Hello friends and family!
There’s a lot to update you on here in South Africa, but again, very little time. WOW- taking care of 13 kids really takes it out of you! Mom, Dad (and all the Moms and Dads reading)- please know how much you have been appreciated in recent days!
Leading is a challenge but it’s incredible. I really do feel I’m doing what God has prepared me to do – loving and caring for and ministering to students. Of course my call is still to care for orphans, it’s why I’m doing what I do at AIM, but I see more and more everyday how God is preparing me too for ministry to youth or college students or young adults. It’s been amazing to get to pour into them!
It’s been strange though, because my heart is for the children and the people in Africa but I haven’t had much opportunity to minister here as I’d hoped (at least not yet). My job right now is to pour into my students – to be an example to them, to teach them, and to take care of them… today was a day of errand running (laundry, groceries, etc) while they were doing ministry with my co-leader Frank 2 towns over. I’m slowly getting used to waking up a house full of girls and coaching them to get ready (yes Mom, I am having to do that – doesn’t God have a sense of humor?!), making daily plans for 15, answering 13 voices asking questions all day, checking to see who’s hungry, sleepy, not feeling well, checking to see how they’re doing spiritually/emotionally, making sure everyone is fed, and making sure everyone gets in bed on time. Of course I have my co-leader (who is such a wonderful man of God- I’m so thankful for him!) to help, but even then it can be challenging! I see now how much grace, patience, selflessness, and love it takes to be a parent. I’ve gotten used to answering to “Mom” from the students- that should be funny to learn to cut out when I get home! HA!
Praise God we have great people taking care of us here at UCSA (the place we’re staying) – the staff is so wonderful. We’ve made some dear new friends! Our contact is great too – Kevin – there aren’t enough words to say what a blessing he has been to me and Frank! I hope to share more about him later.
I love it here – it was dreary and cold today but even in the rain the beach is beautiful and the people are so friendly! I’m learning more and more that there ARE opportunities for ministry EVERYWHERE – even out running errands – if you look for them. (The same is true in America and all over the world!) I’ve made friends with Kevin at the Sunflower, Chana at Take-away, Sis and Kevin at the shirt shop, Papa Joe at his restaurant, Dorothy at the Easy Wash laundry, and a precious little street kid named Diego. I’ve also been blessed to visit the townships (slums) here and to get a taste of our team ministry – the people are so kind and welcoming and the children are so desperate for love! I can’t wait to get back there for the next couple of weeks – I’m excited to see what God has in store for our team!
There is much more to tell you about so I will just throw out a little list and update more later:
- I’ve been driving on the left side of the road (something I NEVER thought I could do!) and I’m quite proud of myself (but please continue to pray for safety!)
- The beach here is breathtaking – what a blessing from God it has been for my heart!
- The language they speak here (Xhosa) has some of the same phrases as SiSwati, so the language has been easier for me to pick up- thank the Lord!
- I’m fasting make-up for the month (yes I’m serious) – more to come on that later!
- I learned some drimes 2 nights ago (drama to music) that I’m SO excited about performing with my team- I miss performance so much and God is giving me a great opportunity to do it here!
- I love, love, love my team and my co-leader! Have I mentioned that? 🙂
Please continue to pray for me, for my co-leader, and for my team. Please pray for our health (it’s been rainy and cold the past 2 days and nights and no one in Africa has heat), for good sleep (God is keeping me going but it’s really tiring to be doing so much all the time), for protection (physically and spiritually), for our spiritual growth, for our eyes to be focused on Him, for divine appointments, and for God to move in powerful ways!
I love you all and am so thankful for your prayers and for all your encouraging comments!
ps- if you’ve sent me any mail to my adventures address- please try the g-mail one instead. I’m not able to access my adventures mail from here 🙂
