Lessons Learned

December 3, 2013
Wow...time flies when you are having fun. I cannot believe that I am only 2 weeks away from returning home. Every time I think about leaving, I tear up. It is hard to imagine that I have come to love this place as much as I have.

My experience here has been amazing. I have learned so many things from the South African people.

 Lessons Learned:

1. Don't take advantage of the blessings that God has bestowed upon me.
       In teaching Yunes how to read (she is in her 60s), I have become quite thankful for learning
       how to read at a young age. I cannot imagine facing the challenges of life and not knowing how
       to read. I would not be able to read God's Word, street signs, church bulletins, etc. Thank you
       Lord!!!
      I am also very thankful for the home that He has provided me with. I would never have thought
      that I would say this, but I am so happy to be living with my parents in a safe and secure home,
      with heat in the winter time. The simple things. Thank you LORD!!!
      I am also thankful for the privilege of owning a car. Every Sunday, on my way to church, I see
      one particular gentleman dressed in a suite, carrying his Bible, walking down the long trek toward
      town on his way to church. What dedication. Thank you Lord!!

2. Trust in God for all things.
     God has provided for all of my financial needs while here in South Africa. He has also provided
     me with a healthy time here. Yes, I had a little glitch in my plan by falling down the stairs and
     seriously spraining my ankle, but it could have been a lot worse. I have looked at it as an
     opportunity to experience the health care here in SA.

3. Take each day as it comes.
     It does not matter what you plan ahead of time, it can always change. I have had days where I
     "thought" I had everything all planned out and then at the end of the day, I look back and it did not
     happen at all as I had planned. Flexibility is quite important.

4. South Africans like their tea.
    I quickly discovered, that South Africans like to have tea. Some days you can have breakfast, then
    around 11 or so you have tea (don't forget the food), then around 1 or so lunch, then around 3 or so
    tea AGAIN!!, then around 6 or 7 dinner. This is why I have been so well fed while hear. If I go
   hungry it is my own fault. It is GREAT!!!

5. The people here are NOT as different as you first think!
     Yes, they may speak different and they may have some different traditions and beliefs, but they
     are still human. They have wants and desires.  They have joys and trials. They know how to
     laugh and cry. They love and show their love. There are lost people and people who truly love
     the Lord. There are rich and poor. They treasure family and friends.
    
Oh South Africa, I will miss you. But soon hope to return!

Time!!!

James 4:14--"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Wow, if feels as though I was just posting about the beginning of October. Time is quickly slipping away. So many things have happened in the month of October. I started working with Eunice to teach her the alphabet. Lord willing, she will be learning the last few letters the next time we meet. She is so excited to be able to learn and it is so exciting teaching her. She just wants to be able to read things for herself, instead of asking her children to do it for her.

I have been meeting with a wonderful lady, Queen. We often dig deep into God's Word to discover what He has to say about things in life.

I had the wonderful privilege of sharing a couple of health lessons with the ladies at the skills center. For the health lesson, I cooked them an "American" meal with chicken casserole being the main course. Then we had fruit salad, fresh vegetables with ranch dip and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. We had a great time talking about what foods are important and what should be limited. The following week, we talked about stress management. I took them directly to God's Word and gave them many verses on fear and how to manage it. It was so amazing and they were so full of questions.

I did my last health lesson with the older children at the school. It was very sad to say good-bye. They were such a joy to work with. I will still be teaching the younger grade though until the end of this month.

The township feedings have been a real joy to take part in. My favorite part of the time with them is listening to them sing. They love to learn new songs and sing them out.

As you can tell, the Lord is truly blessing the ministry that I am involved in here. I look forward to what lays in store in the future. Thank you all for your continued prayers.

October

It is hard to believe that it is the beginning of October. Where did September go? I have been very busy the last few weeks. I was able to go to Cape Town and do some site seeing. I also was able to go to Hermanus and see some whales. The Lord has really been blessing me here and I hate to even think about leaving. On Sunday, I was able to go and meet with a girl, Queen, who I met at a toy store while shopping. We are going to be starting a Bible Study, so please pray that we will both grow through this experience. I have been actively involved at the Emzini Skills Center helping the ladies with projects to raise money. Next week, I will be starting to tutor a lady to help her learn to read and write. This could be a challenge as her main language is Xhosa. I will also be starting to teach some health lessons to the ladies at the skills center. I am very excited to see what the Lord has in store for October.

Please pray for open opportunities to share the Lord.

Spring

It is hard to believe that I have been in South Africa for almost a  month. The Lord is allowing me to do some wonderful things here. It is now Spring (started on Sunday). The last couple of days have been absolutely beautiful.

I am really enjoying teaching the children at church and in the township. The children here are so beautiful and I have already fallen in love with each one of them. I started helping out at the Emzini Skills Center last week and was there this week as well. I am helping the ladies with a project they are working on to sell. They are making purses and they are beautiful. Some of the women's testimonies are amazing. They have come to Jesus to get away from the ways of their ancestors.

I was able to spend a day in Plettenberg Bay with the Schmidt family. I had a very enjoyable time and the views are breath taking. I also finally figured out what a "braai" is, a bbq. On my way home I saw two different places where there were several baboons sitting along the side of the highway. It was quite strange to see them just sitting there.

I had the opportunity to start teaching my health lessons at the school. The first lesson was about germs and handwashing. The kids are very receptive. Of course, they were making fun of the fact that I could not pronounce their African names properly. We had a great time.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the township. It is very eye-opening to here about why they live in these areas. There are over 20, 000 people that live there and many of them live very poorly.

Please continue to pray for me as I continue with ministry opportunities here.

A new adventure....to SOUTH AFRICA

Wow....the LORD is so good. He provided the funds needed to make my missions trip to Knysna, South Africa, in less than four months time. I left on August 12, 2013. I had anticipated that I would be very anxious, but the Lord gave me a great peace about the whole trip.

I set out for the Cleveland airport at 7:00 am, I went to Washington-Dulles and then arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa at 5:30 pm on August 13, with one small stop in Dakar. I was never so happy to have a flight come to an end. I stayed in Jo-burg for the night with a single missionary lady and then went back to the airport bright and early. I finally arrived in George at 10:15am which was about an hour late. Bryant and Sharan Crane, missionaries in George, gave me ride. My final destination was Knysna and I arrived a 11:30am. I actually did not feel too bad. I had lunch with Bryant and Sharan, Amy Blackburn, and Dave and Julie Rudolph. Then we went to Ntinglani for the feeding. The people are beautiful and it is sad to see that most of the children do not have much.

My first week here was quite busy. Amy was trying to teach me just about everything in a very short time. Thursday morning, we had a ladies breakfast, had lunch with Julie McFadden, and then went to a winter warmer. A very busy day.

Friday, included banking, post office, and to see the heads. Then we went to the Restaurant at the Heads, what an amazing view. Then we headed to the craft market to look for some souvenirs. Amy decided that it was time for me to get behind the wheel, it was quite scary at first, driving on the wrong side of everything. We went grocery shopping and while doing this, I was trying to figure out the difference between Rand and USD. It is kind of easy right now, because the exchange rate has been $1 to 10 Rand.

Saturday was a down day, which was kind of nice. Amy did have me pull in and out of her drive several times, since it is kind of tricky.

 Sunday, we had services at Lagoonside Baptist Church and in the township. Both services went well. I ended up holding a baby through Sunday School at the township. The children were so welcoming and loving. After church, we went to Rudolph's for lunch and then headed to Sedgefield for Missionary Leadership training. I was able to meet a couple more missionaries working in this area. I drove home in the dark that evening and it went fairly well.

Monday, we went to the school for opening assembly at 8:00am. I was able to meet the children and the headmistress. We then explored around Knysna a little bit, then went and had tea or coffee in my case. The coffee takes a little getting used to here....it is VERY strong. In the afternoon, Amy taught Fun Club at the school, which is what I will be taking over starting September 2. We went out to dinner with Dave and Julie and then I helped Amy get ready to leave.

Tuesday, we left at 10:30am for the George Airport. The view on the way is beautiful. We ate lunch at the airport with several missionaries, then said our good-byes to Amy. Dave and I went to get my rental car. They almost gave me a heart attack when they quoted my price as over 70,000 Rand, which is equivalent to around $7000. Thankfully, I had the voucher from the rental agreement made and they gave it to me for the original price around $2200. The LORD is good. Julie and  I went to the mall in George for a while after. That evening, we had Bible Study, which was quite enjoyable.

Wednesday, I thought I would sleep in and do nothing, but my body did not agree with me. I ended up getting up early and doing laundry and cleaning. Glad I did because it was really rainy and windy in the afternoon.

Thursday, I ventured out to town for the first time on my own. I keep telling myself that one of these days I will be able to conquer Amy's drive without difficulty....not sure why everything is built on a hill around here :) In the evening, we had the winter warmer, which was very nice.

Friday, I was able to find my way around town much better today, and I accomplished getting out of the drive without any difficulty. Dave, Julie, and I met to discuss the ministry schedule over the next couple of months. I am going to take advantage of getting used to the area while I can.

So far, I am thoroughly enjoying the people and the area. Looking forward to the ministry opportunities to come. Very thankful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to come to Knysna.

A NEW ADVENTURE

Wow, a lot has happened in the last few months. It is hard to believe that in a little over a month, I will be heading for Knysna, South Africa for 4 months. I have mixed emotions, but I am so excited to see how the Lord will use me along the way. I have been dealing with my POTS and my migraines. I am so thankful for all that the Lord has brought me through over the last couple of years.


Here is a letter I sent out concerning my trip:

Hello to everyone. I am excited to say that the Lord has been blessing me with good health over the past year. The Lord has allowed me to return to work full-time and become more involved in my local church, Calvary Baptist Church in Coudersport, Pa.  I am finally able to truly pray about and hopefully go to the mission field.

I have been given a wonderful opportunity to go to the mission field on a short-term basis, from the middle of August until the middle of December 2013. I am so excited for this opportunity that the Lord has given me.  

I am hoping to be able to raise the funds to go to Knysna, South Africa, to help with the work that Amy Blackburn missionary to Knysna with Baptist World Missions, is currently doing. Amy has been in Knysna since 2007. She will be returning to the states for furlough and has asked if I would be willing to help out in her absence.

She currently is a working with church planters, Dave and Julie Rudolph at Lagoonside Baptist Church. Their team includes several missionaries involved in church planting in the Garden Route. To learn more about their ministries please visit the Garden Route Independent Baptist Fellowship website: www.gardenroute.weebly.com.

Amy’s main responsibilities include: teaching Sunday School, Children’s Church, and a feeding initiative and Bible Club in the township (she feeds the children lunch and then does a Bible lesson). I would not be filling her shoes completely, but instead helping out where I can.  To learn more about her current ministry, please feel free to visit her blog: www.themissionarylifeofamy2.blogspot.com.

I am very excited to what the Lord is going to do in my life over the next several months. 

 

Beginning 2013

So far 2013 has been fairly uneventful. I am keeping busy with work in OB, which I love. It is a good combination of adults and babies :) If you would have asked me last year if this is what I would be doing. I would have told you NO WAY!!! The Lord has a funny way of changing life's directions. This year, I am praying for several things:
1. That the Lord would work in my life and allow me to do His will whatever that may be and wherever He may lead me.
2. For good health.
3. To draw closer to the Lord each day.

I am sure I will come up with more things, but for now those are my top 3. The Lord has brought me through some amazing trials and I am looking forward to what else He will bring into my life in 2013.

I hope and pray that all of my wonderful friends throughout the world have a wonderful 2013.