Hey it’s Blaize, things on the field are busy but I knew I needed to write to all of my supporters. Where do I even start in this kind of thing? Well as always I try to write just like I’m talking to all my followers through out this journey. Here we go.
Obviously the title says a little on what this blog is about. Leaving South Africa was hard. No, leaving South Africa was painful. What can I say I got attached, I absolutely loved those three months. I hated those three months. I loved that I found such a home in that country, I hated that my ministry was always behind the scenes. I never got to post about kids or people in general, I just didn’t work with a variety of people per say . I didn’t see the fruit of my labor in South Africa. I know that any labor helped many and I KNOW God saw my team and I doing any task given. It’s not about me though, someone is going to appreciate everything we’ve accomplished,I know. That doesn’t mean that things weren’t hard. It was hard to believe that my ministry had purpose, it was hard to watch the other teams we lived with come home and talk about their days, it was hard already knowing what my team did through out the day but not knowing each other.
Three months in I knew that the race isn’t what I expected . It’s wonderful and daunting at the same time. The lord tests you, in everything. Things like only showering in one out of 6 shower stalls at a time because if another person gets in you have yourself an ice bath, not remembering what it’s like to walk somewhere alone , and although the people around you love Jesus not everyone is on their best behavior and nice at all times. This stuff is kinda silly but I never would have thought that it’d come as a difficulty for me.
Some of the pictures I’ve posted I have a smile on my face. Usually it’s genuine but you can take any challenging moment and smile in a picture and somehow make it look so easy. Sometimes the race just isn’t easy. We smile and say things are okay and god is good (which he is ) but no one ever says that what we go through on the field is ugly at times. The things we see aren’t always “this is awesome I love Jesus and earth wow!” Sometimes you see children with illnesses, pets that are abused, men locking their eyes on any tight article of clothing on us and most women, having to hold your tongue when you don’t agree with someone, and cover your nose and mouth because the public bus engines leave black clouds on the ground every time they take off. Not to mention lots of us have rough patches with the lord quite often. Although, when you are having a good time with the lord the devil is always looking for a way to reverse your thoughts. For example today a few of us on my squad decided to visit Latin America’s largest indigenous market, in the first 15 minutes I walked past these two ladies speaking English and honestly just wanted to talk in the language we don’t hear super often. My first words were “hi do you guys speak English? I went on to say that we were Christian missionaries and before I could get out the next word the 2 ladies shut me down and assumed that I was just trying to shove my religion down their throats, when really I just wanted to speak English to someone other than the 35 people I live with. I know I said it a lot but sometimes things are just hard and many people don’t get that, I could go on and on for days about how I expected this trip to be pretty hard instead of ugly hard but that is just such a mood killer!
On the bright side I am living the life I’ve been dreaming of whether it’s hard or not I would do anything to have this same experience all over again. I learn a new thing each day and when we go ministry or if we see people around the city many people who don’t know the lord ask us to pray for them and the most amazing experience ones from it. Children love being able to see people who are from different countries, sometimes they want a picture with us because not many Americans come to their country. In the end I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. I don’t LOVE when things get hard but it’s all about how you look at this situation afterwards!
Sorry it’s been a while since my last blog, I just felt it on my heart to share some words. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blog and love me well.
One last thing before I hop off, drumroll please!!! I am almost fully funded!!!! I have exactly $585 left to being completely funded for this trip!!! If you feel in your heart that you would like to donate please do!! I’ll write you a personal email showing my gratitude towards you. Thank you all to whoever reads my blogs and keeps up with the race I am so blessed by you! Everyone who has gotten me to this point has been such a big help in my life.
have a blessed day, Blaize.
