A good kind of change

Exactly a year ago was when my passion for following Christ ignited. Well, before that I was Christian, but an average one at that. I wasn’t really growing like I should until I decided to really get serious with God. I mostly grew up Catholic and church was more of a ritual thing than a hunger for the Word or for fellowship. Honestly, I barely went to church when I was a teenager. Sometimes in a year, I went like four or five times in total, including the popular Christmas/New years eve services when the “prodigals” made sure not to miss. Lol But don’t judge me yet.

                                                                           

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After senior high school, the Catholic church wasn’t however satisfying my hunger for Christ and as I grew up, I began to question some of the doctrines of the Catholic church. Let’s just say I couldn’t trace some of it’s teachings in the Bible and that wasn’t cool with me. At all. So, I kinda wasn’t going to church at all. I convinced myself that it was ok to stay home on a Sunday morning and read my Bible, pray and listen/watch a couple of preaching on the radio/TV. Wrong. I was just not interested in church and came up with a thousand excuses for not going. A funny but not so funny excuse was that I didn’t have enough church clothing. And I would go like ‘I don’t really go to church but I’m still a good person, so what’s the big deal?’ In the early part of Uni, I would go sometimes when a friend invites me anyway but I preferred my ‘solo church’ in my room. Yeah, I was that kind of person. My two man church (me and the preacher on the radio/TV) worked for me just fine, or so I thought. No commitment, no drama with church people. Great. I was wrong.

Fast forward to the start of my final year in Uni. Before I went to school for my final year, I went for a program at my current church. It’s a yearly thing the church runs, called the Singles Summit. I heard of it all the time but I never bothered to go. So last year August, I don’t know how I stuck with the plan to go, but I ended up going. And I’m thankful I did. Oh, the wisdom I gained! Ok, back to my story. So after that, I was hooked! I told myself I was going to fellowship there. And I still do till today, since last September. The reason being that the teaching is Biblical. It’s convicting. Not watered down. My church is really helping me grow, honestly. And by some divine ‘coincidence,’ a year later, I’m now a steward in church. (I began this month!) *happy dance* It’s such a humbling thing to serve in God’s house. I’m learning to embrace all the beautiful changes God Himself is bringing into my life, including the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with serving Him. I’m very thankful to God. He has a way of making things better. Way better.

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers.” Acts 2:41,42

 I totally love my new, (urm, not so new now) church. I’m warming up to the importance of fellowship these days. And I’ve learnt that although listening to preaching on the radio is not bad, it shouldn’t replace the time set for fellowship, like on a Sunday morning. It should be more like a supplement. I’m learning. I’m growing up. And I pray I continue that way. I mean that’s what life is about right? Growing, improving, repenting and moving on.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24,25

So, my point for this important rant? It’s essential to fellowship with a church whose teaching is firmly built on and traceable to the Word of God. Yeah, no funny business allowed, no people-pleasing teachings. The teachings should help you improve and be more like Christ. It should help you discover the purpose God created you and passionately pursue that purpose for the greatness of His kingdom. And we basically need fellowship to encourage us and to stay accountable to one another. 

I pray you don’t waste anymore time in making up your mind about going to church,(the right kind) and not just going, but being changed by the Word too.

Good change is waiting for you. xoxo

Delali.

My final week in SA

Well, hello there! I know, I've stalled a bit on this post. Apparently, a bad malaria fever thought it was fun to attack me the past week, but here I am, healthy and strong again, thanks to our awesome Healer. :)

Ok, let's cut to the chase. lol.The final week in SA was bittersweet. As much as I loved my experience, I was kinda dying to get back to my warm Ghana. ;) Seriously. Missions is certainly not the most glamorous, luxurious work to do. We always slept late and woke up early dawn to pray. But that's what it's all about. Sacrifice. I made that tough decision to leave behind my comfort and go out there because I'm that concerned about the lives and souls of people I don't even know. And as I felt thankful and fulfilled to have done my assignment in SA/Swaziland those three weeks, I also looked forward to the new chapter of my life. (this lass is a fresh graduate!...I know, I don't look it. lol)

Ministering to some Oosrand senior high learners, focusing on 2 Timothy 2:22

"But flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the name of the Lord from a pure heart."

During one of the love fellowship meetings at Tembisa.

 

Celebrating Denzel's birthdayyy! (guy on the extreme right)

That's our host pastor, Pastor Wesley in the striped shirt and his wife on his right. Such sweet people!

Me with Jayden, Denzel's fiancee. :)

So, the teachers and students of Goede Hoop Primary, one of the schools we consistently ministered at, loved us so much they decided to have a lil thank you/goodbye party for us. These are some of the lovely students dancing to 'Who am I' by Casting Crowns. I  certainly was entertained and happily sang along too. *claps* Oh, they danced so beautifully!

That's one of the teachers presenting some gifts they had packaged for us. Talk about lovely hearts!

This is my precious gift from the teachers. A Bible to make teaching kids about God extra fun! Thank you Goede Hoop Primary!!!

Aquala, the school prefect & her buddy, Mickayla and I.

That's Mickayla teaching me how to play some melodies on their huge xylophones.

See, I'm a fast learner. ;)

Sweet Kayla dropped by when we were decorating placards for our very last Jesus March.

The placards all ready for the march.

I chanced on some of the kids from our host church playing in a park during the march. I miss these kids!

BBQ party at our host pastors house. The steak though. Finger lickin'!

Crystal! Miss her lots.

Before church service on the very last day.

Me with elder Celeste from Potter's House and her son after service. *Goodbye pictures*

Remember Nokwanda from Swaziland? Yurp. It was such a pleasant surprise to see her come over to fellowship with us at Potter's House and go see us off at the airport. :)

Final moments at Potter's House.

At O.R Tambo Int. airport. Leaving was getting real, but I kept my smile anyway. :)

A slice of O.R Tambo Int. airport. It's so huge and beautiful.

Grabbing a bite at Nandos after check in.

 

My almost cleared plate.

Yeah, you guessed right. I couldn't miss taking a snap with the cloth imprinted with the photo of our dear Nelson Mandela. :)

 

 A snap of one of the numerous planes at the airport.

I had a flight to catch but of course, I stopped for a snap. lol We would have been a lil late if we hadn't super hurried our tails from Nandos to get through security. Nandos is right inside the airport but I tell you, it's a long way from there to security. We skipped and ran when we could. lol I was bold to stop and take this snap cos I was done with security and I was literally about to board my flight. Plus, I needed to catch my breath and I loved the view. ;)

I totally enjoyed my 6 hr flight back home. I watched some comedy shows to while away the time, and I conked out while watching Despicable Me 1. Oh well... South African Airways has great service though. :)

Yeah, I got a middle lane seat this time around, but I thoroughly enjoyed the flight all the same. :)

And it's goodbye to SA...till some other time.

I've learned so much from this experience, seriously. Being with the kids from our host church and the schools brings me such joy and I believe God is calling my heart into children's ministry. The way the faces of the kids light up when I'm hanging with them is something of a confirmation for me.
I'm glad I got to speak with all the people I spoke with on this trip. I believe God beautifully designed it all even before I made the decision to GO. And I'm so thankful for being graced with the wisdom and strength in my beginning steps to honor Matthew 28:19,20

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

I pray that all Christ followers will see the seriousness of this scripture and put their comfort on hold for the greatness of the Kingdom.
I pray all Christ followers see themselves as default missionaries with a task to GO near and far to share the Good News, helping to save souls from the horror of hades and to encourage people in their walk with Jesus.

God needs you on board dear one. What do you say? :) xoxo,
Delali.

My First Missions Trip

This March, I got a beautiful opportunity to go on my first missions trip. It was to Adukrom, a town in the Eastern part of my country. Prior to that, I had no idea about embarking on such a trip. You see, I prayed to God and told Him to lead me to a missions group where I can get the chance to share His truth to hurting people, and the most interesting thing happened. Two days after that prayer, God sent a stranger to my door who introduced me to this Foundation that honors God by reaching out to people, especially teens with the soothing message of God. Crazy, I know. But God totally heard my prayer and answered me. I was so thrilled! This foundation has apparently been operating in my school for about three years now and I had no clue about it...until that day when I was in the midst of praising God for helping me get a very good grade on one of my finals from last semester, and the God-sent stranger knocked on my door.

 I love going to new places and I absolutely love sharing God’s Word with people so I fell in love with the idea of being a missionary. I hoped, dreamed and wished for it but I never really seriously told God about it. This experience taught me that I should always be specific and direct with God when I want something. I’m learning that when I’m willing to serve Him, He opens the necessary doors for me to diligently serve Him. He’s such a cool Father. =D>

So I signed up to be part of the Foundation and went on my first missions trip which lasted for two days. Before we left I already knew there might be challenges we would face so I was prepared for the out-of-my-comfort-zone experience. And yes, it was challenging but I’m so glad I went. I got to share the Word with a number of senior high schools girls and for the first time I went on a dawn broadcasting. Whoa! Yeah, I know. Sometimes I look back and ask “was it really me?” Haaa, I’m so kicking shyness outta my life. The amazing this is, I didn’t have to depend on my own strength. I told God He should fill me and use me to say what He needed the people to know. I was jittery and nervous, but I did it. The opportunity to be a counselor to a couple of senior high school girls who rededicated their lives to God was totally amazing.

 

Me with my fellow missionaries  

 “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Through this outreach, I learned some vital things. I realized that if I wasn’t living right for God, I would have felt awfully guilty for encouraging those wonderful people to do the things which I wasn’t doing myself. But I thank God that I strive to always do what is pleasing in His sight. So the experience served as a check on myself and challenged me to walk my talk always. You can imagine the kind of leader I would be if I don’t do the things I tell others to do. And the whole thing also served like a mini retreat for me, you know. Either my face was constantly in the Bible or I was praying and ministering to people. I’ll admit this experience renewed and strengthened my relationship with God. It was refreshing.

“But how are men to call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”” Romans 10:14,15

I just had to take a snap with this pretty tree. hehe

When I look back on my life, I just thank God for all the beautiful changes He’s working in me. I mean, two years back I wouldn’t have dedicated my time into serving God like this. And I’m so glad I made the decision to serve Him faithfully by reaching out to people. I’m still a work in progress and I’m nowhere near perfect. But my willingness to submit to the will of God and to fulfil the Great Commission is enough to begin an awesome adventure with God. 

 I don’t have to be a pastor behind a pulpit before I share God’s Word. I’m a vessel willing to let God fill me with His plans to go out there and win some souls. J Because seriously, what will be the point of me being on earth if I don’t obey God? My life would be pointless. Honoring God is what brings me fulfilment and joy. I don’t want to live this life forgetting the most important things which is to love God above all things and to love others. 

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30,31

So if I truly love others, I should have a deep seated desire to share God’s love and redeeming truth with them. I should be ready to give hope to the hopeless. I should be able to trust God and sacrifice my comfort to go out there and make disciples. :) Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20

 

Rebecca didn't look too amused here. Must have been the cold weather.

          On our way to half night service

               

I believe this new journey of me serving God as a missionary is going to be the start of something really beautiful. I can feel it. And I’m believing God’s Word concerning my life each day. I’m happy my relationship with God is blooming and becoming so real and very personal. I love it. :-*

So dear friend, how are you honoring God’s will these days? If for some reason or two you can’t go out there and tell people about God, your everyday life itself should be honoring God so much that it inspires others to want to live their lives for God too. Let how you live be the proof of your love for God...the things you say, the way you behave...Your life may be the Bible somebody reads.

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

  

During our final sermon

The team

Before we left to Accra. I have no idea why Michael had his eyes opened. lol

  When you get the opportunity to go out there and reach out, please don’t miss it for anything in the world. It’s a humbling and wonderful thing to do. I’m so looking forward for my next missions this summer and I’m trusting Him to provide all I need for the trip. Exciting details on this later. ;)

I love this song from Britt Nicole about reaching out. I pray it blesses you.

Don’t let your lights go down,

 Don’t let your fire burn out,

 Because somewhere,

Somebody needs a reason to believe.

Why don’t you rise up now?

Don’t be afraid to stand out,

That’s how the lost get found.

Dear friend, Love is calling you to call out to others to share the Good News. Are you willing to say yes? I sincerely hope you do. :) xoxo 

Delali.