May/June

First off I want to send my sympathies and ask for your prayers for my friend Sandra. Her and her family lost an incredible husband and father this past week.

It has been tough trying to write updates as I come to the end of my time here in South Africa but compared to that last bit of news I guess things are not so bad. Things have been busy, you question your future plans, and you feel the need to take as much time with people as possible.  Our time with the Canadian team went really well. It was cool to see how God really granted the team favour with everyone. While they were here we spent time in Bulembu, played Banyana Banyana, ran camps in Eusterust, played UJ and TUKS, and even played with lion and tiger cubs. It was a great couple of weeks getting to know the team and we were also blessed with some great conversations.  It was amazing to see the openness of the teams and of the community in Bulembu to this incredible group of girls and the way the encouraged and challenged young girls to be the best they can be. It was great to see Shorty and Sdu share their stories, experiences and lives with the girls, being genuine witnesses of Christ’s love. Please be praying that God continues to use this experience to challenge their perspectives and that He would soften the hearts of those on the team who don’t know Him. This tour was a challenge for me because I had some personality clashes with the leadership and my pride caused me to really struggle.  It is incredible to see the mending power of God’s grace in our friendship now that the tour is complete.

I had the opportunity to return to Bulembu when my friend Lindsey was here after serving in Rwanda and Ethiopia. We had an amazing time of reconnecting and building each other up in faith. We challenged my little car to take the mountainous, pot hole filled trek into Swaziland to arrive in Bulembu. There we had the chance to really get into the community. Bulembu is an old mining town that shut down in 2001. From there it was purchased by a group on men from the states who turned it into Bulembu ministries. The ministry has a few main goals. One is to be self sustainable by 2020. In order to achieve this they have many service industries: dairy, honey, a bakery- with the most incredible donuts!!- lumber and crafts. The second main goal is to help with the huge issue of orphans in Swaziland. Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV/Aids in the world and a vast number of orphans. Bulembu takes them in case by case, they have a very strong education program, live in one gender families of 6 with a Swazi auntie and always right next door to any siblings they might have. The goal is to raise up leaders that will leave a positive impact on their country and to help make a dent into providing for the large number of orphans. Lindsey and I enjoyed joining in one of the local bible studies, serving in the primary school and coaching a volleyball session. If I am blessed with the opportunity I would love to spend more time serving and learning here.

All through May I struggled with the desire to stay in South Africa longer. I really feel like God has blessed me with the ability to fit in this culture and especially at the end of my time I was seeing a lot of growth in the girls that I was working with. But God really put it on my heart to honour my commitment at the University and I am excited to serve and receive training in both ministry and coaching. It was cool to see God answer focused prayer and concern.

Even as my time nears to a close I am challenged in my times of reflection and it is amazing to think on all God has done. I will write more later but for now I just ask that you please pray for my time with Marcus as we travel in China and for my transition back home. It has been amazing to journey with you and I am so excited to see what God has planned for this upcoming year! Love you all tons!!