City on the Cape…

Waters from the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean lap upon it’s shores… Fronted by Tabletop Mountain, a string of peaks encircle the Cape… The bustling metropolis where commerce meets the wild… This is Africa…

From the moment my team heard we would be serving in Cape Town, South Africa, we were stoked! My only impressions of South Africa before the Race came from the movie Faith Like Potatoes, and two South African young women I met while volunteering in Mongolia way back in 2010. But both made me curious and eager to visit this intriguing nation!

So, after nearly 2 days of travel, we finally arrived in Cape Town. Thankfully, the weather we experienced was MUCH cooler than Zambia. In fact, we even slept inside our sleeping bags most nights and with an extra blanket. It reminded me of home… I felt so refreshing.

For our first couple of weeks, we served at the Saartjie Baartman Centre that serves as a refuge for battered women and a rehabilitation center for women who have struggled with the battle of addiction. So, we helped sort through clothing, clean closets, watch and play with the kiddos, and most importantly, encourage the women there by listening to their stories and speaking encouraging words to them.

During our second week, we led a kids camp for the children who were on holiday from school. We taught a bible lesson and facilitated games. All the kids around the neighborhood came. It was fun to pour in to the kiddos!

We also participated in their weekly meetings with all the leaders. I learned so much by being a part of this group! The theme for these meetings during our stay was Discipleship. We learned about what it looks like to make a disciple and be a disciple. One week, we went with these leaders to visit people who had been noticeably absent from church. The group I went with visited a young couple, expecting their third child. There was a broken promise made by one of the church members that kept them away. They were hurt and just decided to no longer attend. When our group showed up, it was an opportunity to right this wrong and show them that they were missed and cared about. We prayed for the couple and the unborn baby. It was POWERFUL.

Every Friday night was the youth group (consisting of youth from about 13 all the way up to 30). We were able to share testimonies, facilitate games, and pray with the students. It was amazing to hear their stories. Several were from Muslim families where they are they only Christian. One young lady’s parents died when she was young and so she was shuffled to various family member’s homes growing up. Yet, she was so sweet and happy. She was so inspirational!

Each Sunday we also had opportunity to preach, share testimonies, and sometimes lead music. It was amazing how God spoke to each of us through our preparation and participation in this as He did to those with whom we shared.

Then there were those unexpected times of ministry… Like my teammate Hilary who struck up a relationship with the Tuck Shop (convenience store) owner who is a Muslim immigrant from Somalia… Or the Zimbabwean Uber driver who recently lost his baby girl that my teammate dani and I were privileged to lift up in prayer… Or the young kid on our bus ride whom Jo struck up a conversation about vinegar (you’ll have to read her blog!), told him about Jesus and he believed, and then hooked him in to a church in JoBurg… If we are open to it, God will take our everyday moments and turn them into extraordinary moments that reflect His glory and purpose!

And so, this was one of my favorite months, full of blessings, encouragements, and life lessons!

Photos below are as follows (they may not be in exact order since I’m submitting this through email rather than the way I usually post blogs):

1. Camps Bay where we spent an adventure day. And, believe me, that crystal blue water was freeeezing!!

2. A photo of the South African countryside on the way to Cape Town.

3. The center where we served women and children.

4. All the kids who participated in our kid’s club at the church.

5. The outside of the church where we were staying and serving.

6. dani and I posing with our Zimbabwean Uber driver, Lawrence.

7. Me preaching at church.

8. Our entire team with our South African hosts.