Bittersweet Goodbyes yet Smiling Faces

The blog tonight is written by Molly Cody…

Today had a lot of ends. The end of July. The end of our wonderful VBS for the OVC kiddos. The end of a 72 hour sprint filled with chalk dust, tears, sweat, and even some bubbles somehow. And unfortunately, the end to our last bag of “Romeo Delight” cookies. Although the day had a lot of ends, this was just the beginning. We had the beginning of the first day for five kids on their walk with Christ. We had the beginning of vulnerability set in with the Academy students. And we have the beginning of a weekend dedicated to serving those who raised some OVC kids and Academy students, the beautiful and marvelous Che’s, ahead of us.

With a sugar buzz and changed hearts, the OVC kids were able to make a reminder of their life in Christ. Our wonderful team members, Lizzie, Matt, Dana, April, and Kira, shared the Gospel with the kiddies and explained to them the significance of their life in the footsteps of the Lord. The kids made their symbolic bracelet of Black, Red, White, Green, Blue, and Yellow beads to represent evil and sin, purity, growth, and renewal that Christ offers those who choose to follow Him. Although the kids may not have completely understood what we were explaining to them, the ownership of that bracelet by the kids gives them a daily reminder of the life they can have one day with the Lord.

One of the boys who was prayed for last night changed my life today. I had an overwhelming sense of Christ shining out of him as he walked up to me today, took my hand, led me to the VBS room, grabbed me a spot on the wall, and sat silently and attentively as the Gospel was being taught today. His name is Edward. He is a Child of God and he desires love. He was constantly yearning for touch and someone to just smile with him and joke with him and tickle him. He wanted someone to constantly be cheering him on as he toe-punted the hardest soccer ball I have ever kicked before into the goal keeperless goal. I started today more tired than I had ever been and Edwards action of love and grace as he saw me strugglin’ through today pushed me to the end (which is why I am up writing this blog for y’all to enjoy!). The Edward of yesterday is gone and the Edward of today and from here on out is a completely changed, pure, and precious boy I will be praying for as the Lord protects him and the other OVC kids. 

We do not know what happens from here on out but the presence of the Lord and the light of His Work is being done and will be done until all His children are home and safe with Him.

OKAY, back to some more exciting news… The OVC kiddies departed safely (along with the rest of our cookies hehe) and it was back to the Academy students for some more ASP! I was blessed again by accompanying our worship leader (hey Ray – of sunshine) with his section of Worship and what it means to truly Worship. He did an amazing job sharing his story as to how he came to love Worship and we all sang a few songs together and we were even taught a song by them! Although we couldn’t necessarily say the words the right way, watching the community and fellowship these kids have with one another is beyond what words can describe. Worship is the one thing that is the harmony amongst these kids and allows for darkness to fade and the power and light of the Lord shine from all their smiling faces and tone-deaf voices (me included 110%). 

Our Matric we prayed for for today was the gentle Giant, Mphumzi. The second he stepped into the room, the word HUMBLE popped into my head and stayed with me until Paul snatched it right from my mind during prayer. The kindness and gentleness of this young man of God as he enters a room and cracks his first smile speaks volumes in my eyes and the teams eyes. Respect, confidence, strength, intelligence, and humility describe Mphumzi and anyone who encounters his presence is truly blessed by the life he truly brings out in others.

Now, onto the heavy stuff (at least for me): I was given the gracious opportunity to share my testimony tonight with the whole Academy. I am not exactly sure who reads this but some of you may know my story and others not know but I could not describe to you how full of encouragement and blessings I was. I was prayed over by the team and by my (the best) travel buddy, Kathleen, on our way over and the things they said over me and encouraged me with just hit right there on the top of my head. The presence of the Lord was stirring in that room and that was my biggest fear in sharing my testimony tonight. I was scared of my own light in sharing my story. I relate my story very much to Jeremiah 29:7 and Matthew 5:14-16, “You ARE the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before men…”

One of the most empowering moments in the discussion afterwards was the response a few boys had in that their stories were filled with too much regret and darkness for their own light to shine. Lindsay strongly encouraged them to remember they ARE the light of the world, not they can be.

The students of this Academy have amazing and incomprehensible stories to share and want their stories to be heard. They want to reach lives and shine the light of the Lord but feel it won’t mean much to people because it is filled with so much darkness. THAT IS WHERE THEY’RE WRONG! That is when it reaches the most people in various ways.

So in conclusion, we ask for prayer over these students and the OVC kids for protection and courage in their stories and vulnerability, our safety and health as a team, unity amongst us and the Academy students, guidance for the Che’s, and the Lords grace and protection over Sweet Home. 

THANKS AND MUCH LOVE FROM ZA (South Africa) !