Theme of the week: progress.
We had to transfer the first 2,500 bricks we had already placed on the land
because they were dumped where the foundation needed to be marked. That was an
interesting process. About twenty women and children joined our team and
created two assembly lines that spanned the thirty yards we needed to move the
bricks. Just picture women in skirts, babies strapped on their backs, passing
bricks along, singing African worship songs. It was beautiful. I can think of
no better way to describe it than simply, Africa.
So as amazing as this place is—I’m not going to lie—everyone
needs a little break now and then… a little civilization. So since we were due
to make a run to the nearest ATM (6hrs away), Mark, Cameron, and I had a little
road trip to Quilamane. It was also Mark’s birthday, so that was an added bonus
for him. We were able to eat some good food, drink real coffee, sleep on a real
bed, and most importantly—shower! It had been a good 11 days since my last one,
so I was due. Oh, and an added bonus… Mark taught me how to drive stick on the
way back! I’ve always wanted to learn, so now I can check that off the “life-goals
list.” J
It was definitely interesting to drive on the left side of the road… that was
probably the hardest part!
We also found out some disappointing information regarding
our travels after Africa. We won’t be going to South
America, but instead we’ll be in Central America.
We will fly into Costa Rica
and be the first team to go to Panema. These three months in Africa
are going by so fast. I can’t believe we’ve been here for over 6 weeks.
One thing I’ve been learning during our time here that I’d
like to share with you all, is trust.
It’s something I’ve been praying about for a long time, trying to trust God
more and more, because he is worthy of all our trust. But for so long it has
been a hard learning process. I always catch myself relying on logic and a
worldly mindset—when none of that needs to be taken into account when trusting
God. I’ve been meditating on Jeremiah 17:7-8 for the past week, and suddently
one day it just happened. I trust the Lord. I trust his plans for my future, I
trust him to finish this orphanage, I trust him to give me everything I need. I
trust the Lord. And more than that, I am confident in the Lord. I don’t need
convincing, I don’t need all the details—God’s got it under control. No matter
what may come, no matter how bad it looks, God will come through. I have not
one shred of doubt in that; I am fully confident in Christ.
