What’s wifi? They told me it was everywhere, but for the past 2 1/2 months it has been nowhere! In Africa internet plans are like cellphone data plans- you pay for a certain number of gigabytes or megabytes or some-kind-of-bytes, and when you use it all you’re cut off. “Free wifi” means you have 50 some-kind-of-bytes, which is about the equivalent of one email. It’s a struggle.
I would blog every day if I could! I have asked the Lord to show me new sides of his face and he is answering that prayer! J
We spent month one in Heideveld, South Africa, and month two at El Shaddai (a “Care Point” for orphans and vulnerable children) in Swaziland. This month, we are in Quelimaine, Mozambique working with Life Church. I have only been able to post one blog so far, but this life warrants so many more! Thank you all for staying faithful in prayer, even without regular updates from the field. I have a stockpile of blogs to post and they’ll all come in due time. Until then, here are a few fun facts from the first 3 months:
- At El Shaddai a pig opened the gate and was running loose by the children’s rooms. Like a boss, I ran after it and corralled it back into the pasture. I looked like a crazy person running and screaming and waving my arms at a pig!
- I hiked Table Mountain in Cape Town and never made it to the top.
- An African brie beats an American barbeque any day.
- When we were packing to leave Heideveld, I sat in the bathroom floor with Kate and the girls and we cried so hard we laughed. Then, we laughed so hard we cried. It was ugly and beautiful.
- My buddy at El Shaddai was an 11 year old little girl with the brightest smile and the sweetest disposition. We would lay in the hammock for hours and listen to worship music together. I sing at the top of my lungs and, somehow, she loves me for it.
- It rained on the mountain while we stayed there and, along with a few of my dearest friends, I sat on the mountain and painted with watercolors using the pooled rain water.
- At night, Africa is really, really cold. Seriously, so cold.
There’s so much to say! Keep an eye out for detailed posts about what I am learning, how my faith is growing, and how ministry in these countries is vastly different and vastly effective. I love and miss each of you back home, and I think of you and pray for you often. Hopefully, I will be in touch soon!
