And Her Heart Was Changed.

This week was full of many experiences that i was truly able to see how far my heart has come over the last 9 months of my mission.

I think the hardest time before the change of heart is that period of brokenness. The time where your heart is stripped down to the core. But, the feeling that comes as it begins to heal and change and grow is so rewarding. Its a moment where you truly begin to see that the lord has been there all along, just in different ways.

What i love most about change is that it teaches us the importance of the lords role in our lives.

We quickly learn in the unknown how known we are to our Saviour.

Over the last 3 months with Sister Mkhwanazi i have truly seen the lord manifest himself. In every possible way.

He is there. And he stays.

My time with Sister Mkhwanazi is a time that i will forever hold close to my heart. It was a time full of a lot of change. A lot of moments where i didn't know what i was doing or how i could possibly help her.

But, the Lord led. He comforted. And he lifted us up in the moments that seemed impossible to stand.

Sister Mkhwanazi has taught me many things. This beautiful Sister has endured and she has endured it well. She is humble. She is kind. She has a beautiful soul filled with the purest spirit. She is strong. She has been patient with me despite my imperfections. Im am blessed to know her. The lord knew i needed her. She means everything to me.

I truly feel so humbled that i have received opportunity to be a Sister Training Leader. I feel so prepared and so ready to embark on this new opportunity that the lord has instore for me. I am so excited to also stay in Ashton with my new companion Sister Carter! Im excited to learn from her! I love the sisters in the mission so much. I feel blessed that i get to be apart of their growth in coming to the Saviour.

Many experiences as always. But these are the ones that changed me the most.

The time came for us to head home for the night. As we came to the doors of the bus i saw a backpack sitting on the bench. I asked those around me if they knew whose bag it was. A lady near said it was a mom with the young boy. I grabbed the bag and boarded the bus looking for this mom and little boy. I found them sitting at the back of the bus. We went back there and handed them the bag. She exclaimed so much gratitude as she explained to me that she had just bought her son new trainers and they were in that bag which happened to be his school bag!

We began talking and she started telling me about her family! She has 5 kids ranging from 5-17. She loves being a mom! After a moment she began telling me about her struggles and her story. I am amazed every day by the strength of god children. Her story was similar to my moms. I was able to tell her about how my mom went through similar things and how she was able to move forward. It brought comfort to her eyes. What a blessing it is to have such an amazing mom like mine whose story touches those across the world.

What usually is a 4 minute bus ride turned into 20 minutes. The light before we turn to our flat was red for 15 minutes. I knew this was a sign from heavenly father that we needed to invite her to come and see. I began asking her about her experience with church. She explained how she had never been baptised but felt it was so important for her children to be. So she has raised them in a way that they would know jesus. She talked about how she actually had talked to missionaries before! I was just struck in amazement. I asked her if she we could come share this beautiful message with her family! She said, "Yes yes yes!"

My heart was changed. All because of a forgotten backpack. The lord truly knows each of us. I have began to see as the hearts of his children change that is when mine changes the most.

As we approached the bus stop this one day we stopped to pray. We specifically prayed that we would be able to find someone that was prepared on the bus. As i opened my eyes i saw this man. The spirit then prompted me that i needed to sit next to him. The bus came and he let us on before him, i didnt know what to do but i felt like we should just sit upstairs and hope that he would follow after us. He didnt come after us. I was a little discouraged but i still had faith we would be able to find someone.

The lady sitting behind us got off the next stop. As she got off i looked over at the stairs and to my suprise it was the man.

He sat down and said, "i heard you at the bus stop and that accent isnt from here, where are you from?"

We started talking and i began explaining what we do as missionaries. His eyes lit up.

He shared that his mom had just passed away a couple week ago. With her passing, it sparked this interested that there must be a god. He then said, "i just dont know where to find him." I was amazed. We started teaching him about the plan of salvation. And he agreed and believed it was true! Time came for him to get off the bus and he gave us his number and said he wants to meet as soon as possible!

My favourite thing that this man said during this interaction was, "i know i am 51 but i dont think its ever too late to find god!"

This moment changed my heart. Nothing will ever stop the lord from accomplishing his work. He is the healer of our hearts. He heals all hearts, especially those who dont know him yet! It is through this healing of others hearts that mine is changed!

These experiences led me to ponder the experience of the woman at the well and her change of heart.

When the saviour asks her for water she became hesitant in saying,

"How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans."

He then offers her the opportunity to change her heart. To come unto him and be heal. To come and fill that which was empty.

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

.. Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

Shes was so amazed that the saviour was offering such a priceless gift, infact she couldnt keep it to herself! And despite her imperfections the saviour allowed her to share with her people of the change he had just made in her.

What i love most is that the woman took her faults. Her struggles. Her insecurites. And used it to bring others to christ.

Because christ filled her.

I am the woman at the well.

All the past. All the hurt. All the change.

At times far from my saviour.

But in the midst of it all, he has come to me and invited me to be filled with him.

And i cant help but share that with the world to,

Come fill your heartache.

Come fill your soul.

Come fill your pitcher.

And He’ll make you whole.

When you feel broken,