It has been a while since my last
update, would love to share with you briefly, if possible, what is
going on....
First thing, this last week everything
came together for me to go back to Mozambique to join a Iris Relief
trip to Zambezia Province in the middle of the country where a huge
cyclone did great damage. They say up to 400 000 people are homeless,
and there is very high risk of sickness and starvation happening. I will be
going for a couple of weeks with a team of people to go help.
I know that Jesus heart and desire is to be with those who suffer then most. I have nothing to offer, but Jesus in me has everything to offer.
Below I share the journey over the last
year, and what I think is to follow.
I helped lead the
last two Harvest Schools with Iris in Pemba, Northern Mozambique. Our
schools were almost double the amount of students from the year
before, averaging 260 students. It was a very busy time, but also a
beautiful time.
A funny thing was that I was given the job of designing and oversee that construction of a 14 room building, and I knew nothing about construction.... but now I know some. There were just some "minor" mistakes.
God was doing so much every single day that all the
hard work was very worth it. I can go for pages on all the different
stories of people whose lives were completely transformed over their
3 months in the school. God is doing something big, new and we could
feel it during the schools. World changers were equipped, trained and released, and are even now releasing the love of God, through the power of His Spirit, going to the darkest places and bringing His Beautiful Light.
My two years in Pemba really was the best
time of my life. What I learned and experienced is too good to be true, but it is true . To have worked in a place where Gods love is visible, where it manifests through power and sacrifice has been the greatest privilege.
I must be Gods favorite ;) …. ok, ok, you can be
too.
So yes, my time with the school is
over, actually I believe that this is a whole new season for me.
Since I started in ministry, and missions full-time 7 years ago I
have mainly been involved in Training, that is facilitating and
running schools, not teaching much. First with Discipleship Training Schools
with YWAM, an Intercession School in the middle and ending it off with
the last 2 years being part of the Harvest School.
So what next? Good question. Im not
completely sure yet. I have some pieces of the puzzle but not all
yet. What I want to do is focus more on ministering to
people through co-working with Holy Spirit.
The big picture is to see lives transformed by the Love and Power of God.
He is a very real, very big God who loves each one and I want people
to know it, through practical experience for themselves (Eph3v19
Amp.).
There is a Portuguese song we sang a lot in Mozambique, in English is goes "Jesus pass by here, and when you pass by EVERYTHING is transformed, sadness leaves and joy comes.
I feel like God is inviting me, and
drawing me to go on an adventure with Him for this next year, to
travel and learn and do. I also believe that if your dreams are
realistic or possible then they are too small. So my plan is to go to
every continent this year, maybe even Antarctica, if I can.
My hope is to join different people in
ministry where ever I go, or just show up somewhere and follow Holy Spirits leading. I do not have much of it planned yet. I'm still looking for the right opportunities and connections in some places.
Right now I am planning on going to
West Africa after the relief trip in Mozambique. I am joining with some
wonderful people I met last year on a ministry trip. They are still finalizing the
specific countries, and waiting to see if the various conflicts in
those nations calm down. Let there be Heavenly Peace in Jesus Name!
For my big adventure I am looking at
starting beginning May. I want to buying an around-the-world ticket
and slowly for the rest of the year go all around the world. Right now
I'm thinking my first stop will be to spend a month in South America
where I will join friends who are doing a year long ministry trip
through the continent, joining other people and pioneering new works. From there I will be going to North America,
probably spending the next two months there. I want to connect with
many people there, go to a couple of conferences, and visit places
God has put on my heart. Don't have anything set up yet, it will still develop over the next few months.
From there I will be moving over to the
Pacific and South East Asia. That is still very far away so not sure
what it will look like except for planning on spending a couple of
weeks in Micronesia with friends who will be pioneering a new
ministry there. I want to go to Europe too around the end of the
year.
It all is still not clear, the most important thing is that it will be an adventure with Jesus, I want Him to reveal Himself to me, and through me.
It all is still not clear, the most important thing is that it will be an adventure with Jesus, I want Him to reveal Himself to me, and through me.
And then we will see what happens after.
This blog and facebook notes are a way easier way for me to let everyone interested know what I am up too. But if you want to know more, or specifics, please ask me.
Email: henkey81@hotmail.com
Skype: henkey81
Facebook: Henk van der Merwe
Twitter: henkvandermerwe
