As some of you know, my team Guarder of Hearts and I had our time last month in Namibia, which was a time when we interacted with some of the kids in the area where we were staying in and it was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. It was a time when right when we arrived, we started to play soccer with them and we really just enjoyed being with all of them every day. Before we went out there, we were initial about creating a positive atmosphere for them because we all felt like they needed to see what a true Christ follower was like. It also was a time of growth for me because it allowed me to find safety in the Lord because we weren’t in the best place for that. It was an experience that will always be cherished.
Then as we were ending the month, my team realized that our debrief time was in Nelspruit, South Africa, which would take three days by bus to get there and we didn’t plan for that, so we were lucky enough to get a flight from Walvis Bay to Johannesburg. Then my friend, Wianè who I hadn’t seen in 3 years told me we could stay with her for a night in Pretoria and that made me feel excited. We then talked it over as a team and eventually came to the decision that we all wanted to go there, so we did. When I saw Wianè I realized that it was going to be a time when I could just tell her about my whole journey around the world and about all of the different things that I have done since the time we had last talked. Then Wianè and my team decided to get some food for dinner at a restarting and that night was an awesome experience and the conversations were really good and fun. I can’t wait for the next time we meet up with each other because it’ll be great.
My team then got up the next morning and caught a bus to Nelspruit and when we arrived we got some food and met up with the rest of the squad and that was amazing. One of the fun moments we had from it was when a group of us went on a safari where we got to see a lot of cool animals like rhinos, which I didn’t get to see when I was on it in 2016. I will always cherish that experience with everyone because it was cool to see God’s creation in all of the animals that I saw and it was at that moment that I realized how amazing God is in our lives because of all of those beautiful things. I hope to go on more of those safaris around the rest of the world like in Australia and explore even more of it because it’ll be fun and exciting.
While we were in Nelspruit we also learned that our teams were going to change when we get to Europe, which at the time made me sad that I had to leave the other 3 guys, but also really excited for the new places that we will get to go to with new people. Something that also was going to change was the Squad Leaders Reece and Kate because they are leaving us at the end of June, which will be a little sad, but Jacob and Hannah are now taking their place and I’m ready for that because it’ll be awesome. We also learned that our whole squad is in a place called Jeffery’s Bay and we are all going to be together for the month of June and we will be working with an organization called Global Leadership Academy who we are going to help with different things. The leadership team also said that the month is going to be like a traditional World Race route where we have a host already set up for us and we also will have a ministry there already planned for us, which will be different for our squad, but I’m really excited for it.
Then after a day of traveling by bus across the whole country of South Africa, we finally arrived to Jeffery’s Bay and so we all decided to rest for that night. However, when we got there we realized quickly that it was very cold because we are currently in South Africa’s winter time and because the house we are living in has no air conditioning or heating, so I for that first night, I struggled sleeping there, but I knew it was going to be awesome.
Then the next day I found it funny that almost all of the squad went to the local mall you can walk to and we all bought some jackets there because while we were in Asia, we were in very hot climates where the temperatures would make you sweat right when you walked outside and we all knew that it would be hard to stay there without one. They also weren’t that expensive so that also helped us into getting them.
The day after that, our squad found out about the “jobs” we were going to have while we were serving there, which are things like gardening, constructing a soup kitchen, which I’m apart of, a time where you could do homework with children and even someone who cooks dinner for everyone in the house. In all of those things, some of the people in this community said that my squad were very helpful and were amazed by how willing we were to do tasks without complaining. They also told us that we have been making a huge impact in the communities we are working in and that they are all thrilled for us to be here.
We also do many fun activities on a daily basis like when we have movie nights like every night, which has grown us as a group because before having this ministry time with all of them, I didn’t really know some of them and I always wanted to. Some of us also play card games together and that’s really fun and has grown some relationships with me as well. Some of the others have even worked on a 1000 piece puzzle, which I think I couldn’t ever do and I’m excited to do even more of those fun activities together as we continue to do more things with one another. I believe that this month will show more about how to have fun and enjoy new things.
In the end, I truly feel like I enjoyed my time in Namibia with the guys and I’m really glad that I got to see the safari while I was in Nelspruit with some of my squad members as well. I also am excited for the more opportunities that I will get to grow my friendships with them and to get to know the different ways where I work with other people in an established organization like the Global Leadership Academy and how I can serve them the best. I’m also excited to do more activities with my squad mates every day and getting to understand more about how the Lord can use me through this experience with the other people as well. I also hope that I can continue to be a light in all the places I’m in while I’m in Jeffery’s Bay and I truly believe that God is going to move in that area because His love and peace is amazing. Here’s to more of the journey.
