After 74 straight hours of travel and an incredibly fun weekend, I’m reporting back to you all from Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa. This place = incredible. Photos, and certainly no words, will do it justice.
My team of six women is paired with another group of five female racers and together we are serving at the Global Leadership Academy, a private Christian school on the coast. For those of you wondering, we aren’t roughing it this month. We are fortunate to be staying in a three story log cabin on the school’s property. I have a bed, sheets, clean towels and hot water – PRAISE THE LORD! Not to mention we are a two-minute walk from both a shopping mall and McDonald’s! While we are adjusting to a life without accessible WiFi and limited communication, we are surrounded by great people, great community and beautiful views.
Our first ministry assignment happened to be one of the coolest events EVER. We arrived at GLA and were instructed to gather our warmest clothes. Plot twist: it’s COLD in South Africa. Our team joined several other volunteers in setting up and managing a check-in station along the path of the world’s longest mountain biking competition in the world! I spent my weekend on top of a mountain at the tip of Africa serving soup and a shocking amount of Coca Cola. I met 1250 of the craziest athletes this world has ever known. These people are rock stars. Trans Baviaans is a 24-hour cycling marathon of 230 km (143 miles) in which the racers often travel through cold, dark, windy and muddy conditions, both uphill and downhill.
https://www.transbaviaans.co.za/ Check it out!
The top questions of the weekend in ranking order are:
“Why are there so many Americans helping here?”
“What kind of accent is that?”
“You came all the way to South Africa just for this event?”
“Where are you from in the states?”
I loved every bit of being God’s hands and feet to the cyclists this weekend. My body was tired, but my spirit was alive and full of joy. I’m thanking Jesus for the excitement and awe this weekend provided. I can’t wait to see what our ministry will entail the rest of the month.
My team has been assigned to help with a local women’s conference this week. What blessings this week is sure to bring. I will learn from, and alongside, Godly women as we speak life into one another. What a joy! For now, I rest in the unknown, fully accepting our God will provide situations and resources that will grow my faith while in the pleasant place I call home this month.
Much love,
Carley
