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Elizabeth 

Title: Elizabeth
Ministry Division:NieuCommunities
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Staff Members: Amber and Deric Moen,

I found myself walking down a rutted out, dirt road surrounded by tall grass, trash, chickens and goats. As I looked around the squatter camp near Soweto township, I saw dirty children playing around the metal shacks they live in. A small group of us made our way to one of those tiny shacks, but at this particular “home” there were no children playing outside. It was in that dark, small shack where we met Elizabeth.   

Elizabeth is a middle-aged woman with full-blown AIDS. She’s a mother of four children, but no one was playing outside because three of them have died of AIDS, and the youngest has to live with her grandmother. Elizabeth’s husband also has AIDS, but is in denial, believing his condition is tuberculosis. Elizabeth is left alone all day and late into the night while her husband works. The AIDS has robbed her body of most of its strength.  

Even though Elizabeth is nearing death, she had the most beautiful smile, and welcomed us into her humble home. She described her life and condition to us in her language of Sotho, and we had the opportunity to learn from her and pray for her.  

After we finished praying for her, the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask if she has a relationship with Jesus. Our translator, Nico, proceeded to ask her, talk with her for a little while, and eventually told us that she wanted to begin a relationship with Jesus “straight away!” Nico had the privilege of praying with her in their own language. It was amazing to hear Elizabeth’s sincere prayer as she asked Jesus to come into her life. After celebrating with her and giving her words of encouragement, we said our good-byes.  

As we left, Nico was glowing with excitement, and shared with me that it was his first time praying with someone to receive Christ. Wow! I have tears in my eyes as I write this. It was awesome to realize the Holy Spirit’s work in the midst of our time there...prompting me to ask her the question, giving Nico the needed words and encouragement, and softening and convicting Elizabeth’s heart, drawing her to Himself. God is surely a God of love, compassion, and redemption, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.