An Urgent Call to LOVE!

 

Hello friends! Welcome to my first update. At this point, my group of eight brilliant women has begun exploring the world of what ministry looks like here in South Africa. We’ve been filled with days of dancing with children in the streets, praying over mothers who have suffered immense loss as they must leave their families to find work and send money back home, educating students to avoid succumbing to the peer pressure they encounter each day to drop out, and so much more.   

I wish I could share all of the stories of bravery, sorrow, and redemption that I have learned thus far in this blog, but alas I am still trying to comprehend the gravity of these heartfelt recollections myself. What I can tell you for sure is: South Africans sure do know how to love. These people are filled with the Spirit- even if they don’t know it. They are generous, kind, smart, and exude peace with all that they do. I will hopefully share some of the inspiring stories I hear, but for now, I will share something that I have been learning a lot about: 

urgency. 

Urgency has always been an odd concept for me to grasp as it pertains to the Bible. In Church, pastors will urge their congregation to spread the Gospel with urgency. I didn’t understand- if we are expected to trust God’s timing, why must we be urgent? 

But then I stepped foot into Jubilani Kids, the children’s ministry that the organization I’m working with, Impact Africa, has created for children ages 2-10.  The founder of Impact Africa, Rich, had briefed us a few days prior about the Aids/HIV epidemic ravishing South African communities. He said that 70-80% of children had one of these diseases… and that in any group of children that we encounter, you could bet that about a quarter of them wouldn’t live to their twenties. 

A QUARTER of them. 

The gravity of that statement didn’t hit me until I first encountered the beautiful children of JK on my first full day here. These kids were so joyful, so full of life, and attacked us with hugs and unfaltering love. 

Yet 25% of them won’t live to be my age. 25% of them won’t get to achieve their dream job. Or get married and have their own healthy family. Or grow old with their best friends and sit on porch chairs together. 

That’s why they need urgency. 

They need to know NOW that they are loved. They need to know NOW that they are valuable. They need to know NOW that they are never alone- no matter what struggles or pain they are dealing with, God will never ever abandon them. The urgency to spread God’s love is one that cannot wait. We are all dealing with hardships-  abandonment, healing, mental illness- and we all could use a little bit of love to help us through the days. I’ve realized I should never hold back on encouraging someone. I should never hold back on loving someone exactly as they are. There are people I’ve met here that have fearful questions – does God still love them because of their struggles / sexual orientation / lifestyle / mistakes / abusive past that has led them to hold on to so much shame / etc. I am so thankful that I can always find the words to assure them: 

Romans 13:9 

“The commandments ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: 

‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.’” 

It isn’t our job to decide if someone is worth loving- everyone IS worthy of love. Period. Our job is to just love them without holding back. Looking into the eyes of the children and adults I’ve encountered, I’ve been able to see them without judgment. Without feeling uncomfortable about their past and what they’re sharing. I’ve found strength that Jesus encourages me to see them exactly as He does- perfect and worthy of love. 

I would like to end with this; a few days ago after leaving church, our van passed by a man begging for money on the side of the road. I smiled at him, read his sign that explained how he wanted money for his family, then I sat uncomfortably. I just froze. Do I give him money? What if he will use it for a bad purpose? Am I fueling an addiction? 

The moments passed, and my friend Eden passed me an apple to give to him. But by the time I could open my window, we were driving away and I was left with the face of a hungry, disappointed man looking longingly at me as we disappeared. 

Immediately, my heart sank. I felt so sorry for the man- so selfish that I hadn’t just given him what I had and not tried to justify why I should or shouldn’t do it. 

 After a long reflection, I realized that I do this type of thing daily. 

I encounter people every day that are hungry. Hungry to be filled with Hope. With Promise. With Love. A hunger that I could feed them by sharing the love of God with them. An unquenchable thirst that I could quench simply by telling people they aren’t alone in their struggles. The encouragement that a single book provides answers to every question possible and validates that you are not too difficult – your doubts and worries are welcomed and encouraged.  

Our job is not to judge. If I’ve learned anything from my experiences in South Africa thus far, it’s that you have NO idea what someone’s story is and what they’ve battled in the past. Therefore, love your neighbor. 

And love them urgently.