encouraging letter from Sumphiwe
My family in Christ,
I have a quick praise and celebration I wanted to share with you all. So you know how we had the boys who didn’t get tested stay in class and write down their testimonies and how this semester was going to affect the rest of their lives, well we had a lot of encouraging letters and I just wanted to share one with you! This boy uses my name, but please realize that it wasn’t me who did the work, it was Christ through me and through you guys providing the funds to enable me to be here.
I had to correct a lot of spelling and grammar errors, their english is not perfect haha, but they do well enough to communicate most of the time. This is a letter from a 14 year old boy named Sumphiwe Makhanya.
“It started when you guys came to my school. Ryan convinced me when he started telling me about how to overcome bad things we do, then the day he talked about this he changed my whole mind and like my thoughts and all this stuff. Four hours later I went home along the road. There were girls who had been waiting along the pavement. All the girls were wearing attractive clothes with short skirts, high “hill” shoes, and wearing tops that were showing their breasts. I saw those attractive clothes, I thought of Ryan’s words, that the Lord our God can help us overcome these things. After that thought something convinced me not to look at those girls who were wearing those attractive clothes and after that me and my friends passed those attractive girls and in my mind I said “thank you Lord for making me and my friends take the right decisions by not going to those girls who were trying to convince us to come to them.” The next Thursday Ryan came to my class again. He then talked about the Holy Spirit. He continued to change my mind by telling me about how the Spirit helps us when we want to overcome these attractive things. I say thank you to Ryan because he changed my mind and now I am a changed man. Have a good journey when you go back to USA, you have changed my life.
When I read this, me and the guys celebrated and were so happy and proud of Sumphiwe! I hope this boys story brings joy to you all back home and encourages you somehow. The Spirit can bring power to us to overcome any obstacle! He can truly change our hearts and minds if we humbly allow Him to. The pure in heart shall see God! Christ promises us strength, peace, joy, wisdom, and countless blessings if we come to Him and give ourselves fully to allow Him to use us! There is nothing in this world more beneficial and sufficient than the Holy Spirit. We must be God-fearing followers of our Father in Heaven and in return He will fulfill us in a way that nothing else can! I have experienced the power of Christ’s Spirit so many times on this journey here in Africa. He has changed my heart, mind, and soul in so many ways along with all of my teammates who I now gladly call my brothers and sisters! I can never express how much I appreciate all of your support and prayers. I consider one of the biggest blessings that God can bring is relationships. I consider myself truly blessed to have you all back home supporting and joining together as the body of Christ to bring glory and power to the Kingdom of God! Grace and Peace to you with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ my brothers and sisters! Look forward to seeing you soon!
*I posted a lot of new pictures of Swazi, boys at Salesian, and kids at Ithemba! hope they bless u like they have me
How encouraging that is to hear, Ryan! The lord has obviously used your passion and talent to impact lives in South Africa.
I’m just silently rejoicing! Wow! Hmmm, just Wow!
Love you so much, I’m not sure I’ll be able to let you go when I finally get my arms around you, son. God’s peace,wisdom, safety, and healing arms to you and your team.
Hi Ryan!
This is surely proof of the power of the Word and the Spirit.
The truth will set you free. He really doesn’t give us more temptation than we can handlethere is a way out if we seek it.
This boy’s testimony is pretty remarkable. To hear for the FIRST time, to soak that right up and have such power be demonstrated, it is so amazing and encouraging.
I think it also shows that you and the team may be there for only a short time period, but God can make it count for the kingdom in a mighty way. You obviously can, and have had, enormous impact on each life you touch there.
Those people and young men then can also spread the Gospel and these lessons (all through their lives) that you shared and which so quickly and deeply took root.
Just incredible. God bless amd multiply all the last moments there for his glory.
In Him,
Susan Hamner
The Holy Spirit’s empowerment has been testified through your supporters giving, you teaching and Sumphiwe overcoming. Dang, we are so blessed to have been given such a gift. Encouraging story.
Ryan, I’m proud to know you. Your obedience humbles me and makes me ashamed of my disobedience. I know your parents are so proud they could just pop. Thanks so much for sharing this encouraging story with us. If only one gets it, it is well worth your effort. One reaching one reaching one …
Ryan your experience has changed many lives in Africa and here in the States as well. You are truly blessed to contribute to so many lives. I hope to hear all about it when you come home. You will have to venture out to CA though because we have moved.
Take care and travel safely.
I pray God continues to bless you so you can continue to bless others.
Mark Ledbetter
God bless you my dear brother in Jesus Christ!
as your sister i am really proud of you and really happy that you hear and obey Jesus like this.
i am a christian and i live in Iran and i really pray for all the other believers who may live in difficult situation like me.
May God richly bless you
your sister in Christ
mehrnaz