It begins! Honestly, if the first 2 days are any indication of what is to occur on the World Race, I have no earthly idea how I will relate all these stories and experiences. I imagine I will have a story to tell for any situation you can think of.
Anyway, after 15 hours of Delta, staying the night at the airport, and an 18-hour bus ride, we have officially made it to Cape Town, South Africa. Specifically, we are staying in a host home at a town called Lavender Hill w/ 2 wonderful people, Elizabeth and her daughter Remelia.
Here is just a quick run-down of what we are doing. This is what has happened the past couple of days (which feels more like 5 days)…
– Attending church right as we arrived in Cape Town
– Meeting the neighbors
– Trip to a local market in a local “taxi” w/ Miley Cyrus remix blaring on the radio… bass be like WHOA.
– Getting to know our host family and eating dinner w/ them
– Prayer walking (meeting, praying, playing, conversing w/ the community around us. This was very cool). I am learning to listen to the Holy Spirit more and more, resulting in God revealing Himself more and more.
– Feedback/Debrief time w/ the team
For times sake (and so I can get to a funny and cool story), let’s just say I can already see God taking over this place and our ministry. I am in awe of how real God is to me right now.
We have to take what most people call “bucket showers.” Instead of a showerhead or large tub, we are given a bucket/small tub filled about a quarter way with water. We then proceed to pour water from a cup onto our bodies into the bucket below.
So I was doing my thing w/ the bucket shower in the bathroom, and everything seemed to be going ok. I mean, I was no professional, but I was managing. Then I start to notice water pooling up around me on the bathroom floor. Then I look down at my feet only to find that there is no water around them. I had cracked the bottom of the bucket and watched as a lake formed around me in the bathroom… and in the hallway. Good times.
Anyway, I felt kinda bad about it, but our host was very kind. Now to the next mishap I managed to experience (there actually is a point to these stories, besides the humorous aspects of course)…
Later that first day, I thought I’d try my hand at some BBQ grilling on the small grill outside. For those that don’t know me that well, I’m not a cook. College meal plans, cruise ship buffets, and Mom and Dad’s cooking have been my life. I’d like to think I’m decent at grilling though, so I thought I’d give it a shot.
So I wash the chicken and sausages, then start to grill. Well, turns out the coals had gotten way too hot when I was washing the food. So, long story short, I burn the outside of the chicken quickly without it being fully cooked inside. Thankfully the neighbor and his kids come over to help.
I was a little embarrassed and started to get down about how clumsy I was. But something happened.
I began interacting and speaking w/ the neighbors kids, who are around 15 years old. One of them is named Maverick. They started asking if I’d ever been skydiving or bungee jumping, to which I sad, “Yes, both!” It created a comfortable environment, and I began to share Jesus with them. I told them that Jesus could radically change their hearts and give them hope.
It’s funny how God uses silly things like burning chicken to create opportunities for people to hear his name. He doesn’t care about broken buckets or burnt chicken if it means that through it He will be glorified.
That’s just one of the small ways God is moving around us right now. We are becoming more in tune w/ the Holy Spirit and where He wants to lead me. I encourage you to start realizing more and more that there is a purpose for everything if you know Christ. He is bigger than circumstances. Bigger than life itself.
