God’s Ability

Amidst the chaos of these past couple weeks, I’ve come to realize something. Life is fleeting. It’s not coincidence that I’ve been walking through the last couple chapters of Revelation with my Form 1 class. Reading about the End Times with four, spunky teenage girls… wow. I didn’t know so many questions could be asked within the span of a few minutes. What does it all mean? “Miss Kramer, what about the people that go to church but still do bad stuff?” “Miss Kramer, all LIARS will be thrown into the lake of fire?” “Miss Kramer…” They have so many questions, just like I know many of us have now. Why is this pandemic affecting so many people? Why do we have to be stripped of our freedoms to go out, have fun, and do the things we enjoy? COVID-19 has spread all the way to little landlocked Eswatini, the country will be on lockdown for 20 days in hopes to curb the spread of the virus. We will be quarantined with 17 girls, 3 moms, and one Benji, and if I’m honest, I’m so stoked. I’m excited for the time spent giggling before bed as we sweat on our mats. I’m excited for the conversations we will have during Bible Study and the worship songs that will fill the room. I’m excited to help make dinner, only to have the girls tease me by saying, “Scons’ made dinner? Eish, don’t dish me!” (Sassy girls, that is their nickname for me, Scons’) We don’t have to be afraid, because we have a God who is in control of all of this. Like Pastor Karl said, “It’ll all make sense one day.” And I have faith in that. I have faith in a God who, yes, brings justice and judgement, but He also loves. Loves us enough to look at His own Son and say, “Die for them.” I can’t even begin to understand what many of my friends and family back home are experiencing. Have faith over fear friends. Know that He holds the whole world, and everything that happens in His hands. I’ve realized these past weeks that Paul, as he says in his epistles, wasn’t lying about the “end drawing near.” It was a warning. We don’t have time to sit and worry about what is going to happen next. Jesus is coming SOON. No one knows when, but when He does return, I for one want to be ready. I want to be doing kingdom work when He shows up. With that being said, I’ve doing just fine “this side” (we say that a lot here) and I’m growing in ways only God could have orchestrated. I love every minute even the minutes I’m drained and tired. It’s through God’s ability I serve and love the people here, not my own capability (thank you Pastor Lu 👏🏻). Love you all! Praying for the Church, my people.