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| Our 2011 Plett Team minus Auntie Hazel |
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| The view of Central Beach from the Deck |
I have had a difficult time writing this blog so far. So I apologize
for the delay. I think a lot went on in December and a lot of questions have
arisen and it is difficult to get it all into words. I think that too much time
with yourself can be a dangerous thing. I have currently started a time of
prayer and fasting to find some clarity and some answers to some of these
struggles. The stress of feeling such a weight from these decisions left me
pretty despondent which is why I haven’t written. On the plus side I am feeling
much better after a few days of focus and some conversations with family and
friends.
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| Some of our daily visitors Michael and Francois |
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| Kaylin and I |
That being said the month of December was an amazing time
for me. Our Plettenberg Bay outreach mission was amazing. Having Kaylin along
was huge for our relationship and it was so cool to see her grow in her quiet
times and in the way she was willing to connect with some of the local youth.
She was only able to stay for a short while but in that time God definitely
moved in her life. I am also excited to say that despite a rough past year at
the HPC she will be returning to complete her Metric (Grade 12) education in
Pretoria at the HPC. I am excited to see what God has planned for our time
together. I will give you her reflections from the trip when she has fully
processed and gives it to me.
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| Dan, Me, Kirsten, Kassidy and Brad |
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| Sharing my testimony on the beach |
The common thread between what everyone said about our team,
the girls that I connected with were no exception, (the ones that stand out
most are Kirsten and Sam) was the unity and acceptance within our team. I truly
felt like I was with family. That is what always amazes me about the body of
Christ. When it is working how it should be focused on Christ’s glory there is no
need for fights, tension, selfishness, instead the team is just working and
serving out of His love. And even for people outside of our team they kept
saying how they felt more loved and accepted in our group then they felt with
their own friends. John 13: 34- 35 says: A new commandment I give to you, that
you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one
another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another.” This was very apparent within our team and God used it
to multiply our witness.
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| Mae sharing her testimony. I am so proud of the steps she took following God to share more of her story than she has ever done. |
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| KB, Mae, Missy and I |
The trip had a double blessing because I got paired up with
one of the girls, Mae, as my prayer partner. We hit it off right away and it
was such a blessing to have someone to share with and grow with and be
challenged with during the trip. But even more than just during the trip is the
bond we are continuing after. She gave me a verse: Psalm 45:11 and it is one
that has definitely impacted my views on how God sees me. It has encouraged and
blessed me daily to be reminded that God is enthralled with me and that I am
called to honour Him. And even more important is the verse before that talks about how the girl should leave her father, her mother and her people to be with the one who loves and cares for her, serving and honouring the king. Currently I feel like I have taken that step, even if it is temporary, but it will carry into the rest of my life no matter where I end up. It is very comforting to see confirmation of this sacrifice in the word.
It was hard saying goodbye to the team and leaving the daily
routine of heading to the beach, playing soccer and volleyball and just getting
the opportunity to converse with the locals and visitors and knowing that you
are planting seeds for their eternity. But I was blessed with the chance to
stay in Plett for an extended visit and to spend Christmas with my friend Kyle
and his family. This was a chance to be refreshed and renewed. I had some great
quiet times and learning from God even more. It was great to have a chance to
play with his nieces and nephews and to be a part of building into`his oldest
neice Demi spiritually and just share an older girls perspective on things. His
family was so kind and really made me feel so welcome. Christmas was still hard
without my family there, but I was lucky enough to get to chat with them on the
phone.
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| Kyle on our hike |
I loved the chance to hike in the Knysna forest and just get
a few more days at the beach, enjoying the chance to be around people. After
Plett we went to Cape Town for a couple of days and staying with Kyle and his parents
at his uncle’s home. The coast is absolutely beautiful and definitely good
for the soul to be surrounded by God’s creation. We drove straight through from
Cape Town home to PTA which was quite the drive, but highlighted much of the
diversity in buildings and landscapes that South Africa has to offer. It was
also an opportunity to have some good conversations and reminded me how blessed
I am to have the friendships that I am making here.
Coming home was hard. All of my girls were at their homes
all over the country, my team wasn’t training. My roommate is still back in the
states and the couple that was house sitting upstairs was away on holiday. To top
it all off I couldn’t figure out how to get the car I am buying from my friend
Missy to start. Oh, that’s one of the other reasons I have been struggling is I
lost one of my closest friends because she has returned home to the US.
Normally we could fill this down time together so instead I was left with too
much alone time. But God is faithful and as I have been going through this past
week He has reminded me of why I am here and his purposes for me. I have been
filling out my application for my Master’s program and have been praying for
wisdom as to whether I should ask if I can start in January and stay until
December or go home in July and start in August. I am leaning towards this
option but it would be better for the girls if I can stay a little longer so I
am praying hard about that. Also just praying for guidance in how to best
handle my months here, what would be the most effective use of my time and
ministry.
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| The ice cream owner that opened the shop back up for us |
Please keep Rachel Sebati in your prayers. She just
graduated and will be heading to the US for college in the fall but there is a
lot to do and we need wisdom in how we can best support her and get her ready
to go. Also we are looking for ways to use her in our ministry with the girls.
Also please just pray for some added safety as there have been a number of
break-ins in our area. Targeting places that look like they are still away mind
you, but your prayers are appreciated. I will work to keep you more closely
updated as things begin to move forward with our ministry here. Love you guys
tons and thank you for your prayers and support!
On another note it is official that Trinity Western University’s Women’s Soccer Team will be joining us May 2-15. Their flights are booked. Please pray for wisdom in how to best use them. We will also be going to Bulembu in Swaziland. I am very excited about that. Please pray for wisdom as to some of the girls we should bring with the girls, to minister to the team, or to be ministered to.
My days consist of a tutoring session in the morning. Where the girls work on their studies and I answer questions and help fill in the gaps of the information they have missed due to not being at school. After that they go to training. And I decide if I want to go to training with them and watch, or if we are not away like we are this week I may return to Pretoria for a workout and some discipleship time with Shorty. The coach at the U20 camp has said that if I bring my boots next time he will let me get involved with some of the coaching/training which is very exciting! In the evenings I eat dinner with the coaching staff, tutor again for an hour or two (depending on the night and the training load) then head up to my room for the night. This last camp concluded with the second leg of their qualifier against Botswana which they won 3-1. Both teams are up against Ghana next so please be praying for them to be able to play their best and for the coaches to be wise with the training and line ups and players.
On another note it is official that Trinity Western University’s Women’s Soccer Team will be joining us May 2-15. Their flights are booked. Please pray for wisdom in how to best use them. We will also be going to Bulembu in Swaziland. I am very excited about that. Please pray for wisdom as to some of the girls we should bring with the girls, to minister to the team, or to be ministered to. 
My days consist of a tutoring session in the morning. Where the girls work on their studies and I answer questions and help fill in the gaps of the information they have missed due to not being at school. After that they go to training. And I decide if I want to go to training with them and watch, or if we are not away like we are this week I may return to Pretoria for a workout and some discipleship time with Shorty. The coach at the U20 camp has said that if I bring my boots next time he will let me get involved with some of the coaching/training which is very exciting! In the evenings I eat dinner with the coaching staff, tutor again for an hour or two (depending on the night and the training load) then head up to my room for the night. This last camp concluded with the second leg of their qualifier against Botswana which they won 3-1. Both teams are up against Ghana next so please be praying for them to be able to play their best and for the coaches to be wise with the training and line ups and players. 
