Hello from Lesotho Africa! Coming from Asian culture for three months into African way of life was a culture shock I was not at all prepared for. You hear about it and see it on tv. In America we often find ourselves saying “You better eat all your food, there are people starving in Africa.” But to see the culture with your own eyes, it does something to your heart and perspective like nothing else quite can. We are tucked away in the mountains. The view is breathtaking with the most gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, over looking the mountains and plains. It gets amazingly cool at night and feels wonderful snuggled in your sweater and sweats.
Our ministry hosts are so amazing and invested in us and have been such a true blessing. On ministry days they have us wake up every morning at 7am for a morning walk. Such a beautiful and great way to get our day started and get our hearts prepared for the day. Breakfast is ready by Mama Faith every day at 8am. Her cooking has been so fantastic and has been done with such love and servanthood.
I have spent the first two weeks here sick. Those long travel days get me every single time..but it’s been so different than the Philippines, month 1, when I got sick. My heart has been in such a different place and I’m able to chose joy and remember that God is and always will remain faithful. So after two trips to a local clinic down the road from where we are staying.. which the meds did not work; and the second time going there was so funny because the nurse/doctor (whoever she was) came out of her house out of bed and walked over to the clinic in her robe and gave more meds and we were on our way, ha… true story. So after still not feeling well I crossed over the border back into South Africa to a real legit doctor and got iv fluids and more meds and I’m on the up and up feeling like a new woman. I’m just thankful for God’s provision and that he has never once left my side. It’s interesting that both times I’ve been sick it’s been under less than ideal situations where I’m in a remote place. He is obviously trying to teach me something. I’m here to learn whatever it is, lol.
We have gotten to experience church here with the village people and it was so beautiful and just wow, probably my favorite so far. We worshipped for almost two hours straight before my teammate Cody gave the message. I was so incredibly proud of him. He did such an amazing job and the Lord moved through his words. What a step of boldness that took for him. The people here love the Lord so much and are so hungry. I just really love to worship in other cultures. It’s so eye opening and his presence is so tangible. It is in those moments where I am even more thankful for the journey.
It would be so very easy to wish this month away because it’s uncomfortable, everything about this is uncomfortable, but it causes a reliance on Jesus like I’ve never known. I am thankful for this month, I don’t always want it to be easy, it’s not supposed to be. I want to remember the smells, the sounds, how it rains almost every single day, the beautiful rainbow we saw, the African night sky…. the stars are insane, the sunflowers which are my favorite, the quiet mornings, how we go to bed early every single night because there’s literally nothing to do once the sun goes down (limited electricity). I want to reflect on it all, the good and hard.
I think about my family almost every single day. Not in a homesick kind of way but during the difficult times just the mere thought of them brings my heart immediate peace and happiness; and somehow I just know they are thinking of me, too. I think about home and how I have two amazing places to go back to and I’m flooded with so much emotion because I think about and see what homes looks like for people as we’ve been doing home visits in the villages and how vastly different home looks like for them, and it takes on a whole new meaning for me.
Thank you Lord for what you are teaching me every single day here in Africa. I’m keeping me eyes on you and the race set before me. I feel you every single day. Continue to flood my heart with peace, love, and joy…Let it run over so I have no choice but to pour it on to others.
So here is my quick update!
Much love to you all! With WiFi here it’s hard to upload photos, so at the end of the month when we have stronger WiFi I will try to upload. Will update again as soon as I can 🙂
