Finding Worth

Zion arrived here for a mission trip with his church with the hope of finding his self-worth. But he ended up gaining a truth far more integral to God’s Kingdom than his own self-understanding. He’s realized that it’s not about his worth anymore, but about helping others find their worth in Christ.

Zion came to understand that the desperation he sees in a Mosotho’s eyes is the exact same as what he sees in the girl that walks beside him in school every day—their pain is merely veiled differently. This experience has opened his heart wide to see a hurting world that’s sitting directly in front of him. As he talks about the children and how they exude so much more joy than children anywhere else, his heart still pains at the fact that when you look closely into their eyes, you can still see hopelessness and that when they run to you for love, it’s a run of desperation.

He had the distinct opportunity to teach some of the children part of a song he wrote called “I Belong to You”. The song focuses on belonging solely to Christ and having a distinct place in Christ’s heart. They welcomed him back the second day by flocking to him and singing the chorus of the song he had taught them the previous day. Even though he realizes that they might not entirely understand what they are singing, it’s incredible to hear them speak those words over their lives. They belong to God.

Zion’s team came across Agnes, an elderly woman, on the very first day and began tentatively cultivating a relationship with her. As they discovered more about her, she told them that several years ago she was struck by a car and had been left with knee injuries. Her age and ailment was striking a blow to her Christianity. She spoke about how she was a Christian and that she believed in God, but that her strength in believing in Him was quickly waning. Before they left that first day they prayed with and over her, for both healing and strength. When they revisited the second day, she was thrilled to see them and share the praise that her knees were no longer hurting and that she had found new strength within her to trust God.

Relationship evangelism at first frightened Zion unbearably, but now is nearly natural. He remarked how in America it’s not possible to do door-to-door evangelism because people won’t even answer their door. It takes years to disciple and grow the same relationship with Americans as it does for South Africans in 3 days. Zion summed up his trip so far with this statement: “Each of us came to give as much as we can to these people, and yet we find ourselves receiving so much more than we could have ever imagined or hoped for.”

2 Responses - Add yours below

1. danielle says:

   praise God! more glory!

2. Crystal (Intern) says:

   What an amazing experience for such an amazing team!

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