It’s been an overcast morning here in Nelspruit, South Africa, but lovely. Today is our last day of month #6 debrief. Tomorrow I’m headed to Mozambique for the month. How did I get here? That’s an almost daily internal question for me.
Last night I celebrated my first 4th of July in a foreign country with grilled hamburgers and lots of loud singing of Tom Petty songs. My fellow N Squad-ers and I, along with our Canadian Kylie and German Jan, rallied our patriotism and brought Independence Day to South Africa. I think it’s fair to mention the tacky red, white and blue garb of a few select N Squad-ers that brought a whole new level of ‘Merican pride to the evening. And to top it off, I was honored to be a part of some of my favorite South African’s very first 4th of July.
So month #6 debrief has come and almost gone and as I leave South Africa I constantly think about my love for this country. My team and I spent 4 amazing weeks in Cape Town that I’ll never forget. We started our first few hours there on June 2nd stranded in the downtown bus station after an 18 hour ride from Johannesburg in the middle of an epic hail storm and homeless. Then there were 5 days in the Penthouse on Long hostel where we were convinced we should stay and do the first ever WR hostel ministry. It makes me chuckle when I think that in the midst of those 5 days I really thought God had handed the best of His blessings over to us for June.
Little did I (or anyone else on my team) know, a few hours at a strangers house for a small group on Thursday night would catapult us into 3 incredible weeks. I feel like the word ‘catapult’ is necessary due to the amazing speed at which these strangers became family and at which God showered us with His blessings. I want to tell you about all of them.
Raymond is the man who has become our South African dad. Him and his wife Lindsey welcomed 6 foreign kids into their home within minutes of knowing us. Lindsey makes the most delicious chicken peanut curry and has an amazingly strong and fiery spirit. Raymond has a heart filled with the Father and it breaks automatically for the people around him. He can speak powerful truths into other’s lives and he loves better than anyone I know.
Greg and Angie Pampell are honorary Capetonians even though they hail from Louisiana. Alongside their 3 children they said ‘yes’ to us with little to no information about who we were, welcomed and introduced us to The People’s Church and it’s people we came to love. Greg believed in our hearts and found us 3 fantastic opportunities for ministry volunteering. If it wasn’t for them this month wouldn’t have happened the way it did.
Tony and Chase Barwick. #barwickbros. These are the two who immediately rounded out our 6-person team into 8. Since June 6th they were a part of our lives every day until we left. Tony has an infectious energy and thirst for the Lord. He invests in the people that come into his life and loves deeply. I don’t really know what I’ll do without his hilarity, encouragement and signature “HAAOOWDY UNCLE!” Chase has a quiet strength. If you get the chance to know him even a little bit you’ll find out he’s hysterical. Chase holds a musical talent unlike most anyone else and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know it. The few times I got to watch him lead worship I easily saw how anointed he was.
Micaela & Lucy. Mic & Luce Goose. I knew I’d love them the minute they greeted us at our new flat with homemade mac-n-cheese. Beyond our mutual love for delicious food and anything sweet I saw the hearts of each of them. Micaela brought so many laugh-til-you-cry moments to our group. She would do anything and everything for someone she loves, from fighting for her family to giving up every warm jacket she owned for some freezing American girls. She showed me what ‘strong’ looked like. I’ve never experienced as genuine a heart as Lucy’s. She holds unbelievably striking beauty both inside and out. She showed me what ‘humble’ looked like.
I could go on forever. About Louise and Mike and their generosity. About how much a hug from Louise made me feel loved and at home. About Claire and Sarah’s dedication to the church, unintentional hilarity and fantastic vintage style that made me jealous. About Chad’s ability to speak truths about God and encourage others (and that he’s my favorite hipster). About Gareth’s mind-boggling amount of energy and hard work for his passion for music. About Mandla’s compelling laugh and siiiick surfer language. About Cornelia, Tyler, Annika, Ian, Monz, Eden, Keegan, etc. To say it was an incredible month would be an understatement.
So, like I said, tomorrow brings Mozambique. I’ll head to Chamba to work with Kedesh Ministries alongside my team, including the newest 7th member: Heather Miller. Welcome to the fam, Heather:). My devotion this morning must’ve known that with change brings anxiety most often in my life. I was given this necessary reminder:
“You will never be in control of your life circumstances, but you can relax and trust in My control. Instead of striving for a predictable, safe lifestyle, seek to know me in greater depth and breadth. I long to make your life a glorious adventure, but you must stop clinging to old ways. I am always doing something new within my beloved ones. Be on the lookout for all I have prepared for you.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
