The Oak Life Journal
Jul | Aug 2023
By Ysabel Rodriguez
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3 minute read
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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 —
Recently as an Oak Life team, we sat down to watch the movie Faith Like Potatoes. This movie was based on the true story of a missionary and farmer in South Africa named Angus Buchan. After a significant journey with God, he had the faith to plant potatoes in the midst of a severe drought—the worst possible time to plant potatoes.
His faith was then tested as he waited for an unlikely harvest of a plant he could not see deep underground.
God did what He does best and worked in this seemingly impossible situation to provide in abundance for this missionary and his surrounding community.
Watching this movie was an encouragement. Afterwards, we sat down to talk about what the Lord had been speaking to us personally.
As people who work in orphan care, we know that this job can be very exhausting at times. Time and time again, we see God speak in the Bible of being the defenders and protectors of orphans. When it comes to transforming the hearts and minds of these precious children, it is hard and tedious work, but it is holy work.
Dr. Karyn Purvis said, “If we can communicate to our children, ´it’s you and me against your history,´ [then] we have a strong place to begin.” To this statement, I would simply add that it is you, your child, and God against this child’s history.
Why do you think the work is so hard? Because you are coming against the child’s entire life history they have lived up until this point of their existence. The extreme circumstances they have experienced call for extreme instinctive behaviors that we see them children exhibit daily.
It is our job to show them a better way. It is our job to lead them to a God who offers healing. With you and God in their lives, healing is possible. It may take more time and patience than expected, but it is possible.
The enemy would love nothing more than to come and plant questions and doubts in your mind to wear you out in your mission. From questions of “when will this child change?” to “Where is the money we need going to come from?”
The range of these questions requires faith. It requires the kind of faith that plants potatoes in a season that seems naturally contradicting. It is in these moments we must go back to what God has spoken to us concerning our diverse ministries, orphanages, children, and personhood.
Galatians 6:9 says—
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 —
So whether you see the expected harvest yet or not, the Apostle Paul encourages us not to become weary in doing good. Why? Because the good work we have been planting but can’t see yet, will soon be a harvest from which to reap!
I pray that if this article does anything, that it would encourage you to keep on going in this holy mission. I pray that you will receive the refreshment you have been praying for in your season. More than that, I pray that God would give you the grace, anointing, patience, and wisdom to continue doing what He has called you to do!
Faint not, but have faith, for a harvest is coming soon!
Ysabel Rodriguez
A graduate of the Oak Life School of Orphan Care. She is a proud alumni of Valor Christian College with a degree in both Music Ministry and Missions. Her passion is to inspire others with her God-given creativity to the best of her ability.
Ysabel Rodriguez
A graduate of the Oak Life School of Orphan Care. She is a proud alumni of Valor Christian College with a degree in both Music Ministry and Missions. Her passion is to inspire others with her God-given creativity to the best of her ability.
