2 airplanes, 3 airports, 1 Taxi, 1 hostel, 1 bus station, 1 bus ride and 64 travel hours later I am finally in Port Elizabeth South Africa!
It has taken me awhile to get down to blogging…I still cannot believe that this is really happening and that I am actually in month one of my race! How is it already September, and how am I already out of the country? Port Elizabeth is a beautiful country on the coast of South Africa. When going through some sections you almost feel as if you are still in the United States (minus the driving on the opposite side) with all the westernization and tourism, but than take a turn on a side road and you can see the poverty that is in the townships that are throughout the city. It is definitely a contrast of 1st world and 3rd world with just a street in between.
My team and I met with our ministry contact the Friday that we arrived just to discuss what our days will look like here! He along with another lady from the church took us on a tour of Port Elizabeth. We walked along the beach and skipped down the pier (you know your on an all girls team when…) There is so much history around the city, and it is absolutely beautiful on the coast that i can't help but feel blessed to be able to call this home for the month.
What our ministry looks like this month:
During the week we work with the Human Dignity Center with the children from the township. We get there at 8am and just hangout and play with the children until they go to classes, than we work one on one with some of the ones that have learning disabilities and need special attention. I have brought my camera every single day and they absolutely love it! They get such joy in seeing a picture of themselves, they also really like to take pictures which is really fun to be apart of! Since they never remember our names they constantly are calling out "teacher, teacher!" They are so filled with joy and energy it is hard to not smile when you are working with them. At 2pm when they are done with school we hangout and get to help with the after school care that goes on until 4pm. The last couple days have been filled with helping them with reading and writing and just playing with them! During the weekend and some weeknights we get to hangout/help out with various things as Lighthouse Family Church and their youth group.Is this seriously my month one?? If you know me, you know that I have such a heart for youth and love pouring into them just about as much as I love learning through/from them. I am so blessed that this is my month one of the race, our contacts are incredible and the people that surround my team have such a heart for the Lord!
I am so thankful/blessed that I get to spend the next couple of weeks here in South Africa with my team. I could not have asked for a better group of women to live in community with. There have been many long nights of laughter.. and I can't wait for many more! So excited to grow and learn with every single one of them.
Thank you to everyone for the continued prayer and support as of now I am only $4,025 away from my final deadline..How awesome is the Lord!! He keeps continuing to remind me that His plans far exceed my own! Keep us in your prayers that we will just be able to show Christ love to those that we come in contact with!
until next time 🙂
Hanna
