On Our Way!!

The autumn weather continues here with varied degrees of beauty and discomfort. The cold and damp seeps into everything, making it impossible to feel truly warm or dry and prolonging colds. But the beauty can be breathtaking. We drove through Cape Town University's upper campus just to see the leaves. Shrouded in mist, we moved between aged brown buildings draped with ivies in various shades of scarlet and orange. All that night we could hear the ships at sea hooting in the fog in order to avoid collision. We stood on our deck after dark in order to hear them and watch the city lights under the dusky clouds.

This week my team is preparing to leave for Zimbabwe on May 2nd. I can't believe it's come up so fast! Sunday morning Tersia, Nichole and I drove to the open-air flea market in Muizenburg to purchase long pants and makeshift sarongs to wear over them for modesty. We are both nervous and excited, planning all the last minute details and getting ready to pack. It will be a three day drive, with seven of us in one vehicle and our luggage in a trailer, camping on the way up. That alone will be an adventure in itself! If we survive that we should be able to survive anything *wink-wink*

We will be living for two months near Victoria Falls, a massive tourist location and melting pot for the various tribes. Our goal is to plant simple churches within families and circles of influence that will be self-sustaining and able to reproduce. Our heart is to see Jesus transform lives!

While praying over our outreach, God gave Tersia a vision for our team. She saw us standing on the shore by gentle waves, but on the other side was a massive tidal wave. God said we have a choice. We can wade into the waves and get our feet wet, have a wonderful experience and come back and tell what God did in Zimbabwe. Or we can rush out and be caught up in the tidal wave that is Him, and the mighty work that He wants to do. It involves risk and trust, but if we will abandon ourselves to Him He will bring about things beyond what we can do in our own strength. He will not let us be swept away or sucked under, but lift us up to ride the wave in with Him.

So I ask for prayer. Pray that we would abandon ourselves to Him. Pray we would be sensitive to His Spirit and follow wherever He leads. Ask for holy boldness and divine speech. Pray for continued unity in our team, above all that we would be unified in seeking after our Father's heart. Pray also for safety, health, wisdom, and patience and joy in sacrifice.

Thank you for joining with us in prayer and faith. What an awesome privilege to stand together in furthering the Kingdom! May you know the blessings of God's love and favor, and the challenge of His calling!

This Grand Adventure

I am constantly amazed by the ways God works in our lives; by His faithfulness and how much He can bring about in such a short time. My team was reminiscing and laughing recently over our first days here and meeting each other. It seems like so long ago! Another time and season. My beloved roommate Tersia just confided that our first night together she could hardly understand a word I said with my American accent and was completely freaking out. Ha! Well, we've certainly moved beyond the barriers of communication, now you can't get us to shut up!

Last month All Nations had a retreat/conference for all their members and missionaries, which they made available to any CPx students who are considering joining. The weekend was packed and at times overwhelming, but it was a wonderful experience. One morning that touched me was when Isabel Paterson shared, who is a friend of the McClungs, fellow missionary, and leader of CPx in Kansas City. This beautiful seventy-year-old woman went to the front, and before anything else got out her ukeleli and sang I Surrender. Her voice was still clear and strong, so sweet. Afterwords she shared her story of God's love, calling, and faithfulness in her life. Watching and listening to her, I saw the woman I want to be in 50 years. I had the blessing and privilege of speaking and praying with her as well. God really used her to bless and encourage me.

Easter weekend was our one and only break-four days to do whatever we wanted! I spent it with my friend Christianne, an intern from Alaska. The weekend was a blessed respite from the constant mental and emotional exertion and daily routines, though there was no lack of activity! There was a girls slumber party featuring loads of chocolate, cheap wine in a box, story telling, and heart sharing. The following day with minimum sleep a group of us climbed Chapmans Peak on pure adrenaline. It was breathtaking, overlooking the crystal, aquamarine waters of Hout Bay surrounded by mountains-what an awesome God! Sunday evening following our Easter celebration we had an amusing movie night. Watching Ice Age with the Germans, Africans, and Americans, we busted out laughing over the line "I don't know about your guys, but this is the funniest herd I've ever seen." Ironic.

This week we had a beautiful and encouraging experience during our outreach time at Greenmarket Square. Our team has been struggling a bit with discouragement over our ministry; it's a difficult environment for me, Tersia and Nichole to have a deep relationship with the ladies there, and we wonder about our "effectiveness". Then Promise, one of the ladies we've been sharing and praying with, told us how she spoke at her church on Easter Sunday, sharing on God's faithfulness in her life. She told us, "I was in the dark, and you brought the light. Now I am in the light; I have hope and I want everyone else to walk in the light." Praise God! He takes our humble, feeble efforts and uses them for His glory. You should see the smile on Promises face! If we accomplished nothing else in our time here that would be enough.

As the lecture phase draws to a close and we approach the halfway mark for CPx, I am putting more thought into my plans for after. God has shown me that this is a season for being poured in to-of learning and growing and pressing in to Him. He has said not to worry, that He will reveal His plans in the proper time. While resting in this, I am prayerfully considering coming back for the internship next year. Please join with me in praying for clear direction and peace. Wherever this road takes, what a privilege and grand adventure it is to serve our God!