Time Flies

For serious, it is hard to believe that our time in South Africa is coming to an end. We have so many crazy stories from our adventure, and God has been shaping our lives in amazing ways. We have been back at the centre for a week since Mozambique, and it has been so good to be with our kids again. We had quite a transition from Moz to life back at LCW with a few bumps along the way that delayed our return. After a draining two weeks in Mozambique working with different kids and learning to live in a different culture, we were less than ready to return to the demands of life at LCW. Thankfully, God provided a few extra rest days for us to refuel in the form of visiting friends, having a quiet home to crash in and finally catching up on some of the sleep we’ve missed. When it was time to return we still weren’t sure if we were ready, but we took a leap of faith and dove in praying that God would give us the strength to love the children at LCW with all of our hearts and be able to give them all the attention that they deserve. God provided in a huge way.

Our first week back at the centre has been great. The kids are finally back in school, so we have the luxury of being able to wake up at a decent hour and still have some quiet time to accomplish things without having 17 kids running around. We have gotten in the routine of running errands in the morning (trying to pick up all of the last minute supplies we want to buy for the centre) and try to make it home before the kids get back from school. We cherish the afternoons, where we are able to spend all of our energy playing with the kids. Although we feel exhausted at the end of each day, we’re still excited to get up the next morning and do it all over again. It’s crazy to think that after feeling so unprepared physically, emotionally and spiritually to return to LCW to finish out our time, that now we feel the most energized and excited for the centre and the things we are doing here.

This last week has been a huge blessing. Not only are we rockin’ at the centre, but since we returned from Mozambique we actually have friends in the Cape Town area! It has been so encouraging to have people stop by to see what we’ve been doing and meet our kids that we rave about. We have people to talk to and bounce ideas off and ask for guidance. We’ve been strongly reminded of the importance of community, and that interdependence on each other is key to serving God and His people. We also get to hang out with people outside the centre and do some pretty cool stuff. Like go wine tasting, have sleepovers and climb really big mountains J

I am not looking forward to Wednesday. I hate good-byes, and trying to say 20+ tearful ones all at once is not going to be fun. These kids have stolen our hearts. I wish we could bring them all back with us so that you could meet them and see their spunk for life, and that we would be able to watch them grow into the lives that God has planned out for them.

We will miss them. More than anyone can probably imagine. Heck, I already miss them and they are only in the next room.

Birthday Fun

Ever since we started dreaming of how we were going to spend our summer in South Africa we have been talking about throwing a big birthday party for the kids. It finally happened… in a huge way!

We have been tossing around ideas for the party since we got here, and thankfully we were able to accomplish all that we had planned. We wanted to give them a big party, something that they would remember. So we decorated with balloons and banners; gave each kid a cupcake and a candle to blow out; and everyone a party pack full of candy, bubbles, books, party hats and pictures of themselves with us. It was incredible, they were so excited to be celebrated! A big favorite was the pictures. None of the kids have pictures of themselves, so we took photos with each of the kids and wrote a note to them telling all that we love about them. We put the photos on their walls next to their beds so they won’t ever forget how much we love them!

There were smiles everywhere as balloons were tossed about, bubbles floated in the air and sticky fingers tried to open just one more piece of candy. The adults even joined in on the fun and bopped the balloons high above the children’s heads as they jumped to catch their prize.

We also gave small gifts to the adults at the centre as thanks for all of the hard work they do every single day. It’s easy for us to come and give a small portion of our lives to these children, but the people here give so much of themselves to make sure the children are happy, healthy and well cared for. They loved the party as well, and really enjoyed the pizza we ordered for them. It’s not all that often that they are given the night off from cooking for 20+ hungry bellies!

After all the festivities had ceased and the kids were slowly wearing out their sugar highs, we found out that LCW generally has a big birthday bash for the kids around this time of year. However, they were unable to do it this year because of financial strain. They were so grateful that we met that need, and we didn’t even know it was a need! Thanks to God for providing for us through our supporters; because we have a surplus in funds we were able to throw a big party for the kids and celebrate them.

Raw Faith

I came, I saw, I understood.

I now know what it looks like to live a life of poverty, and watch God provide for every need. Ever since God opened my eyes to the world I have felt drawn to live amongst the poorest of poor and rely on God for everything.

I can rely on God when things get tough. I can ask for God’s strength when mine runs out and have the faith that I can carry on under God’s care. I can pray for miracles when I know that the only way to fix a situation is with a godsend. What about when I’m back in Madison? When things aren’t tough? When I’m not struggling or tired or weak? When I can do things with my own strength, no miracles necessary?

I have seen how God provides, and how people rely on Him to provide enough food for the day. I have seen God work miracles. I have learned what it looks likes in my life to have the raw faith in Christ that He will provide… but only when I cannot provide for myself. How do you rely on God when life seems peachy and good? When I am not in a situation that requires more strength than I physically can give I find myself doing things by myself, for myself. My strength and God’s strength are disconnected, when I should always find my own strength in His.

I'm looking for that raw faith every single day in life. I believe it starts with recognizing that God is truly in control of everything, and He has given me everything that I need, even if it doesn't always look like that.

More Than Fine

I sit here in the empty office at LCW on a bright Sunday afternoon. With my headphones on. Blocking out the noise that surrounds me. I will be the first to admit that I am only human, and can only handle greasy fingers and hearing “he hit me first” for so long. So I sit. And vent. I’m listening to Switchfoot for old times’ sake and soaking up the lyrics: “More than fine/More than bent on getting by/More than fine/More than just ok”

If we settle at ok, we will never know good. If we settle at good, we will never know excellent. And if we settle at excellent, we will never know anything that rocks hardcore. I give it up to God to rock hardcore, because I am not cool enough to do that on my own. So I hope to rock on.

I get excited when I think of what I can do with my life. I get excited when I think about the little things God has shown me during my time overseas, almost hinting that this is what I will be doing for the rest of my life. If He has it in His plans to give me the future I hope for (Jer. 29:11 MSG) then rock on, God. I will follow Him knowing that He wants something so good for my life that I cannot even comprehend it. He is teaching me things that I long to hear and comprehend. He is teaching me how to live a life of faith.

Words

Words are a powerful thing. Sometimes I forget just how much “damage” words can do. Although God knows our innermost needs and desires, He still requires us to pray. To use our words and praise Him. To ask for things. To question things. To learn things. We are called to pray even though God already knows what we are going to say before the words reach our lips. Sometimes I forget this.

In the South African communities of Christians we have been a part of, there is a difference in prayer from what I’m used to back in Madison, and it was quite intimidating at first. When we pray as a group, everyone prays out loud… at the same time. God is big, He hears everyone. All at once. It is incredible to be in a room of Christ Followers using their words to speak to God knowing that He hears every unique voice and prayer.

Questions

As I was trying to get to know the other team members I realized I ask a lot of questions. I don’t know if that’s a new thing or I haven’t paid attention to it before. They aren’t normal questions either, just random ones that pop into my head such as:

If you were a plant, what kind of plant would you be?

If you were a different skin color (unnatural one), what color would you be?

And the list goes on. Then it got me thinking, how do other people get to know others? And since we don’t ever get annnny comments on our blog this is a good opportunity to put your own question or methods of making friends…something I can always use more of.

Runs

One of my favorite selfish aspects of the trip was that I was able to run everyday. It was soooo refreshing and good for my body and soul. I was able to run in the trees, on dirt roads through villages, next to little kids running along side of me, up and down steep hills, by waterfalls, through fields, with great fellowship, and with the biggest smile on my face. No one person wanted to run with me everyday so I had a cycle of about 4 guys that I had to drag out of their sleep to keep me company. All the girls who ran preferred to run by themselves, so I was stuck with the incredibly tall boys. It was funny to compare running strides for sure. Some of my best conversations with people were on runs, as I think and feel so much better while I’m running. There is nothing to do but run and talk. And admire the beauty you’re running past. One run in particular was steller and it started with Lovat (who had just decided to pick up running) saying, “Guys, I really think we should push ourselves today. To the point where we need God’s strength and not our own.” At first I was like, “really? Why the poo did I invite him, I want a relaxing run!” But an hour and constant uphill later I was loving it. I felt I was being pushed and challenged. As the three of us were all focused on our running up steep hills it was quieter than normal and I had lots of time to think about the verse I had read the day before in 1 Peter about being a living hope. I’m still trying to figure out what living hope really looks like, but I had this image of a runner with full confidence they were running for the prize and willing to sacrifice anything and everything to get there. The prize is not a selfish one, but represents that hopes that I have in God. The hope that orphans will experience the love and joy God can give. The hope that humanity will love and not hate each other. The hope that Jesus’s name will be known. The hope that healing covers the brokenhearted. The hope that I can do something to change the world. The hope that I can influence the people around me in a positive way. I have lofty hopes, not on myself but on God’s power alone.