Life in South Africa

Over the past few weeks since being here in South Africa, the Lord and his faithfulness is on display. We are living at a sister ministry called Global Leadership Academy, who  often works closely with World Race Teams who go to Jeffreys Bay. The first few days of ministry consisted of manual labor, filled with digging trenches and pouring a foundation for a new school-house that they are building here. We dug deep trenches and removed the dirt so we could lay better foundation for the home. Alone, this would’ve been a long and defeating task, but as a team with a common goal, it made it much easier to accomplish. 

This foundation building was hard work, but the Lord showed just why he had us doing such a task. I think that these first few weeks on the race have been quite similar. We are here hearing the gospel with fresh ears and eager hearts, digging deeper into the truths about who Jesus is and making him our foundation. I am learning to remove the things I’ve placed in my life that are trying to take His place in my heart and allowing His presence to consume every place inside of me. Making Him my solid rock on which I place my life.  This all is a lot easier when you are surround by those who have the same goal to grow and create the best foundation we can. 

Christ must be our cornerstone for our faith. The truth of who He is will hold us steady when life comes to shake us.

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

I have also been working at a soup kitchen here a few times a week. I went into the commitment of going to the soup kitchen picturing an American setup, but this was far from one. What I witnessed had me somewhere in-between heartbroken and convicted.

I entered into this slum-like community where kids ran around unclothed and dirty, walking upon broken, glass filled, streets. We prepared oranges and ramen noodles for the children and took it to a storage container placed in the middle of this village, around which these kids swarmed. We sent two of us to seek out any kids that didn’t know that food had arrived, and called them out of their shacks. This had me heartbroken to see that most of these children didn’t eat often and weren’t always watched and cared for….but their joy had nothing to do with their situation. They had little to nothing and carried with them a pure happiness. This opened my eyes to the truth of what we place our joy upon. When we give room to things in our hearts that aren’t from/for God, they don’t return anything lasting to us. God returns a pure joy tenfold. We are beyond blessed.

Our squad also got the opportunity to work at a week long camp here called UCSA. I was lucky enough to be placed as a Camp Leader for the week, and I absolutely loved it! The Lord has transformed my heart and life using summer camps (Younglife), and made me very confident that this would be a way that He can use me. I felt very comfortable and excited to be in the position to share excitement and eagerness for the word of God with so many kids. It really reminded me of myself when I was in high school, lost and searching for answers and a relationship with my heavenly father. I learned beautiful Afrikaans worship songs and got to see kids give their lives to Christ. What a blessing to witness the spirit moving.

My community is amazing here. I am living with 33 people who are all so on fire to grow in spiritually maturity. I had amazing leaders and male mentors, and have been blessed with this living situation which the lord is using it as a spiritual catalyst. In a week, my team of 6 guys and a group of 7 girls from our squad will be heading to do our ministry in Johannesburg for the remaining two months here in South Africa. 

JBay has been one for the books. Thanks for checking in on my quick update!