I’ve served as a full-time missionary for 15 years. I’ve loved missions from the time I was a little girl. When I first stepped on African soil 19 years ago, I knew that Africa had captured my heart.

In the beginning, it was easy to find the awe and wonder around me. I was a young woman who was eager to change the hearts of people and point them to Jesus. I did whatever was necessary to serve the ministry I was with. I wanted to take it all in and do it all. Needs were all around me. Most were from people who I worked very closely with.  I wanted to fix all their hurts. I wanted to give what I had. I wanted to be a light shining in those dark places!

As the years went on, I became a mother to three small children. Their needs kept me home most of the time, and I remember feeling as though my light was dimming. In my heart, I knew that my children were my biggest mission field, but I wanted to be out in the community. I would wave to my husband as he drove down the hill to another village and wished that I could be out there more. As time passed, I began to feel desensitized to the needs around me. I saw faces but forgot the people and the stories behind them. I had begun to harden my heart to the very people that the Lord had given me such a love for.

In the winter of 2016, I lost my father suddenly to an aggressive stage 4 cancer. We happened to be stateside on furlough at the time, so I was able to be with him and say goodbye to my dad. Less than three weeks later, we got back on an airplane and flew back to Africa. My heart was broken and I didn’t want to go. I was ready to throw in the towel. I was tired and I was done being so far away from family. My light had gone out, and I was a tired missionary who was missing her dad.

Little did I know that the journey of loss and grief would ultimately awaken my heart again.  

After a year of stepping out of all ministry and taking time to grieve, the Lord spoke to my heart one morning in January 2018, saying,  “Okay Sarah, it’s time to roll up your mat and let’s move again.” He gave me this verse……

Ephesians 5: 13-14 “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible- and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

I was introduced to Revelation Wellness and for the first time in over 10 years, my heart came alive as I learned to move my body in joy and wellness. Somehow working out began to “work out” my pain and sadness. I was awakened and I began to dream again of a new season of ministry.  I am very much an unlikely Fitness Teacher Gospel Preacher ⁠— that’s another story of God’s sense of humor⁠—but I knew that there was a need to bring this to the people in Botswana. I applied for the Ambassador Program and was accepted into Platoon 21 and started instructor training that fall.

As I went through the training and finished up with retreat, the Lord continued to breathe into my heart fresh light and love for His people. At retreat, I had a powerful vision of me moving with the ladies that I would be working so closely with. I wept. I was beginning to fall in love with God’s people again and could see their sweet smiling faces as they moved in joy and freedom.

In February, I led my first class of over 20 women. As I looked out over the room, I almost had to stop instructing the class for a moment as the Lord whispered to my heart, “See Sarah, the vision that I gave you on that mountain is now a reality!” Oh, what a beautiful moment!

Now almost 6 months into teaching classes, I can say with 100% certainty that the Lord has wrecked my heart again for the people of Botswana. I now see them again. My heart has been awakened again to the needs around me. But instead of jumping in and fixing it, I am leaning into God’s heart for His people, asking the Lord for wisdom on the best ways to meet those needs.

My greatest joy is when I hear feedback from people who have walked into class with the weight of the world on their shoulders, but for 60 minutes get to move in joy and freedom! They feel lighter when they walk out the door. I’ve provided a safe place for those that might not otherwise be part of an exercise program, but who have found freedom and joy in both body and heart! I’ve been shining the love of Jesus, so that through my own personal testimony of awakening, these beloved ones might in turn hear God say, “Wake up, sleeper!” I have found my people, and I am loving my people…again!

In the comments below, share how the Lord has awakened you to love your neighbor and serve them with a full heart.

Sarah Witt is a wife to Kevin, mom to Andrew (12), Piper (10), and Isaac (6) and full-time missionary to Botswana Africa serving with Word to Africa Botswana.  She serves as an Ambassador with Revelation Wellness (Platoon 21) and reaches the community she serves in through classes at Urban Rhythm Youth Center, Women’s Ministry, and Kids Classes.  They also run an internship program where young people can come and serve for 2-3 months with a primary focus on Discipleship.  You can find out more about Sarah’s ministry at Wild Acacia and Discipleship28.19

Thank you for reading along on the Revelation Wellness Blog this week! Do you want to go deeper with Christ in real community? Find a local Meet Up near you starting June 22! A Revelation Wellness Meet Up is an in-person workshop/training event for your body, mind, and soul. This Meet Up will talk about the power of our words and how we keep our hearts, minds, and mouths in alignment with His Truth!

Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWell TV!

PHILLIP’S UPCHAIN – “JOHN 16:33”

This workout is mentally and metabolically challenging. Specific metabolic burn moves will be chosen and you will build! You will build in repetitions per exercise as you go along. Don’t let the numbers play tricks on you. THIS is your get to! (ALL LEVELS) (JOHN 16:33; HAND WEIGHTS)