i don’t really know what to write about, so here’s a snapshot into my brain, a mix of processed and unprocessed thoughts that may not make sense to you, and probably don’t even make sense to me.
i’m here in South Africa. when we found out our ministry would be in Pretoria, a big city and one of the capitals, i was content. 2 months in the bush paid off for us to live as city mice for 2 months. wrong. we are about 30 minutes from Pretoria and we are in a settlement outside of it, where there really isn’t much except two gas stations, a few bars, and a butcher within walking distance. expectations, subconscious or not, are always going to be disappointed. that’s one thing i’ve learned the hard way on the Race: things not living up to my expectations that i didn’t even know i had.
someone asked me about Trump again today.
cooking in the kitchen with the cook Grace has been a really cool thing. i guess all the conversations i’ve had with people have been cool. Grace says it’s such a blessing having helpers in her kitchen, which shows ministry doesn’t have to be adding to the number of believers everyday. yes, that’s super important but so is being the Body of Christ in serving and encouraging fellow believers. but evangelism has been another thing that has made my joy more complete. the conversations i have with people on the street or some of the students at the welding school where we live have been life giving, for me and hopefully for them too. being able to share the gift of Jesus with others is a gift in and of itself. learning how to lead conversations with the Holy Spirit has also been humbling and amazing and fruitful beyond words.
i didn’t really like SA at the start, but when explaining my last week to someone i realized i really like it here. on a daily basis i think i’m in a better mood, i think my cup is overflowing. what a sweet spot. being in a good mood seems more innate to me now than being grumpy and angry or whatever else is the opposite of joyful. weird, who would’ve thought? not i.
homesickness is real, especially with access to really good wifi 24/7. but i guess that’s where self-discipline comes in, am i right?
Hillsong Pretoria is where we go on Sunday nights and it’s dope. we’ve already made lots of friends and they threw us a braai (bbq) on Saturday. super sweet and i already know it will be hard to say bye to them. the worship is also just something i need, it’s so fulfilling and refreshing and restful and gosh they are talented.
Ky and I rode a train over the weekend by ourselves and went to a sketch Saturday market. she wimped out on what are the odds and we are chickin lickin and 9 am. Ky and i are also going to a cute old couples house for lunch Sunday that we met during evangelism and i am pumped for it. Violet and Philemon. what a freaking pair. they’ve been married for almost 50 years and they’re still kickin it. can’t wait to break bread in their home and eat with glad and sincere hearts.
y’all please be praying for rain for Cape Town, they’re running out of water so fast and are in desperate need of it.
i’m learning about praying and asking God for things and giving him room to show Himself faithful. dependency is not in my nature, yall. i’m learning reliance and how that ties in with brokenness and turns into intimacy. it’d be a lot easier for me to be self reliant but i know that’s not what i’m supposed to do, so i’m trying. also giving myself grace in this is a learning process. trusting the process.
i think i want to go to law school as of right now. ask me more about that if you so please.
i get to see my mom in 2 months! ! ! that’s exciting.
here are some thoughts running through my mind, not all of them because that would be a novel, but here’s a little bit of the untied mess of knots that i call my mind.
