I'm currently in jbay at the end of our third week of training. This is my third time being involved in the process but it feels like a whole new ball game now that I'm leading a team...
The last 4 weeks have felt like a year, not in the sense of time dragging but rather in the exponential growth I have experienced myself and seen in my team. But before I elaborate on that I would like to give u a heads up on logistics so that you can see the full picture.
At the beginning of the year I came to Jeffrey's knowing that I would be leading the distant islands team and having a vague idea of where I would be going, but having a strange sense of peace as I felt God saying that He has prepared me and that He had also prepared the way. Something that He had laid strongly on my heart was that I needed to trust Him and start to recieve from Him a heart for my team( whom I did not know yet of course). This made me think He had a plan up His sleeve which may look a little different then I may be expecting and boy was that the truth. Two days into prep for training a decision was made that distant islands and hidden world was merging and that I would be leading the team alone to South America and the Caribbean islands. So no more east;) but experienced a peace about it and kept hearing Him say that he has prepared the way and He will accomplish what He intended all that I needed to do was submit and relax in Him. He is the one that would fight for me and move me to act according to His decrees. In other words Christ in me being my hope of Glory
Training started with a boom and I was slightly overwhelmed. Starting with survivor I was again reminded of how independent I had become from my Father. It was so refreshing to be reminded of how He really is all sufficient. Was so beautiful for me this time around was to recognize how much Jesus has done in my heart since the last time I had done survivor. The nature of the game immediately exposes the things that we keep hidden in the recesses of our heart ,and my would you be surprised by what overflows...not having anything to really hide behind the true nature of our hearts were exposed as our masks fell and all of a sudden where I am from, what I wear or what I did for a living isn't really important. How refreshing to really see each other and then truly begin the journey of loving one another. Must say just for the record after doing survivor twice, building shelters, living in the same clothes for days challenging for little food and dealing with each others irritations and much more...eating dog food DOES NOT GET easier:)
Immediately after survivor we faced our first real challenge as a team. Having only been able to shower after 4 nights of little sleep we headed to a beautiful camp site at gamtoos where we would then be involved in running a school camp for GLA. Man what a weekend. I can not in words describe how privileged I felt to see God draw us together and pour through us such a great love for the Kids. It was here that I first began to realize how specific God was in picking the people in my team and I experienced such an excitement grow inside me as I observed them minister to the kids and each other. What also blew me away was once again recognizing how Jesus really loves the lost and pours Himself out through us. Many kids lives were touched by Jesus.
All the while still asking God how his leading thing works we moved into our tents for the first time. The second week was beauty filled with moments where God seemed to answer this question as we told our stories and heard teaching from Ann about Gods story and the bigger picture. Here I truly began to see the freedom and unity that flowed out of vulnerability. And all I kept hearing Jesus say 'relax in me and I will move you! Just let them fly, fight for them and guide them but don't hold them they are Mine.' Man did I begin to realize what a privilege it is to lead, that it is in fact just a greater platform to serve!
Moving back to UCSA campsite a few days later ( clearly Jesus is preparing us to be nomads early) we then got stuck into learning how to share the gospel and tell our stories. Man this stuff excites me because God has really given me a heart for evangelism. We would have theory sessions and then split up into small groups and seek the Lords heart and then head out in jbay. Oh wows the testimonies that came from these times were amazing. People came to Christ, were encouraged and some Ben healed. But what was so incredible for me to witness was how the students faith was being stirred and how overjoyed they were at recognizing that they themselves could hear God's voice! Ah life with Jesus is incredible!
It is such a joy to see God bringing us as a team together and really at times it feels effortless because we are being moved by Him in us!
Our itinerary has been approved but we are now trusting that He will provide the finances we need to buy the tickets. His heart is SO clear. Go an prepare the way that the distant worlds may know that I am alive. I will reveal myself through you!
And so it is with much excitement that we enter the next week knowing that He is still very much working in our hearts preparing us and also drawing us nearer. Please continue to pray with us and for us. We have faith for great things because CHRISt in us is our hope of Glory!
blessings
Maxine
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