In which I cross the Atlantic...And enter a New World :)

Well, I have arrived at Bethesda! Here's a summary of all that's transpired thus far =D.

Ready to go!!!

I met my Uncle John and Aunt Lois in Atlanta and was so encouraged by their loving and warm welcome.  I have SO enjoyed being able to spend time with them.  

 It was a super long flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg - about 15 hours.  There were so many ways I saw God's hand as we traveled.   I was worried about how my body (stomach) would handle the flights; I had absolutely no problems.  Also, the flight to Johannesburg was not full (which is rare), so we were able to spread out a little bit.  This allowed me to sleep a little better :). 

Here are some pictures I captured on the plane:

The ever present countdown.... (Daddy, this is especially for you :).

We flew into the sunrise - beautiful

Those who know me well will know why this makes me smile :)

 We arrived with no troubles! 

In which I learn that South Africans drive on left side of road - this is SO weird to get used to!

We grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading to Bethesda.  It was dark when we arrived.   We lost six hours during our travels....my body was all mixed up :).  

On Friday, I was able to participate in Sports Day at the school.  It was fun to be able to meet some of kids and play with them.

Cheering on the sidelines with Team Yellow

The little girls absolutely LOVED playing with my hair!! I think I had about seven girls playing on my hair at the same time at one point...it may or may not have been slightly painful :).

After an extremely full day right off the bat, it was a huge blessing to be able to relax on Saturday, take a much needed nap, and get settled in my new room:

This is the first time I've ever had my own room!!
(I like it, but I sure do miss sharing with my sisters too =D)

On Sunday, I had the privilege to attend church with one of the families from Bethesda.  What an unique experience! I really don't know how to describe it - so simple and yet so genuine.   It was such a blessing to see a different culture worship the same God in such a different way.  Worship is not about a method.   Worship is praising and magnifying the Lord with a genuine heart.  And this was so clearly exhibited at this worship service.    

This was the church building - with Bosi, the newest Bethesda child smiling in front :)

After the service (which went from 9:30 to 12:15 with no breaks), I was able to go outside and play with the younger kids during a meeting for the adults.  

They LOVED posing for the camera

 I introduced them to selfies :).  And no, that is not my finger...

We rode in a taxi to and from church - this is the main means of transportation here. 

 This week is going to be busy as Bethesda is hosting a missions team from a church in the states.  I can't wait to continue to meet and get to know everyone here.  My brain has been on information-overload these past few days with so many new customs, words, people, names, and places.  So many fascinating things I'm learning about this new culture! And I can't wait to dive in deeper :). 

Here are some prayer requests I have:

• Pray that I would get an adequate amount of rest and quiet time.  
• Pray that I would be able to recall all the information being thrown at me :).  Pray especially that I would remember names and start to be able to put names with faces - and that this will allow me to be able to start developing relationships.   
• Pray that I would be able to point people to Christ in my work, attitude, and words.

Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers - what a blessing! 

Ready for Take-Off!

The surprise cake from my Sunday School Class - I am so blessed with an amazing Church family!

Lord willing, in 28 hours, I'll be boarding a plane headed for South Africa.  I can't wait.  This past week at home has been super good for me.  The Lord knew I needed an extra week at home to simply be still, take a break from all the hustle and bustle, and simply be faithful in the little things.  One of my prayer requests for this trip is that the Lord would teach me flexibility, to simply serve however He wants me to.  This week was a great start to learning this.  I am constantly amazed at the Lord's perfect plan....just when I think I've figured it out, He gives me something far better :).  

As I look back at these past few months, I am simply overwhelmed at God's faithfulness to me.    For some years now, He has given me this desire to take a missions trip.  And so I prayed that He would open up a door if that was His will.   Then, at the beginning of this year, He showed me this opportunity to go to Bethesda Outreach.  Again and again, He has confirmed that this is exactly where He wants me to go.   He has figured out the perfect timing and gave me the perfect flights (which are different than I originally thought).   He has supplied exceedingly abundantly above my financial needs for this trip.  I am simply overwhelmed by the generosity of my family and friends.   And not only financially, but the Lord has blessed me with an amazing group of family and friends who are supporting me through prayers and heart-felt encouragement.  I am so grateful for the love that has been poured out to me.

I don't know why I ever doubt God's provision.  When I initially made the plans for this trip, I really had no idea how He would supply.  But I've learned that when I follow the Lord's leading, He will never disappoint me.  I simply need to trust and obey.   His ways always surpass my wildest dreams.

And as I look at all these way God has provided, I am confident that South Africa is where the Lord wants me for the next seven weeks.   I am so excited.  I don't know exactly what the Lord has in store for me through this trip.  But I can't wait to find out.

As I take-off, here are a few prayer requests that I have:

• Health and safety as I travel.  It's going to be a long flight - pray for an extra measure of patience and grace.
• An open heart to the Lord's leading and teaching.  Like I said, so much is unknown - pray that I would learn and grow according to His perfect plan for this trip. 
• A servant's spirit in whatever opportunities He puts in my path.  I'm going to serve - pray that I would do so joyfully and with a heart to minister to people.  
• A Gospel-centered mindset.  To live is Christ - pray that I would point people to Christ and that He would be glorified in all that I do and say.  

When Plans Change...

Today was supposed to be my last full day here in the states.   I've been extremely busy this past week making sure everything on the home front is accomplished before I leave.   My schedule was crammed until today when I was supposed to simply pack and finish the final details for my trip.

Everything was perfectly planned out.

Or so I thought.  God apparently has different plans.  Last night, I found out that my flight has been postponed until next week.   My Uncle John and Aunt Lois need to stay here in the States for another week due to an unexpected, tragic death in their extended family.   And so, our departure date is now next Wednesday.

I am a very schedule-oriented person.  Everything is always planned out and I'm always trying to make the most of the time I have.   Ironically, one of reasons I want to go on this trip is so that I can learn to simply be available to serve without my personal schedules or to-do lists.  Now, I am at home another week with absolutely no plans.   At first, this was very frustrating.  I want to be in South Africa this week.

But God has very clearly shown that His plan is for me to be here.  It's hard to accept this, but I need to trust that "His ways are higher than my ways."  This is something I've really been learning a lot of recently.  I've been praying for a servant's heart and flexibility as I minister these next two months.  I did not think He would answer my prayer with this.  The first thing I thought when I heard that the trip was postponed was: "What am I going to do these next 9 days???"  But the thing is, I didn't know exactly what I was going to be doing at Bethesda these next 9 days either except to serve where I was needed.  Maybe that's what God wants me to do here.  Maybe He allowed me to finish up all my responsibilities and projects without knowing that the trip was going to be postponed so that I would be available to serve and minister here wherever I'm needed.  

Just last night, we had a missionary at our church who shared a story of a missions trip he and his wife went on.  His wife had important projects she was supposed to do on the trip, but they fell through and she was given the task of drying wet Bibles.  She learned the lesson of being faithful in the small, seemingly insignificant things of service.   Staying home for a week with no specific plans seems very small and insignificant compared to flying over to Africa and serving orphans.   But that's what God's called me to do this week.  I pray that I will be faithful in whatever opportunities He puts in my path.  

So, I'm still headed to Africa.  But there are a few things that God wants me to learn here first.  I don't know exactly what I'll be doing this next week.  But instead of viewing this delay as a delay, I'm trying to view it as part of my trip.  Because missions doesn't just happen in Africa.  It happens wherever I am.   Missions isn't about a place or specific act of service.  It's about living life for the advancement of the Gospel.