I have been reading some of the summary’s of the year that other members of my squad have been posting. It really is hard to fathom what we have all been through. I would suggest reading Nate Evans’s, and I guess Robby is going to write a series, so you should start with the first. This blog of mine is also Part 2 of a series, so if you missed the first, click here.
South Africa/Mozambique: We had originally planned to spend the month in Back Door, South Africa. There is a feeding centre here, and they were making plans (which are now underway) for a learning centre and an orphanage community. We were excited to be a part of this, and had even started going into schools to encourage the kids, and making plans to visit hospitals. God has different plans sometimes. After about a week here, which included an amazing weekend even further in the middle of nowhere at a revival conference hosted by us, we were redirected to Mozambique. In Mozambique we were able to show the Jesus film twice, stay a night at a tent orphanage in the bush, and participate in World Prayer Day.God was teaching me through this: I was learning how to question and interact with what I was reading in the Bible, I learned from Rubie at our conference that the key to revival is unity in community, and I learned the importance of praying for your country at World Prayer Day. God was also teaching me how to work on ME and not fix other people.
Some fun things: I had the awesome opportunity to go snorkelling in Mozambique, which was INCREDIBLE. I also go to go on safari in Kruger Park. I also really liked playing with the kitties we lived with.
Swaziland: We worked with some care centres around Nsoko, Swaziland. We had the opportunity to play with children (slash let them hang off of us, although Rubie and I are VERY talented action song singers), deliver food to the centres, and even teach the children some days. We really had an awesome time with the kids, they are so cute. Also, they are beginning a project where you can sponsor them, similar to Compassion or World Vision. Keep checking the G42 website for that.What God was teaching me (there was a lot in Swazi): That He asked for a year of my life to show me that He wants my WHOLE life. Begin learning about my gifts. Moving from head knowledge to heart relationship- continuing to have my love for God grow, and continuing to learn what it means to TRUST Him. Learning about the love God has for me. Trusting God’s guidance and plans. God taught me what FREE WILL is all about. Zephaniah 3:17 and Isaiah 30:21 were very important verses to me this month.
Some fun things: We actually lived on a safari, that’s right, ostrichs beside my tent and a lion 200 feet away. We spent a day in the capitol of Mbabane, and a weekend in Manzini.
Durban. South Africa: For our last month in Africa we were back in South Africa. We worked with Missions Ablaze on the coast in Durban. Most of our time was spent either tiling the orphanage (Steve and Rubie) or building beds for that orphanage (Mark, Tammy and I). We made 45 beds in the two weeks we were here. A couple of afternoons were spent riding along and giving half loafs of bread and soup to hungry people in parks. That was a lot of fun.What God taught me: About what it means to fear the Lord. I also learned a lot about God and who I believe God is by discerning what I didn’t like while reading The Shack.
Fun things we did: We swam in the crazy waves of the Indian ocean, we went team bowling and a couple of great team dinners at what claims to be the Southern Hemisphere’s largest mall and entertainment centre.
After Africa, we flew to India. However, between the end of ministry in Durban, and our flight to New Delhi we had an interesting turn of events. While we were finishing sorting out India visas, we spent a few days in Johannesburg. We stayed at a hostel that we had stayed at 2 or 3 times previous to that. But this time, we were held up at gun point, and many of us had our stuff stolen. 4 of us had our big backpacks stolen, so all of our clothes, and almost everything we had for the year. Others had laptops, IPODS, cell phones, watches, purses, passports and other things stolen. It was a very difficult time for all of us, we were all pretty shaken up. Some of us worse than others (I would say I was one of the “worse”). Through it though, I learned a lot. God taught me about His protection, His overwhleming peace, and how He brings good from all situations. Michael has said ever since that he likes me better this way. I guess I’m more vulnerable or something. God also started teaching me many other things, but I will tell you more about that under “India” in my next blog.
Stay tuned for Part 3 of this crazy year summary.
