So much to share and so little time! Literally. We hardly ever get wifi here.
This past weekend we joined the students of the ministry we are partnering with (Living Hope) on their annual winter Survival Camp. That experience stretched me outside of my comfort zone.. Even more so than being in Africa in general. The camp was in a remote village 4 hours away from where we are staying. We piled into a “taxi” and bumped our way up and down mountains all the way into a valley down on the beach. We arrived at the onset of sundown and had to hike down the beach, over rocks and through the jungle to our campsite. We watched our taxi struggle back up the mountain on the suggestion of a road and that was it. We were alone in this foreign place. At least that’s how I felt. Little village children showed up out of nowhere! They scurried past us over the rocks in the darkness with bare feet, grabbing our supplies and carrying them on their heads with ease! I was shocked. “Where are your parents?” “Where are your shoes?!” They just grinned and laughed at me, only understanding a little bit of English. Once we reached the campsite and began setting up our tents they were eager to look at our gear and help as much as they could. Their ages ranged from probably 3 to 9. They surround us, beaming with bright eyes and white teeth, reaching out to touch the white skin of our palms that they had never seen before in their lives.
The weekend was a true blessing. What an opportunity to see the way they live theirs lives, the beauty of the beach and mountains and open sky. It was so untouched by humanity. It was beautifully, perfect. We took about 50 students with us to draw close to God and be encouraged. One of my new friends, Patrick Jr, whom I affectionately call “Little Patrick” shared with me about the weekend a bit saying, “This was the best weekend of my life.. Because of you guys. This would not have happened if you were not here.” He had never been to camp before in his life. Something so seemingly simple to me literally changed his life.
Thank you God for the fruitfulness of my time here and how you are working in the hearts of those we are here to serve. Thank you that I got to travel to the edge of the earth, or at least the edge of this continent, proclaiming your goodness and bringing glory to Your name!
There is much to share but that is all I am able to share at this time. Thank you for coming alongside me in this journey!! More to come soon.
The video is short but I compiled all the clips I could. Enjoy getting a little window into the beauty… The first clip I took right when we arrived at the beach, you can even see the taxi pulling away up the mountain. The second is our first night, worshipping around the fire in Xosa (“k” sound, a cluck of the tongue, “osa”). Translation of what we are singing is, “He is mighty. Exalt His Name.” The third clip is waking up in my tent the Saturday morning and the rest are taken from our hike through the nature reserve on Saturday. The two young girls that I was walking with along the beach are Tertia and Bongywe. I had the opportunity to share with them how I came to know the Lord and the hope I have in Him. I got to encourage them to dream with God and to chase their dreams until they achieve them! I poured all the strength, encouragement, love and drive I could into them.
