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