This past week, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to South Africa for an Educator's conference in Johannesburg. The conference lasted four days, and then I went to Cape Town (fulfilling a life-long dream!) for the rest of the week. It was INCREDIBLE. I loved every minute I spent there and hope to return sometime in the future. I'll give you a little picture tour of my time spent in South Africa!
Ha, this is one of the most touristy/cheesy pictures ever. Note it says, "National Leographic" instead of "National Geographic". Clever, huh? But let's just say I was THRILLED to cuddle with a lion cub.
I was excited to feed the ostrich until I found out they are like the geese of Africa. They are so mean!
cage shark diving. The water was FREEZING. Thank goodness for wetsuits!
just one of the many Great Whites we saw!
We got to go whale watching! It's hard to see, but this is a Southern Right Whale.
the cable car we took up to Table Mountain. Incredible views!
On top of Table Mountain/on top of the world
penguins at Boulders Beach!
Met up with the girls from Iringa International where I student taught last year. A total God-thing! So good to reconnect with them!
Cape of Good Hope
"In your presence, there is FULLNESS of JOY." -Psalm 16:11
Ha, the VERY beginner board.
LOVED surfing! But let me tell you, it was exhausting!
Proud moment of my life!
the changing rooms on the beach at Muizenberg
Perfect way to spend the morning
"Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" -Ps. 8:9
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great Thou art. How great Thou art!"
I wish these pictures captured more of the absolute beauty of this place, but at least it gives you a little idea. It was a wonderful week, and I'm SO thankful that God blessed me with the opportunity to go.
As I returned from South Africa, I found out that my dad has a tumor. He's having surgery tomorrow, and we will find out if it's cancerous or not. It kills me to be away from my family at this time. Please, please be praying for my dad!!
The other night, I was on a run, and this girl stopped me to ask if she could talk to me. She proceeded to ask me for a glass of water. I looked her over and quickly assessed that she had a healthy glow to her skin, was a healthy weight, and had clean clothes on. Determining that she didn't actually need the water, I told her that I was sorry, but I didn't have any money on me to buy water. She said, "Oh, then can I get water from your house?" Once again, I told her that I was sorry but that we had no filtered water in our house (which was true... minus a couple sips used for brushing my teeth... probably not what she would want.) I then ran off but instantly started thinking about that verse about entertaining angels and the passage in Matthew that talks about "Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me." Feeling like I really messed up, I told the Lord that I would invite her in and get some money to buy her water if I saw her again.
Sure enough, I saw her again, so I wentup to her and told her that I was sorry. I told her I was a Christian and that I know Jesus would give her water and wanted me to do the same. So I invited her into our house and gave her a banana and some chips. When I gave her the banana, she looked at me and asked, "Only one? And nothing to drink?" I apologized and told her once more we had nothing to drink in the house but that I would take her to the store and buy her some water. At the store, I brought enough money to buy a liter of water for her. Once again, she looked at me and asked, "That's all you brought?" At this point, I just wanted to be like, "Seriously?! Just take it and be grateful!!" (Clearly, the Lord is still at work within me!) It makes me wonder if I treat God that way sometimes... if I don't see all the blessings He's so clearly laid out in front of me, and I demand my "rights" instead of realizing the gifts He's given me. All I can say is, thank the Lord for His patience!
Anyway, this is only one example of this inner struggle I've had of how to really love like Christ here. Whenever I go to the market, there are these crippled men... some with no legs, sitting on the ground, moving around with their hands, begging. And then, there are the street children. The first thing they say to you is: "Give me money." I know that if I give them money, it really debilitates them from going to school, and probably does more harm then good. Yet my heart breaks for them, and I am constantly pressed with the question, "What would Jesus do?" I know He wouldn't just pass by them. So I've taken to the habit of buying them some water, something to eat, and praying over them. It never really feels like enough, but it's what I feel called to do for now. I want to embrace a Samaritan-like attitude where I am constantly choosing to bless the people God puts in my path, even if what I'm doing seems small and insignificant. And I want to do this wherever I am... whether in Africa, America, or elsewhere.
reading a Bible story to the kids at the orphanage
bought a soccer ball for the kids at the orphanage... best money I've spent yet!
after scoring a goal
playing on a slope... not the easiest thing, but these kids took it like champs!
Ran into these street boys as I was waiting for a ride. Always handy to have markers and paper on hand for moments like these!
The Rwandan teachers I have been teaching English to once a week. Such a privilege to work with these sweet people!
Bahati telling us about himself
with some of the teachers I've been working with.
Some exciting news: Next week at this time, I'll be in South Africa!!! So so excited for this. I will be in Johannesburg for a few days for an educator's conference and in Cape Town a few days fulfilling some dreams :) More updates and pictures to come...
