Good morning ☀️ from the Golden Arches of South Africa… aka the McDonalds that is down the street with wifi. Last week I left y’all with a rushed explanation of my life since landing in South Africa. I have had more time to reflect and collect my thoughts for this post.
We are in week two of ministry and back in the full swing of things. School has started back up and you can feel the void of the older kids that have been there the last week helping. Most of the older kids were raised right there in the orphanage and now help care and create a home for the newest additions to the family. Family is exactly how I would describe the people we have met. They cook for each other clean for each other and stand in the gap when needed. There is laughter ringing throughout this place and you can feel the joy.
With school back in session we have been helping with the babies and assisting in the pre-school that is on site. Our day is filled with singing songs, playing games, learning names, numbers, and the alphabet. We are trying to help lighten the load of the workers who grew up in the orphanage, they also live there day in and day out. I am loving getting to clean, feed, and snuggle the babies. It is all hands on deck with keeping dishes and laundry clean also feeding so many people. One of the men that grew up there is studying to be a chef (may have mentioned in previous posts) has been cooking us extra treats while we are there and made homemade bagels for us – only his second time – they were so gooood like so many other things that he has gifted us.
God has been teaching me redemption and flexibility. Starting with flexibility we have learned to be ready for anything that can happen throughout the day. Sometimes you are wrangling preschoolers and trying to keep them entertained while it is too cold outside to play. On days that it is warm we also have last minute loaded up the vans and headed to the beach with 10 plus children. Flexibility and a willingness to do whatever is thrown our way is something that I am seeing my team work through time and time again. With redemption we have heard stories about abuse pain and abandonment and how the individual was able to persevere and rely on God during that time. The lady that opened this facility says that a lot of times it is praying for needs and groceries and trusting that God will provide. Doing this for 23 years speaks to her faithfulness and love for christ and others.
Ministry is a huge part but I have also grown closer to a group of people that are searching and running after God. We have cried, laughed, and had to lean on one another through these weeks. They have been fruitful and equally some of the hardest experiences I have done. Luckily my team hungers for deeper connections and Godly relationships with one another. We also are partnered with people within the community that have opened their hearts and want to spend time with us. Mama Wendy has been our mom away from home in so many aspects. I absolutely love her! Until Next time.
ALL OF MY LOVE <3
