The True Vine (Week 12)

They are working on building a ramp up to the porch

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2. This verse has been the underlying theme in my time here in Swaziland. In the first month the verse came up a number of times and since then it has been at the back of my mind. Well this week God has definitely been working in my heart and showing me a lot about myself. We weren't very busy at the beginning of the week and I had a lot of time to think, which sometimes isn't really good for me! So Monday and Tuesday were a struggle, I felt unproductive, not helpful and felt like I wasn't doing anyone good just sitting there. I was fed a lot of lies about how I can't be doing anything, that I'm not one to come up with ideas, I just let others do that and I just follow their lead. But God had a different opinion. One of the days I was walking to work and just thinking about these things and God was like Christina, you are a leader! I've created you to lead not follow. I couldn't even make excuses, I heard him plain as day. It made think how I was living in fear and afraid to step out and do things or take the initiative because I was afraid of failing, because I have always been a follower in most cases in my life. So, it's a work in progress, praying against the fear and letting God lead me to do what he wants me to do. The rest of my week was busy. Since school started on Tuesday, the kids got their reports from the last term so they came to the office to review them. So we went over their reports with them and set up times for them to have tutoring if need be. I interviewed a new boy who came to MYC because he couldn't pay for school and he was living with his sister due to both his parents passing away. One of the questions we ask when we do the initial interview is what is your current goal, he stated it was to continue schooling! He's a 13/14 year old boy and he wants to go to school! It was just sad to hear his story but gave me hope that he desires to learn and do well. We have to meet with him and his sister before anything is decided. Then on Thursday night, I had a conversation with a good friend about religion. It was a really hard conversation to have. It really got me thinking about what I believe and why I believe it. He doesn't believe in God and so we talked about what he believes and what I believe. It made me think but it made my faith in God stronger. The next day everything I looked at I saw God in. It was really cool. Even though the conversation I had with him was hard and I didn't always have the right answers, in the end it was a good conversation. It gave me a deeper sense of what I believe in and who God is to me and how he has used me in my life. On another note: the girls home continues to progress and is slowly coming along! It excites me to go and see every week how much they have gotten done, even if it is just a little! I know God is continuing to prepare me to work with these girls and I pray that I will be open and willing to the pruning and changes he is making in my life! (Sorry if my thoughts were scattered!)