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.