Adventures in South Africa
Week 2: The past week here on the University of Pretoria’s campus has been full and calm all at the same time. I feel I finally have my bearings, which has helped me be able to plan better, have an idea of how to structure my days, and connect with people better! The relationships the Lord is allowing us to form are such blessings and making the trip here so worth it.
I have gotten to meet and befriend many girls that are part of the ministry at CO Tuks. Chandler, Abby, and Katherine have been so kind and let me tag along for the Bible studies they are leading with girls on campus: Katherine is leading her first ever Bible study in South Africa (and she’s doing such a wonderful job)!
Thanks be to God, the schedule we have here has been great practice for being an adult in the “real world” due to the large amounts of time we have available for sleep and rest, and things like cooking, reading, and shopping. I have been able to live out the work-rest balance in a way that I see God talking about in scripture - working from rest instead of resting from work - which allows me to be very intentional, present, and excited for each interaction I get to have with students here.
Happenings from the past week…
More basketball:
Basketball for the boys & games with girls
Pictured: Duane, Sam, Rachel, Rorisang, Katherine, and Abby
Attending the Miss Hiyani Pageant:
Girls from the residence compete for the title that makes them representative of the Hiyani girls dorm
Pictured: Carla, Nikita, Chandler, Chaby, Zoe, Ria, and I
“Blanket day” with Katherine & friends:
Katherine & I laid a blanket out with games and hung out with girls we knew as they passed by! We had fun taking photos
Pictured: Lungile, Jane, Banele, Katherine, Gift, and Thejo)
Saturday night Games night:
Students gathered to play minute-to-win-it style games at our hub church, Red Door where split into teams and competed against each other
Games night at Red Door! Getting as many cotton balls into the bowl as possible whilst blindfolded
Boot sale with Ria & Carla:
Car trunks are called “boots” here. Around 50 vendors grab whatever random (and I mean random) items from they house that they want to sell, put it in their “boots",” pull up to the boot sale, and sell it.
Red Door Church!
Our sweet church home for the time being <3
Red Door Church!
Hanging with friends + Bible Study
Carla, Ria, and Chaby in the dorms
A BeReal from Katherine’s Bible study with Akhona and Mandisa!
Rorisang in her dorm room :)
Although I’ve made lovely friends with students here, I have been struggling relationally and emotionally. Since I don’t have super deep relationships with anyone yet, and the trip isn’t conducive to developing long-term deep friendships, and I am far away from those who know me and love me well, all sorts of insecurities that previously were dormant inside of me are being exposed. It is difficult and unideal to be the only girl on the CCP; I spend the majority of my time with just God and I or just students. I can sense that this is right where God wants me, though: all this time by myself gives me the opportunity to lean on God with all of my weight. He’s stretching me and I experience the growing pains every day. It hurts but I’m grateful that God nudges me beyond my comfort zone so that I can be more like Jesus, mature and complete.
As we finish up our time here, here are some things I’d love you to pray for:
The salvation of specifically Rachel, Cordelia, Rorisang, Mandisa, Pearl, Carla, and all of their friends
That God would strengthen me, giving me a teachable heart and open eyes to receive the lessons he is trying to teach me and see how he is working
There would be more full-time staff to help on U of Pretoria’s campus
God would multiply our time and efforts here and use us to plant gospel seeds of love
Thank you SO much for your continuing support and prayers, this has really been the experience of a lifetime! I’m excited to see what else God is up to here, and what the lasting impact of being here will be.
