Life here….

Hello everyone! Things are okay here – I have been struggling the last couple of weeks with a few things. I know God is in it and I know that He is working in me through this. I actually didn’t sleep well for almost two weeks. I went and saw Karen, who is the doctor in our church clinic, on Wednesday, for four different reasons, one being the sleep issue, and she gave me a couple of recommendations… and I have actually slept for the last three nights, and it’s felt so great. The two things she recommended are no caffeine after noon (obvious, I know) and spending some time before God before going to sleep. She even recommended that if there are certain things that I am struggling with, to write them down on paper and give them to Him. I have done this for the last three nights, and it has not only help me to sleep, but brought me closer to Him. Also discovered on Wednesday that I have ringworn (sp?) on my leg… eeh.

I have struggled this year a bit in feeling productive. I had coffee with a friend yesterday and talked to her about this a bit. She came here about five years ago on this same program and struggled with this, as well, and has seen others struggle with it since. She said that this year is often a year that God works more in us than through us. So, although we may not feel too helpful or productive, He is actually working in us in ways that we may not see right away.

Youth. Yesterday for youth group, several of us leaders made about 100 brownies for all the kids. It was quite fun, and kind of got me in the mood to do more baking. It is quite different to bake here, as they use different measurements… and then there’s the whole Celsius thing. ☺

Our youth pastor and his wife have recently been blessed with a new house. The couple who lives in the house are going to the states for a minimum of nine months and have allowed Chris and his family to live there free of charge for as long as the couple is in the states. How amazing! A group of us went there last Monday and helped clean and paint. It was a fun day.

We have winter camp for youth from July 2-4. Please pray that God meets with us and prepares us for this. I am excited. The group will be a bit smaller, as a lot of the leaders and kids are on holiday, but I am excited to see what God does here. Chris asked what area each of the leaders would like to be involved in, and I chose God focus. I am excited about this, but don’t have a lot of creative ideas in this. Please pray that God gives me ideas and that these kids get excited about God.

Prison. I am speaking at the prison on July 8th and believe that I now know what God is directing me to speak about. As I was reading my Bible a couple of days ago, I read in Corinthians 7, “An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs; Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.” My most wonderful friend, Christine (I miss you!), has been telling me for years that it is an amazing opportunity for me to be single and be able to be wholly devoted to God. Of course I believe that, but still have that desire to want to be married. Anyway…. So, although some of the women in prison are married, they are not living in the role of a wife or mother now, as they are in prison. So they can use this time to be wholly devoted to Him. God has also been working in my life and teaching me to be more of a Mary, than a Martha, which has been a challenge, but I think I will speak on this a bit, as well. I love how God uses our challenges and struggles and uses us in them. I would love prayer in this… that God helps me in preparing and speaks through me.

Bookshop. As I have been working at the bookshop and wondering why God brought me to South Africa and why I am running the bookshop here, I have been reminded of how much I love books that have changed my life. I am not a huge reader… another reason I have wondered why I have been placed in this position… but I have read a few books that have increased my passion, love, vision, character, etc. So, getting the right book in the right person’s hands at the right time can be a very impactful, life-changing thing.

Steven Van Rhyn, the head pastor here at Jubilee, asked me to put a book on hold for him last week. As I have had it in the office here, I decided to pick it up and see what it’s about. I think it’s one of “those” books…. Impactful, life changing, exciting. As I have been reading it, I have decided I need to buy this one and get Steve another one off the shelf (that is in “new” condition).

So, if anyone is wanting a good book to read, I recommend “The Power of Vision”, by Andy Stanley. I have taken a few quotes out of the first several chapters (as that’s all that I have read) and have put them here.

Quotes from Andy Stanley in his book, “The Power of Vision”

What is a vision?
Where does it come from?
Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be. Anyone who is emotionally involved – frustrated, bronkenhearted, maybe even angry – about the way things are in light of the way they believe things could be, is a candidate for a vision. Visions form in the heats of those who are dissatisfied with the status quo.

…..

For a vision to become a reality, someone must put his or her neck on the line. Vision requires visionaries, people who have allowed their minds and hearts to wander outside the artificial boundaries imposed by the world as it is. A vision requires an individual who has the courage to act on an idea.

….

A God-ordained vision will begin as a concern. You will hear or see something that gets your attention. A thought related to the future will generate an emotion. Something will bother you about the way things are or the way things are headed. Unlike many passing concerns, these will stick with you. You will find yourself thinking about them or in your free time. You may lose sleep over them. You won’t be able to let them go because they won’t let you go.

….

There are always more questions than answers when God births a vision in our hearts. There are always obstacles. There is always a lack of resources. A man or woman with a vision usually feels alone. Even isolated. Often there is little to go on other than gut-level, unquenchable, insatiable desire. And hopefully a sense of destiny: a feeling that this is what you were made for, an assurance that God has called you out into uncharted waters with a divine purpose in mind. If any of that rings true for you, you may be on the brink of something divine.

….

Our tendency is to pray for miracles. But in most situations, it is more appropriate to pray for opportunities. More than likely you need an opportunity rather than something supernatural.
If you are a parent, you probably have a vision for your children. Instead of simply praying that they would become men and women of character, pray for opportunities to build character into their lives. Your vision involves you You have a role. You have a part to play.
If you have a vision for unbelieving friends (or family), don’t simply pray that they will be saved. Pray for an opportunity to speak to them about Christ. If you pray for an opportunity, more than likely you will recongnize when God brings it along.

Love you all!!!

Times… They are a Changin’

We had a braai (bbq) today and invited lots of friends to come over. We just decided to do it for no apparent reason, and, as we were all hanging out, I realized that it would be the last time that all five of us housemates would be together.

Tom leaves tomorrow to head back to England. I am sad. He has truly been like a brother to me here in so many ways. Not that I have a brother… but I can compare my relationship with him to my relationship with Scott back home. Tom is hoping to come back in September or October, so I may get to see him again if that all works out. Craig, another housemate, leaves on Thursday to go to Zimbabwe for six weeks. Becky goes home in mid-July and I move three weeks from today. I am excited about moving, but also sad that this “chapter” of the last five months is over. It has been great living here and has made it easy to get quickly plugged into life here.

God’s provision has astounded me this week. Some of you may know that I was basically going to run out of money in the beginning of November… and that was without a ticket home! Someone unexpectedly donated $2,500 this week. Wow... thank you… speechless.

I also spoke to my dad yesterday on the phone. He and Robin are coming out the first two weeks in October. They plan to spend a few days here in Cape Town, then the three of us will go up to Victoria Falls for a few days, then go to Krueger Park near Johannesburg. They said that they plan to pay for me to travel with them. This is such a huge blessing to me. These are two of the big things to see in the southern part of Africa, and I didn’t know if I would get the opportunity to do either. Wow… thank you… speechless.

Also, just remembering how He made a way for me to go home in April. I didn’t anticipate being able to go home… and He made a way. My mother provided the funds for my airline ticket and a bit of spending money while I was there. Thank you!

God provided this amazing flat for Sue and I to live in. Someone from the church owns it and is letting us rent it for quite cheap… it will be R2500/month – which I’ll pay R1000 – wish is about $140/month. Also, I do not have any furniture; although, Sue does have a few things. Last week, someone donated a bed for me to use. And… today we found out from several others that we now have a TV, a microwave, a bedside table for me, and a vacuum cleaner.

I wanted to move and was hoping that it was God’s will. When I made the decision to move from the Frasers, I strongly had a peace that I could move or stay here and I would be in God’s will either way. His provision in all of this has been amazing. I will miss the Frasers, but do plan to come back often. As three of us are leaving here, they have been looking for others to come and live here – God has already provided two people who will be coming in July to live here. This has just all worked out so perfectly.

I have been reading a book by Andy Stanley… I don’t have it right here, but it’s about casting a vision. One thing that he says in there is to pray that God gives you opportunity. I always pray that He will use me, but I don’t always pray for opportunity. So, I began praying this. God has opened three doors just this week for more opportunity. I spoke at Sunshade on Tuesday morning – we did an outreach for the ladies to invite their friends, and two of us spoke on the gospel and His grace. I was then asked to come to one of the life groups to share about myself and even about America – this is on July 4th, which I think is quite exciting in and of itself (since it’s a holiday in America). Thirdly, I was asked to take a team into the prison the second Sunday in July… they also asked if I would be the one to speak. Exciting. God is increasing opportunity.

I had mentioned some possible women’s ministry stuff here. This is still all up in the air, and it may be for quite some time. I will keep you posted if and when anything happens here. I would love continued prayer.

Overall, I am doing well. I spend quite a bit of time with a group of the young adults here. It’s great, because there is always stuff going on and it’s easy to get connected, but it’s hard to make good, close friends in a group setting. I am definitely making a few close friends and am trying to hook up with some of the other ladies to build deeper friendships. It’s hard to believe that my time here is half over… I can’t think about it too much because it does make me sad. It’s so weird because I don’t really know what will happen with me next year. I don’t have a plan… I’m hoping that God comes through and lets me know what His plan for me is. ☺

I think about you often and am praying for you. I am excited at the work God is doing at Christian Fellowship and I love praying for things that are halfway across the world and knowing that God is big enough to answer those prayers. What an awesome God we serve.

God’s Irrevocable Plan for Us

I have had an interesting week. I began on Sunday by finding out that I am going to be an auntie!! Wow – I am so excited. Scott and Maggie will have a little one coming in January 2008. Yeah! I am quite sad that I will miss the pregnancy, but have requested that they take many photos!

On another note, I have been struggling a bit with God’s purpose for me here and His purpose for my life, in general. ☺ I know that God is using me in different areas here, but I want more! I want more challenges, more responsibility, more growth, more of Him.

I am working on a possibility for women’s ministry here and would appreciate prayer in this. I don’t know what God is going to do here or if He is going to open this door. I also want more challenge and responsibility with the youth group. We have an amazing youth group and I am excited to see God working in it and to see what He is going to continue to do here.

For the majority of the week, I was trying to be in control of my life… I don’t recommend it, it’s way to stressful. I have so many unanswered questions and unanswered possibilities.

As I was reading my Bible Friday morning, I came across Romans 11:29, which states, “for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines irrevocable as “impossible to retract or revoke”. I was blown away by this – there is nothing that we can do to mess up or retract or revoke what God has for us… His call and His gifts for each of us are irrevocable. How amazing… how encouraging… how relieving!