South Africa. The beaches are amazing. The food is amazing. The people are amazing. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that I am really here and that a short 45 days ago was in one of the poorest countries in the world. What a difference! Where we are staying is about a fifteen minute drive to Muizenberg which holds one of the best beaches in the world to learn how to surf in. Planning on doing that this weekend. J We are about a ten minute walk to the beach and staying in a hostel/campground that is right next door to our ministry site. We are working with two ministries. One is door to door where we walk or drive to the neighboring community of Phumlani and meet, greet, and pray with the people in the area. The other is a rehabilitation center called Camp Joy. The people there are adults age 23 and up who are recovering drug addicts, alcoholics, etc. It has been amazing spending time with them and getting to swap stories. One of the girls I really connected with has a twin sister named Desirae and has the same birthday as me. (Can I get a JESUS?) Lol. The second I started talking to her we really connected. She reminds me of my mom years ago and is going through similar struggles with keeping her family together as a single mother and believing in God to provide a way financially and relationally to raise her children well. We also have been taking the neighborhood children down to the beach to swim and play soccer and give their parents a bit of rest in the afternoon. I see God working in this and blessing them as well as us with friendship and fellowship and answering prayers every day.
Alongside this, the theme this month has been self-regulation and control as well as dependency on God. God has really shown me a lot about myself and how to operate in my Christianity, and how to grow even closer with Him. As we have settled into “life” on the race, struggles from back home are rearing their heads up and forcing their way to be dealt with here. The biggest thing He has been teaching me is that my relationship with Him is a choice. I have to choose to be close to Him and I have to continually choose Him above other things. Just like back home, there are things on the Race that can distract us from the Lord. Trips to town, excursions, shopping, internet cafes, each other, etc. And let me tell you that these are all an enticing option when you have been locked up in a hostel all week with no wheels and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. This weekend especially was difficult. As teammates and squadmates made plans to go seal diving, to go to a festival, and do some wine tasting I felt the Lord calling me to be still and rest here at the hostel. I did not want to. I myself am a sucker for fun and wanted to go out and play as well. I nearly caved on several occasions, but the Lord knew how to keep me in line through other people that stayed behind and I made it to the end of the weekend with a memory from the Lord I will never forget. Though it was difficult God really showed me that when we listen and obey He has great things for us. The word of God is alive. His spirit is alive. Jesus lives.
2 Peter 1:5
“So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will have love for everyone." (NLT)
