Life...you never know what each stage of it will bring. Two weeks ago I was somewhat lonely. With everyone leaving it was really quiet and I had no idea what was in store for me. It was nice to have a quiet week catching up on rest that I needed before starting again. The week was also a blessing because it was the same week that a friend in Alaska passed away. It was so hard for me to deal with it on my own and also feeling the grief of everyone there was tough. I am sure people could tell I was not myself. I even turned down leading a Bible study because I was still in shock. God has really brought me through it in a good way. I am still overcome by sadness thinking of what people are going through but I know God is doing something great through it. I also couldn’t have done it without my friends here. There were two in particular that were so encouraging. One of them is a married lady on my team and she gave me the most wonderful hugs at the exact moments that I needed them. It was a tough week but with the help of my friends here and my Red Hill kids I got through it.
I started last week helping with the children and youth clubs there. For a long time it has only been two guys doing the work so they were more than happy to let me and two other girls, that are also interns, join. I can’t say how much I love those kids up there! They are trouble makers, rambunctious, noisy, and always climbing on you but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I started to get to know them last year so I know some names and faces but it is so much more fun seeing them four days a week and watching them grow.
The more time I spend with them I realize how much I missed working with children. They are such a huge part of my heart. I love discipling people which I am still doing. I go up to Red Hill one night a week and meet with a group of ladies which is really nice. It is such a privilege to be a part of their lives as they grasp the truth of God for themselves. And as rewarding as that work is, I have still been missing the children. I can see why they are so close to the heart of the Father. So, all that to say how my kids in Red Hill have really helped me get through a tough week. And they have gotten me excited about working with them for the rest of the year!

Just 3 of my many kids!

Enjoying fruit leather from the states

thanks to Codi and Stephanie!

Testimony to God's goodness

I have moved into a new stage in my time here. All the students and quite a few of the staff have left to go on outreach. It is almost unbearably quiet. I have gotten so used to the business of the Cpx time that I almost don’t know what to do with myself now. Crazy isn’t it.
The greatest thing is to watch what God is doing in me now. It is almost like He is saying, "okay, now you have learned all this stuff and I have brought all this stuff out of you I want to see how serious you are about it." It is scary, and exciting at the same time (yet probably more on the scary side). The unknowns of what I am doing and who is going to be there when I need a friend feels so overwhelming at times. But I am here to say that the testimonies that come out of this time by far outweigh any fear that I am feeling.
I went out today with one of my dear sisters in the Lord and being girls we talked solid for probably three hours! Amazing I know. The talk was exactly what I needed and I had so many of my questions answered. Thankfully it was the same for her as well. However, as precious as that time was, and I am looking forward to more to come, the best part of our day was the last hour of it. We were at Boulders Beach looking at the penguins and the bay and as we were leaving I stopped to look at some pictures on the side. The guy had noticed us when we first arrived so now he was even more eager to sell us something. The amazing thing turned out to be that he talked more about completely random things than actually trying to sell us his pictures. Most of the time that would annoy me and I would be rude and walk away. But something was drawing us to stay. And we went away feeling really encouraged as we watched God work in this man’s heart. We had just been questioning how God was going to be able to transform the world and He was quick to answer. This man was so honest about almost everything. How He felt about church, Jesus, Africa, leaders, smoking, music and probably anything else we would have asked him. We saw bitterness and we were able to plant love, we saw low self esteem and we were able to encourage. For myself it really felt like we came away after planting a seed. I have never come away from a conversation on the street feeling like that! I am so encouraged to physically see how God is touching hearts and they are the hearts that I pass by everyday. Just imagine if I take that time everyday and talk to someone like that how many seeds will be planted. And before we know it Jesus’ Name will be proclaimed in every corner of every nation!!!