time to celebrate!

extraordinary things become so normal around here...
 
everyday i am seeing miracles and breakthroughs.  it becomes second nature...OF COURSE God would do that...He is just so good and He loves his people so much.  i started thinking about what amazing fruit i have seen in last week alone and it hit me how numb i have become to the mighty working of God’s hand.  And that is just not okay with me.
so its time to celebrate! 
::a well watered garden::
 
many of you have been praying for mandla*, a 12 year old boy who ran away from home and has been living under a tree with some of his gangster friends. I mentor his sister and spend time with his family often. I have been praying and praying and PRAYING for Mandla and for his family. this family has faced the tragic and harsh reality of this world. the 4 children in this family are often split up and sent to live with various friends and neighbors in Masi when their mother leaves for months at a time. but, thank God, the reality of this world is NOT my reality. my reality is found in Christ, who defeated the evil one on the cross. I have had such faith to believe for the miraculous for mandla and his family. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE SEEN WITH MY VERY EYES. as i was sitting with their mama one day, she told me, with joy in her eyes that i can not describe, that he has returned home. after months and months and month and months of not seeing her child (when she would see him he would run from her) she has been reunited with her son! he is staying only a few shacks down from her tiny shack.  it only gets better.  as i was sitting with mandla's sister the other day, she tells me that her mother is moving.  i immediately began thinking to myself, "oh no. here we go again.  she is leaving her kids once again."  but she continues explaining that she was just looking to move to a bigger shack so that all of 4 her kids could stay together with her.  "WHAT?!" this is a miracle, truly.  not only that, but i am seeing so much change in this mama, hope and life filling her once dejected and desperate heart.  she has even began selling chickens to support them.  out of the wildnerness, God is making this family into a well watered garden full of his peace and light.  i am in awe.    

::break every chain::
 
Jesus, the Breaker of chains.  my dear friend, mandisa*, knows this to be true.  the back story is glorious and i will have to write a whole post about it soon.  mandisa has experienced a intense spiritual and emotional bondage.  she has lived under this oppression and often be consumed by this evil.  one afternoon, while spending some time with her little sister and her friends at her house, mandisa was once again consumed by this demonic oppression.  we got to sing and pray God's deliverance over her.  we all felt the same thing: "The Father wants you to be set COMPLETELY free!"   we prayed and prophesied into her life.  i began spending time with her weekly, talking and getting to know each other.  the other day she began telling me more about this oppression in her life.  i once again told her that God wants her to be set free!  She said, "Oh I know he does.  Before I felt like I was in a cage, but now I feel that I am getting set free."  WOW. just like that.  Jesus is the Breaker of chains and He is the one that comes to set us free from every thing of the evil one that would try to bind us up from receiving his abundant life and love!  praise Jesus!

::a breath of fresh air::
i met this woman through a friend of a friend.  little did i know when she joined us one day for a bible study, that we would form such a sweet friendship and that she would be such a woman of peace.  she has such an intense hunger for God and to know his truth.  she does not want religion, rules, empty ritual.  she wants Jesus.  she has opened up a group with her boyfriend and his household.  i can't even explain to you what a breath of fresh air these people are to my life.  in a culture so deep in empty religion, they are a rarity.  people who just want to seek God, to know his truth and to live out a life of following him.  we get together to discuss the bible and drink coke once a week.  i learn so much from this "church," as they call themselves.  it is so natural for them to take what we discuss and do it in their lives.  they are a house of peace and Papa has big things for them.  wow.  thank you God for these refreshing friendships.
 

::GO, therefore..::
 
oh i am missing my dear, dear, dear friend nosipo* who moved to capricorn.  i miss her friendship and i miss bringing the kingdom to children in masi with her.  but what a precious gem she is.  what joy to the small seeds i have invested in her life bearing such amazing fruit!  i got hang out with her the other day.  she told me about the kids she has been reaching out to near where she stays and about how she is starting a group for them to come and learn about Jesus!  Papa is bringing his glorious kingdom to capricorn through his sweet, faithful daughter!  God is so good!
 

 
so that is what I am celebrating this week!  i know God is pouring out his kindness, goodness, and faithfulness in your life...so what are you celebrating this week?!