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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 4/28/2008
This blog is dedicated to my sweet friend. Noma. Many of you remember reading or hearing me speak of Noma. She is a dear friend of mine who lives in the township close to where we stay. She is a faithful follower of Christ and I have no doubt that she has and will continue to impact Jeffrey's Bay for eternity. I met Noma my first week in Jeffrey's. We visited her with a lady named Auntie Matilda who does regular house visitng ministires in her own community. Auntie Matilda wanted us to meet Noma so that we could pray for her. We walked into Noma's brick home and we found her little body sitting in a chair. Noma isn't small in stature but she is HIV positive and her body was giving up the struggle. There wasn't a 100 lbs on her nearly 6 ft frame. She was dying and her 11-year-old daughter's face proved that no one ever gets use to what this wicked disease is capable of doing.
We spent time sitting in her house as Auntie Matilda and Noma spoke (in Afrikkans) to each other. We swept her floor and then we were asked to pray for her. I honestly don't remember what I prayed for her that day but I was really touched by her gracious spirit and kind heart. It was her eyes that showed she was a fighter but her body was quickly wasting away.
Over the next few months, my ministry team and I would visit Noma weekly. We began to fight for her. At first we decided we were going to pray that Noma would be healed of her advancing AIDS (she soon discovered she had TB which means that her HIV has advanced to AIDS). Although I have great faith that the Lord can do as He so choses, I felt that God did not give me permission to pray for her AIDS to be healed. I don't always understand, but I knew what God had told me. So my ministry team and I decided would should start with small things in our prayers. Noma's feet were so swollen that she couldn't walk. So we started there and began to pray for the swelling to go down. And it did! After the swelling we prayed that she would gain weight. She was a skeleton. She was so sick (check my picture) and she was not able to keep any weight on her. At this time, it was closing in on Christmas and I left for America. I brought Noma groceries right before I left and I remember wondering if that was the last time I was going to see her. I kept up with Noma over the break through one of my team mates. I learned that Noma was in the hospital and she was very very sick. I was very worried but I had had time to prepare myself. Then I also was sick and returned later than expected to South Africa in January. I was eager to see Noma and my team informed me that she was better and back at home. We walked into her house in January and it was as if she was never sick at all. Through out the whole time we had been visiting her, she was unable to do much of anything, but when I returned a month later she was busy sewing and selling treats to the children after school. More than that, she had gained 8 kilos!!! That's almost 20 lbs! God had answered our prayers again!
Since that time, we have visited Noma every week and watched her regain her strength and her vitality. She began to return to her normal life. She attended her Biblestudies and looked after her family and continued to work at her sewing. She was pulling in some much needed money for her family. We were so thrilled. To this day, Noma has gained almost 20 kilos and her feet only swell on occasion!
This is when the story gets amazing... (if you didn't think it already was...)
Noma is a very unique and special lady. She is a warrior for her community. She has a very big heart and she is one sharp lady. Recently I told her how I really would love to see my 7th grade Bible class be more involved in her community (they are rich white kids and she lives amongst poor black people). I told her a few ideas and she quickly told me of some needs she knew of in the community. We started planning but there were several hold ups. We had to scratch our original idea of meeting the need and look at things differently. That's when she told me about her daughter Kyisa.
Kyisa came home from school one day and told Noma about some children who were hungry. They came to school everyday without getting breakfast and with no food for lunch. Noma was upset by this and gave Kyisa extra food to share with the children. Soon she learned the children's story. They came to Jeffrey's from a small country North of Jeffrey's called Lesotho. It's a very impoverished country and the kids were taken from their mother's home after a neighbor contacted the oldest brother (who is living in Jeffrey's) and told of the children's hunger. They were five children living in horrible conditions and the mother did not take care of them. There ages are 12 years all the way to 4 years of age. The brother came and brought the children here to Jeffrey's but was not able to give them all that they needed. It's sad to think that their living conditions here are so much better than before because they are some of the poorest children I have seen so far in Jeffrey's Bay. After Noma told me about these children and how she wanted to help them, I felt that I saw the big picture.
Although I know that the Lord is working in the tavern and with all those associated with it, I had hit a wall as to what to do. So many gracious people had sacrificially given me money to purchase the tavern, but Peela was not ready to sell it for a decent amount of money. Through some prayer and wise counsel, I felt that this money should be used for these hungry children. Noma and I put our heads together (for several days and hours at a time) and decided to begin feeding the children twice a week! And in addition to the five children from Lesotho, there were five others in the same situation. I got my numbers all together and started crunching them and tried to overcome my desire to run from the logistics and came up with a budget for feeding these children.
On Monday, April 14th at 7 am (it hurt to be up that early) we began feeding the hungry children. It was a little awkward at first but over the last few weeks it's grown on all of us. At first only five of the ten kids were coming because the mother of the other five children would not wake her kids up in enough time to come and eat before school. But as of our last one we had nine of the ten! They are very sweet but painfully shy, mainly due to the fact that they are just learning the language here and their English is also not very good.
They come and go between 7 am and 7:45 and eat their breakfast and take a lunch with them as they head off to school. I am still learning their names, but just last week as I was walking home from ministry, I saw a group of hands waving at me. I looked up and there were several of those kids and they were all smiling. I have to admit, it made me feel pretty good.
There are some cool things in the working for this feeding. Today I spoke with a lady who owns what I would call a trailor type of container. It actually sits directly across from Noma's house. It's used in these type of communities as a feeding station (hmm...how ironic, right?). Noma approached me about using the container to feed the children. We had hoped to use the tavern but every turn is a dead end. She told me that she really wanted to have that container to fed the kids from and she could also use it for other ministry things such as biblestudies and teaching others how to sow. I love Noma and I know her heart and I knew I should look into it. I crunched the numbers again and realized that we could possibly buy this container. With the cost of feeding the kids and the container, we would have a little less than $50 to spare. Again, I prayed about it and sought wise counsel and I hope to have purchased the container by the end of this week!
I told Noma the good news over the phone and I could tell be her voice that she was so excited. I think she may have been crying. This is her dream. This is her ministry. I feel like God placed us together because He knew that we needed one another. She had a vision, I had the means to meet that vision. I feel very alive to think back on this journey with Noma. From praying for her health to watching life enter back into her both physically and spiritually. It's quite beautiful really. This is what the body of Christ should look like. This is what discipleship is all about.
So, if you think this story is pretty amazing, then will you pray for us? Pray for Noma and all her hard work. Pray for these kids and for the ones to come. Pray that God will provide more money for the more hungry mouths that are yet to come. Pray for wisdom and insight as I try to wrap up all the loose ends. And if you think this story is really amazing and would like to be apart, please click on the "talk to me" link to the left and let me know how you would like to be apart. I'll be honest, we don't have enough money. But it will come. Let me know if you want to help.
HE Provides,
Amber
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 4/13/2008
Hey friends! I hope life in America is going well. I'm a little sad to be missing the wonderful spring weather. It will be strange to go more than a year without a Winter or a Spring.
Things here in Jeffrey's have been crazy like always. After a week in the most amazing city ever, Cape Town, we prepared to leave for a small country called Lesotho. We were working with an orphanage in the mountains and were told we would be "roughing" it for two weeks. Although I was excited about living in the mountains for two weeks and loving on some sweet kids, I felt really strange about leaving Jeffrey's and my ministry here. Long story short, we ended up not going to Lesotho and spent a very spiritually intense week here in Jeffrey's. We did ministry in the afternoons, but every morning we had different activities. The first morning after a failed attempt to leave Jeffrey's (dumb flat tire), we headed to Cape Saint Francis. We sat on the rocks over looking a very turbulent Indian Ocean, and spent time with the Lord. I needed that morning  after several weeks of being very busy and distracted. It was amazing to watch the fury of the waves crashing on the rocks and think of how powerful our God is.
The next morning we woke up and headed to do some mountain climbing! This was my favorite part of the week. We focused on reflecting on the commitments and goals we set up for our ministry at the beginning of the year. Then we took time to surrender to the Lord anything that may hinder our love and service to Him. Our only rules for the morning was that we must climb the mountain alone and had to be at the top within two hours. I was pumped and decided to head to the far left where no one was going. My climb was hard and invigoratingly. I chose to climb the rocky parts mainly and would sit down and enjoy the view every so often. I looked to the right and in the distance I could see Jeffrey's. I was overwhelmed with such gratitude for the Lord leading me here. I thought back on all the memories and things that I have learned and I was so grateful. I can't believe that I've been able to serve here for nine months. What a blessing and living giving time of my life! Soon after I reached the top of the mountain, I received a phone call saying that the owner of the mountain was telling us to get off his mountain!! I found a couple of the team mates and we made our way back to the bottom of the mountain (which was way harder than climbing up). Once at the bottom, we met our new friend Francis and he drove us around his property and invited us to come back anytime (but next time we had to call and let him know beforehand...). The mountain was a great experience.
On Wednesday we started a "Called Fast" for our whole team that would last for twenty-four hours. During this time we set up a prayer room that would have one person praying for those twenty-four hours. My prayer times were at 5 a.m. and noon. During those times, I felt the Lord just asking me to rest in Him, which is a common theme in my life while in Africa. I'm still processing all of it but I think I've forgone knowing Christ for serving Him...I'm still thinking through this...
That afternoon we headed to Algoa Frail Care Center close to Port Elizabeth. This is a private hospital for extremely disabled children. I really can't explain or describe what the experience is like. It's a wonderful place but it is emotionally really hard. Although the 150 kids are well taken care of, my heart aches at the fact they will most likely never leave that place nor will they ever be able to run or walk or swim in the ocean. The staff at Algoa are so incredible and very special people and love the children as if they were their very own. They are in need of lots of help and many of the children very rarely have guests come and visit them. We walked through three wards and just sang over the kiddos and prayed for them. It's crazy to think how special it is for us and them for us to reach out and touch them. Many of them do not talk, but they respond to us by laughing or smiling.
Those kids are precious and it's obvious that they are the very ones that have the heart of God.
In ministry this week, some really cool things happened. As of tomorrow, Monday, we are starting a feeding point in the township. Noma, my sweet friend and sister in Christ, and I have come together to fed about ten children who go to school hungry everyday. I've been praying for awhile as to how to help these kids and everything came together this last week. We will be feeding these ten kids every Monday and Wednesday until December. It may grow to many more kids and I hope it does but we are still working on the details of it all. One of our main problems was where to have this feeding point. This week we will do it at Noma's house in the township. But I spoke with Peela, the tavern owner, and we will test it out for a week making the tavern a feeding point!!!! I'm so excited to see how the Lord is moving at the tavern! How crazy is it to think that this tavern may serve the kids of this community in a wonderful way. I only hope that this will encourage Peela to see how she can have such a positive impact on her community!
Please pray for us as we begin this feeding point. It will be at 7 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Also pray for Peela as we hope to move it to the tavern next week. Her heart needs Christ so badly and I hope that this will be a way for her to fall in love with Him and what He is doing in Jeffrey's.
I miss everyone! I love you all and thanks for your support!
HE Provides,
Amber
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 3/26/2008
Hello Friends! I am sorry I haven't been very faithful at updating my blog this last month. This month has been one of the craziest months I've had while in South Africa. I had the greatest experience ever two weeks ago when my mom and dad came to visit in Jeffrey's Bay! We had such a great time and I can't tell you what it meant to have my parents walking through the townships and meeting the people I see and love so much. It was perfect. I could hardly sit still when we visited my families, especially Marta's. It felt great to have so many people I love all together. My parents brought a team with them and I was able to minister along side of them all over the Jeffrey's Bay area. It was a good time and the team was super sweet and very good in all the ministries. My favorite part of the week was when we did an eye glass clinic at Ithemba. The team collected hundreds of reading glasses and were trained in eye exams. We handed out flyers to the community to tell them about the clinic, and all Saturday afternoon we fitted people for glasses and told them about Christ. My team also came and helped and performed dramas all afternoon. There were some decisions that day and even two weeks later, I have people coming up to me and telling me how much they love their new glasses! A man stood up in church last week and told his story of how he really needed glasses, but he was unable to buy them or pay for the exams. He came to Ithemba that Saturday and got a free pair of glasses! He told the whole church how great it was that God answered his prayers! It was a sweet week, but it was hard to say goodbye to my folks!
In the middle of all the excitement of my family being here, the team had a great upset. My sweet friend Raelynn has been sick a good bit this semester. The doctors and her parents advised her to go home for more medical attention. So as sad as it was, we said goodbye to Raelynn! It's very rough to see her go. Her departure left a huge hole on our team. The house is still too quiet without my buddy. Please pray for her. She has been treated and diagnosed and will get better, but now she is still not feeling very well.
Soon after my parents boarded the plane for America, I had another huge upset. My ministry partner, Cassie, decided that it was best for her to also return home. Cassie is a fighter and one of the most amazing people I have ever met, but over the last month she has been exhausting herself fighting to stay in Jeffrey's. Cassie's sweet mother died two years ago. That loss is tremendous and has had an understandable impact on Cassie. Although Cassie's passion for Jeffrey's never subsided, her heart needed to be at home and through many tears we said goodbye. Cassie's leaving is a huge deal for my team and especially me. Cassie is my "go-to" person, my friend, my ministry partner, and so many other things, but she was my sister. I care for Cassie so much and she has had such a vital role in my time in Jeffrey's. It's hard to even think about the days ahead because Cassie was so much so apart of my day-to-day life at the house but also in ministry. I miss her so much and I feel a little lost without her. I sometimes even get a little overwhelmed because I feel like I can't do anything without her. But that's silly and Cassie would kick my bum for not continuing and pushing through...even without her. Although Cassie has had such a huge impact on Jeffrey's, her leaving doesn't stop what God wants to do here. My time is quickly diminishing, but God is still at work. He still is using us here and desires to do more in me and through me. It's silly for me to even feel like I can't do anything without Cass, but in truth, I can't really do anything on my own. I just ask God to, in the very least, let me be apart of His moving in Jeffrey's. And He is!
Things with the tavern have slowed again due to Joel's impending trial. He has been accused of murder in another city. Joel is innocent, but he has to go before a judge. His trial is TODAY! So please pray that his innocence will shine like the noon day sun! I stopped by the tavern two days ago to check on Peela. She is a diabetic and had some type of episode over Easter. She was lying on the couch and said that she was very weak and needed to rest. She was thrilled to see me though and we prayed together. I really want to see Peela walk in light instead of darkness. I want her to believe and trust in Christ. Please pray!
We have seen a lot of fruit come from Goodness (the Ocean View family) and also with Beauty. Both of these women are so thirsty for the Word of God. We've had some really cool conversations recently and I can see such growth in the both of them.
I am doing well. Thank you for praying. Please continue to do so. I am coming out of a pretty dry spell spiritually. It's good to have God's forgiveness and let Him restore me. I'm a mess without Him. I've also been exhausted to a point that I've never been before or knew I could ever be. An exhaustion in every area of my life. I feel better now and I'm trying to rest more (emphasis on trying!). Last weekend, we spent Easter in Alice, South Africa. I will blog more about Alice later (it was the craziest thing we've done so far) but I really was moved by the Lord while we were there. Even though I didn't rest or sleep enough to overcome my exhaustion, I felt rest and peace. I really needed that weekend in Alice. I returned to Jeffrey's rested and ready for more ministry.
Next week I am going to Cape Town!!! I am very excited! This is my team's spring break (SA is on holiday for three weeks so most of our ministry sites are closed...so we get a break too!) and some of us are traveling to Cape Town. After Cape Town, the team will go to Lesotho (a small country surrounded by South Africa) for two weeks. This will be a challenge because we will have no running water or electricity. We are working with a church and orphanage there. I'm super excited to "rough it" and to spend some time remembering how much I really do have and how comfortable I have become. We won't shower, we'll sleep on the floor of a church, we'll eat pb&j and rice, and use the hole in the ground for our toilet! woo hoo! I'm very excited! It will be a super "mish" time! :)
One more thing, I am praying about the next phase in life for me. It's March and May is around the corner so my thoughts have been about life after FYM. I've been praying a whole lot and some opportunities have come up. Please pray for me as I seek wisdom and the Lord about what I am to do. I will keep you updated on all of this as I know more! Thanks for your prayers. I love you all and I am so grateful for you. I pray blessings over you today! LOVE YOU!
HE Provides,
Amber
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 3/9/2008
This week I had the strangest reality check. I experienced culture shock. I know this should not be too surprising considering that I am living in Africa, but I was shocked by my own culture. American Christians came to Africa "on mission" and for the first time I saw my culture through the eyes of Africans. I watched as they came in with such passion and enthusiasm...and with their American mindset and their American God. I saw myself and the American church in these precious people. I sadly watched as they took pictures with their $1000 cameras and answered calls on their iphones and wore short shorts and tank tops into the townships with perfectly straightened hair and flawless makeup. This is my culture and I was uncomfortable and felt more like a foreigner. I stepped back and watched the two cultures clash. The children here are dirty and smell and wash themselves and their clothes every few days or sometimes even weeks. Women do not walk around in tank tops and short shorts. An iphone could feed a family of six for more than three months while also providing school books and uniforms for each. Not only would an iphone be able to pay for food and for schooling, in addition it could also pay for housing for several months with electricity included. Or maybe instead of paying for all of that, it could pay for health care at big hospitals that have ultrasounds and x-ray machines. Or perhaps it would be better for the iphone to pay to change a street kids life forever. To put food in their stomach. To give them an education. To let them have a bath and clean clothes.
As Americans have we distanced ourselves so much from the poor of the world that we can actually justify all the little gadgets we accumulate? As Americans have we forgotten that the world suffers as we live in luxury? As Americans have we forgotten that Africa doesn't need us or our money or all the great things we can do for her? Africa needs Jesus! Africa doesn't need the American Jesus, she needs Jesus her Savior! And no matter how great our intentions are, in our ignorance we often run over the poor and the broken in our efforts "to win Africa for Chirst." Africa belongs to the Lord already!!!!! Yes as Americans we have much to offer and we should give but are we really helping them when we blow in and out and leave behind us a trail of tracks and a ton of pictures to show other Americans how Africa deeply needs our help.
I am embarrassed by my culture. I love America to the core of my being, but I would be a fool to look the other way and ignore the injustice I've seen in the two clashing cultures. How did we drift so far away from the very words of Christ?
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then He will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you have me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" Matthew 25:40-45.
Ministry Update:
Continue to pray for the tavern. It is currently still in business as a tavern. Peela, the owner, still wants to turn it into a store but she does not have the money to do so right now. Pray for her and for the potential store. Joel, Peela's nephew is still doing well and wants to come to church with us soon. He has a very important court date on March 21st, so please pray that his innocence will be proven.
Marta has been very busy and I have only seen her for a few minutes this week. I miss her greatly but I will update the Myna and Marta situation as soon as I know more. But they are both doing well! Praise God!
Our 7th grade bible class is also going very well. This is at a primary school for white Africans. They are sweet kids who are very much like 7th grade American students. We are challenging them on the very topic I blogged about today. Pray that it takes deep root in their hearts.
Noma is healthy and continues to grow in the Lord. She is such a servant and is always looking out for others. Right now, she is gathering her community together to raise money for some children who recently moved to South Africa and who live in constant poverty with never enough food. She's looking more like Christ everyday.
Beauty is also a lady who we see on a regular basis. We missed her this week but please keep praying for a consistent job for her that pays her well. She is struggling with the ladies she works for and often is ripped off for the amount of work she does.
Our family who lives in Ocean View grows to love us more each week. I enjoy watching them wear the clothing I brought for them and I can see their excitement when we walk into their house. This week was a great break through! We prayed for Goodness, the mom, and read the Bible together! This is a huge step! Please pray for her salvation.
My Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow morning with a team to do some mission work in the area. Pray for them and for myself. I am so excited as you may already know!!!!! Pray for a great and refreshing week for us as we get to minister together in my favorite place in the world.
Pray for my team mates Raelynn and Tiffany. Both have been sick this week. Tiff has a pretty bad cold and ear infection. Raelynn has been sick on and off the whole time we've been here. However, new tests and issues have shown that her sickness may be more serious than we thought. She may have to return to the States to have more medical attention. This would be a huge blow for our team so please pray for her and her family. I'm obsessed with both of the girls and I want them to get better soon!
Pray for me as well. I've just completed a week fast and it was so challenging! I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to doing it again soon. I've really been seeking the Lord about the next phase of my life and where I need to start heading. Pray for direction and wisdom for me and a renewed love for our God.
I love you all dearly and I miss you! Thanks for your prayers and how effective you are in your simple conversations with God. He hears you! LOVE YOU!
HE Provides,
Amber
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 3/2/2008
I am so filled with joy to write this blog! God has answered
our prayers! The Holy Spirit has been moving in the hearts of the tavern owner.
This week, I was invited inside of their home once again. The owner then went
on to tell me how much she hated the "drunks" and wants to get rid of the
tavern!!! This is a huge milestone in all of our praying. Praise the Lord!
After talking to her for a while, we dreamed about the future of this lady and
her business. She really desires to turn the tavern into a store. I am excited
to see how God has been changing her heart! She asked me for help. I told her
that I wasn't sure how I could help but that I would talk to some friends about
it and let her know. I spoke with my team about it and we are all pumped to see
how God has heard and answered our prayers. Right now, I feel that I need to
spend more time seeking the Lord and trying to do His will. I am unsure about
continuing to purchase the tavern, especially if she wants to turn it into a
store, or if God has something else planned. So please keep praying and thank
you so much for doing so already. Pray specifically that God would show us what
our next step is. Pray for clarity if
the tavern is suppose to be turned into a store. And if so, pray that God would
show us what part we are to have in it and also for money so she can buy
merchandise for the store. I also want to tell you about Joel. He is also a
partner in owning the tavern. He has become a good friend of ours and we love
him so much. I feel that Joel does not know the Lord as his Savior but I am
positive that God has been moving in his life. Joel is always so excited to see
us and seems to be very interested in the hope that we have. He has recently
turned his life around but I feel that he still is without Christ. Last week, we challenged him to stop
smoking. At first we were just playing around and referring to his habit as the
"black lung" but he struck a deal with us. If he stopped smoking we would take
him to get ice cream. So we giggled and agreed. Well we owe Joel an ice cream
after two weeks of no smoking! Yes I know this is a little silly, but I can't
help but rejoice that Joel is thirsty and it's obvious in the simply silly
things. I can even look at his face and see that the Spirit is at work. Please
pray for Joel and his salvation.
Although the tavern has been such an exciting achievement
and faith builder, my excited dwindled the next morning. I received a phone
call from my dear friend Marta. Late Monday afternoon, Marta's daughter Myna,
was sexually molested. My heart hurts so deeply over this filthy
situation. I'm angry, hurt, sad,
confused and numb. Myna is only two and
half years old!!! This world is a nasty place and I could scream at the
injustice and ungodliness I've seen in South Africa. After two extremely long
days of hospital visits and exams, Myna and Marta are home and doing well. I
was constantly on the phone with Marta during those days and tried to be as
encouraging as possible. I went to see them late one night after they returned
from one hospital. Myna was doing amazing. Actually, she spent most of the time
we were there giggling and jumping on the bed and playing with my hair. She was
happy and well even under the circumstances. Since then, I have seen and talked
with Marta several times and they continue to do well. The police are
investigating the situation. I have no idea if they will find out exactly what
happened and who was responsible, but I find a lot of comfort in the joy I see
in little Myna and the hope I see in Marta. With all of the exams and tests
they did, we found out that Myna does not have HIV nor T.B. which is such a
relief since Myna has been coughing a lot recently. We choose to praise the
Lord for His hand of protection over Myna and the health He has continuously
given to her. Please keep praying for all of us here in Jbay. I know God has
given so many blessings to this place and He longs for Jbay to belong to Him.
Thank you again for your love, prayer and support. I miss you!
HE Provides,
Amber
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Posted in General Articles
by Seth Simonson
on 2/29/2008
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 Awaken to the Adventure
Disciples aren't born; they're made. It's a process that takes time,
discipline, and God. In reality, it looks more like waking up than
attending a class.
As part of The Awakening, you can undergo a discipleship program
like no other, experiencing four months of intense training in another
country to prepare you for the ministry that awaits you for the rest of
the year.
Join The Awakening
 Your
mornings will be spent in training and your afternoons ministering in
local communities, activating what you've learned. In the context of
experiential learning, you will be discipled by mentors who want to see
you grow deeply in your faith.
You will be part of a community of other individuals who share your
passion and desire to come alive in Christ. This time will challenge
and stretch you in new ways, and you will never be the same.
 Become a part of The Awakening in either Latin America or Africa and discover your role in the kingdom of God.
You
were made for greatness, to experience the abundant life and freedom
that Jesus promised. As they awaken, current participants are saying:
I don't think that I will ever have such an opportunity to give up all of myself and all of my expectations as I do here. (Emily Tissot, Latin America)
 The
Bible study has... turned into a church. So, we have church at noon
Tuesday-Friday under the tree in front of the market. I love watching
as people just bring their stool/chair/water container... and join in
the singing. We are going through the book of Galatians, and it is cool
to see how freedom is effecting their hearts. (Denise Eckert, Africa)
For more on The Awakening, visit the First-Year Missionary website.
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 2/18/2008
Here are some of my recent thoughts:
Living here in South Africa is absolutely challenging. But as I have said so many times before, I am thrilled to be here. No matter how much I love being here, I long for home. My thoughts run to home often and I find myself missing the community I have had at home. Of course I have community here, but I think of many people from home and my heart wants to be there with them. I think about life after Jbay and I dream of being home with friends and family. I believe a lot of this started over Christmas break. Even at home I miss home of long ago. I think back to high school days when I had a home church, friends, and this community that I miss so much. My community at home has taken quite a hit through my college years. I feel lost at home. I feel like I simply exist. So life after Jbay, the need for community, and the loss of community at home makes me anxious about the future. I need home to be become home again. I need my community to be revived because I really do want to come home again one day. If I continue on the mission field, home must be a place where I can refuel, rest, and exist within a vibrant community.
Tavern Update!
Thanks so much to all of you who fasted and prayed last week for the tavern! I hope that you sensed God moving deeply as you prayed for us. I am so grateful! Over the last week, we have continuously met together ro pray and fast for the tavern. My team and I have heard His voice and felt the heart of GOd regarding the tavern. God has spoken how pleased He is to have His children petitioning Him. The tavern as a building is important to God but not as important as the hearts of the men who frequent the tavern. His will is for them to know Him. SO that has become our heart. We have already started some sweet friendships with the owners and pray that they will step from darkness to light through this whole process. Please continue to pray creativity over my team as we attempt to reach these men. I desire to use my life to proclaim His message of reconciliation and this applies right now with the tavern. Pray for us to open our mouths to speak His truth to the lost people in the tavern. Pray for God to do mighty, unexplainable things. Pray also for me. My Spirit has been very heavy this week, and as I write this, my body cannot keep up. I am so tired each day that it's a struggle to keep moving. I feel like I am a target of many attacks. So please pray for strength, energy, and an overwhelming sense of rest for me.
His Message of Reconciliation:
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them, And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. " 2 Cor. 5:18-19
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 2/11/2008
Hey friends! Over the last few days, I have felt very strongly that God
was doing something in my heart. I am coming to you in the most humbled
heart I have to offer, and beg of you to pray earnestly, endlessly, and
fervently for the tavern. I am asking all people to pray this week for
the tavern. Pray for Joel the owner. Pray for opportunities. Pray for
"immeasurably more." As a team, we feel that God is moving us in the
direction of building relationships with the owners of that tavern. We
feel that God has placed the tavern before us so that we might minister
to this family in the process. I am begging you to fast and pray this
week for me and for the tavern. We are fasting lunch and laying on our
faces for this tavern and I ask the same of you. I firmly believe that
this tavern will be transformed through our prayers! So please join
with me for praying and fasting for this tavern! Thanks so much!
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 2/6/2008
In our discipleship we are reading Shane Claiborne's book "Irresistible Revolution." I've been really challenged to live as a good steward of the earth and to dig into the words of Christ regarding money and possessions. Claiborne calls Christians to reject the lifestyle of living in excess, but instead to abide in the words of Christ and follow in His footsteps. Needless to say, we've all been wrestling with what this means for our lives. I do know that I firmly believe that the rich needs the poor and the poor needs the rich. I could write paragraphs of what I think, but it would be most effective and sufficient to allow the Word to do so.
Paul Writes:
"I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich... Our desire is not that other might be relieved while you are hard pressed but that there might be EQUALITY. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality."
Jesus Teaches:
" Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15
Jesus warns us that people will die with all their possessions..."This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:21
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-34
John the Baptist preaches to repent and be baptized. Then he goes on to say that if you have two tunics (coats), give one away to someone in need.
My world has been pretty rocked through this teaching. I think a lot about the rich young ruler. And the phrase that runs through my head over and over is "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
I hope even this simple blog causes you to stop and think and be challenged by the Word.
Ministry Update:
Cassie and I went to the prayer session for the family who lost their brother. It was good. It was just us and a few neighbors and the family. They fed us and we looked at photos. It was sweet. We are planning a birthday party for a little girl we call "Cupcake." She is turning 5 on Saturday. We are throwing the party here at the AIM house and of course there will be plenty of cupcakes! :) The family of cupcake is all invited to come and everytime we see them they can't quit talking about it. They have their outfits already picked out (their Sunday best) and are planning what food they are going to bring. They are precious!
In Ocean View yesterday we had an incredible day of ministry. Everywhere we went, God placed people in front of us who were so hungry for the Lord. We spent some time praying off the bondage of alcohol from this one lady. When we said "Amen" we looked up and all three of the ladies were crying. After a sweet goodbye we promised to visit them again. It was so great because each person we ran into was ready to be encouraged and have the Truth of Christ proclaimed over them. We left and had such joy!
I know that I say this so much, but God is really opening so many doors every day. Today we met two new people who just want us to sit and talk to them and pray for them. Yesterday we met six new friends! The people here are hungry!!! They are thirsty!!! I feel so excited to be in the middle of all this thirst and hunger and have the very thing that satisfy! To God be the glory!
Tavern Update"
I'm so excited to say that we prayed over the tavern today and felt the freedom to walk into it! Maybe you think that is petty and small but it's a huge deal for us! We met the grandson of the owner. His name is Joel. Please pray for the heart of Joel. As of right now, he is not interested in selling the tavern (surprise surprise) but I believe God is at work bringing things together. Remember Joel in your prayers! Pray that his heart will change and he will desire to sell it. Pray for his salvation. Pray that he will become hungry and thirsty for Christ and desire to talk with us even more. Pray for me and my team, that we would have open hearts and ears. If this is not what God wants, pray that we will listen to what he really desires of us. I'll keep you updated as soon as we learn more! Thanks!!
HE Provides,
Amber
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Posted in General Articles
by Amber Mullins
on 1/30/2008
I've made it back to Jeffrey's Bay! I arrived after some crazy happenings in multiple airports. I actually landed in London for an eight hour layover that gave me the opportunity to see the sights! It was such a wonderful day that I will never forget. I had about four hours in the city and ran around all over the place hoping to catch a glimpse of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Waterloo, and the Tower of London and everything in between. I couldn't stop smiling at my one day adventure. I did arrive a day later than planned in Jbay without any luggage. However, my luggage came the next day so all is well. 
It's beautiful as always back here in South Africa. The past two days have been especially pretty. They have been the type of days that you love when you go to the beach; nice cool breeze, blue skies, and perfect waves! I love being here but it was a little bit of a shock to my system so go from snow to sand!
My second day back we headed into the townships to see all of my friends. I brought back a whole suitcase of clothes for everyone. So I got to play Santa all day giving everyone their presents. Marta and Noma looked absolutely beautiful in their new dresses. I was shocked to see how wonderful Noma looked. She has been in and out of the hospital over Christmas but she has gained 8 kilos (20 lbs!) and looks so much better! She glowed when she tried on her purple sweater my mom gave to her. Marta tried on every dress and hugged me after each one. She's so funny! The family we visit in Ocean View township also got a bag of clothing. Only the daughter and father were home but they loved their gifts!
The doors are continuing to open all around. Just yesterday Cassie and I met a new family whose husband just died this week. We ended up cleaning their house in preparation for a prayer service that evening. We were invited back to a prayer meeting tomorrow. This was such a huge deal to be invited to worship with them. All we know is to be there tomorrow at 2 wearing church clothes and bringing some food. So we are excited about our new opportunities. I feel encouraged at the growth I see in all of our relationships.
Here is a quick update on the tavern. It's coming along so slowly. I have been really tempted to get frustrated or feel defeated. There are little answers to my sea of questions. I feel a good bit of pressure and I'm tired of never having answers. So please pray for me and my heart in all of this. Continue to pray for the owner (who is a woman) and all the details. I will let you know when I know something new! Thanks for your support! Much love to each of you!
HE Provides,
Amber
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