Hello, hello from Capetown! Forgive me for my lack of writing and updates. It’s been an eventful couple of months. I’ve finished my time in Malaysia, spent a month in Namibia and am now finishing up my time in South Africa. My dad reminded me that it’s important to be updating you and he’s right. You are my supporters, both in prayer and financially and I wouldn’t be here without you. It’s a privilege for me to bring you along on this journey. So here is an update on life in Africa. I attempted to add photographs to this blog, but was unable to because of bad wifi connection. So sorry!
N A M I B I A
After flying 8 hours out of Malaysia, I had a connecting flight in Qatar. Upon leaving that brief moment in the Middle East, I boarded my next 8 hour flight which took me straight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Our squad of nearly 50, was unable to find lodging for the night so we spent the night spread across the floor of the airport. It was laughable and completely amusing.
Ministry for the month of December looked difference because once again we didn’t have a ministry host. My team was dropped off in Windhoek, Namibia where we had no place to stay and no idea where to go or what to do. Our job for the month was find ministries for Adventures in Missions to partner with so that future teams could visit and bring lift.
As we sat on a curb of an internet cafe, trying to locate somewhere to stay for the night, one of the guys on my team remembered someone from the bus ride. A woman that he sat next to on the bus heard about what we were doing and randomly gave him someone for us to contact when we got to Windhoek. That contacted ended up being a divinely appointed connection. Not only did he provide us with a place to stay that very night, but also a “home base” in Okahandja for the whole month. He even here to arrange for us to visit different ministries he knew about and helped us to travel all the way up north to meet with people there. We were blessed abundantly by every single person we came in contact with. When we have no agenda, we can better avail ourselves to God’s plans.
We camped on a beach in Swakapmund where we helped out with a teen church camp. We visited different churches all around the country. We climbed sand dunes along the coast and also go tot slide down them on boards, face first and belly down – eating sand the whole way. We rode camels through the desert. I jumped out of a plane 10,000 feet over the Namib Desert. I made friends with the market people in Swakap and shared the gospel. I found out that my precious sister finally had her baby and I am now an auntie! We visited a children’s home for kids that had been affected by HIV/AIDS. We spent an afternoon digging a big hole in the hard dirt ground that was going to be a toilet one day. I constantly was in awe of the stars in the African sky. We spent Christmas in Oshikati. We visited families at the dump in Okahandja. I met the Himba tribe women.
Through different connections we successfully were able to establish quite a few contacts during the month.
S O U T H A F R I C A
My team had to pack up and relocate 9 different times in the last 6 weeks or so. This is month 7 and I’m really starting to feel it. I am exhausted, mind and body. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s okay and completely natural that I am tired and that I need to have grace for myself and others as we grow weary. I am praying for refreshment in this next half of the journey, in my mind, body and soul.
We started this month off in the city. I spent New Years running through a celebrating street with fireworks lighting up the sky. Definitely unforgettable. Being in the city provided me with different opportunities to love the people around me. There is a special place in my heart for the homeless. I was able to minister to some of those people in that time.
Our ministry was about an hour south in a town called Masiphumelele a.k.a. Masi. The guys stayed a short walk away at a different house, and us girls stayed with a precious little family. With our sleeping pads spread across the floor and our bags in the corner, there was just enough room to carefully make it to the door. It was a tight squeeze, but we made it work. The family we stayed with was precious and we enjoyed the delicious home cooked meals of Mama Tambisa.
The community was lively. People were always out and children always running barefoot through the streets. Though this was where our ministry was located, it became more apparent day by day that it wasn’t safe for us to be staying there anymore. So we ended up having to move out of town into a safer area called Ocean View. We take local transport in a couple times a week for ministry in Masi – sometimes we visit a Preschool and help play with and feed the kids. Sometimes we go door to door and evangelize or pray for people who’s lives have been affected by a massive fire. Sometimes we have lectures or sessions that we sit through. All in all, ministry this month has been really random. I wish it was more directed with what we are doing, but I know each host is different and each country and culture is different, so we just work with it.
Africa is my favorite place that we’ve visited so far. I feel very at home here. Africa has something that Asia just didn’t seem to have. I love the colors, the lively music, the artists, the culture, the community, the kindness of the people, and so much more. I can see myself returning to Africa time and time again. So many people tell me here that they wish to go visit America, but I tell each one of them that Africa has been my dream to visit for my entire life and that this is a dream finally come true. For some reason they always seem to be surprised by that, but it’s true.
This journey is so full of goodness, my friends. But it’s also really difficult and tiring.
Thank you for being the wonderful prayer warriors that you are. I appreciate you so much.
