Lesotho is the 4th country I have visited in Africa, and my time here has taught me to let go, and go with the flow. This weekend, while doing the weekly grocery shopping for the team, Shea’s wallet was stolen from the shopping cart. Her passport was unfortunately in the wallet, so we went to the police station, the photo shop for passport pictures, and lastly, the U.S. Embassy. Shea has had a very calm and positive attitude, and as a team we are confident this will all work out before we leave the country.
When we go to Maseru, we take public taxis. Public taxis are mini-buses that will drive up to 20 people at a time, while private taxis are smaller cars with bigger price tags. Typically, the taxi-bus will drive forwards and backwards up the main road in Roma until the bus is full, but today the taxi ventured off the main road and the driver hopped out for unknown reasons. While he talked to a man smoking next to the fruit stand, another guy from the street jumped into the drivers seat and drove down a rocky side street. These types of driver exchanges happen all the time, so I was strangely comfortable and trusted whatever was going on. Once we managed to pick up one more person and turn around without hitting sheep or children, the taxi stalled. All the guys from the front seats jumped out and started pushing, and they were successful in roll starting the taxi. We made it safely to Maseru!
Recently I have been feeling the weight of making decisions about school, summer jobs, and all the other things at home I’ve been disconnected from. This gap year is not pausing my life, I’m still living my life. I’m living in new places with new friends, but the lack of internet has left me feeling like my life has been stalled. I don’t want to feel this pressure that I have been putting on myself. I wake up every morning and think about how much I’m thriving here, I want to be living in the present because I have so much time to make decisions about finishing school! From the little I’ve seen, Africa is a beautiful continent, and I love the people and culture. Despite what you may think after reading my last blog, I haven’t felt unsafe here. Life slows down, and it gives you time to see what’s really important.
Taking public transportation, Shea losing her passport, and my options for next year, have shown me how much trust I need to put in God. Every day I need to wake up, and lay it at His feet so I can continue chasing after His heart. Team Further has been placed in Roma, Lesotho for such a time as this. We’ve had so much success in our campus evangelism, outreach events, and weekly bible studies, these are the things I should be concerned with while I’m here, not my class schedule Fall 2018!
We have shared the gospel with so many students since we’ve been here, a few have accepted Christ, and others are still hanging out with us, asking questions. I really love our ministry here, I want to be focused on this group of people we have been called to disciple. It’s time to roll start my attitude towards our purpose in going on the World Race – love God, love people.
