Hey all…you haven’t heard from me in a while, and I thought you should know why. Last month was really hard for me. Wait, no, that’s not right—it was really wonderful for me.
It was a long travel haul to get to South Africa: 93 hours of buses, planes, layovers—oh, and the cold I picked up from my squadmates that was my loyal and feverish travel companion.
Finally we arrived in Port Elizabeth. No less than an hour later I was settled in, cozily wedged into the crease of a couch, sweater on, hands clutched around a steaming coffee mug. But I was holding it too tight–all of it.
I fell in love with our ministry. I was giddy at the weather. I could walk to coffee shops. Our hosts were incredible and continuously speaking life into us. The culture was beautiful. And we even had COMFORTERS.
I loved life in South Africa so much that I didn’t want to share it with anyone. I didn’t want to blog. I didn’t want to post on social media. I didn’t even want to journal. Those all seemed like admitting to myself—and to the world—that this was just a random month-long trip. They seemed like looking at everything I loved about where God had placed me, at that time, in that place, and giving it away to strangers who wouldn’t appreciate it, wouldn’t understand.
So I’m really sorry. Because you all deserve to know what an incredible place the Lord carved out for me on the South African shore. You all deserve to know how scooping fish stew changed my whole view of ministry. You deserve to read about the prayer and prophecy that I witnessed. And you all really deserve to know just how wonderful the taste of a rusk with your coffee is in the morning (I’m not sure I can send those through a blog, but technology is improving every day, right?)
So expect some back-dated blog posts, some anecdotes, and (if the WiFi pulls through) some photos of the best October I’ve ever experienced. And one more thing: if anyone is planning a trip to South Africa, will you please take me with you?
