South Africa is an amazing place. I think I have to start with that sentence to tell you about the rest.
Since we’ve arrived 4 days ago, so much has already happened. The mornings feel early and the days are long and the nights are late. I can’t even remember the days of the week or the date anymore. And to think that I’ve only been away from home 10 days!
Well, as you’ll soon learn with me, things are always changing and plans go out the window. We are running this race by the seat of our pants and rolling with the punches. Don’t be at all concerned, however, none of it has to do with lack of safety or provision – and everything to do with God’s leading.
Here are some snapshots of this week (from what I can remember):
Monday –
- Arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Came to a place called Eikenhof: a ministry conference site where Soccer 4 Kids is normally hosted.
- We had showers and western facilities (dorm-style living) but there was definitely limits on provision (running water & drinking water & electricity)
- It was a phenomenal 2 days & 3 nights of being refreshed at a safely enclosed compound where I got to know the hostess a bit and the groundskeeper
- We had to move on from this site because there wasn’t sufficient ministry accessible for mobilizing 27 missionaries (we were 20 miles south of Johannesburg-Downtown and the cost of transport in and out of the city was exceeding our budget)
- I was able to spend more time getting to know my co-missionaries on team SHEkinah and my other squadmates
Tuesday –
- At Eikenhof, Johannesburg, S.A. we await all this day to figure out ministry site/opportunities as logistics are pending for other teams to go out to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana
- I got my first sunburn by sitting in prayer first thing in the morning. I got 5 shades darker in 15 minutes. (NO JOKE.) This African sun is crazy intense
- We ran out of drinking water right after breakfast
- I literally poked around the compound taking in what sights I could from behind the bars and electric fence
- I learned the customary handshake for South Africa, take a tour of the guest house and spend time with Lynette learning about bird watching in this area
- I spent an amazing amount of time in prayer and praise by myself with the LORD
- I was starting to feel the effects of some jet lag and African pace of life
- Sun exposure and lack of drinking water got me feeling sick real quick
- I perked up with some pretty insane worship session after dinner
Wednesday –
- All teams (except 4) launched out from Eikenhof to other countries, where they were anticipated to travel by bus anywhere from 16 hours to 32 hours to their next destination
- It was determined we would be heading to Pretoria to a ministry called POPUP where we were being welcomed to serve and help out
- I spoke to the facilities manager at Eikenhof and asked him more about local community, family life, and the overall spiritual atmosphere (and I gained a lot of insight)
- I spent more time in the word, resting and recovering, and praying
- We went for a short trip to the mall, our first time off the compound since arriving in Africa – to access the internet. I was very happy to upload some blogs and pictures! Plus I shot out one quick email
- My heart was a little heavy that I was unable to serve in the ministry I could clearly see at this particular site: the family who lived on site who we didn’t even get to know or serve, the neighbors who lived in shanties next to us, and a teenager group home 6 minutes walking distance away where troubled kids struggle with “drugs and demons”
- I am learning to let other missionaries lead and also understand the dynamics of the variable spiritual maturity combined with ministry experience. (I was internalizing feeling upset that “ministry” is often perceived as productions/programs/VBS/scheduled agendas vs. building relationships/serving where you’re at/letting the Lord lead)
- Trusting Jesus that wherever He leads me, I can serve Him
- Did all my laundry by hand in the sink and let it dry out on a fence
- Pack up and get ready to move on to Pretoria
Thursday –
- Watch the sunrise as I listen to the roosters crowing and pray
- Enjoy some oatmeal and peanut butter for breakfast and some powdered Gatorade
- Wait for our bus to arrive to take us to Pretoria – POPUP ministry
- Fall asleep on the bus
- Awake about an hour later in Pretoria, as our bus driver makes 3 stops to get directions to our destination
- I took in the view of the vast poverty: crumbling houses with tin-roof tops, heaps & piles of garbage and walkways speckled with dark-skinned ebony people clothed in the brightest, most-mismatched tattered garments I have ever seen
- We arrive at POPUP, a prolific oasis of holistic services and ministry also in an enclosed compound
- I see bunnies running around, and chickens, and the most awesome sanctuary of wild birds that make nests that hang upside down from tree branches, and little children in a playground and a beautiful fountain in a courtyard next to a big wooden cross
- We gather for a briefing inside a hall to meet our contacts and discuss what ministry we can help with here
- We are warmly greeted, welcomed and prayer’d up!
- We tour the facilities: I get hugged by toddlers, a woman shrieked with glee and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck when she finds out I’m from California, the people smile at me and are tickled pink by the fact that I’ve learned their customary handshake
- We got to go grocery shopping for dinner, and I was privileged to head up the cooking in a commercial kitchen along with 4 others who helped me. I made arroz con pollo with plenty to spare and we ate our fill!
- We all camp out in this hall to sleep (4 teams, co-ed)
Friday –
- Wake up at 5AM to prepare breakfast for 30 people. Thankfully, I have one other early bird in the kitchen to help me make the garlic skillet potatoes and scrambled eggs
- 8AM prayer meeting with our host
- Collaboration on how we can partner with on-site ministries and more prayer about how God is leading
- I experience powerful God encounters corporately with my team and also the whole group of 4 teams combined here at this site
- Amazing visions of ministry begin to unfold as we prayerfully seek the Lord to lead
- We learn that we can serve: orphans, women that serve here and the women who come to this site for help, the surrounding community with outreach/evangelism/worship/drama, and a men’s discipleship group
- I feel refreshed to be at a site of likeminded people who put their faith into practice through action and the Word
- I am assigned to the health ministry (medical care) and solo’d out for a special assignment to collaborate ministry for women who have experienced the trauma of abortion/domestic violence/abusive homes/divorce/rape
- God puts it on my heart to bless the women who work here with a women’s tea and speak affirmation to them and lavish them with the love of the LORD (and many other co-missionaries envisioned this as well)
- I spend some time each with Patricia and Rachel: wonderful women who work on site and are native locals who need to be encouraged and loved in Christ
- I get internet access today, and hammer out some emails but I’m too tired to upload a bunch of pictures quite yet (I’ll try my best)
