During the Fall lecture phrase season, it is caterpillar season in Jamaica, and my children were finding caterpillars... and caterpillars and caterpillars and caterpillars! Valor found one with his friends first. Then Olive found one the next day and showed the caterpillar to our whole team at the Jesus Gathering.
In response, one of the guys at the Jesus Gathering said that Tycen, another student, knew where there was a tree that had a lot of caterpillars on it. Valor was so excited to see the tree, so he searched and searched for Tycen. He asked everyone, "Where's Tycen so he can show me the tree? Where's Tycen so he can show me the tree?" Valor went all the way across the YWAM base, found Tycen, and asked him to show him the tree. When Tycen walked Valor to the tree, Valor was amazed to see so many caterpillars! Tycen said to him, "Now that you know where the tree is, you can show others, like your sister, your Daddy, and your Mom, who want to see the tree." Immediately Valor went back to where Olive was swimming in the pool and said excitedly to her, " Olive, do you want to see the tree?" Quickly she said," Yes", got out of the pool, and followed Valor across campus to the tree. Excitedly, Valor showed her the tree full of caterpillars. Olive was amazed! She began counting all the caterpillars but lost count after 20.
As I followed Valor leading Olive to the caterpillar tree, I couldn't help but think that this is how it is with Jesus. Somebody encounters Jesus in a real, deep way and then naturally shares with others about his/ her experience with Jesus. Then as others hear, they tell more people. Like Valor searching for Tycen, there are people searching for someone to share with them about finding Jesus and lead them to the Tree of Life. They search for a Christ- follower so that person can tell them their testimony and point them to Jesus. Just like with the caterpillar tree, a person, like Tycen, shares his testimony with one, leading them to Jesus, then tells whoever he's sharing it with, "Now, you tell others that you have found Jesus, the Tree of Life, and lead them to Him." Then those people will tell others who tell others, who tell others...What a beautiful picture and example of how God calls us to naturally share our faith out of the overflow of joy we experienced when encountering Jesus Himself. It reminds me of the story of the woman at the well in John 4. She encountered Jesus at the well and just had to tell everyone she met about Him; just like Valor experienced the caterpillar tree today and just had to tell others!
AND...our students are doing exactly that in South Africa! They have encountered Jesus and their lives have been changed. Now, from the overflow of their spirits, they are sharing all that they have experienced in Jesus. As a result, others are meeting Jesus, and lives are being changed!
Here are some pictures of what this contagious overflow encounter with Jesus looks like in South Africa.
The team!
Evangelism at the park!
One day 5 people (4 hearing and 1 hard of hearing) decided to follow Jesus!
Travel! Travel! Travel!
Sharing at Deaf church!
And hearing churches!
Cardboard Testimonies!
At the YWAM base in East London, our team made a huge impact in the small rural community. They shared a Deaf Awareness workshop and connected with many hearing church leaders to share their heart to reach the Deaf in the area.
The team had the opportunity to talk on a radio station, not once, but TWICE! One was a Christian station and the other was a secular station that heard about the Deaf community that arrived from Jamaica sharing Jesus, and they asked them to share on their non-Christian station!
Making friends and doing work projects, painting, children's ministry, worship nights and so much more!
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