We have had some questions as to what exactly we will and
will not be doing in South Africa and I wanted to take a few minutes and
address it here in case anyone else is wondering. I hope that the new addition
to the website in the next few weeks will help with questions too, Eddie and I
are working on writing out what life was like for him growing up in South
Africa during the Apartheid and even the years after. Sometimes even I forget that Eddie has a very
different past then I do and take for granted how far away from the struggles
he has come. I am hoping hearing his heart for his people group will help you understand
why we are moving to South Africa and why we are so passionate about what we
will be doing. Now to clear a few things
up:
We do not believe manipulating people in any way shape or
form to believe what we believe is healthy or in any way the message of Jesus.
We will be accepting students from any religious background into our program
and will NOT be requiring them to agree with us or believe what we say is
truth. Any child living in the township where
we will be working in is free to come and utilize all programs we offer
including food and help with education. It breaks my heart to even think that people might
believe there are conditions on entering our programs. Never in my life in all my missions travel have
I ever required anyone to say or believe what I believe in order to get help.
All that being said, I do believe Jesus is truth and that
the gospel message can and does change lives. We will be sharing the gospel
message in the ways we choose to live, in our friendships and our family. We
will live out the message of love and hope. We will be Gods hands and feet,
feet by going where we are called and hands by serving others. Yes we will have bible studies and we will
share our faith and honestly I would love for every child we work with and
every family they represent to know God and to know the love, peace and hope
that comes from Him. However it is not my job or responsibility to convince
anyone that God is God, it is my job to be obedient and share His love. Their relationship is between them and the Holy
Spirit, I have no power to save anyone. There is no benefit in requiring anyone
to accept Christ, again our job is to be obedient in what He has called us to
do. To go and help these kids find hope
in their future.
This can be a tricky subject and I hope that you can hear my
heart in all of this. I am a Christian and I am not ashamed of that. I would
not be moving to Africa if God had not called me to and I will openly and
honestly share my faith with whomever wants to hear it. I do respect that everyone
has a choice and I also know that a surface faith (like only saying you accept
Christ so I would help you) is not really faith and is of no value in the long
run. Its the love, peace, joy and hope that Christ has brought Eddie and I that
we freely give to those we will be serving. We are going to be an example of
Christ, not to judge or require anything but to help bring hope into a very hopeless
situation. To be a light where is a darkness and to offer help that can bring
change. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Belize 2012 
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