Well, to begin, I apologize for the lack of blogging lately on my part. Sometimes life goes on and I forget to blog, I suppose! But, here’s a bit of what’s been going on with me lately. First, it’s May already? It seems to have snuck up on me and I think I’m a bit in shock! Less than two weeks till I board that airplane for the long plane ride home. I still have mixed emotions at this point – sadness for leaving my amazing team-mates, who are really more like family than anything, and my ministry, but also excited to go home and see my ‘other’ family 😉 and friends. As we get down to the last days, I’m also feeling a bit tired and burned out, but I’m leaning on God and He is faithful. He’s really been revealing Himself to me as my Sustainer in the past couple of weeks. I need Him to be my Strength, and the stream of Living Water that flows through me. He’s brought me through alot and I can rest in knowing that no matter what happens in the future, He’s always walking right beside me, and that’s all I really need!
I love my kids at the Joshua Project so much…. they really are sweethearts, despite their behavior at times! It’s been amazing to really get to know them, and feel like, in some small way, our love and commitment to them has made a difference in their lives. They soak up the Bible stories and truths they are taught, because, even though they hide behind a tough exterior much of the time, they know all the information they’ve heard and get excited about during program time. Last week we gave an opportunity for the kids to receive Christ, and almost all of them responded! Very exciting. A week later, and Bongani is still talking about how happy he is to know that he has a white heart and that Jesus will always love him. It’s pretty special.
I also had a conversation with three girls this week that really touched my heart. I had been sitting and talking with them for about an hour, and their English was really very good, so we could have a decent conversation. When it came time for me to leave, I asked if there was anything I could pray for them about. All three of these girls, ages 9, 10, and 11, immediately asked me to pray for their mothers or fathers, because they drink and beat the girls. It just once again broke my heart to realize that this is a reality for so many of these kids. They grow up much too fast and go through things that no one should ever have to go through. It keeps me in continual prayer for the lives of these sweet children.
Also, I have felt God calling me to return to Jeffreys Bay next year, and so I’ve made the decision – I’m coming back! I’ll be returning in the fall and cooking for next year’s FYM team, as well as doing whatever else I’m needed for. I’ll be on the other side of the equation this time, as leader rather than participant, and I’m both excited and nervous to see how it will turn out! I’m sure God has many new things to teach me and I hope to grow alot through this experience. I’m also really excited that I have the chance to come back and see my kids and be involved in ministry here for another short length of time. I’ll be in South Africa for three months – September to December. So once again I will have to do some support raising, my least favorite part of the missionary lifestyle, but God will be faithful to provide as He always is.
Your prayers are so much appreciated. Be blessed!
Melissa!… wow, that is so awesome that you are going back again! I know that ministry is where you are meant to be!… But cannot wait to have you home for a bit!