Across the world and back again…

        Ah, here we are once again… a chill is in the air, the grass has lost its verdant hue, the leaves are already beginning to trade in their green for splashes of yellow and red… summer is drawing to an end. And with the end of this season has arrived another season of change in my life, as I prepare to head back to South Africa once more.

       

        I fly out from Calgary on Wednesday, Sept. 3 for Atlanta, Georgia, and will spend two weeks there at the AIM base near Gainesville, the first week being leader training/orientation, and the second week being when the students will arrive for training camp. We will all fly out together on Sept. 16th to make the long journey to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

        

          To recap a bit on my summer, it was spent at home on the ranch, mostly working here at home, with a week spent counselling at camp, and various other short trips to spend time with family and friends. It was wonderful to have quite a laid-back summer to rest up from my time in Africa, and to prepare for leaving once again. When I first arrived home, I was so excited to go back this fall, and looked ahead in anticipation to this time. However, as the summer progressed, I began to get comfortable with the Canadian culture and my life here once again, and my excitement began to wane considerably. For a few weeks, I actually did not want to return to Africa at all! I wasn’t even sure if God still wanted me there, and I was quite confused and stressed out for a time. However, God began to bring clarity, and I began to feel once again that He had definitely called me back to Jeffreys, and that I needed to go, whether my emotions decided to cooperate or not! And at that time, they were still leaning towards staying here in Canada. Part of the reason I felt uncertain was the fact that support was simply not coming in, and although I knew I could trust God to provide if I was supposed to go, the actual walking out of that is easier said than done. However, I decided to go ahead with the plan to return to SA regardless of the situation, surrendering my plans to God and trusting Him. Slowly, my excitement began to return, and I felt with increasing certainty that I was definitely walking down the right path. I finally took the final step and booked my plane ticket as well. With only a few weeks left before my departure date, I prepared and gave a presentation in my church about last year in Jeffreys, which marked the beginning of donations beginning to trickle in. Seemingly instantaneously, I suddenly had enough to cover half my plane ticket, and within the next couple of weeks, the amount had been met in full! God is SO good! He always provides… why do we doubt Him? He is always faithful, and I am so grateful to Him, and also to everyone who supported me – Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t have done this without you and may God bless you richly for your work for the Kingdom.

 

          Lately I’ve really been burdened by the depravity and the lost and broken condition of humanity. Evil is all around us and is wreaking havoc on lost and unprotected souls. The extent of darkness and perversion that possesses literally most of the world is overwhelming and feels hopeless much of the time! Often I am so shocked at the events we hear about…. murders, suicides, bombing, abuse, etc. and my mind cannot fathom how a human being can actually come to commit such horrors. But the truth is that a person not surrendered to Christ is searching; every soul is searching to be filled… and if not filled by Christ, it is so easy for the devil to come in and take over and work his evil. If not for the Light and the Saving Grace of Christ, even the thought of it is enough to depress one eternally! The spiritual world is so real, and I think we really need to realize this and be aware of what we are fighting against. I just finished reading a book called ‘Adam’ by Ted Dekker, which shows the battle between good and evil so vividly, and brings to light the reality of demons and the spirit world. It’s a frightening reality, but the amazing goodness and mind-blowing power of our God crushes the darkness and runs to aid of every soul that cries out to Him. I guess, in summary, the darkness in the world breaks and burdens my heart, but the light and sweetness of the Father is overpowering, and His Spirit whispers, “Press on…. keep fighting… you are my child… we have the victory!”

 

         Hopefully these ramblings have made some sense… keep fighting and holding on to Jesus – rest in His everlasting arms! Thank you for joining me once again on this blogging journey as I head back to South Africa. God bless!