The Women's Ministry at Common Ground Constantiaberg & South Pen combined efforts to put on an event called Heartfelt. Seven women were asked to write letters that shared their story. Three types of letter emerged: Looking Back, Looking Deeper, & Looking Forward.
These letters shared life lessons, stories of loss, pain, hope and joy.
My letter, a looking forward theme, summed up some of my most important lessons from being in South Africa. But these lessons ring true for any Christ-follower called to Live on Purpose!
Melanie’s Heartfelt
2018 Letter
Dear women
in the
room…
I’m writing to tell you that you’ve got what it takes. You don’t have to be more, do more, know more, or have more to make a difference. You are already full to overflowing with good gifts that the world desperately needs for you to unwrap and share with the rest of us.
My adventure of living a life on purpose has led me to leave the US (selling all my possesions) and land here in South Africa. It has led me to meet, fall in love with and marry a man from a different culture to me. Living this life on purpose threw me into a task that is too big to accomplish alone, but perfectly designed
through God’s power. God entrusted me to lead a ministry, mentoring youth in
vulnerable communities – supporting them to grow in wisdom, health and
relationships. Through
this adventure, I’ve learned some invaluable lessons I’d love to share with you…
Step out of your comfort zone. Stay hungry to learn. Learn from everybody you meet – every single one has something worth learning from. Be bold. Pray bold prayers. Do something that takes faith and courage that you can only do if God joins you! Or if that sounds too scary, take the first step out of your boat – and wait for his gentle hand leading you further out, one small step at a time.
Warning:
haters are gonna hate. The enemy will throw curve balls, you will have hard, messy days – but what life of
significance
didn’t?
Growth happens in the hard seasons. The mess is your training ground – the place where you will experience what others have gone through, giving you the grace to see another’s pain in empathy, to walk in their shoes.
Use what you’ve got. What’s in your hands? God
isn’t asking for something you don’t have. So what are your 5 loaves and 2 fish that God can multiply? Is it some of your time? Or some of your money or possesions? Use your everyday life, your coming and going, your home, your pantry, your minutes in-between to serve God and others.
Be sure to leave
a bit of margin… margin for God to nudge you toward that hurting mom in the school parking lot, that stranger on the pavement, that family member you’ve been meaning to re-connect with…
Leave some room to breathe, to be able to say ‘yes’ to the things that bring life, and ‘no’ to the ones that don’t.
Be grateful
– hunt down things to appreciate & thank God for (sunsets, a child’s laughter, the scent of a home
cooked meal). And celebrate! Celebrate
the small wins as well as the big ones. Celebrate the journey that is now & still ahead, and the One who goes before you.
Dear women in this room – please, live your lives on purpose. Start now. Right now. Today. Remember, you have all you need to accomplish what God has set out for you. Your loaves and your fishes are enough – hand them over!
Love Melanie
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| Andrew served at this Women's Ministry event. He set-up chair and decor EARLY in the morning. Then he dressed in his black and white best, offered his amazing bicep, and walked the women into the marquee like a gentleman. I told him not to make anyone stumble (metaphorically and literally) while doing his job ;) |
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| These lovely ladies were hosts and letter-writers for the event! |
