Through His eyes

(Most of the following post was written on 4 April. I had planned to post it but for some reason I felt as if it wasn’t complete. With the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa (Google it), I felt like it was now time for me to share)

It amazes me how God speaks at times. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances might be, He can use simple things to open up your eyes and awaken your spirit man. A few weeks ago, one of the youths at our church lost his brother. My wife and I and several others from the church decided that we would attend the funeral which took place on Good Friday. This would be my first time witnessing a burial in the rural areas. We traveled the 70 kilometers (44 miles) to his parents’ home in Nyamandlovu. Over the next several hours, God showed me a few things that I’d like to share with you all.

When we drove into their village, the first thing we see is a large crowd of people walking down the road. As we got closer, you could see that most of the people were dressed in red and the women were wearing white hats. The closer we got to them, the louder their voices became. They were all singing. As we approached, the people moved to the side of the road and allowed for us to pass. A few minutes later, we pulled into the family’s home where the burial would be taking place. There were probably about 70 people gathered there. We greeted some of the family members and then we were escorted to the grave site where we found another 50 or so men and young boys gathered. Many of them were taking turns shoveling dirt from the hole where they would soon lay their loved one. By the time we walked back to the home and sat down, about 30 minutes had passed. About that time, the large group of people dressed in red that we had drove by stopped at the gate at the entrance to the home. (I really can’t explain it to you but just know that Africa is known for its protocol – certain things have to be done certain ways. If not done properly, a kind act could easily cause offense to someone or be viewed as a sign of disrespect) The group consisted of about 100 men, women, and children. Their singing had stopped. They waited quietly by the gate outside for about five minutes before someone from the family asked what they had come for. The response was “We have to comfort you. We have come to cry with you.” We later learn that they were members of a Methodist church in the area. The family gave them permission to enter the home. I didn’t understand everything that was said but I know that they shared an encouraging word, read a passage of scripture from the Bible, and sang several songs together with the family. It was a touching moment. Very powerful. You could sense the presence of God. Before the group left, the pastor spoke. He said that they were having their Easter conference at the nearby school and when they heard that someone in the community had passed away and that there was a funeral taking place, they wanted to come to pay their respects. They had even collected an offering which they presented to the family as a gift. I assumed that someone from the family attended this church but I was mistaken. The church simply came to show love to those within their community. It blew me away. There wasn’t any ulterior motive. No incentive for them to come, but yet they sacrificed their time to come and share love with the bereaved. The past few weeks, Sista and I and a few others have had conversations about the lack of love and relationships within today’s church. The sense of belonging, that connection, being a part of something, family. You don’t see it much these days. It seems to me that most people only relate to their church family for a few minutes after church on Sundays. But during this time of mourning, at a funeral in rural Zimbabwe, God showed me through this group of believers, that it still exists. We have to be the change we are looking for. It’s not an issue of prayer, it’s about action. We, the church, need to start living the Word we talk about on Sundays. Regardless of denomination, background, social status, education, skin color, or tribe, we need to stand together. It says in Ecclesiastes 4:12, there is strength in numbers. As children of God, I believe that we need to be unified. If for no other reason, than to carry one another’s burdens.

(Galatians 6:2, 2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

As I got into the truck to leave, a man walked up to me. I greeted him in Ndebele and shook his hand. He went on to tell me that he fought in the “struggle” (war fought for independence from the British, coincidentally celebrated on 18 April. The nation of Zimbabwe celebrates 35 years of independence this weekend). He told me that he witnessed many terrible things but then he said something that really ministered to me. He said, “We are all one. We are all the same.” From an outsider’s perspective, you would think that this man was crazy. I imagine that he and I have very little in common. Our entire lives are different but yet I could not have said it any better. We share the same faith. Our hope is in the living God. We come from different countries and we speak different languages, yet we worship the same God and that my friends, is an amazing thing.

 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL men

Titus 2:11

 I am thankful for the sacrifice that God made by sending His only son to die for me. His love and forgiveness do not discriminate. Neither shall we. Redemption came into this world as an innocent child. Jesus withstood every temptation and as He hung from a cross at Calvary, He defeated the enemy. He now reigns victorious as the eternal King. No name is above His name and one day, every knee shall bow before Him.

 I am blessed to be known by God and as one of His sons, I am a citizen of the Kingdom. It is an honor and a privilege to serve Him.

 We are all instructed to go and make disciples so let us get into the world and proclaim the Gospel and compel those that are lost and hopeless to have a seat at His table. The day of the Lord is near and there are seats still available.

 Share His love. Share His Word. Share the message of Jesus Christ.

He is coming.

Shalom,

Jesse

Wanelumusa

Let me help you out with this one, it is pronounced wah-nay-loo-moo-sah. It means “sufficient grace” in Ndebele. Several weeks ago, our pastor preached a message on grace and ever since then, I have been pondering on what the grace of God is all about. Many people have their own definitions of grace but to sum it up, it is undeserved favor. We did nothing to earn it and there is absolutely nothing that we can do to obtain more of it. Neither can we store away a portion of God’s grace for a day in which we think we need a little extra. Grace cannot be stashed away in containers as in the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4, but it is available to us each and every day, similar to the manna and quail that was given to the Israelites in Exodus 16. One of the amazing things about grace though is the fact that it is given to everyone. Both the sinner and the saint. (Matthew 5:45) We all need grace every day and every day we receive grace as a gift from God. To those that don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they mistake grace for “luck.” Some might even go as far as to say that the undeserved favor that they receive is “coincidence” but as children of God, we need to recognize grace when it is given to us or given to others. Biblically speaking, there is no such thing as “luck” or “coincidence” since we know and accept the fact that God is omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), and omnipresent (all places).

I believe that most of the times, God gives grace to assist or to accomplish a specific purpose in an individual’s life. In the life of a non-believer, the main purpose for grace is salvation. In 1 Timothy 2:4, it tells us that God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. It also tells us in 2 Peter 3, that the Lord’s patience means salvation and there is certainly an element of grace found within patience. I can’t help but to think of what it is like to receive a gift from someone when you are not expecting it. From my experiences, not only am I surprised at the generosity and thoughtfulness of an unexpected gift but it also creates a desire within me to communicate and develop a better relationship with the person that gave the gift. I believe that the grace of God in the life of a non-believer operates in the same way. When someone who is lost begins to search for answers and they are brought into direct contact with the grace of God, they are then faced with a fork in the road. They are presented with an alternative that is contrary to the life of sin that they are currently living. His grace becomes a pathway in the wilderness. He becomes Hope for the hopeless and the reality of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration sets in as these are all made possible due to the grace of God.

Christians also experience the grace of God on a daily basis. It can come when we least expect it and often times, it does not look like what we are expecting it to look like. For example, the grace of God can be given through a police officer who lets you off with a verbal warning instead of writing you a speeding ticket when you were obviously traveling above the posted speed limit. The gift of grace can also be found in a traffic stop where you are issued a speeding ticket and delayed a few minutes, only to find out that there was a serious accident a few miles ahead. Although being late for work and having to pay a speeding ticket is not the greatest way to start your day, it is the grace of God that kept you from being in an accident. Each and every day we receive grace from God. My encouragement to you is to recognize those times when God is being gracious to you and as a response, offer up praise to Him as a sign of gratitude.

We learn a lot about grace through the life of the Apostle Paul. He was clearly a recipient of God’s grace but he was also a vessel used by God to pour grace into the lives of others. Look at Paul in Galatians 4. He tells us that it was because of an illness that he first preached the gospel in Galatia. It’s crazy to think that one man’s sickness can bring hope and salvation to an entire community but that is exactly what happened. The grace of God was at work in the life of Paul, strengthening him to preach the good news despite his sickness. God’s grace was also being poured out in Galatia as people were given the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus Christ and receive salvation. It goes to show you that the grace of God is truly sufficient. We know that Paul recovered and continued on his mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and we also know that the Galatians repented from their sins and became sons and daughters of the Most High. But if it wasn’t for the Apostle Paul and his sickness, the people in Galatia were going to have to wait to hear the message from someone else. However, Paul tells us that the administration of God’s grace was given to him for others (Ephesians 3:2). My point being that we, as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ, have been given grace as a gift so that we may also extend grace to others. I’m realizing that grace is not something that can be restrained or contained. It’s more of a “catch and release.” We are to embrace the grace that God gives to us by receiving it in humility and with thanksgiving but we should not become dependent upon it. We are to be fully dependent upon God. Grace is not made available to us so that we can abuse it or misuse it (Romans 6). Grace is given to us by God because He is full of compassion and He knows that His grace is sufficient for our weaknesses.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need – Hebrews 4:16

Keep in mind where the grace and mercy are found….at His throne. That is the point of origin and we are by no means the final destination.

His grace is sufficient, wanelumusa

Jesse

In the midst

Here in Zimbabwe, the rains have arrived. For the past week or so, each day has had some type of rainfall (mostly in the afternoons or early evening). I know my wife and I and many others have prayed that the rains would come this year so it is certainly an answer to our prayers. Many people don’t realize just how important the rainy season is to many African countries or countries with dry, desert like climates. Other than the obvious benefits of cooler temperatures and replenishing the city’s water supply, it also helps with the farming / cattle industry. With more rain, comes more grass, which allows the animals to eat more thus producing healthier livestock. Within this region, farmers tend to sow their seed during the month of November and there is likely to be a better harvest than if there were little or no rains. Significant rainfall is very important to the nation’s economy and the lives of millions of people are greatly affected by the amount of rain that falls each year.

I believe that many of us view rainy days, clouds and thunderstorms as an excuse to stay inside and complain about the weather conditions. I would even go as far to say that most people prefer sunny days. Days that don’t show any sign of rain, no clouds in the sky, no need to carry your umbrella, no raincoat, just blue skies and sunshine. I’m here to tell you though, that’s not how God created this world. In nature, there is a need for rain and in our lives also, we need to be saturated in order to become more productive. As Christians, we often refer to difficult or troubling times as the “storms of life” as the disciples did in Mark 4:35-41. The difference between our storms and the disciples is the fact that theirs was an actual storm that threatened to end their life if it did not cease. Our storms are often represented by a loss of a loved one, financial hardships, sickness, disease, medical conditions, and many other unexpected events. We often look at these trials, adversities, sufferings or “storms” as things that are brought about by the enemy (satan). We attempt to place ourselves in Job’s sandals. You see, Job was a righteous man who was found to be blameless in the eyes of God. The sufferings that Job experienced were brought about by satan but only with the divine permission given by God. I believe that many times, as Christians, we attribute the “storms of life” as being attacks from the enemy. I would like to propose to you a new way of thinking though. As in the example of the storm found in Mark 4 (also found in Matthew 8:23-27), Jesus led His disciples directly into the storm. He had instructed His disciples to get into the boat and cross on to the other side. Jesus, in the flesh, was susceptible to human weaknesses such as fatigue, pain, etc. but we know that our heavenly Father neither sleeps nor slumbers. It is safe to say that God was aware of the storm that lied ahead yet He allowed it to take place. I would have to say that is exactly what our Abba Father does to us most of the time. He allows us to suffer (for a moment or a season) in order to teach us or to show us something. I’m not saying that the enemy does not attack us from time to time but I do believe that most of our “storms” are brought about by the hand of God.

(1 Peter 1:7, James 1:3-4, Romans 5:1-5)

Just as the land needs rain for growth to take place, we also need to encounter storms so that our lives can produce what God desires from us. Romans 5:3-4 is a great example of that and illustrates the growing process that is necessary for a saint.

Suffering –> Perseverance –> Character –> Hope

(Isaiah 55:10-11, Hebrews 6:7)

I would also encourage you to read the book of 1 Peter and the first chapter in James. The apostle Paul shares some powerful truths in Romans 8 but one of the most applicable comes from verse 37. It says IN all these things (trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword) we are more than conquerors. That tells me that even in the midst of our storms, we are victorious. Our victory is not dependent upon our circumstances. Our God and Savior Jesus Christ defeated the enemy once and for all on Calvary and until the Lord comes back, we also can walk in that same victory.

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11

Blessings,

Jesse

PRAISE REPORTS
– Fruitful outreaches and revival services throughout the Cornerstone Fellowship International churches in the Matabeleland region
– His faithfulness to Sista and I with our finances
– The pastors, teachers, and leaders that continue to pour into us and the countless people that faithfully pray for us
PRAYER REQUESTS
– Strength and patience as we await a court hearing for my Residence Permit
– Health and safety
– Healing for Sista’s father’s leg (fractured in September)
– Resources for a trip in March to South Africa for the annual Reconciliation Ministries International conference

Inner growth

It’s been several months since I last posted on here but here we go..

These days in Zimbabwe, the temperatures are hot and they continue to rise. To put things in perspective, I just recovered from a sunburn that I got last week. Things are extremely dry and with the rainy season being weeks, if not months away, I needed to attend to our garden (yard) here at the flat (apartment). The garden was one of the unexpected blessings we received when we moved into our new place as our previous flat did not have one. From the day that we first came to view the flat, it was evident that the yard would need some work because the grass that was once there had clearly been neglected and scorched by the Zimbabwean sun. After moving in, I discovered that beneath the dry grass lie broken pieces of glass, stones, chicken bones, and plenty of other rubbish. Over the following weeks, I spent hours in the garden and with the help of a friend of mine (Moscow, who is actually a gardener) and lots and lots of water, I began to see growth. For weeks I have been watering the garden. The space isn’t that big, probably 30 feet x 20 feet but as it began to fill in, I started to feel proud of my green lawn. Two weeks ago, one of the groundskeepers at the apartment complex passed by and found himself to be quite amused. He informed me as I was diligently watering my green lawn that I had a garden full of weeds. My friend Moscow, the gardener, had instructed me to water every two days but he never mentioned anything about what to do when the weeds came up. I found myself to be quite disappointed at my ignorance and have since been working to eliminate the weeds so that the lawn will grow more and become healthy. I think that this is what we do as Christians as well. We focus more on the visible growth but not so much on the foundation or purity of our individual lives. We spend our days reading our morning devotional, reciting the Lord’s prayer, driving to work listening to Hillsong while wearing our Christian t-shirt, only to discover that we have neglected our personal relationship with God. The Holy Spirit convicted me. A few days later I was supposed to speak with some of the youths at Cornerstone after church on a Sunday. In preparation, I re-read a book that I had read in 2011 before my first trip to Zimbabwe. The book was entitled “Worshiper By Design.” The book encouraged me and refreshed my Spirit and reemphasized the message that had been revealed to me earlier that week. The following day, my wife and I had the privilege of sharing with the youths on “The Most Important Thing.” The thing being our personal relationship with our God and Father. It was such a liberating experience for me. We spent about an hour in discussion with a group of about 20 youths and as they listened attentively, asked questions, and shared their challenges, I saw God’s message to me beginning to awaken others. It was amazing.

I’ve said all that to say this: Don’t be so concerned with the outside, spend more time focusing on Who is above and cultivating What is on the inside (Colossians 3:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). As Jesus Christ said, “by their fruit you will recognize them.” If your inner man is at peace with the Father and you are able to maintain a pure and intimate relationship with Him, you will surely produce fruit and the effects will be visible to all resulting in praise to the Father (Matthew 5:16, John 15:8).

Do not be discouraged. Each day is a new opportunity to get close to the Father. He is always accessible, we just have to be willing to give ourselves to Him. Prioritize. Be consistent. He is a rewarder of those who seek after Him. He assures us that He will be found by us if we seek Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Take that as a personal challenge.
Seek Him.
Find Him.

your partner in the field,

Jesse

PRAYER POINTS
– The Cornerstone evangelism teams that will be doing outreaches for the next three weeks. The main purpose is to encourage the local assemblies and to share the Gospel to those within the community

– Patience, strength, provision, and favor with our ongoing legal battle over the issue of obtaining a Residence Permit

– Our families, our health, our finances

– All of those that are serving God on the mission field (domestic and international)

Beyond

As I sit down on my bed to start writing, I can’t help but be thankful. I have a roof over my head, a warm place to sleep on a cold night, seed loaf and marmalade, and roobois in the kitchen for breakfast, and my best friend to wake me up in the morning. So many times in life, we look at what we don’t have instead of appreciating what we do have. A few hours ago, as my wife and I were passing through town on our way home, something caught my eye. I pulled into a parking space for a few minutes so that Sista could run into a store and I noticed something on the sidewalk. It looked like some trash or maybe something that someone had thrown out. As I looked closer, as people were walking by, I noticed that some were shaking their heads and others would walk by only to glance back and look at the pile on the sidewalk. It was then that I realized that it was a person lying there. They had covered themselves with an old bag, one that is used to carry vegetables. The person was not very big so I assume that it was a child. If you watched closely though, you could see the slightest of movements as people continued to pass by. It left me speechless. I didn’t know what to do. I thought to myself, “What can I do to help them?” Even if I gave them everything that I had in my pockets, it would not change their life’s circumstances. It broke my heart to see someone in that position, especially a child. Lying on the cold sidewalk in the middle of the city, struggling to keep warm from the winter wind. I have no idea what has happened to get them there but I know that God still cares for him / her. I wish I could go on to tell you some amazing story where there is a wonderful ending but I can’t. That little boy or girl is probably still there on the sidewalk, cold and hungry. I think about all of the people all over the world that will go to sleep tonight without food. People who are sick but have no money to go to the doctor or buy medicine. People who have been forgotten about, brushed to the side as if they were rubbish. God still cares for those people. They are precious in His eyes. Although I am not able to give as much as I would like to (financially), I can give of myself. Whether it be time and attention or love and compassion, I can give. I might not be able to put food in someone’s stomach but I can share the word of God and put hope in their heart. At one point in my life, just a few years ago, I was so empty. I was searching desperately for something that would fill the void in my life. It was only when I let go that I saw Who was holding me. As I drew closer to God, He got closer to me. The Lord cleaned out all of the garbage in my life and gave me grace for a new beginning.

(meditating on Isaiah 61)

The past several weeks have been busy. It seems as if the days aren’t long enough. As my mother would say, “there are 24 perfect hours.” So even though I am tired and my wife sleeps beside me, I will give you a run down of the past few weeks and highlight a few things coming up. The youth camp that we had on Easter weekend was a success. We had about 90 youths from the different regions come together in Bulawayo and we had a great time. Good word, good fellowship, good food. It was wonderful. I am also happy to say that my back hasn’t been bothering me much lately. Praise God. That’s an answer to prayer. While I’m testifying, I’ll go ahead and share another praise report. We were able to purchase a vehicle this past week for the ministry! It is a four wheel drive, seats seven, and most importantly, was within our budget. Through many prayers, lots of patience, and the favor of the Lord, we were able to find just what we were looking for. God is good like that..always on time. That means we are now mobile and ready for the rough terrain. We have several outreaches coming up and we are excited to see what the Lord is going to do these next few weeks.

Please continue to pray for us as we are submitting some very important paperwork tomorrow morning. We are trusting God to guide our steps and praying for favor. We are also exercising our faith and trusting God in the area of our finances. The first three months that we’ve been here in Zim, we’ve managed to pay all of our bills and all of our needs have been met. For the month of April though, we only receieved $1,055 which covers less than half of our current expenses ($2,331 / month). We are confident that God will continue to meet our needs. The fact is, He uses individuals to help meet those needs. It’s my responsibility to communicate the need to you though. The way I see it, we have three options. One, for our current monthly supporters to increase their giving (if able to do so). Two, find new supporters that would agree to pledge monthly and do so faithfully. Or three, start looking for a job. The last option is last for a reason. It is not that I am unwilling to work but the reality is, it will take time away from other things, such as ministry. I would like to remain focused and spend my time / energy on what God has called me to do and working a “nine to five” would certainly interfere with that. The other thing is, in order to work here you have to first submit an application. The process can be long and tedious and there are no guarantees. With all of that being said, I will say it once again – we are trusting God and confessing the word over our lives (Hebrews 10:23, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:19)

He is faithful.
“Every day, every hour, You are faithful oh Lord” (singing)

PRAYER POINTS
– Upcoming outreaches (Kwekwe, Makorokoro, Maphisa, Esigodini)
– Finances (both monthly and ministry)
– Swift, favorable response to permit paperwork
– Health and protection while traveling

unswervingly,

Jesse

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come–it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is written within my heart.
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O Lord. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. BUT MAY ALL WHO SEEK YOU REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN YOU; MAY THOSE WHO LOVE YOUR SALVATION ALWAYS SAY, “THE LORD BE EXALTED!”
Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 40

A month to remember

The past five weeks have been extremely busy. In the first week of March, Sista and I welcomed both our families to Bulawayo. They had traveled from different communities, countries, and continents and it was exciting to have everyone in the same place at the same time. A few months earlier, Sista and I had realized that this would be the first time that her entire family (both her parents, her five brothers and four other sisters) would all be together. This would also be the first time that the four Berry’s would be on African soil together as a family. This truly was a blessing from God for both our families and I’m sure we will all talk about that time together for many, many years to come. In the midst of all the family and fellowship, we managed to finish all of our preparations for the wedding and take part in all of the festivities throughout the week. On March 8, 2014, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the city of kings, I became the happiest man on earth as I looked down the aisle and saw my beautiful bride, my best friend, my helpmate, my answer to prayers. On that day, before God and man, Sista and I entered into a covenant with one another and I received one of the greatest gifts God could have ever given to me — my queen. The day was filled with love, joy, and the presence of God. It went by so fast but it was magnificent from beginning to end. At the end of the night, we closed with a song entitled “Ichokwadi” which means “It’s the truth” in Shona. The lyrics say “Surely the presence of the Lord is here. Ichokwadi mwari varipo (It’s the truth, God is here). As the seats emptied and the dance floor became crowded and we all began singing, you could sense the presence of God. I will never forget that moment. It’s similar to when you hear from God. I can remember when God spoke to me about leaving the States and the possibility of going overseas, and all of the things that happened in order for that calling to become a reality. That is the same way I felt on my wedding day. From the time that I met Sista in August 2012, I knew something was different about her. She was special. As our friendship progressed and God revealed to me that she was to be my wife, I had no clue as to how things would play out but I knew that He was going to be true to what He had spoken to me because He is faithful. Fast forward fourteen months, fill the atmosphere with praise towards a loving God and time stopped. I looked out at all of the people dancing, our family and friends filled with joy rejoicing, its as if the Lord said, “Now didn’t I tell you son..” I couldn’t help but to smirk, look up to the sky, nod my head and say “Yeah, that was a good one Dad.”

The following day, we rush back to the flat (apartment) to finish packing for our trip. We only had a few hours before we had to board a bus that would take us the 14 hours to South Africa. Well about an hour or so before we were going to leave to go to the bus station, I walk upstairs to the lounge and hear something coming from the kitchen. What was once a small leak in the geyser (water heater), had now become a waterfall. Sista and I scramble to switch off the water and find containers to drain the 120 liter tank. With some help from my parents, we make it to the bus station with only a few minutes to spare. (I won’t even mention to you how the sky opened up and soaked us just as we were exiting the car and loading our luggage onto the bus). We cross the border into South Africa, travel all night and arrive the next morning in Johannesburg. We then proceed to fly to Cape Town where we would spend three days on honeymoon. Let me just say this, if God ever opens up a door and gives you an opportunity to go to Cape Town, do it. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and it was a blessing to be able to see it with my beautiful wife. We saw Table Mountain, enjoyed a lovely dinner on the V & A Waterfront, traveled to Cape Point (the southernmost part of Africa) and saw where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It was also Sista’s first time to see the ocean so we went to Camps Bay and took a walk on the beach and put our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. It was wonderful. On Thursday morning, we left Cape Town and headed back to Jo’burg. Upon arriving at the airport, I receive a text message from our landlord. The apartment had flooded. Great. For about sixty seconds, I panicked. So many thoughts went through my head, “How bad is it?” “Is all of our stuff ruined?” “Why did this happen? We’re on our honeymoon” “How will we pay for it?” Then it hit me. In that moment, what could I do about it? We were over fourteen hours away. I just tried my best to let it go. After we collected our luggage, I made a few phone calls and it turns out that it wasn’t as bad as I had thought. To keep you from suspense, the only significant damage was to the floor in the lounge. The floor is done in wooden tiles and when they absorb water, they swell and pop up. They will need to be repaired / replaced but I am having a guy come look at it tomorrow to give us an estimate of the costs, so say a prayer that it isn’t too bad. Through it all, God has been showing me and teaching me that I am not in control. Although He has created me to be a well organized and strategic person, I am not in control of my environment. I just have to trust Him and believe that all things work together (Romans 8:28)

Our next stop was Emalahleni (Witbank). Sista and I were joining a conference that had started on Tuesday evening. We joined a team of about 25 pastors, worship leaders, soldiers, and servants from RMI (Reconciliation Ministries International) which is led by Bishop Joseph Garlington. It was such an honor and a privilege to sit under his teaching and Sista and I were humbled to be a part of the ministry team. Pastor Wayne, Mrs. Jean, Ms. Claudia, and Curt were also part of the team. Bishop Garlington had selected Isaiah 43:16-19 (MSG version) as his theme scripture and had spoken several times about “A Season of Suddenlies.” On Friday night, after the evening service, the team gathered together for dinner once again at our usual place, Cappuccino’s (It is a restaurant located in the mall that agreed to stay open late and cook for us after the evening services). It was after 10pm and we were eating our dinner when all of a sudden, a group of ladies came into the restaurant. They were all dressed in their traditional garments and they were singing a song and the girl in front was carrying a large basket on her head that was filled with fruits. Sista and I looked at each other…we soon figured out that this was a traditional wedding celebration that had been arranged for us. It was a “suddenly” moment. There was singing, dancing, gifts were being given, phones and cameras everywhere taking photos and recording video. And we were standing in a restaurant in the middle of a mall in South Africa on a Friday night at 10:30pm. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our entire trip as Sista had never participated in one of these celebrations and no one from the team, including myself, had ever experienced something like that. It was amazing. It was a “new thing” for the both of us. That evening we were blessed at the thoughtfulness, the creativity, the love, and the generosity that Pastor Eddie and Stella, the ladies of Gateway, and the RMI team showed to Sista and I. Unbelievable.

Next, we traveled to Durban for a week. The RMI team held a conference at another church similar to the one we just did in Witbank. Sista and I stayed with a family that I had met and stayed with last year. They attend a church called Potter’s House Ministries. My father (Pastor Wayne Berry) has connections to that church through their senior pastor (Gerald Naiker) and the team from Springhouse would join their church for a short conference that weekend. The conference theme was “The Treasure Within.” It really addressed the heart of worship. On Friday night, Pastor Wayne spoke about Jonah and taught an amazing teaching about how we can choose to worship wherever we are placed. It was a timely message for me as I have struggled at times with being able to focus on God in difficult / discouraging situations. The Sunday before we left, we all went to the beach and although Sista and I saw the beach in Cape Town, the water in Durban is much warmer and I had the opportunity to take my wife out into the Indian Ocean for her first time. We played like children, letting the waves crash into us for what seemed like hours. We laughed until our cheeks hurt. It was another wonderful day full of God’s grace. We were both thankful for that time. And although Durban is not quite as beautiful as Cape Town, the people most certainly are. Very hospitable, sincere, loving, and generous. The food is incredible too. Highly recommend if you ever have the opportunity.

Two and a half weeks after the wedding and Sista and I were finally headed back to Zim. It was wonderful being in SA. Our honeymoon in Cape Town, being able to spend some time with my family, Curt, and Claudia, and to be refreshed. Fed spiritually and phtsically. It was now time to go home. We were both missing sadza and tshomolia. The trip took us about sixteen hours. It was time to get back to work. Without going into too much detail, we have had some challenges with some of our paperwork. We had to travel to Harare on Thursday (six hours there, six hours back) and have been busy sorting through things since we returned. (**This is a huge prayer need so please, all our prayer warriors out there, pray for grace and favor with our paperwork). Sista and I also learned that our church here (Cornerstone Fellowship International) had also been facing some challenges while we were away. Specifically with the youths. With our annual youth camp being less than two weeks away and the Bulawayo region hosting, we also need prayers for unity, creativity, wisdom, and grace. Sista and I have made it a priority to join others at the church each morning to pray and we trust that God will use this situation for His glory. Some of you might remember that Sista and I are also attending CBA (Cornerstone Bible Academy). Classes are meeting this week. Sista and I are enrolled in our second year and we’ll be studying on “Pastoral Theology.”

I’ll end on this note. This past weekend, Sista and I, along with three of her siblings, traveled to her parents home in the rural areas. The wedding celebration continued as her father slaughtered a beast (cow) for us. Family members from all over came to their home for this celebration because it was the first of its kind. It was wonderful. We feasted, we danced, we worshipped God together. The family officially accepted me as their mkhwenyana (son-in-law) as well. And if you still have any doubts whther or not I am an African American, you can go and count our chickens and goats in Makorokoro. Yebo ichokwadi

I know that this has been one of the longest, most detailed blogs I have ever posted but I did so for perspective. I want you to see the ups and the downs. I want you to see the blessings and the challenges that come with serving God and being obedient to Him. Although there are difficult times (most of which I did not share), He is faithful. He is Lord of the rain and the rainbow. Do not take your blessings for granted and do not dwell on the difficulties. He will see you through. Keep your eyes focused on Him, worship Him with all you got, be obedient to His word and keep fighting.
The battle belongs to the Lord.

your brother in Christ,

MR. Berry

PRAYER NEEDS
– Bulawayo / CFI youths
– CFI Youth camp (April 18-21)
– Favorable reports with our paperwork
– Seed Provision, as we put together our calendar of evangelism outreaches for the remainder of 2014
– 4×4 vehicle for the ministry
– Health (my lower back has been irritated since December and with all of the traveling / driving, it has really been bothering me), Safety, Wisdom, and Provision

New Land

I’ll start off by sharing with you all two praise reports. Just after, I posted my last blog at the end of January, Sista and I went and looked at a flat (apartment) and within a few days, I was able to pay the deposit and move in. We signed a six month’s lease two weeks ago and we will be here up until the first week in August. At that time, we will need to extend the lease or find another place to rent. The other praise report came in an email from our Missions Pastor in Tennessee. The email stated that 80% of the funds needed for the ministry vehicle had come in. Praise God! We will need to raise an additional $2,000 for the other expenses associated with the vehicle (registration, insurance, maintenance, etc.) but he $8,000 that came in will be enough to purchase a 4×4. These were two things that we had been praying and trusting God for and He came through once again. Jehovah Jireh – our Provider

Moving into a place of my own has definitely been a new experience as well. I have never lived on my own and I’m realizing that there are many more responsibilities that come with a new home (or a flat) than I had thought. Actually, I knew there were more responsibilities but it isn’t until you’re in the middle of it that it becomes a reality. I’ve enjoyed it though, especially the peace and quiet in the mornings and being able to read and do my devotionals out on the balcony. That peace and quiet quickly vanished though as soon as Curt Bryson arrived. Curt is a close friend of mine and a brother in the Lord. He is currently serving as a missionary in Mbita, Kenya with a ministry called SEEK (Suba Environmental Education of Kenya). Honestly though, it has been a pleasure to have him around this past week and a half. The Lord opened up a door and made a way for Curt to come to Zimbabwe for a few weeks before the wedding. It’s been good to reconnect with him and share some laughs as we talk about life, relationships, and ministry. I hadn’t seen Curt since last March where we ministered together for three weeks at a few conferences in South Africa. It’s been good to have him here in Bulawayo and to show him around the city and meet Sista and a few other friends. Other than being a groomsmen in our wedding, Curt was also interested to see where I had been living / ministering. I too, have that same desire to travel to Kenya to visit Curt and see where he has been for the past year and a half. Sista and I have actually been given the opportunity to join the team from Springhouse that will be traveling to Mbita in June but we are about $1,500 short of the money needed for the trip. We have given it to God though and if it is the Lord’s will, we will join them in June. I am excited to see where the Lord leads Curt as he has a real gift for connecting with people and is very passionate about seeing people’s lives transformed. Curt was actually able to join us in our first outreach for Seed Provision.

Last Thursday, we traveled eight hours on a bus to Makorokoro. The roads are bad and typically takes about four hours to drive the 230 kilometers (143 miles) but with public transportation the journey is much, much longer. We spent three days in Makorokoro and were able to do some evangelism throughout the community and distribute a number of Bibles. We had a service on Friday night with a wonderful time of praise and worship followed by a word from Aleck Mabaleka. He is one of the youth leaders at Cornerstone and a friend and brother to me. He joined Sista, Curt and I on the outreach. Aleck is passionate about youth ministry as well as evangelism and it was a joy to have him on the trip. The message that he spoke on was from Luke 10, the story of Martha and Mary. An amazing thing happened as he started to preach. Since we were in the rural areas, Aleck was preaching in Ndebele. Although I can speak a little bit, I could not follow his message. The word of God started to preach to me though. As I opened up my Bible and read the passage (Luke 10:38-42) from the light of my phone, the Lord started to speak to me about my life. I have been so busy these past six weeks with moving, preparing for the wedding, and finding a car and a place to live that I haven’t sat at the feet of Jesus enough. Sometimes I can be a “Mary” and find peace sitting in the presence of the Lord. At other times, I find myself in “Martha mode” running around trying to serve God or be self sufficient. That isn’t how its supposed to be though. We need Him. I need Him.

I found that to be amazing. Although I could not understand the words that were coming from Aleck’s mouth, the word of God spoke to me. Not only did I need to be reminded of that story but that is one of the reasons that we started Seed Provision.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”    

By God’s grace, He has given us His word. Let us meditate upon it and allow it to change our lives from the inside out as we apply its truths.

For God’s glory.

I am also excited to say that in a few days time, my family will be here in Bulawayo! My mother, father, and sister will be leaving Tennessee on Saturday and will be arriving Monday afternoon. They will be here in Zimbabwe for a week and then Sista and I will join them in South Africa after our honeymoon. It is indeed an exciting time for us. I am so very blessed. I look forward to being able to spend some time with my family as I enter into a covenant with the love of my life. The Lord has been so faithful to me and has blessed me with an intelligent, beautiful, God fearing woman. She is my lily. Soon, I will call her my wife. I am so thankful. To God be the glory. We pray that our lives will be a testimony unto Him and that He would use us for His purposes.

PRAYER POINTS

– Please continue to pray for Sista and I as we enter into a new season of our relationship and exchange vows next Saturday and enter into a covenant together

– Seed Provision; that the Word that has been planted will bear fruit in the name of Jesus

– Pray for traveling mercies for our families and all those that will be traveling for the wedding

– The conferences that will be taking place in South Africa (Reconciliation Ministries International in Witbank and in Durban and Potter’s House in Durban)

– Health, provision, protection as we travel

– Opportunities to testify to the goodness of the Lord and to speak the truth in love

– The saints around the world and all those that are serving God and being persecuted because of their faith.

 

We love you all so much. Be encouraged and strengthened as we serve the One who is more than able. Be blessed, be a blessing

 

in Christ I stand,

Jesse

 

One step at a time

It’s been two weeks now since we landed in Zimbabwe. Sista and I were welcomed at the airport by her family and a few friends. It was nice to see everyone smiling. Although it had been a long journey, we were both excited to be back home in Zim. The jet lag had already set in but I had prepared myself mentally and was determined to get things done. The thing is though, in order to reach a desired goal, you have to start somewhere. I had several things in mind that I know needed attention right away. The four areas we needed to focus on were transportation, accommodation, wedding, and ministry.

Before we even arrived in Bulawayo, I had made the decision that I would rent a car for the first few days as that would allow us to be mobile and more productive. That proved to be wisdom from God and money well spent. We were able to accomplish a lot within those first few days. The Lord has been incredibly faithful to us with our finances. We have not yet found a sponsor for the vehicle needed for Seed Provision but two weeks before we left, one of our supporters gave us a loan so that we could buy a vehicle to get around town. With resources in hand, I began to do my research and decided that the best place to buy a vehicle was in South Africa. The reason for that is most of the vehicles here in Zimbabwe are not so good due to poor road conditions and irregular vehicle maintenance. A friend of mine who imports cars was gracious enough to clear his schedule and travel with me to Messina, South Africa. We found a reasonably good car within my price range and after spending two nights in Beit Bridge, we managed to clear the car at the border and make the 3 1/2 hour trip back to Bulawayo. Praise God! We thank the Lord for provision and protection.

Sista and I have also been looking for a house to rent so that once we get married in March, we have a place to call our own. We have looked at several houses in the past week, but of all of the ones we have seen, only one interests us and is within our budget. I won’t go into all of the details but before we were able to sign the lease, we received some disappointing news from the owner of the home and weren’t able to come to an agreement. However, we are walking in faith and trusting God to give us a home that is right for us. His word tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We are standing on that promise and waiting patiently for Him to move on our behalf.

Yesterday, Sista and I had a meeting with our wedding coordinator. The preparations are coming along. There are still lots of minor things that we will be sorting out these next few weeks but we are making progress. I am excited for the big day and I look forward to seeing my beautiful bride walk down that aisle. 37 days to go, Genesis 2:24

We haven’t been able to do so much in terms of ministry but things are already coming together. Next week we will be starting our second year of CBA (Cornerstone Bible Academy) and will be taking evening classes. The following week, we plan on traveling to Harare where we will pick up the Ndebele Bibles for Seed Provision. As of right now, we have enough money to purchase 220 Bibles. I hope to have 500 Bibles in stock by April 1st. For more information on our Bible distribution ministry / evangelism outreach initiative (Seed Provision) send an email to seedprovision@gmail.com or message me directly at jberry615@gmail.com. We purpose to launch the ministry and do our first outreach to Makorokoro in February and are already looking at opportunities within other rural communities once we return from South Africa in March.

The past two Sundays, Sista and I were able to attend both of the churches I had been working with last year, Cornerstone Fellowship International (Sista’s home church) and Praise and Worship Centre (another church located in Bulawayo). It was wonderful to see everyone again and to hear the worship and praise songs in Ndebele. Although I do not speak it fluently and am often asking Sista what a particular word means, I do love and appreciate the language and hope to learn more while we’re here. Unfortunately, we have been quite busy since we arrived on the 16th and haven’t had many opportunities to visit with friends but it has been great being able to spend some time with Sista’s family and my family (the Sinjoki’s) over the past few weeks.

This next year is sure to be an exciting one for Sista and I as we transition into a new season. I am excited to see what the Lord will do in us and through us. He is indeed a faithful God and is worthy to be praised.

We would also like to thank you all for your love and support over these past several months. It is a blessing and an honor to serve alongside you all. Let us continue to stand firm in our faith.
He is more than able.

PRAYER POINTS
– Resources to purchase a 4×4 vehicle for Seed Provision
– House for Sista and I
– Traveling mercies on the road with our new vehicle and grace to keep it in good running condition
– Wedding travels (Curt from Kenya, my parents, sister, and Claudia from Tennessee, Sista’s family from Makorokoro and Johannesburg)
– Ministry / conferences in South Africa (Witbank, Durban, Pietermaritzburg) in March
– Provision / protection for all of our travels
– Sista and I have been given the opportunity to travel to Kenya in July. Pray for resources and favor for a trip to Mbita to meet up with a team from Springhouse and a close brother and fellow missionary (Curt Bryson)
– Seed Provision, pray for soft, receptive hearts so that the seed of the word of God will be planted, take root, and produce fruit in the lives of many
– Youths in Bulawayo and surrounding areas
– Springhouse Worship and Arts Center (more specifically for a team traveling to Israel for two weeks in February)
– Good health for Sista and I and protection from anything that might try to distract us or deter us from the work God has called us to
– Wisdom (specifically with how we steward our time and resources)

For all of you that have been kind and gracious to us and have been faithful to us in prayer, thank you. May God richly bless you and your families in Jesus name.

your brother in Christ,

Jesse

Don’t worry, He’s faithful

I don’t even know where to begin. It has now been almost 11 months since I left my home back in Tennessee to move to Zimbabwe. So much has happened since then. I have grown so much. The Lord has been so faithful to me. He has fulfilled His word and provided for me in each and every step of the way. In Matthew 6, Jesus Christ is speaking to his disciples and telling them that there is no reason to worry about their needs. It is one of those passages that sounds so simple but when it comes to putting it into practice, its another story. It is true though. It is simple. It all boils down to two words — SEEK GOD. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that Jesus references Solomon in this passage. Solomon is said to be the wisest man that ever lived, due to the fact that when asked by the Lord what he desired, Solomon responded that he desired wisdom. Yet in Matthew 6:29, Jesus tells us that Solomon with all of his wisdom and all his splendor was still not capable to take care of himself like the Lord is able to take care of even the smallest things, such as the lilies of the fields. No amount of wisdom or intellect can explain how the Lord does His things. In Isaiah 55:8, it tells us that our thoughts and our ways are not the same as the Lords. He thinks beyond what we are able to comprehend. The God who formed man out of dust is not limited when it comes to thinking. Neither is He limited in any other way. When He speaks, things happen. That’s why I shouldn’t be surprised that He has taken care of me like He has this past year. He has protected me. He has provided for me. He has kept me healthy and strong. He has displayed His love and faithfulness to me time and time again. He has even given me some of my heart’s greatest desires. I could give you one testimony after another of how His hand has been on my life as I stepped out in obedience as He called me to serve in Africa. Its hard to believe that I left America last July as a 25 year old bachelor not knowing exactly what I would be doing or what I would do after having served as a missionary in Zimbabwe for a year. In September, I will turn 27 years old. I now have a beautiful fiancé. I’ve gained a new confidence when it comes to working with / ministering to youths. I can speak / understand a bit of Ndebele. I am also planning to return to Bulawayo to start a ministry of my own that helps spread the Good News. The Lord has shown me the beautiful truth that is found in Matthew 6:33,
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Even in the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 3, he asks the Lord for a discerning heart (wisdom) and the Lord not only honors his request but He also gives Solomon riches, honor, and a long life. God does this because Solomon’s heart was in the right position. He was not being selfish but he was asking for wisdom so that he may do the work that God had called him to. What I’ve realized is that God is not a god of minimums or a god of just enough. He is a God of more than enough. He exceeds our expectations. He is Jehovah Jireh. He is more than able. He can and He will. The only thing that we must do is to seek Him and to make sure that our heart is in the right position. He even promises us that if we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). It is not a game to God, its not hide and seek. He desires to be found by us. Our desire needs to be to seek Him with all our heart.
I am now faced with lots of decisions to make and so many different things are in competition for my attention. I am determined to seek after God though. My flesh may be weak and the world can continue to tell me I am not able but His word encourages me (Philippians 4:13, Mark 10:27). The good work that He started in me, He is faithful to complete. If it wasn’t for God’s grace, my story would have been finished years ago. I have a purpose though. There is work for me to do. There are people that I must reach. I will continue to move forward and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit until my assignment is compete. Now that I have been given a glimpse, I am eager to occupy the lands that God has set before me. Genesis chapter 13 encourages me. It actually inspires me. This thing is far greater than me. Although I do have a desire to leave a legacy for my children and my children’s children, it is far greater than that. It is about the Kingdom. It is about God and Him receiving the glory that is due to Him. My life is but a vapor–here today, gone tomorrow. The Kingdom of God is forever though. The things of God are eternal. (Psalm 103:19) Let us be about the things of God. Let us set aside our desires and allow God to cultivate in us a heart that is like His. In this way, He has no choice but to be faithful and give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4) because they will be the desires that He has for us and He is not only faithful to us but He is faithful to His word.

Be blessed as you seek after the heart of God.

Much love,

Jesse

Passing through

Well its been awhile since I last posted an update. Sorry about that. Its just at times it can be really difficult putting my thoughts into words. Sometimes I feel as if I dont have much to say. At other times, I have so much to say that I feel like I could talk for days and a few lines on a page doesn’t seem to do it justice. So with that being said, I’ll just share some of what has gone on here lately and whats on my heart. I’m still coming off of what some would call a “mountaintop experience.” I was blessed to have been able to spend the past 3 weeks with a team from Springhouse. The team included both of my parents (Pastor Wayne & Jean Berry), our dance minister (Mrs. Claudia Peterson), and two other brothers that have been serving on the mission field. Chris Morgan, who has been working with Scripture Union and living in Pietermeritzburg for the past two years. And Curt Bryson, a very close friend of mine, who has been serving in Mbita, Kenya for the past 7 months. The trip was amazing. Not only was the fellowship and time together a blessing but we were able to minister at several churches and be a part of two different conferences there in South Africa. I was humbled to be a part of it. At the RMI (Reconciliation Ministries International) conference in Emalahleni (formerly Witbank), I was assigned to teach my own workshop. I taught on faith and its different levels. My workshop was entitled “little faith vs. GREAT FAITH” and I taught from the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14) and the faith of the centurion (Luke 7).
I also had the privilege of meeting, spending time with, and developing relationships with some truly wonderful people. In Cape Town and Durban, we were hosted by a few different families and the people there really did open up their houses to us and made us feel right at home. It amazes me when I meet people that really do have a servants heart and display the love of Chirst through their lives. These families were not only loving and hospitable but they were willing to bend over backwards to do whatever was needed. You know one of the funniest things was when Curt and I first met up in Cape Town. The lady that had offered to host us had a multi-million dollar home right on the beach with an incredible view of Table Mountain. I mean, talk about favor. This place had everything. To give you an idea, I’ll just say two words–heated floors. This place was nice. The funny thing though was the things that Curt and I had an appreciation for. The view was amazing, the food was delicious, but the best thing for me was the shower. It had water pressure that made you feel like you were at a spa. And we actually had hot water (Curt hadn’t had a hot shower in months). We didn’t even have to worry abouth the water finishing or cutting off either. Not to mention two-ply toilet paper. Haha. And beds that were super comfortable, they were fit for kings. We were blessed to be in such an incredible home but it was the little things that we were so thankful for. Things you learn to appreciate when you’re a missionary and you don’t have such luxuries at your fingertips. Our experience there also taught us both a valuable lesson. There is nothing wrong with having nice things. Its really more about how you steward the gifts and talents you were given. Not everyone is given the same gifts/talents but we are all given the ability to be good stewards with that which we do have. Prosperity is not a bad thing at all, it is actually a testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness on one’s life.
Everywhere we went, the Presence of the Lord went before us and He gave us divine appointments all along the way. There most definitely will be fruit produced from our time there in South Africa. Not only in our lives, but also in the lives of others. I believe it is now the time to prepare for the harvest. It is coming. Get ready.
Another thing that I really enjoyed was the worship. There is nothing quite like the praise and worship at Springhouse Worship & Arts Center, but in a few of the places we traveled to, they did some songs that we do back at SWAC and they really ministered to me. At times, I still struggle with my personal worship life. A lot of the songs we do here in Zimbabwe are in the venachular language, and although I do speak some Ndebele, when it comes to singing the songs, my rhythym is either off or I have no idea what is being said and it becomes very hard for me to engage spiritually. This even proved to be true this past Sunday. But thanks to Curt I was able to get some new worship songs on my computer and I had my own praise and worship service before I went to church.
Throughout my entire time in South Africa, the Lord was faithful to me. He gave me opportunities to trust Him and each and every time, He came through and delivered. I even have a few testimonies that are without a doubt from the hand of God, but I won’t go into those. Just know that, the Lord is faithful. From beginning to end, the trip was a tremendous blessing and just what I needed. That doesn’t take away from the fact that I was ready to come home. I was now missing Zimbabwe. Even with all the ZESA (electricity) and water cuts, the horrible roads full of potholes, and the hot, dry weather..it is home for me. I know that this is where God has called me to. I am thankful for all of the blessings I received in South Africa but I know that there are even greater blessings for me here in Bulawayo. I can tell you one thing…it sure is good to be home.
I’m still trying to fully recover from the busy schedule and all the traveling (6 cities in 21 days – Cape Town, Witbank, Mamelodi, Pietermeritzburg, Durban, and Johannesburg) but all is well. I also was able to attend the all night prayer (9pm – 5am) this past Friday which was hosted by the Cornerstone youth. Staying up all night definitely didn’t help my sleep situation but it went really well and I was glad that I went. We are preparing for the Cornerstone annual youth camp which is this weekend. I can’t wait. I’m excited. Camps are always fun and it is also a good time to fellowship and get to know the young people better. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve also been asked to speak during the Saturday morning session, so I’m preparing for that and praying that the Lord speaks through me.
I mentioned at the beginning that I was coming off of a “mountaintop experience.” The fact is we don’t always stay there on that spiritual high. Oswald Chambers says it best, “We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life–those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength.” So just as I have been enjoying the goodness of God, I’m also preparing for the times in which I find myself in the valleys. Some people that I know and am close to are currently in their own valleys. Just last week, my aunt’s husband passed away. On Saturday, one of our pastor’s mother went home to be with the Lord. I know that both of these families are mourning their losses right now but I pray that the Lord surrounds them and gives them His peace during these next few weeks. I’d ask that you too pray for these families and all those that have been affected. Pray also for our youth camp that is in Harare this weekend. It is about a 6 hour drive from Bulawayo and we will be leaving Friday morning and returning Monday afternoon. And lastly, pray for me as the Lord continues to open doors and give me opportunities. I am pursuing all that the Lord has for me and I covet your prayers. Pray that I remain focused, see clearly, and receive favor in increasing measure.

This year I am most certainly leaving nothing undone. I am under the influence of His grace and am walking tall. It’s not just about faith, it’s about action.

Keep it moving.

walking in His favor and grace,

Jesse