How to Count Your Blessings
As I sit here with my team at a round wooden table spotted
with the sunshine that breaks through the vines over our heads, I marvel at the
blessings the Lord has poured out on us this week in South Africa. The light
blue table rests on the stump of a tree and is exactly the right size for the
members of my team and Team Zeal to sit here. The sun sets in the background
and opposite that majesty is that of the ocean with mountains towering behind
it. We are at the Farm, a place with horses and chickens but also a coffee shop
and Wifi. It is a beautiful place of rest across the street from Ocean View,
South Africa, where we are living this month.
Our contact is a former pro soccer player named Bradley whose
vision is to share the Gospel through sports. He is a gentle man of God who
walks boldly in his faith and inspires us to do the same.
Our ministry is at a school in the nearby Simonstown. Every
day this week we were able to bring sports and games to the students there
along with lessons from the Bible. Next week we will do ministry in a wider
variety of settings.
Our host this month is a woman named Francis who has
graciously taken us into her home in Ocean View and given us beds to sleep in,
delicious food to eat, and plenty of hospitality. Her six-year-old daughter
Jesse provides endless joy and laughter with her antics and playful
personality.
Our blessings this week also came in the form of seeing
whales from the coastal highway on the ride to school, attending a soccer game
in a World Cup stadium, visiting penguins in their protected habitat, and going
to the beach when it was sunny.
I didn’t expect the World Race to be like this. I didn’t
expect to have comfy beds, warm showers, normal toilets, delicious home cooked
meals, a quite organized contact person, an amazing team to work with, and
once-in-a-lifetime experiences all in one month. I also didn’t expect it to be
rainy and cold most of the time, but really that is the last thing I think
about when I spend time counting my blessings this month. I cannot express
enough my gratitude to all who have made this trip possible through prayer,
finances, and moral support. Please continue to follow my adventure and spread
the word as I still have about $5000 to raise before February.
P.S. I meant to add more photos but only the one would load 🙁 Better luck next time!
