Happy Spring from South Africa!
It's always weird for my brain to shift seasons because instead of going into fall with the rest of you, I am coming out of winter and going into spring. The first week here was VERY cold, particularly at night and in the mornings. I hopped around in my sleeping bag most days. It seemed that my shorts and tank tops really wouldn't do much! Luckily it is warming up and is starting to feel great out!
Ministry is heavy on the manual labor side of things, as South Africa is coming out of winter so there is much to do around the ministry base that we are living. We also get to help at a very impoverished squatter camp a few times a week where we get demolished by dirty children who eat up every part of my heart. I love it and have already fallen hard for a little boy there. My mornings are spent alone in the early sun and my evenings are filled with good times with my team. Facilitating feedback, having movie nights, prayer walking, sharing testimonies, one on ones, etc. I love the simplicity that this life brings. So much of life on the race is found here and it just feels natural. My "kids" (who are actually 18-21 year olds) are so loving and some of the most compassionate prayer warriors. I love them deeply already. My co-leaders are very fun and we balance each other incredibly well. We are striving for a lot of the same things and get along great. They keep me humble in the best possible way.
There is more responsibility on us than there was on the race. Lots of finances, writing receipts, meal planning, grocery shopping, meetings, scheduling, and pouring out. Jesus definitely has to be the one that fills me up through all of this. It is stretching me though and I am excited to be continually pushed and refined!
All in all, life here is simple and good. I am so happy to be back where I feel like so much of my heart belongs.
I am still needing to raise $800 for this trip! The "support me" tab below my profile picture on the left column is where you can help support me! Any amount helps. Seriously. Nothing is too big or too small.
