Hi Everyone! Wow, what a month. Last month while in Ukraine I received news that my Grandma wasn’t going to make it the one-year prognosis they initially hoped for. I was told to jump on the next plane out so I could say my goodbyes. I didn’t make it in time, but I was able to tell her how much I loved her over the phone.
The funeral service was beautiful. My Dad officiated the funeral and I led everyone in the hymn “It is well.” There’s something sacred about hearing the voices of the elderly singing an old hymn. You can hear their life’s wisdom, their journey, reflected in their song. I couldn’t help but watch them sing, as if they wrote the song themselves.
I have sung that song many times, but never in context to something so difficult as losing a loved one. Singing the words, “It is well with my soul,” regarding my grandmother dying was something different. It caused me to evaluate my heart and reflect on if those words were really true for me.
On a happier note, I was able to meet my nephew, Marston, which was amazing. It was neat to see roles in my family shift: Talia and Joe becoming mother and father, Mom and Dad becoming grandparents, my siblings and I becoming aunts and uncles. I can only imagine how spoiled this baby will be on his first Christmas!
I have to admit, it was difficult to come back on the race. Part of me wanted to pull some excuse to stay home, but I knew long term I’d be happier with myself if I finished strong. So I flew back to Ukraine for a night with my squad before heading to South Africa.
My all girls team of six (now called team Radiant) has been placed with another all girls team (Veracity), a team of seven. Kayla, one of our newest squad leaders, has been with us this month too. We are working with Zehandi Ministries in Cape Town. We have been living on a huge guava farm that supplies South Africa with 12% of their guavas. The owners Stiaan and Joy are probably the most hospitable people I have ever met in my life. They have us over for dinner about twice a week, and for one of our weekends off they took us to their beach house on the coast. We feel so spoiled!
Ministry this month has been one of my favorites. We have been volunteering at two different “baby homes.” These baby homes are for infants that have prospective adoptive parents, but are in the holding period. Our time there consists of holding the babies, feeding them, burping them, playing with them, changing their diapers, and giving them baths. I’m glad I got to spend this month with babies because it’s been challenging missing out on baby Marston back at home.
My team has led devotionals every morning for the guava pickers. We have also been able to pick and gather guavas with them on some of those mornings.
Last week we worked with a food kitchen that supplies food to orphanages and homeless shelters. We’ve also spent a lot of time in a squatter camp called Klein Akker. Squatter camps are basically where impoverished people have literally settled on a piece of land, most often illegally. The living conditions are horrific and there is little to no hygiene. But, it never ceases to amaze me how happy people can be, even in the worse of conditions. Much of our time there consists of talking to the people, playing with the children, picking up trash, and helping plant gardens. Fortunately, most South Africans can speak English, so that has been so refreshing.
On some nights a few of us will go out with our contacts on the streets to talk to prostitutes. I feel bad for these women. They often are very friendly and love to receive any ounce of encouragement we may have to offer, even if it is just a smile or a shared laugh.
Next week we will be helping Johanne and Marie (our contacts) establish their new ministry site. They have been primarily stationed in Malawi, but are hoping to start a baby home of their own, a ministry for prostitutes, and a Bible school for new missionaries. The home they are renting is run down and will require a lot of work; the transformation process will likely take months.
I can’t believe I’m halfway through the race. Debrief is next week and then we will already be halfway through our time in Africa, crazy! I think this last half will go a lot faster than the first. I’m grateful for all I have learned and am eager to continue growing in my faith and character.
Thank you for following my journey and for all the prayers and support! I will have more updates hopefully sooner than later.
