This past week was one to remember. Monday afternoon the bus pulls up earlier than expected, everybody screams, I drop my playing cards and run outside. MY PARENTS ARE HERE. IN SOUTH AFRICA.
I see my dad through his window on the bus and my eyes immediately fill with tears as I stand there impatiently waiting to hug my parents. Finally, my mom steps off the bus. Six months without a hug from your mom is too long. And soon, my dad steps off too and joins us in a group hug. I don’t have the words to express how safe and comforting it felt to be back in my parents arms after so long.
With tears of joy streaming down all of our faces we hug each other about three more times and say I love you and I missed you probably about five times. It wasn’t until this moment that I realized just how much I had truly missed them.
We spent the rest of that afternoon talking and talking and time flew by just like the rest of the week would.
Tuesday began our ministry together. We sat in on teaching with young adults from the nearby communities that helped equip them with life skills and job opportunities. I was immediately taken aback by my parent’s participation and eagerness. They did not hold anything back. They befriended these young adults and my dad even stepped up to be the spokesperson of our small group! I discovered that my big, loving heart comes from my parents, without a doubt.
Ministry on Wednesday was where my family thrived. We were blessed to get to feed a community in a near by township. We were greeted by loving, welcoming kids and spent the afternoon dishing up a meal for them, playing games with them, and listening to them sing songs for us. It truly was an amazing experience for my parents and I.
My mom even became best friends with a girl named Maria who did not leave her side the whole afternoon.
And my dad stepped right on in to loving the kids with everything he had.
Piling back on the bus, I could see a change in my parent’s hearts. This encounter showed them a whole new world and they were filled with compassion. My parents and I spent the ride back discussing how unfair it was that we had so much and these kids had so little, but that they were happier than kids who had so much. I discovered that my heart that hurts with love for others, especially children, is another thing my parents and I have in common.
Thursday consisted of sight seeing, market shopping, playing with lion cubs, and going on a safari!!
First, we saw the Union Buildings which house the South African Government.
Then we headed to Chameleon Market where we bought many souvenirs and then found a lion park that let us play with lion cubs!
And on top of all that, we ended the day with an amazing safari ride where we saw zebras, giraffes, elephants, and hippos!
Friday, we were back into ministry with a different approach this time. All of the racers and our parents headed to the mall where we were to evangelize. We spent the morning walking around the mall spreading the gospel and asking people if we could pray for them. We got shot down some, but we had more great prayers. While it was out of both my parents and I’s comfort zone, I was happy to see how we worked as a team, swallowed our pride and fear, and were able to bless others with God’s love.
Saturday morning came all too quickly and it was time to say goodbye to my parents before I knew it. The goodbye was hard. Harder than I expected it would be. It was so bitter-sweet and full of love, but I know these next three months will fly by and I will be back in their arms in no time.
Today, I sit at the South African airport ready to head to Thailand. It still doesn’t feel real, three days after they left and I feel like seeing them was just a dream, but a dream come true. And now the next part of my journey begins.
