A F R I C A
Mid-Race. Months 6, 7, & 8.
It took me a long time to write this blog. You can ask the team I’m with this month. 🙂 I kept putting it off and putting it off. To be honest, I think it was because Africa was simply just not my favorite part of the Race so far. That isn’t say, though, that Africa isn’t incredible. Because it is. It truly is. I still don’t fully know why I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.
However, what I do know is that the Father used my time there for His glory and gave me some of the most meaningful and incredible experiences of my life. He also taught me a lot of beautiful things while we were in Africa. Things that, by His sovereign grace, were ordained before the foundation of the world for me to learn. And because of that, I rejoice!
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As most of you know, in November while in Malaysia (month 5), my squadmates Brian and Jami and I were raised up as squad leaders (SQLs)! This meant we would now be leading our squad of 45 people for the remainder of our Race. The Alumni SQLs that had been with us since month 1 would be transitioning out, training us, and heading home to the U.S.
My incredible leadership team at month 7 debrief in Durban, South Africa!
From left to right: Brian (Co-Leader), Ashley (Squad Mentor), Jami (Co-leader), Kent (Alumni SQL), and Erika (Alumni SQL)
Botswana was the first month that my co-leaders and I were released and officially started as SQLs. This means that for the rest of the Race we are with a different team each month doing life and ministry with them as normal Racers but also as SQLs.
B O T S W A N A
Molepolole. Month 6. December 2015.
A country where you can find vibrant African music playing outside of the local grocery store, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and bridal parties dancing in the bride and groom at weddings.
Ministry: I was with a team of 6 amazing women and we worked with a local pastor named Emmanuel doing some children’s ministry at his local church. Ministry was slow in Botswana so we had a lot of time to rest and be with the Lord.
What the Father taught me: He taught me some beautiful things in Scripture while reading the book of Matthew, He taught me how to delight in Him in the ways He has created me, and through some incredible African missionaries, He taught me some really eye-opening and practical things about missions and missional living. He also pruned some of the ways I communicate through conversations with some of my sisters in Christ. It was so hard to hear, but I am so grateful they were bold enough to say the hard things.
Favorite thing about Botswana: The kindness of the locals and how African music is playing almost everywhere you go in town. Oh, and, you can buy French fries and a coke at the grocery store for about 15 Pula = $1.50 USD! (Shout out to Mary Catherine and Meraia)
S O U T H A F R I C A
Muizenberg/Cape Town. Month 7. January 2016.
A country where you can find a beautiful range of ethnicities and skin colors is as vast as the landscapes.
Ministry: I was with another beautiful team of 6 women, 3 of which were on my first team. We partnered with an anti-human trafficking organization called Justice Acts in Muizenberg, SA. We did some projects and outreach at a local township (kind of like a village), some manual labor, prostitution outreach, and intercessory prayer.
What the Father taught me: The Lord showed me more of the pieces of the puzzle of my calling long-term! He also showed me that the things which He prunes in us are often times the very things in which He wants to most beautifully display in our lives for His glory. And again, He pruned more of my communication.
Favorite thing about South Africa: Learning about their history and the range of beautiful landscapes and peoples. And we lived about a 5 minute walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa! #Muizenberg
S W A Z I L A N D
Manzini. Month 8. February 2016.
A country where you can find the most stunning green hills and mountains, beautiful and sassy children, and a land of people who will defy the odds of the statistics that have plagued their country for generations.
Ministry: I was with a team of 6 amazing women and we lived in a house with 2 other teams. Our whole squad stayed in the same city and we all worked with Adventures of Missions Swaziland/Children’s Hope Chest. I specifically worked at a preschool called Mangwaneni Care Point where my squadmate Clare Howe and I got to help the teachers there is their classrooms and hang out with some of the most incredible and crazy children I’ve ever met.
What the Father taught me: He taught me that friendships and community is hard and messy, but SO WORTH IT. And that grace abounds where sin increases in these relationships so we are free to make mistakes as we learn to love like Jesus does.
Favorite thing about Swaziland: Mangwaneni Care Point! I will always cherish my time there with those kiddos and the staff there.
Fun facts about my experiences or life in Africa*:
-You can buy fresh loaves of bread in the grocery store for the equivalent of $0.50 USD!
-Local transportation for most people looks like riding in little vans called combis (or kombys). We rode in these a lot and the idea is to pack in as many people as you can.
-I got to go to 2 safaris in Africa. One in Botswana and one in Swaziland. We got to see lions, giraffes, zebras, and elephants! It was awesome.
-I went to malls in all 3 countries (totally didn’t expect that).
-The dowry system is alive and kickin’ in Southern Africa. Many of my squadmates got proposed to with offers of 15+ cows!
-South Africa has the #3 safest, drinkable tap water in the world with the U.S. and Canada being #1 and #2.
-We celebrated Christmas in Botswana!
-Thanks to you all, I got FULLY FUNDED while in South Africa!
*By Africa, I mean the 3 countries we specifically visited in Southern Africa. It may not apply to other countries in the rest of the continent of Africa.
That sums up most of my time in Africa!
If you read all of this, you rock.
If you want to know more, please feel free to ask!
Also, be on the lookout for my Q&A blog I’m going to be posting soon!
Finally, thank you for being gracious with me since this was my first blog in 4 months. And thank you, as always, for your prayer and deep support this 9+ months as the Father has had me on this journey.
In Christ,
Karleigh
