South Africa is called “Rainbow Nation” to represent the country’s diverse cultures, ethnicities, and races, which blend together to form a vibrant society. In the national anthem there are five different languages included, however there are eleven official languages of South Africa.
When we were explained this concept during our first week of orientation I was in awe of the unity. Our hosts explained that we are all m&ms, human beings designed by God on the inside and different cultures and shelling on the outside. This concept was on my mind a lot as we lived in Jeffery’s Bay. I got to see first hand how we are all unified by one Spirit. I got to see how social class, race, culture, etc. doesn’t matter.
While we were in JBay, we got to talk with a couple of men who are in gangs. We talked to two leaders and some of their men from 2 different gangs. Through those conversations we just saw humans who have suffered from the brokenness of the world and are in need of a savior. We got to witness 5 salvations. PRAISE THE LIVING GOD! After we got back to the States, we got a text saying that the guys from both the gangs ended up being at the same church together. However, “they did not seem wanting to fight one another. There was just a sense of unity among them.” So incredible! Men who came together through the power of Christ.
Someone we met in JBay said, “We may be different and we may believe in different things and come from different places, but we have One God. We know Jesus. We know He died on the cross for our sins, and that is all that matters.”
We got to spend a lot of time with different people who were following the same mission. How cool that we have been able to come together internationally as one for the purpose and mission of the lord.
Philippians 2:10-11
Every tongue will confess and every knee will bow. The mission of the Father has been to restore since the beginning. The rainbow symbolizes God’s covenant with humanity and His promise and faithfulness. How fitting that they call South Africa the rainbow nation, where we were reminded over and over again of His promises. His promise to provide. His promise to still in the midst of chaos. His promise to be a comfort. His promise to be a dwelling place. His promise to restore and deliver. His promise to bring salvation! From the beginning He made a covenant with us to bring His people back to Him. As there are so many different nations and cultures and beliefs, we are all His people bounded by the world and in need of His saving. We are all chocolate with different coating!
I heard a sermon once on prayer by my friend that explained to me the Bible is full of God’s promises. The Lord says that when we pray He will answer, but there are so many times we don’t know what to pray for because we don’t know what God has promised us. As I have been on this trip, I have been consumed in the Word and I have seen the many promises made to us:
God promises us that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39). God promises to work everything together for good (Romans 8:28). God promises protection and refuge (Psalm 91:1-2). God promises unfailing love and peace (Isaiah 54: 10). God promises to have plans that will prosper us and not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). God promises healing (1 Peter 2:24). And He promises so much more!
I have then seen these promises fulfilled through ministry, relationships, trials, etc.
The last three months I got to be surrounded by people who love the Lord. People who revealed to me how the Lord is intertwined with every little detail of our lives. People who would randomly break out into worship middle of a hike, or at bungee jumping, or at the beach, or in the bus. People who would pray over one another with no hesitation or doubt the Lord will provide. People whose heart broke for the lost and the broken. People who have a hunger and thirst for more of the Lord. People who are willing to surrender everything. People who are scattered across the US who came together for the mission of the Father. I was seen and I was loved by the Lord through these amazing people. People all connected through One Spirit. We are all m&m’s, chocolate on the inside and different colors on the out. All God’s creation in different fonts.
I am sad this season is over, but I am forever thankful for the people I got to be surrounded by, and the Lord’s goodness I got to witness. I pray that all nations can be resembled as a rainbow nation. A nation of diversity that is unified by Christ. I pray every tongue will confess and every knee will bow. I pray for the revelation of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. I pray in this next season of my life that people don’t see the coating of the m&m, but the inside. I pray they don’t see me, but they see Jesus <3
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