekend!!!
God bless!!!
Hmmm....lately....I've been doing nothing but homework, soccer, and basketball. Literally. I've totally been pushing God aside, and not making time or room in my life for the most important part, He is my life. My family and Jacci have been trying to keep me on track though, I love them so much. It's just so easy to get caught up in life. And its been showing too.....last week was the worst...I fell asleep in Physics, English, and oddly enough during lunch. I would be in the middle of writing a sentence and then the pen would fall to the floor and I was OUT. Thank God I have wonderful friends though, they kept an eye on me and tried their best to keep me awake. I only got kicked out of one class. ;) oops.
Jacci just moved to Mbabane, right down the street from our neighborhood and in the middle of all the 'cup people who live in Mbabane. It's awesome! Me and danielle have been taking turns staying with her...until she gets settled and feels comfortable staying alone. SO I guess I'm kindof like a body guard. Eish. Her house is soooo cute!! ANd she has the biggest yard out of all of ours put together. It's a really amazing testimony, how she got the house. A major test of faith and display of God's faithfullness to His children. I gave up hope when the owner said it was already taken, but Jacci stayed strong and felt like it was going to be her house even though the situation seemed impossible. I learned a lot through the whole process and screamed in the middle of bball practice when I found out she got the house. You don't understand.....she had seriously been looking all over swaziland for MONTHS!!! Totally God. SO last Friday night all the 'Cup people and our other american missionary family people got together at her house and prayed. We walked the property and invited the presence of God and demanded anyone/thing else that was not God to LEAVE or HAMBA!! :)
I have a really long story to tell about something that took place next door to our house a few weekends ago...but I'm not sure if I have enough time to fully describe it. Short version:
In the middle of the night (jacci was sleeping over) we heard this loud wailing and really loud drums coming from next door. At first I thought maybe it was a church service ( they had a big tent up) and maybe someone was getting a demon cast out of them or something. But something didn't feel right. I was overwhelmed with a sense of fear. Jacci and I prayed for a while before finally falling asleep. The drums played the WHOLE night. COme to find out, my dad and mom had a rough time sleeping, they both wrestled in their sleep, and our other neighbor who is also a Christian couldn't sleep. And he didnt even hear anything that was going on. Also, Roger, our swazi brother who lives in our house could not sleep so he stayed up and prayed the whole night. He knew what was going on next door, so the next morning (sunday) we didn't go to church so we could have a family meeting. Roger explained to us what was happening because by this time we were all scared. We went outside to see the people next door sacrificing goats right next to our fence. Our dogs were going crazy and the guy with the knife ( he looked completely possessed or something) was swinging the knife at our dogs.
SO here is what was happening: They were having a graduation ceremony for a lady who had just become a witch doctor, and during the night she was basically giving her soul to the devil. It was her wailing the whole night. All day sunday people would come to test her and see if she really had 'powers'. There was some scarry stuff going on over there, I wont go into detail. What made it even more scarry was that all day it was dark and cloudy. Me and my siblings went outside and startd singing worship songs really loud. Then these 3 guys who were chanting something over the goats body all of the sudden turned at the same time and stared at us. We ran inside. :) It was scarry, but it just opened to our eyes to what the devil is up to. It was hard for us to understand because we're not really used to this having grown up in the US. God really comforted us through the body. We had a prayer evening that night and everyone came over to pray with us and around the house. Everyone was crying. I love them soo much.
Well....I have to go...this is kinod random because its rushed. I'll write more soon. Wish me luck this weekend!!!
God bless!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
