Mission To South Africa
In March 2023, a group of 6 of us from JGLM UK & ROI left London’s Heathrow airport, via Hamas International airport in Doha, for O.R. Tambo International airport in Johannesburg. As a graduate from Year 2’s online Dominion Bible Institute course, and the others being graduates from Year 1’s in-person course, we were off to our first overseas mission trip. Our purpose was to share Jesus Christ’s love, healing, and deliverance with the people of South Africa. We, as the group from the UK, linked arms with JGLM South Africa, to advance the kingdom of God. We spent most of our time in Potchefstroom, Free State, which is 2.5 hours outside of Johannesburg. Praying on the streets and in residents homes, but we also ministered an open air service in Ikageng, prayed with patients at Tambo Memorial government hospital and many other places. The God demonstrated his power through healings, baptisms, deliverances, and encouragement via prophetic words and not just to the people at large but to us within the team. With a truth, the kingdom of God was being established and the kingdom of the darkness diminished.
The Long Road To Freedom
Life is a journey. And I’ve learnt that it’s best to enjoy that journey as you progress through it. You may find yourself focusing solely on your destination, and making the mistake of overlooking the now or what is happening in the moment. I would encourage you to be careful not to miss out on the present, as you journey to your “there”. Life may sometimes seem like a long road, with no apparent end in sight. But just like this photo, there may be a long way ahead, a great distance to go, a mass of things to do and a plethora of dreams to achieve, but get there step by step, enjoying the journey!
Gen. Next
This is Ikageng, Potchefstroom where we had the privilege of serving these young ones, the next generation. A sea of young faces with their different hopes, various dreams and unique characters; no different from me and my school friends at that age. As I looked out at them, it was clearly impressed that we have a responsibility to our young people. And when I say “our young people” I mean all the young people that you and I may come across in our life’s journey. We can help them to get a glimpse of what they can be, when they focus, and become intentional, despite any circumstances they may face. It was a great privilege to be able to talk with them, pray with them and laugh with them. It was a great privilege to be able to leave them with a seed of hope.
Playing With The Wild Things
I love lions! I love big cats!! You can therefore imagine that our visit to the game lodge, twice (!!), and playing with the lion cub, had me on cloud 9,999! Not only that, our timing was on point, as in just a few months time from then, attempting to stroke her would be completely out of the question…if you valued your hand. Rest assured, that as a believer, there is a lion inside of you (yeah!). That wild thing, wanting to be released. That unique, free, bold and focussed person that is hidden behind the facades of life, longing to express truth that way God intended you to express it.
There are so many more stories that I could tell of our time in South Africa. Although there isn’t time to go into it now, I will shout out to Cherie, the real life Good Samaritan! You know who you are, and I am still highly impressed by your ministry, a month back home in and my living room in London!
Baie lekker!
