Adventures In South Africa - week 3

Rachel (left) and Cordelia (middle)

Week 3: This week I finally felt more settled in my surroundings and connected to the students I’ve been getting to know. Since it is the third and last week, there are lots of mixed feelings I’m experiencing: I’m ready to leave yet sad to think of leaving and being halfway across the world from the girls that have grown so near and dear to my heart.

Up until this point, I have really struggled to answer the question “why am I here? What is God doing with us?” But these past couple of days, I am beginning to see what He’s up to!! Which is so crazy good!!

While preparing for this trip, I had to come to terms with the fact that we might not see any fruit or impact from our brief time on mission in South Africa. God is WAY more kind than that, though, and I’ve gotten to watch God move through friendships I’ve formed and the talents He’s given me… which is so humbling and I’m beyond grateful.

I hardcore doubted that God would do anything with us here, yet he proved me SO wrong.

One specific gift God has given me is photography, and it dawned on me over the course of the trip how important it was to bless those around me with this gift (since it is not often a professional photographer goes on a college ministry mission). Given this, I decided that part of my mission here was to “honor people with the gift of taking their photos.”

In moments where I felt really shy, scared, and out of place, bringing my camera out and directing photos for those around me turned into moments of laughter, connection, and fun. We had spontaneous and planned photoshoots which turned out just wonderfully. I am so thankful God has given me a passion for photography and that He allowed me to see very tangible ways in which He can use/is using that passion to bring glory to Him. Some examples are included below.

Above: Photoshoot with Bash, Rodrick, and Russell while the other boys played basketball

Below: Photoshoot with Rachel, Cordelia, Nqobile, and Mandisa after a blanket day with Katherine!

“Blanket days” are such a simple yet fun way to hang out with students. Katherine and I just lay a blanket out by the main walkway and see students walking by. Some say hi and talk for a minute or two and others sit, talk, and play games for hours! It’s so special and thankfully it is getting warmer so it is a good way to enjoy the weather.

Playing uno with Katherine, Itu, Mia, Samantha, Rachel, Cordelia, and Sam

Other happenings from this week:

• CO Olympics: we split the students into teams and competed in 10 events for points. My team won :) Afterwards Brent gave a gospel talk with discussion questions afterwards. A big praise God is that Cordelia, Rachel and I had awesome discussion.

• Taking Cordelia, Rachel, and Paxton out to dinner with Katherine :’)

Rocomama’s (burger place) with the girlies!

• Hanging out with Jane, Lungi, and Banele at the diner on campus

• Getting ice cream with Rorisang

• First 1-1 with Rachel: the Holy Spirit filled our conversation with laughs, good connection, and Jesus conversation.

Please pray for:

• The salvation of the students that are apart of the ministry at CO Tuks

• That the students who are apart of the ministry would share their faith with those around them, becoming laborers for the gospel themselves

• More laborers to come to South Africa and help expand the ministry at Tuks

• The staff (Abby, Brent, Chandler) that are transitioning off of staff and determining their next steps

• Rachel, Cordelia, and Rorisang to see Jesus as King and follow Him with their everything, that they would continue getting plugged into the ministry and be discipled well

• For me as I process everything I’ve experienced and prepare to go home and figure out what to do next!

Thank you for your patience in my sending out this update late, your continued prayer and support, your friendship to me and your faithfulness to the Lord.

Grace and peace to you all from our Lord Jesus Christ!