just a few random things...

I'm moving into my new home this morning! I'll be living with a young mom, Erica, and her two precious daughters....Simile is 5 and Halo-Zoe is 2. SO.CUTE! I have my own room with 2 extra beds - COME VISIT!! (Mom, Kelly...book your flights :) ) and a little kitchen/sitting area. Its not far from the base and I can see the lake and the mountains from my room. I'm pumped to get my things settled in and stop living out of a suitcase, although I'll miss life at the base and living like royalty in hospitality :)

Did I mention how we have to push the car everywhere? Besides Mr. Elmore letting me and Katie drive his old Jeep when we were 15, I have NO clue how to drive a manual...but I DO know that if it's an old one, you have to push it. ALOT. I've pushed this car up and down hills, in gas stations and communities...its really funny. It'll definitely keep me in shape!

There is a couple here from Texas who loves football, so Sunday we spent the day trash talking (and finally agreeing that neither of us like Oklahoma, but we like what they did to FSU). They decided that Tebow and I should probably just go ahead and get married since we both love Jesus and football and missions...maybe those word prophetic words. :)

Yesterday I got to watch some middle schoolers practicing for the national rhythmic gymnastics competition in Jo-burg this weekend. It was AWESOME! They were SO good, and so sweet. They said I can come to practice any time I want....not that I have much to add, but I'll definitely be taking them up on that offer! We watched some staff demos and PK routines last night so Fola, Julius, and Hannah could get a better understanding of what I do....they were quite impressed. Although after I showed them the picture of me stunting with Shrek, they thought I was always a flyer!

Okay, I suppose thats all for now. Love you miss you and prepare your hearts for some skyping, soon!! :)

I forgot to tell you..

I went to my first African church service today! Worship was mixed English and Afrikaans but the sermon was in Afrikaans so I had to listen via headset in English :) And I got a hand me down guitar so I can play, praise the Lord!

beautiful Africa

I will post pictures soon, promise!

I'm still staying at the YWAM base, not sure when I'll move into my permanent home yet but I'm enjoying every minute of having a room to myself and coffee - although its instant - and tea - I'm currently obsessed with Rooiboos tea and drink at least 3 cups a day :) - at hand whenever. The favorite snack here is toast, and we eat that all the time too.

Yesterday we went to Hermanus to watch the whales and see the beach. It was incredible!! I'll post pictures as soon as I get my own internet time (I'm still borrowing :) ). Hannah and I climbed out onto the rocks and we saw the whales jumping! Hannah swam in the ocean for the first time...fellow Floridians, IT WAS FREEZING. NOT swimming weather for sure, but she took advantage of her opportunity, as there aren't beaches in Germany.

Random facts about Worcester: there are always dogs barking here. Laura, I saw a GIANT dader at the beach!! It made me miss you a LOT. The weather has been chilly, but beautiful and sunny. There are mountains all around us, which makes for beautiful sunsets and sunrises. No matter where you are, children will always run up to you and hug you and play with you hair...yes please.

Friday we went to a drug rehab facility to share good news with some of the inmates. It was incredible to see God move through language barriers and into hearts to release the captives! (Is 61) I read Ps 61 to them, a passage that I prayed over and over when I was overwhelmed with commitments and pressure my junior year of college. Little did I know...the place was called Toevlug (sounds like two-flag)...which means sanctuary in Afrikaans! It was really amazing to see the Lord work through His words and heal the hearts of the people there.

Praise the Lord for my sweet friend, Hannah! She leaves on Wednesday morning and I'm going to miss her TERRIBLY! All of the DTS students are leaving for outreach Monday, so there will be many new people on base. Pray for continued development of relationships here, please!

That's about all I have time for, for now. If you're tuning in to the Passion Livelink on Monday night...we'll be joining you! :) Love you ALL, thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement!!

I'm in AFRICA!! :)

Hello! Shalom!

I finally made it to Worcester after 28+ hrs of travel Tues - Wed. It was surreal waking up this morning and realizing it wasn't a dream...I'm really staying at the YWAM base in Worcester, South Africa! I've been kind of out of it all day - thank you jet lag - but we hit the ground running with ministry this morning. (Note: I'm gonna have to learn to function on Africa time..."be ready at 9am" means we'll probably leave the base around 10:30, and if lunch is at 11am then we're definitely not eating til 1 or 2 :) Coming from a minute-to-minute scheduled life, this is def a challenge!) We visited two school, one of which will be my second home for the next 3 months. Worcester Primary is grades 4-7 and I'll be teaching 7th grade math to start off with. The kids went on "holiday" today and return Oct 4th, so I have a week to prepare and adjust.

*Prayer Request - a bus of athletes headed to Jo-burg got in an accident the day I got here and one of the kids, Grant, passed away. This has really hit the community hard and they are just beginning to deal with the loss. Please keep Grant's friends and family in your prayers. He is most certainly dancing in heaven right now, praise the Lord.

We visited a lady from my school named Estelle (Bohler she reminds me SO much of you!) and talked with her for a while. We then headed to the squatter camp community (our idea of a shanty town) and served food to the children. It was an incredible sight - these beautiful, dirty, precious little children lining up with whatever bucket they had to hear the Word and sing songs and get a hot meal. This place is beautiful, right in a mountain valley, and the sight just took my breath away. THIS is the Father's heart, that we would look after His children and tell them of His unending, unfailing love.

Did I mention this place reminds me SO much of Los Mochis, Mexico? It's so similar in so many ways...thank You Jesus for preparing me to be here! I definitely would be in a lot more culture shock if I hadn't spent time in LM. Its beautiful...but I know I've said that. The mountains are incredible and the sunrise takes your breath away.

A few ways you can be praying specifically before I head to bed:

- COMMUNITY - Hannah from Germany leaves on Wed and we've already become great friends. Julius from Ghana has been here for 3 yrs and he has quickly become like a brother. Coming from such a supportive family and group of friends is making this transition a little rough...thanks for being amazing people to miss :)

-we are involved in just about every ministry you can imagine, so please just pray that the Spirit would fill us with His words and hearts would be open to receive truth.

Thats all for now, I'm using Fola's internet time (and computer) and I need to get some SLEEP! Love you all, thanks for your prayers. God Bless!

It's time for Africa!

You're a good soldier

Choosing your battles

Pick yourself up

And dust yourself off

Get back in the saddle

You're on the front line

Everyone's watching

You know it's serious

We are getting closer

This isn't over

The pressure is on

You feel it

But you got it all

Believe it

When you fall get up, oh oh

If you fall get up, eh eh

It's time for AFRICA!

Listen to your God

This is our motto

Your time to shine

Don't wait in line

Y vamos por todo

People are raising

Their expectations

Go on and feed them

This is your moment

No hesitations

This time for Africa...

(Three days and counting!)

God of scandalous grace

"I believe in a God of scandalous grace. It is risky, and yet we are people of faith, believing that giving is more contagious than hoarding, that love can convert hatred, light can overcome darkness and grass can pierce concrete. And now He dares and woos me to come and follow, to take up my cross, to lose my life to find it.." - Shane Claiborne