South Africa!!!! Woot Woot!!!
I can't tell you how excited and overjoyed I am to be on this continent and in this country. South America and Eastern Europe were amazing, but I have a feeling that Africa is going to be a whole new ballgame on so many levels. I have already had my heart stolen here deeper than I have experienced yet on the race. I think God is going to tear me up for the hurt, injustice, and corruption in this place. I already feel such a huge heart for this nation. Our contact Erica has a saying that once the African sun soaks into you, you can't get it out, and I truly believe that.
This month we are working with a ministry outside of Johannesburg called Beam Africa Network. Their aim and heart is to break the poverty and crime cycle by meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of at-risk children and adults in the townships of Pretoria. We are staying at the Beam house in a neighborhood called "Tropical Valley" although I'm not sure that really accurately describes the area. It is amazingly beautiful, but I'm not sure a bout it being tropical or located in a valley, but I could be wrong. Our contacts and the founders of this ministry are named Erika and Louis Lingefelder. They are Afrikaans and are breaking the century-long mold that still has such a grip on so many South African people today and using their resources and lives to make a change in the lives of the oppressed and disadvantaged in the black townships of Pretoria. If you want to feel like you are a parade performer, just walk down one of these roads in a group of 30some white people. We attracted many looks just riding through in our car. They are some of the most Spirit-filled and God-driven people I have ever met. They are ministering to us way more than we feel we are ministering to them. They are also an amazing example of steadfastness and unwavering faith as they have come into full contact with a lot of darkness, corruption, attacks, and complications recently that is simply heartbreaking, but their faithfulness has not wavered. They truly have an amazing life-long impact on the many children's and adults' lives they have come into contact with over the past decade and I know that God has sooooo much more to come. They know the heart of God and I am so thrilled that we are able to be a part of their amazing ministry this month.
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Thank you so much for reading and all of your prayers and support! I would be nowhere without you guys! I still need about $3000 to meet my deadline at the end of this month, so I just ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with me and helping me finish this journey. I am confident that God still has so much more in store for me in these last 6 months. Thank you sooooooooooo much! I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate everything!
