In three days, the first month of the Race will be over for our squad. Thursday, our teams head to Nuilspruit, South Africa. There we’ll have a ten day debrief and training before heading to our second country— Zimbabwe!
Ministry has been beautiful this month.
It looked like going door to door in Johannesburg’s informal settlements to make new friends, serve them, talk to them about Jesus, and pray for them.
It looked like teaching six “life orientation” classes on Wednesdays to kids in grade eight and nine. We talked identity, we talked purpose, and we talked destiny. These kids are so dang cool and so dang loved.
It looked like helping expand the building of a church bursting with growth.
It looked like going into a hospital to deliver care packages to new mamas and encourage them as they take on one of the world’s most difficult and rewarding jobs.
It looked like teaching preschoolers about Samson and Delilah, chasing them across the playground, and peeling a thousand oranges at snack time.
It looked like giving a testimony at church.
It looked like singing and jumping around to Shakira’s “Waka Waka,” teaching Bible stories, and reciting memory verses with kids living in the informal settlements of Johannesburg.
Diving into a new culture has been beautiful this month.
It looked like completely butchering Zulu greetings and phrases. But, hey, we gave it a go.
It looked like eating a traditional braai, complete with pap and chackaalacka.
It looked like learning about Apartheid and the impact it has on the people of South Africa, years later.
It looked like fully embracing the fun and joy of dancing and singing at African church.
Living in community has been beautiful this month.
It looked like hours of playing Spicy Uno, Hotseat, and Secret for Secret (an X Squad specialty).
It looked like hammock hang out sessions.
It looked like movie nights and sour gummy worms and coconut oil popcorn for days.
It looked like celebrating one of my favorite birthdays yet with some of my new favorite people. They made me feel so loved and so celebrated.
It looked like a LOT of mustard yellow (you’re just going to have to trust me on that one.)
Time with the Lord has been beautiful this month.
It looked like spending chilly mornings reading Job with a warm cup of coffee.
It looked like hearing from the Holy Spirit like never before and exercising obedience.
It looked like three hour prayer times, community worship, and literal dancing before the Lord.
This month has been beautiful. Here’s to ten more.
