JUSTINESADVENTURES.COM: Unexpected Tears

My Name is Justine Pearson, I became a Christian in October of 2008. Just 3 months later in January 2009 God called me to cross-cultural missions in Africa. I spent 10 months in 2009-2010 in Southern Africa. Currently, in 2011 I am in South Africa and Zimbabwe. God is doing amazing work here as I surrender daily to be used by him. Here are the stories of my adventures...

Testimony - God Loves Marriage

One of the things God has called me to do in South Africa is counsel and pray with women to heal birth trauma. When I met with Buhle she opened up about her husband's adultery. We prayed for forgiveness for him and the women involved. 4 weeks later she testified that her husband is now coming home at night and wants to build their family. A text message i got from here read, "Hello Justine, i want to tank God to bring you young lady to us. To me as a mother you changed my life. Tank you for yr prayer.please go ahead to do a beautiful work God bless you. Tank you."

Testimony - God Heals

I met Tryphina as the interpreter to my prenatal class in South Africa. Having had three children and being pinched, slapped, and berated while giving birth at a government hospital she had much pain and many questions. She thought her body did not work correctly and she feared having another child. We met for a prayer session where we cried out for forgiveness for all involved, her husband, and her parents. She had been trying to get pregnant but could not. 6 weeks later she was pregnant, her marriage had more love, the trauma was erased, and her dad called her to apologize for not being the father he should have and asked her how he could make it up to her. God is so faithful!

JUSTINESADVENTURES.COM: Unexpected Tears

Unexpected Tears

Today I found myself sitting at the dining room table weeping…I could not really sort out what the tears were for but I could not stop them…they felt good and happy and then sad and then a little nostalgic. It felt like the taste of blood in your mouth- for me this is a familiar taste from being a child when I would lick a wound –used to cut myself all the time the tom-boy in me (don’t’ tell me you don’t know what I am talking about) but as an Adult the taste of blood is kinda gross… but familiar…it takes a moment to remember it but then you know it is you…am I making sense…

In fact I am still crying… but felt I needed to get out what is stirring inside of me.

The 1^st 5 weeks of being in South Africa were very challenging for me personally on a very personal level. Sure I had to adjust to a new culture and to new people and to a new job and new side of the road etc. But I think what I was re-adjusting to was what it is like to live a life fully for Christ…And the enemy did not like that and so I was being pressed in every old habit and way of thinking and the things I used to desire. In fact I even had dreams of some of the things I used to do and desire before I became a Christian and it was so weird I felt excited by the dreams yet guilty as well, as I have changed from those things(I am referring to lifestyle things like drinking, smoking, and dating/intimacy with men).

The tears came today when I started to do some research about taking a course on non-profit fundraising or something like this. I was doing research for my office staff as well. This started a path of an hour of mind/absorbed surfing every accredited Christian University to see what I could do my Master’s in. I have always said I would do my Master’s never knew what In maybe social work or women’s studies or counseling (my BA is in Psychology) and now I started to find Non-Profit Management, or Christian Leadership or Masters in Missions…I started to get a pull in my gut I could not explain…was I wanting this cause this is what the world said I should do … “Be educated”…or was I wanting this because in my heart of hearts I know one day I will be sent back to Vancouver and will want to impact my community at ‘home’ just as I am doing in Africa and will maybe one day be the Director of Missions at World Vision or SIM.???

The one thing that has been such a strange process since becoming a Christian and a Missionary is how everything I thought I knew has slowly come crumbling down. Some things have been quick and easy to change my mindset and others have felt like I am being skinned alive (so don’t let anyone fool you- being a Christian is a daily challenge- if you choose to be part of it…really give it all) At the end of the day after the challenge is over or the process of transformation in that area is through then I can breathe again…you see I started to realize today with the tears how much I have actually given up. I have not EVER wanted to focus on this as I did not want to be boasting or being prideful or sounding really holy. I have given up my home, my business, my belongings, my friends, my family, my identity, my competences and for what…not for a fun little adventure in Africa but for GOD.

I have been challenged lately at the fact I really do not know the culture here. The other day in ministry I was sharing a story and used a term which later I was told is very offensive…it was innocent to me but here it is not acceptable….well I goggled the term and found out it meant what I used it for and was so self-righteous about how I should be able to say what I want and then I got over myself and now I am searching for a new term to use J …so I have even given up my language, my food, my freedom with a car and living on my own…and then I wonder why I feel like I am being skinned…

I think the tears were of joy in the end…joy that I do not have to give up all of who I am, per sea, I mean my dream of a Master’s can be fulfilled and the best part the joy of the tears part that now I would do it for God I would get a degree to glorify his kingdom not to glorify my bank account…

Whew…yes I am a verbal processor and when I am without a good friend to chat to…my blog gets it so there you go just a sneak peak into the mind of a surrendered Christian…

What can you give up for Him today?