INTERNational Living Part 4: Final Thoughts

It is crazy how time flies. Being back in the United States has given me some time to reflect on my internship in Namibia. Oh how dearly I miss the people there. The Lord has done so much in my life. He has inspired me and moved me by the people that have blessed my life and have allowed me into theirs.

David and Sandy are truly impacting many people for Christ. The Thrive group is growing into a community that not only cares for those within, but is beginning to to look outward as well. The retreat we had for them brought a spark of passion for their community. I cannot wait to see what these young adults are going to do. They are world changers. David has done a fantastic job of leading these students and showing them who Christ is. In turn, these students are reaching out to others to impact the Kingdom.

Sandy has inspired me in her leadership. She has led her household with dignity and love. Her two boys reveal who Christ is even at three and one. It truly is a testament to what she is instilling in her children every day. She is a humble servant to her children, the other missionaries and the community. While I was there, Sandy and a few other ladies began a ministry to young pregnant girls. I only got to hear her teach a few times, but you could see Christ in her words and actions. She is a gifted teacher. It was amazing to see Sandy support these girls in a difficult time in their lives.

A huge part of the ministry that I was involved in involved visiting homes. We had the opportunity to go to a little community within Katutura called Sonder Water. It was a wonderful opportunity. We basically went into their community and began to ask about their skills and abilities. It was amazing to see how this simple questions could change the way they viewed themselves. I talked with a group of gentlemen. They started bragging about each other. They began to sit a little taller. It was great to be a part of a community development program, even if only at the beginning.

There were so many things that I experienced and saw the Lord do that it would be hard to write it all down in this blog post. David and Sandy are doing great and inspiring ministry, but they are in need of help.

Matthew 9:37- Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

David and Sandy have their hands in many different ministries that are working with the community to reach those who are in need of Christ. In Namibia there is a great thirst to discover who Jesus truly is. People are willing to hear about the Gospel and are open to have these conversations, but there are just not enough workers for the harvest. This desire is strong. I ask and plead that you would pray that the Lord would send workers.

I am so grateful for these experiences. My hope and prayer is that I would have the opportunity to go back. Namibia will always have a special place in my heart. I have learned and grown so much in Christ. My life has been changed forever.

Jesus, I ask and pray that you would send workers into this country. You are Lord. Thank you for knowing and loving this community and this country. Continue to bring your Kingdom to earth and transform lives for you. I ask that you would raise up leaders in Katutura. Bring your change. Thank you for always being faithful. Bring your hope.

INTERNational Living Part 3: Outreach, Ice Cream Cake & A Powerful Change of Plans

A couple of weekends ago, the 3 Measures team held a retreat for our young adult Thrive community. The retreat focused on reaching out into our community in Katutura and how they can go about that. We started the retreat off with a bonfire and some wonderful fellowship. Sandy gave an excellent devotional about loving your neighbor. Saturday morning we began our day by spending an hour with Jesus. I had the opportunity to put together a packet for each young adult. This packet included many practical ways of spending time with Christ. The passages I picked had to do with knowing how the Lord sees you (Psalms 139) and a passage from Philippians 2 that revealed how the church should follow in Christ’s footsteps.

After that hour, we spent some time discussing how devotional time went. Most stated that an hour seemed intimating at first, but after beginning, some said they needed more time. I was blessed and encouraged by the feedback. After the devotional time, we entered into a time of team building games like the egg drop. In the sessions that remained, we talked about how to reach out to the community. These young adults inspired me with their ideas of how to care for their community. They brought up so many creative and inspiring ideas. That night was filled with fellowship, Nacho Libre, and a delicious ice-cream cake.

On Sunday the Lord changed our plans. A time for outreach planning became a time of sharing about personal lives and opening up to each other. It was exciting to see and hear the Lord move in powerful ways and I was blessed to be a part of it.

Melissa Faraci

INTERNational Living Part 2

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

My experience here so far has encouraged me and my walk with Christ through the many examples I have seen in Namibia. I have met many wonderful people who are seeking the Lord. Last Sunday, during Thrive Bible study, we discussed what it means to reach out to the community. It was neat to be a part of the discussion as they looked back at where the group has come and where they are going. Each story told that night was riddled with themes of community and discipleship. I am blessed to be a part of a group that has built a strong community in and through Christ. Acts 2:42-47 has been the key passage this group has grasped on to and is striving to live out. It was inspirational to hear these students share stories about what the group was two years ago and where they are now. I was encouraged to see the Kingdom of the Lord lived out through these students in their daily lives.

This is how the church is called to live. The Kingdom of God should be consumed with community, discipleship, and reaching out to others in and with Christ. We are all called to love the Lord and to love others. This is affirmed in Mark 12:30-31,“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

 I am personally convicted to live in a way that glorifies the Lord by loving others and I am encouraged to see how these men and women continue to walk in obedience in Christ through their community.

Melissa Faraci

“Aacckk!”

“Aacckk! That’s not a lizard — it’s an alligator!!”

I have had a grand adventure discovering the different types of wildlife found here in Namibia. Being here in this wonderful country I have learned that there are many snakes that can cause death, that giraffes and flamingos roam free and that warthogs gather together to go to the watering hole.

God’s wonderful creation is just one of the many blessings that I have experienced here. The Lord continues to show His faithfulness and how He transcends all cultures, tongues, and people. Jesus has been doing a great work through Three Measures’ Thrive group and through the Echols. He is revealing Himself to these young adults in powerful ways. I have just been with them for about two weeks and I have seen them show the love of Christ to each other and really be a community of believers. They welcomed me in without hesitation and allowed me to become a part of that community.

Tennis has been a huge part of this community. It recently started up again, which has given me the ability to build relationships in a sport that I love. I am excited to see what the Lord will do through us in this season and how He will move to bring transformation.

Melissa Faraci