My Journey to Mozambique (part 2)

After returning from my first trip to Mozambique, I knew I’d be going back and I began to plan for that. It wasn't a grand, supernatural calling from God but simply a knowing in my heart that that was where He was directing me.

I had already committed to being at the Wesley Foundation the next school year so I knew it would be almost 12 months before I could return . . . a season of preparation. And it was a wonderful last year in Athens and at Wesley. The Lord renewed my passion for my ministry in the inner city. God, in His kindness, brought me to a place that it was actually hard to leave Athens. And this was a gift as my years at Wesley had been so instrumental in my walk with God and it’s allowed me to continue to carry Wesley in my heart. Though Wesley is not really a place you go back to after leaving, I have continued to consider it my home church and have been blessed by my continued relationships with Bob and a handful of the directors. As the year ended and my passion for the children's ministry in the housing projects was renewed, I again found myself questioning whether God was calling me to the nations or to the inner city.

In May, 2007 I took a second Wesley mission team to Mozambique and we spent 3 weeks at the Iris Children’s Center just outside of the capital city. This time, when the team left, I traveled to northern Mozambique and attended a 3 month ministry school led by Heidi and Rolland Baker. It was an incredible summer of really learning about the heart of this woman that had been the focus of life changing prophecies spoken over me.

After the ministry school, I spent 4 months in the States raising support before moving to Mozambique in December. My first year in Mozambique, I was working at the Iris Children’s center near the capital, Maputo. I started helping out with a weekly outreach among the street kids. So less than one month after moving to Maputo, I had my first interaction with street kids and, little did I know, it would be the beginning of what is now my full time ministry!!

My Journey To Mozambique (part 1)

In anticipation of my return to Mozambique in just a few days, I thought I'd take some time to share how I ended up as a missionary in Mozambique. As I look back over the years and steps that led me to where I am, it is a beautiful journey orchestrated by God.

I pray that as you read of God's faithfulness in directing my steps, that you will be encouraged. His Word says, "Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path." That promise is for you!!!

My journey . . .

In 2005, I was working at the Wesley Foundation. I was the director of children’s ministry and oversaw 3 programs in the low income housing communities around the UGA campus. The 2004-2005 school year was my 4th year leading these ministries. My job had become so administrative that I was beginning to lose my passion for it. In the summer of 2005, I went to a service at Daystar Church in Atlanta where I received a prophetic word about a ministry among the poor similar to that of Heidi Baker. I had never heard of Heidi Baker at this point so I called a friend, Clay Kirkland, on the way home and asked him who she was. He just kept saying “Serious power! Serious power!” When I got home, I looked her up on the internet and found links to her ministry in Mozambique. Right away, I emailed about the possibility of bringing a team from Wesley.

A couple of months later, I was at a random church that met in a barn in Social Circle. They ended up prophesying over my friends and me. The words given to me were again relating to Heidi Baker and a calling to sit in the dirt with the poor.

In May, 2006 I took my first trip to Maputo, Mozambique and spent 2 weeks at the Iris Ministries children’s center. As both a student and staff member at Wesley, I had been on mission trips all over the world. But this was the first trip where I really fell in love with the people and had a hard time leaving. From the moment I returned to Athens, I began wrestling with the Lord about my calling. I was drawn to the passage in the Gospels about the woman who anoints the feet of Jesus with the expensive perfume and the verse in 2 Corinthians that says, “We are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved.” For the first time ever, I found myself questioning what my life was being poured out for and whether or not I was where God wanted me. Was God calling me to the nations or to the inner city?

Reflecting 3

Perhaps the most special part of God’s faithfulness to me through this journey has been His constant presence. I have not once struggled with being angry at Him or questioning His goodness. My heart towards Him has really been protected. From the moment I received the diagnosis, I’ve known that I’d be okay but that this was just a rode I had to walk.

I know that God’s hand has held me up these past months. He’s given me strength for every treatment and perseverance to keep going. He’s filled me with joy even in the midst of the hardest parts such as losing my hair. I think He has even protected me from too many side effects. Back in April, God kept putting the book of Daniel on my heart and I've come back time and time again to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace. After being removed from the furnace by the king, Daniel 3:27 says, "They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was the hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them." I believe that God has done this in me. He allowed me to go through the fire but has kept me from any real harm.

I am now only 2 weeks from the end of my radiation treatments and going home. My doctor has given me clearance to fly back as soon as the treatments end and I am literally going to do that! My last treatment is the morning of October 7 and I plan to fly home that night. With each passing day I find myself filled with more joy because each passing day is a day closer to going home. . . back to the ministry and boys I love.

Reflecting 2

It is so evident to me that God’s hand has been on the financial side of my treatment. I’ve joked with friends that Masana, my ministry in Mozambique, is actually making money off of my cancer! When I first arrived back in the States, I was given a gift towards my medical treatment and told that if I didn’t need it for medical purposes, I could put it towards our project in Mozambique. And I haven’t needed it! God has completely covered my treatments…every doctor’s appointment, scan, surgery, chemo drug, and radiation treatment. Even my flights to and from the States for treatment have been paid for.

I see the hand of God in my team of doctors. God blessed me with a great medical team who have been 100% behind getting me back to Mozambique as soon as possible. They have been so encouraging throughout my treatments. They have taken time to get to know me and to find out more about my ministry in Mozambique. Some of them have even gone back and read my old blog posts. My radiation oncologist connected me with some friends of hers that were preparing for a mission trip to Mozambique just so I could answer any questions they had. One of my radiation nurses has on a few occasions shared with me what she believes God is doing in me during this season. It’s meant so much to have a team of doctors who are truly invested in me!

Reflecting

As I near the end of my treatment, I have tried to reflect back over the past months. God’s faithfulness has been the theme to this journey…and my life really. I am blessed to be able to look back over the years and clearly see the hand of God. It is so evident that He has directed my steps. And with that knowledge, I can trust that He is directing my steps even through this battle with cancer.

Not long after I arrived in the States for treatment, I was at a worship service with Athens Link and they spent time praying over me. One of the women prayed that a greater anointing would be on my life in Mozambique because of what God would do in me during this battle with cancer. She prayed that this hard season would produce fruit for my boys. That is a prayer I have clung to these past months and I look forward to returning to Mozambique and seeing the impact that this time away will have on my ministry there.

I don’t think I’m far enough away from this journey yet to see clearly all that God has been doing. . . but I am able to see a few things and I'd like to share those over the next couple of days.

When I first received the news from my doctor that it was cancer, I had a team of visitors from a church visiting me in Mozambique. They were such a blessing as they surrounded me and prayed for me and gave me freedom to hide away and cry a little when I needed to. And that was just the beginning of God’s faithfulness in providing a great cloud of witnesses to encourage me all though this journey. I’ve been overwhelmed by the cards, emails, scarves, movie subscriptions, and random gifts given to me since I arrived back in the States. Friends have been great about inviting me to lunch or a movie. I’ve even been able to reconnect with a couple of friends that I grew up with and spend quality time with them that we haven’t had since I moved to Athens in 1998. God has surrounded me with a “great cloud of witnesses” like I’ve never experienced in my life.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2

Thank you for being a part of my great cloud of witnesses!

Nearing the End.

As I write this post, I am recovering from my last round of chemo. It has been quite the whirlwind since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February. This season of my life has definitely been the hardest. There were definitely some hard days and I have hated being away from Mozambique and all the street boys we minister to. But I know that God has purpose in it and that He will reveal those purposes to me in time. Until then, I continue to choose to walk with Him each day, trusting that He is in control. I will start my radiation treatments next Monday and when I complete them at the end of September, I will be on the first possible plane back to Mozambique!!!

In Mozambique, there are 2 other full time missionaries as well as 6 Mozambican staff members that I work with and they have done a wonderful job of carrying things in my absence. Since January, 8 boys have left their lives on the streets and returned home! Most of them spent a month living at our project prior to returning home where they were able to receive more in depth teaching on family as well as have a time to get used to having rules and responsibility again. There have also been around 15 street boys that have stayed for a few nights, as they’ve needed a place to recover from sickness or injury. The project continues to average around 30 street boys a day at our day-center. Those 30 boys are daily lavished in the love of the Father through the missionaries and workers and taught from the Word of God. Their basic needs are also met as they receive breakfast and lunch, are taught basic literacy education, and have a place to shower and wash their clothes.

As I prepare to return to Mozambique, I am doing my fundraising for 2012 since I won't return to the States til the end of next year. I have to raise around $23,000 for the year. If you are able to help, it would be much appreciated! All gifts are tax deductible. If you want to give online, you can do so at www.unveiledfaces.co by clicking on “Mozambique – Sarah Olds.” Or you can mail a check made payable to Unveiled Faces with "Sarah Olds" on the memo line to: Unveiled Faces, PO Box 8235, Atlanta, GA 31106. If you are interested in giving on a monthly basis, please let me know and I’ll help get that set up.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support as I’ve battled this cancer. I truly believe that my experience with cancer – from surgery to chemo and hopefully radiation too – has been easier than expected because of the great cloud of witnesses I have surrounding me in prayer and encouragement.

CaringBridge

Sorry for abandoning the blog. I have a CaringBridge site that I am using to post updates on my cancer treatment. You can access it by clicking here.

I am in regular contact with my housemates in Mozambique and things are going well with all the boys. I still miss them so much. When I finish chemo at the end of August, I will be able to go to Mozambique for a month before returning to start radiation. I can't wait!!!