I'm Not an American

We're going to build the plane as we fly it. It's a phrase we've gotten used to hearing on this trip. It's scary for westerners to be so out of control, but that's how things often work in other parts of the world. It's not always going to be exactly this time or right there, in fact we may not know what we're doing tomorrow. That's also the way God often works. We don't know where He's going to send us or how we're going to get there. We don't know when something is going to happen, but what we do know is He has our best interest in mind when He makes His plan for our lives. 

I've discovered that it's easier for me to trust God with some large aspects of my life, but harder with smaller aspects. Why is it that I am willing to drop everything and go to Africa for six months, but when it comes to something small, where I literally have to let go and wait on Him, I have the hardest time? I'm an impatient  westerner. But is that really my identity. I've used my passport more on this trip than I have in my whole life, and on the front cover, it says "United States of America."

People see me as an American. A citizen of a far away land most of them have only seen in television and movies. Movies where the American is always right and saves the day by blowing everything up. On television, they see our sports stars soaking up the glory and often times being jerks. But am I called to have that identity? The answer to that question came today when we visited the locations we will be helping at.  One man, Raphael told us that we aren't Americans, just as he isn't Namibian. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God.

As a citizen of this kingdom, do I have a right to do anything but trust in Christ for everything. Should I be worried about the presidential election back home? It doesn't matter how big or small, trusting God is all that matters. It doesn't matter if it's trusting Him to provide financially, if it's trusting that He has prepared a spouse for me to someday marry, or even trusting Him in a presidential election. I need to trust Him for all things, big or small.

The Lesotho Chronicles

Lesotho, a country I hadn't even heard of before this trip, much less knew how to pronounce (it's Lesutu🙂) has been an eye opening experience for me. I came here thinking I wasn't going to enjoy my time here, as it involved farming, and I'm not a farmer. I have never been happier to have been proven wrong! God has taught me so many valuable lessons here. On the drive in alone, I learned how amazing of an artist God is! The landscape here is nothing like I imagined it would be.

The mountains, with all their beautiful shades and tones meet the sky with it's phenomenal hues and absolutely magnificent sunrises/sunsets. Then, after the sun has set, the stars come out and there are so many more than I'm used to seeing! It's hard not to get lost in staring at them.

Another thing God taught me is that our way as Americans isn't the only way or even necessarily the best way. Working at Growing Nations with Farming God's Way is hard work, and it's different from how most farms in America would do things. But here in Lesotho, the Basotho people are learning about sustainable agriculture to help reduce soil erosion and repair the land. I've learned different ways of doing quite a few things, from greeting people, to card games, to music, to getting from A to B, there are other ways of doing things than what we as Americans are used to.

In my home stay, I learned that I can live without my phone, and I don't need television to entertain me. I also saw an awesome family who worked together to help each other and really loved each other in good times and bad. I saw a society that I wish we had in the United States, where people from the village just show up at the door and are welcomed in. I see a community where people help each other out.

After the home stay, my team got to know the missionaries at Growing Nations better, and their stories of how they came to be here. This has really helped me with some of the questions I've been asking God about regarding His will for my life. I certainly don't have all the answers and the future is still uncertain, but I know God is in control and He will lead me where He wants me to go.

Finally, I love how God can humble us. A week after we got back from our home stays, the team climbed Snake Mountain. Some of us continued to Mohale's Hoek to use wifi, and we all made it down just fine, aside from a teammate losing their cellphone I the way down. Then, a week after that, I decided to go for a run and ended up soloing Snake Mountain.

Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done, but apart from a couple scrapes, I got up and down just fine. But then, as I  was basking in the thought of how manly I was for doing this, I started running and tripped over a rock. In fact, I hit my knee on it hard enough that I had to sit down and collect myself after. When I did stand, I was limping.

Just before it happened, I had been thinking about going up a third time with teammates who wanted to go up again, but right then, I got the message loud and clear: I'm not going to go back up Snake Mountain again, at least not on this trip. But that's alright, God gives and He takes away. It isn't a major injury that will end my running forever, it's simply a reminder that He is the One who gives me my abilities and I wouldn't have any of them without Him. 

During my time in Lesotho, I had a variety of foods, served with pap, samp, or rice. The second to last night in Lesotho was definitely an eventful one, as I discovered an owl in the house the team was staying. We eventually scared it out with no harm done to us or the owl, but not before it made it's way around the whole house, scaring most of the team(and probably the owl)in the process! 

Now, as we prepare to continue on to Namibia, I pray that God will continue to show Himself to me and that He will show His will for after the trip.

Why am I here?

I don't know if this is something anyone else has asked on this trip, but it's something I need to remind myself of every once in awhile. What we usually do in South Africa during the week is pretty simple: we meet at the church first thing in the morning, we go to the school, where we help out with the various classes there.

Partway through the day, we break for devotions with the mentors. It's a good part of the day and we've all learned some great things there. From there, we help with the school's after school program. We play with the kids, help with the lunch, do the dishes, dance with the kids, or help them with homework. Friday's are always a nice change when we don't have the after school program, so instead we visit the disability center down the road.

 These kids are so cute! There's one boy who always asks for everyone's hat and glasses, and then proceeds to put them on and take them off for the next two hours. There's another who always came up to me and smashed my hands together a few times and would get the biggest smile if I said, "owie!" There was another who pulled himself up by my shorts and then let me walk him around, until he decided to fall backwards, when I'd have to find a soft place to lay his head!

Sometimes things happen to make the weeks go by super fast and other weeks have dragged by. We're entering into fall here and there have been several thunderstorms, which bring lots of rain and sometimes even hail! I think most of us enjoy those, as some of us list those as a highlight to the week! The kids always find a way to have fun in every situation. We had them taking shelter from the storm in the classrooms and they started singing, dancing, and playing games. But then it hits me like a pile of bricks: We're leaving for Lesotho next Saturday and Wednesday is our last day at the school.

That's when it pops in my head. Why am I here? What have I done? The school and the township of Olievenhoutbosch are both pretty much the same as they were when we arrived. But then I leave the class at the end of the day and the whole class gets up and hugs my teammate and I goodbye. I get the same hugs from the mentors.

And when the students find out that we're leaving next week, they start asking if we're ever coming back. The love I feel from the students and faculty at the school is amazing. It's then I remember why I'm here. I'm here to live, not just do. I'm here to form relationships with the people here. I'm here to understand the way they live, not try to impose a middle class American lifestyle on them. I am here because God called me to be here.

Olievenhoutbosh

It's been about a week now that we've been working in South Africa. At this point, none of us on the team have any pictures, as we're unable to take photos in the area we're working for the time being. We're working in the township of Olievenhoutbosh, at a Christian school there. In the morning, we arrive and help with classes. Another teammate, Zach, and I help teach several computer classes. After that, we go to meet with the whole team, as well as the mentors who head up the after school program. We have a Bible study, followed by lunch with the kids, and then either an assembly, or homework time. After that, we go back to the church to get picked up by our host families.

We're starting to build relationships with these kids, and I look forward to seeing where they'll be at the end of the six weeks we're here for. I've always been nervous around kids. They usually hang around everyone else, but here it's different! During the time we're waiting for lunch, the kids will swarm me, asking to be picked up, or they'll just climb on me.:) I love it at the end of the day and my whole class surrounds me and everyone hugs me! It is so amazing! I love these kids! Today, a child was hanging around the team in back of an assembly, and he sat in my lap. It was so cute!:D

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to do this and for the words I needed to say at the right times. Thank you for your prayers! I can feel God's hand on this trip.

I am Nothing

So, I'm in Africa. My first few days have been different than what I thought they'd be. My team has been learning about how Africa is, as opposed to the way we see it through our "American glasses." We've had our preconceptions challenged, both about Africa and the way we see our mission. I think about the way I've seen the Kingdom of God in the past. I have always seen it as something that we are all waiting for when this life is over. But I've learned that it's more than that. We aren't meant to just sit here and wait, saying that it'll get better when we get to heaven. While that is true that the Kingdom is in heaven, I've learned that God wants us to bring the Kingdom here on earth too. I need to strive to treat others better and make the world better. 

I've been thinking about all the "disappointments" over the past few years that upset me at the time, but led me to where I am today. I think about the relationships that didn't work out, that made me look to God for answers. I think about the jobs I didn't get that would've kept me from listening to God's will for my life, which was to get involved in missions. If these things had happened the way I wanted, I would be comfortable in a relationship and I'd have the job I'd gone to college for. I never would have looked to God. I'd be good on my own. Or so I'd think. I would never have done any searches for mission organizations, I never would have found Experience Mission, I never would have gone to Africa. Thank God for not giving me everything I want. I am forever grateful to Him. Without Him, I am nothing. None of my accomplishments mean anything without Christ. He works through me.

NYC!

 

   

Two days ago, we got to New York City and settled into the Salvation Army in Harlem. It's been a fun couple of days filled with sightseeing, before we start the work in the community on Tuesday. 

Yesterday, my team went to see the Brooklyn Bridge and ground zero, as well as One World Trade Center. Ground Zero was hard to take in, with roses still being left at the memorial on the names of those lost on 9/11. 

My Time in New York

Well, it's that time. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be flying to Johannesburg, South Africa, by way of Atlanta. It has been an amazing time of serving in New York, and it seems like ages ago that my team first arrived. I confess that I initially thought of this part of the trip as a very short prelude to the "real mission experience."

But throughout the time here, I realized a few things. I realized this was over two weeks, which is longer than any mission trip I've been on before. I also realized how much needs to be done in the U.S. I've learned how to minister to the poor by getting to know them and forming relationships.

During my time in New York, I've been taken out of my comfort zone in many situations and I've grown as a Christian and as a person.

The first week, I served at the Harlem Temple Salvation Army, where I helped with the soup kitchen and after school program. I was able to sit down with the people who came in for the soup kitchen and have a real conversation about what they're going through. One man was living in a closet after being laid off, another was concerned about finding shelter for the large snowstorm coming. Something that surprised me was how many of them were educated, well traveled, and just like many of us. They just had some bad breaks, or made a few mistakes that led them to this point. It was then that I truly saw them in a way I believe Jesus wants me to see them. I saw people just like me, I saw how easy it would be for me to end up in the same position as them. 

The second week, I served at the Manhattan Citadel Salvation Army. I helped pack and move some of the things they had there to the new location. I also helped out with a prayer booth during the soup kitchen. I was able to play guitar during that, but also talk and pray for several people there. I also got more comfortable working with kids while I was at both locations and by the end, they loved me!:)

As I go to bed now, preparing for a full day of travel tomorrow, I'm excited for what God is going to show me in the next five months! I do still ask for your prayers for safe travels and for my relationship with God to grow deeper.