Within our Revelation Wellness Family, we have a saying that says, “Move the Mission Forward.” This is a phrase I’ve heard off and on over the years, but as a full time missionary myself, my thoughts go right to the word “Mission.”
How do we move the mission forward?
If we take into account the events of the past year and a half, it can really leave you thinking, “How do I move forward with anything?” Our normal lives have been altered and we are re-learning how to step into a world that will never ever be the same.
As of this writing, my country where I serve in Botswana is being overrun with positive Covid-19 cases. Our sister country of South Africa is also in peril with not only Covid but also political unrest. For those of us living overseas, sickness and political unrest might not be so uncommon, but there is no denying that it feels much different in the midst of a pandemic.
We Have Work To Do
I am reminded of a recent conversation that I had with our friend that we lovingly refer to as Brother Senase (Sen-na-see), who just turned 86 years old and is a bit of a legend here in Botswana. He loves the Lord with his whole heart and has ministered, discipled, and sat in prominent places within the country of Botswana. Everyone knows him and his presence naturally commands respect. When you are with him, you know you are in the presence of someone really special.
My husband Kevin works closely with Brother Senase and the two of them often travel to our settlement churches to check on the people there. He calls Kevin his “son and my driver.” After contracting and recovering from Covid-19, he was on our doorstep asking my husband Kevin, “When are we going to check on the churches?” We were amazed at his willingness to go so quickly while he was still weak and recovering. In his quiet and gentle voice, he simply said, “We have work to do. I was stopped for a bit, but God isn’t finished with me yet……so when can we go?”
He shared with me one time over a cup of coffee that he will not stop preaching the gospel until the Lord stops him, in which case he said, “I will be in heaven!” He inspires my husband and me each and every time we are around him. If an 86 year old man can keep going, well we can too! Brother Senase reminds me that this is what it means to “move the mission forward”……we don’t stop sharing His love with others till we meet Him in heaven!
In his quiet and gentle voice, he simply said, “We have work to do. I was stopped for a bit, but God isn't finished with me yet......so when can we go?”
We Will Not Delay
When I think of moving a mission forward, I think of Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NIV),
Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
Moving the mission in Botswana the past two and a half years as an Ambassador with Revelation Wellness has been one of my greatest joys as a missionary.
I have been able to use my Revelation Wellness training in so many unique and fun ways. From working with kids in the schools to reaching young and old women through events, to my regular weekly classes at Urban Rhythm, which is usually a mixed bag of young and old, the Lord has been so faithful to show up each and every time I have stepped into these places.
As a result of Covid-19 and government regulations, I was forced to think outside of the box about how to reach out to my people. I had to be creative in how I “revved” and while most people don’t have access to videos due to limited data, I was able to keep sending messages via text services to check-in. It never replaced our “live” experience but it was a way to stay connected.
The Lord also raised up another Revelation Wellness Instructor, my dear friend, and fellow Revelation Wellness Ambassador, Reba Motsumi, who was able to attend Instructor Training Virtually. While I had always dreamed, I never imagined that the Lord would open the door for a local to be able to be trained, but the virtual training allowed that. Now I have a fellow sister who is moving the mission with me in her home village where she teaches school!
While classes look different with Covid regulations now, we have managed to continue offering in-person classes as we are able. Our numbers might be a bit lower, but the energy is still there and my class members continue to bless me each and every time as I watch them move in joy and freedom. They are catching the vision and seeing that moving in this way lifts their spirits, fights their anxiety, and makes them feel good. My favorite moments are when they linger in the stillness a bit more after I end the class.
Just like Habakkuk 2:2 says, the revelation or the mission never expires! It’s written in stone! It might look different in different seasons, but it will never delay. We just simply have to take the baton and run with it. We’re runners! We’re harold’s, moving the mission forward, sharing the gospel, and loving people as we go!
As my dear friend, Brother Senase would say, “We have work to do! We will not stop.”
How are you moving the mission in the area that you are in? What has been your biggest obstacle? What is one thing you can do today to move you forward?
Sarah Witt is a P21 Revelation Wellness Instructor and Ambassador who serves as a full-time missionary in Botswana Africa with her husband Kevin and three children, Andrew, Piper, and Isaac. Learn more about Sarah’s ministry in Botswana and connect with her at Wild Acacia.
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2 Responses
Sarah, I love your heart! The work you continue to do in Botswana is Holy. Let’s keep going!
Thanks, Summer! God is doing great things in Botswana!