I’d rather regret the things that I have done, than the things that I have not done. ~ Lucille Ball
Unlike my impulsive nature, it took me a week to reflect and think about going on a mission to Malawi! I usually make my mind up as I go, but this time I stopped to meditate on my thoughts. Well, to be honest, maybe rather to debate with God about why I am NOT the right person for the job. Why I should NOT go to Malawi. And why I should NOT be part of the missionary team.
That was six weeks ago!
Unlike my impulsive nature, it took me a week to reflect and think about going on a mission to Malawi! I usually make my mind up as I go, but this time I stopped to meditate on my thoughts. Well, to be honest, maybe rather to debate with God about why I am NOT the right person for the job. Why I should NOT go to Malawi. And why I should NOT be part of the missionary team.
That was six weeks ago!
I’m boarding the plane at 13:00 this afternoon.
So, this is my story of faith, and how I became part of the mission….
One normal Sunday morning in church, there was an open invitation to join the mission to Malawi. I immediately felt a tingling sensation, and a little voice told me to go. But I resisted! My heart skipped a beat at the thought. “No Lord, this must be a mistake, this call was for somebody else. Someone with more experience, and someone with the finances readily available. Someone less ordinary. And definitely someone who is NOT married” I argued. But despite my best effort to get rid of the thought, I kept hearing the little voice over and over and over again.
A whole week passed before I spoke to anyone about it. And when I eventually opened my mouth, the conversation did not start with me explaining myself, but rather my beautiful friend who shared her thoughts with me…about the exact same bizarre feelings and concerns. It felt like I had a conversation with myself, because I knew her words before she even spoke them. Well, this solved problem number one – being the only female on the mission (and she is also married!). Because all of a sudden one became two! And later we realised that two was in actual fact three. “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me.” – John 12:26 MSG
It took a lot of courage to convince myself that this was really happening. And after my appointment to gather more information and to sign up, I received confirmation that the Lord needs only availability, and not qualifications to do His works. “But the Lord said to me, say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, you shall speak. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” – Jeremiah 1:7,9 AMP
They say the only thing constant in life, is change. Well, in business, the only certainty, is uncertainty! April had its own challenges, and with the economy being in the state it is, this was probably not the best time to plan a trip like this. But God works in mysterious ways. He paves a way for us, if we just step into obedience. Between sharing my thoughts with my hubby and trying to work it out, the majority of my expenses were paid. I do believe in angels walking this earth! “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you.” -1 Peter 5:7
The emotional rollercoaster I was riding for the better part of three weeks, finally stopped during Pentecost. The weight of uncertainty was relieved through prayer as well as the beautiful words in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” All of a sudden I felt like the apple of God’s eye. I was handpicked!
Maybe I was born for a time as this? It felt as if there were messages everywhere confirming our mission. First a Facebook memory of a year ago popped up – “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8). And a couple of days later I passed a billboard with the word SHINE typed in bold on it, with a small cross reference to Ephesians 5:9 “For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.” And after this subtle billboard message, God started revealing messages related to “light” to me. He reminded me that a rainbow consists of the spectrum of white light (also known as visible light). And how our group was made up of exactly 7 members. And as there is a reason for each colour, there is a reason for each of us. He furthermore shared about visible light vs invisible light, and how He moves and works in visible as well as invisible ways. And to strengthen the already confirmed, God shared Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Get out past the harbour!
– Unknown
So, if you have ever wondered about hearing God’s voice, or admired somebody else’s obedience, remember that God is also calling you by name! He created you with a higher purpose. And He is waiting for you to step into obedience as well! “I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:14
Please keep our group in your prayers, as we will be travelling to remote parts of Malawi. We know that God already prepared the ground for us, and we know that we will return with great testimonies!
Be blessed.
Yolandi
So, this is my story of faith, and how I became part of the mission….
One normal Sunday morning in church, there was an open invitation to join the mission to Malawi. I immediately felt a tingling sensation, and a little voice told me to go. But I resisted! My heart skipped a beat at the thought. “No Lord, this must be a mistake, this call was for somebody else. Someone with more experience, and someone with the finances readily available. Someone less ordinary. And definitely someone who is NOT married” I argued. But despite my best effort to get rid of the thought, I kept hearing the little voice over and over and over again.
A whole week passed before I spoke to anyone about it. And when I eventually opened my mouth, the conversation did not start with me explaining myself, but rather my beautiful friend who shared her thoughts with me…about the exact same bizarre feelings and concerns. It felt like I had a conversation with myself, because I knew her words before she even spoke them. Well, this solved problem number one – being the only female on the mission (and she is also married!). Because all of a sudden one became two! And later we realised that two was in actual fact three. “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me.” – John 12:26 MSG
It took a lot of courage to convince myself that this was really happening. And after my appointment to gather more information and to sign up, I received confirmation that the Lord needs only availability, and not qualifications to do His works. “But the Lord said to me, say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, you shall speak. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” – Jeremiah 1:7,9 AMP
They say the only thing constant in life, is change. Well, in business, the only certainty, is uncertainty! April had its own challenges, and with the economy being in the state it is, this was probably not the best time to plan a trip like this. But God works in mysterious ways. He paves a way for us, if we just step into obedience. Between sharing my thoughts with my hubby and trying to work it out, the majority of my expenses were paid. I do believe in angels walking this earth! “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you.” -1 Peter 5:7
The emotional rollercoaster I was riding for the better part of three weeks, finally stopped during Pentecost. The weight of uncertainty was relieved through prayer as well as the beautiful words in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” All of a sudden I felt like the apple of God’s eye. I was handpicked!
Maybe I was born for a time as this? It felt as if there were messages everywhere confirming our mission. First a Facebook memory of a year ago popped up – “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8). And a couple of days later I passed a billboard with the word SHINE typed in bold on it, with a small cross reference to Ephesians 5:9 “For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.” And after this subtle billboard message, God started revealing messages related to “light” to me. He reminded me that a rainbow consists of the spectrum of white light (also known as visible light). And how our group was made up of exactly 7 members. And as there is a reason for each colour, there is a reason for each of us. He furthermore shared about visible light vs invisible light, and how He moves and works in visible as well as invisible ways. And to strengthen the already confirmed, God shared Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Get out past the harbour!
– Unknown
So, if you have ever wondered about hearing God’s voice, or admired somebody else’s obedience, remember that God is also calling you by name! He created you with a higher purpose. And He is waiting for you to step into obedience as well! “I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:14
Please keep our group in your prayers, as we will be travelling to remote parts of Malawi. We know that God already prepared the ground for us, and we know that we will return with great testimonies!
Be blessed.
Yolandi