Swazi 1000, 2009

Serving a Bigger purpose - Gerhard Viljoen

There comes a point in everyone's life where you realize that what you've been given can serve a bigger purpose. You can/must serve your God and His people with your God given talents.

Swazi 1000 crossed my path in 2008 and my life and living relationship with Jesus have never stopped growing since. The exposure to God's people, His plan for His people and my opportunity to play a role in this by using my unique skills introduced me to a new way of living and my purpose in life.

I attended the first Swazi 1000 outreach as a group leader, scraping & painting walls and scooping trash & poop. We worked our fingers to the bone but couldn't get enough, in fact, I came back the next year for more. 2009 Was the year I started with my career and I was given the opportunity to apply my skills to build God's kingdom. God gave me new skills and used them as I coordinated the projects for Swazi 2009. I also got involved with local outreaches in Pretoria thanks to the people I met through Swazi. By reaching out to God's people you get to know your true self and you begin to realize your unique purpose.

Exposure on short term missions made me realize that I've been on mission with God ever since I allowed Him to take hold of my life. "My story" began in December 2008 in a town called Bulembu and I'm grateful every day for the fruit of those 2 weeks. Swazi 2008 never stopped for me, I'm just continuing with my work in the kingdom of God, using whatever I have to spread the love of God to His people wherever I am.