It's hard to believe as I sit down to write this post that a little more than two months ago, I was boarding a plane to return from Namibia. Alot has happened these past couple of months, so I thought I'd update y'all!
If I could pick a few words to describe my last two months since I've been back, I think I would choose these: balanced. sweet. refreshing. fulfilling. clarifying. exciting. affirming. I have been spending my days balancing my three part-time jobs (working for my church assisting the children's ministry director, nannying, and elderly caregiving) to pay off my car and interest on my school loans, as well as getting involved deeper in various ministries at church. The Lord has provided some rich, new discipleship opportunities for me as I have begun to be equipped and trained to help launch (with a core team) a new small group in my neighborhood come January, and have started to co-lead a weekly after-school program for teen girls in a low-income, at risk housing community downtown. I have also enjoyed the budding of new friendships with 3 international students at the University of South Carolina from Taiwan and China. I have been at Riverside Community Church for almost a year and a half now, and recently have been enjoying more opportunities to dig deeper with the women in our church body, as well as their families. Being a part of a church plant is not for the faint of heart (did I mention that we meet in a museum?!) but it has been one of the most shaping and meaningful parts of my life here in Columbia. Riverside has become my Columbia family, as my biological family is ten hours north in PA, and we as a church body are seeing the Lord guide and provide for us one step at a time as we continue to walk by faith. He is increasing our faith and trust in Him, the Great Provider, as He continues to build His church and we humbly co-labor alongside Him. What a privilege, what a joy:)
The one thing missing from what had become a regular part of my life here in Columbia, however, is school! CIU is the reason I moved down here two years ago. But right now, I find myself in a season of rest (at least from studies!). More free time to read for pleasure, move past playing just chords on my guitar to actual songs, and learning how to actually work my new camera? Yes please! Oh, and I'm looking forward to the start of rec volleyball next week. It's been fun allowing the Lord to grow my roots deeper here. Columbia is feeling more and more like home these days, and for that I am thankful, seeing as it looks like I will be staying here for at least another 1.5-2 years!
But let me back up...
Last spring, I had reached a point where I was no longer interested in finishing my degree, a MA in Global Studies, which would have taken me another year to complete. The Lord completely took away my desire to be in the classroom (at least for that degree), which if you know me well, is a huge thing. I love learning. I love books. I love being in the classroom. But I had just come to realize that I wanted to walk away from CIU with a more practical degree, one that would equip me with a tangible skill set that could take overseas with me, in my specific case southern Africa. So, I decided to stop at CIU at the end of last semester with my certificate in Bible and Theology. I went to Namibia over the summer very prayerfully, asking the Lord to affirm me in either teaching or counseling, two paths I was interested in potentially pursuing a masters degree in a few years down the road.
Upon returning from Namibia, I began to process my 6 week experience in Namibia and reflect on how the Lord had used me most effectively there. It turns out that I did some of both while I was there--teaching first and second grade, and doing informal counseling with the teen girls and foster moms in the ministry as I came alongside them--and I felt that I had been used most effectively in the counseling realm. It had also been the most life-giving for me. So, when I came back to Columbia, my tentative plan for this fall was to work my various part-time jobs and get involved in more ministry. Then, in the spring (after my part-time job commitments were up) I was thinking I would find a full-time job and work for 1-2 years to pay off my existing school loans from CIU, as well as prepare to head back overseas to southern Africa full-time (possibly in the areas of mentoring/discipleship, Bible teaching with children and youth, and equipping/training local believers to do the same). I had in my mind that maybe after being overseas for a couple years, I could pursue a counseling degree online through CIU's distance learning program.
However....
That was before I met with the head of the counseling program at CIU. After meeting with me for an hour and explaining that the MA Ministry Care program (essentially pastoral counseling) was not offered online and that it would only take me another 1.5 years full-time to complete it, he strongly encouraged me to start the program then and there (this was mid-August, just as fall classes were starting up), but I knew that I couldn't because I was already committed full-time to my various jobs and wanted to honor those commitments. So, he suggested I sit in on one of his classes, a counseling techniques course, to get a better feel for the program. So I have been attending that class each week this semester as an auditing student, soaking up as much as I can and loving every minute of it! The Lord has been giving me opportunity after opportunity to begin putting into practice what I have been learning in my relationships at school, work, church, and ministry. My prayer since I even began auditing the counseling class would be that if the Lord wanted me to do this program, He would fully provide for me financially to be able to do so come the spring; I really did not want to take out more loans. Well, last week I paid a visit to the Financial Aid office to ask them an unrelated question, and they pulled up my student account and informed me that I have nearly a full scholarship for the spring!
So there you have it. Come January 2014, I will be a student again at CIU and I can't wait! I am beyond thankful for and amazed at how the Lord has guided and affirmed my steps over these last nine months, these past two years in Columbia, and for that matter, my last 26 years of life:)
May He count me worthy of His calling. Great Shepherd, equip me with everything good for doing YOUR will. Work in me what is pleasing to YOU. May Christ be glorified in me.
As I allow Him to grow my roots deeper here in Columbia, may this also be true of me:
"Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. " -Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
See You Soon
It's been 4 days since I got back here to Columbia and I want to update my blog before things start to really pick up next week when I start back to work, and while things are still fresh:) I'm so thankful that the Lord impressed it upon my heart to take the rest of this week to unpack, settle back into life here in Cola and just REST and PROCESS. Coming back is always harder than leaving, and I've learned that the hard way over the years; in the past I haven't always given myself enough time to do these things. I've been so thankful this week for the Lord's abundance grace and mercy as I've transitioned and shifted gears:) I was so touched by how my roommates Grace and Julie welcomed me back to our little peach house on Tuesday night, with streamers, a sign, and a lovely dinner out to Olive Garden, where we were able to catch up on our summers. They both spent a few weeks in Mexico while I was in Namibia, so there was much to catch up on!
My journey back was much smoother than my journey there, and I actually had a bit of downtown in the airports in Johannesburg and New York City (JFK). On my longest flight (about 16 hours from South Africa to New York), I sat between two African young women my age, which was a blast! The one was an Angolan who worked for an oil company in Angola but who had spent many years of her life in Namibia and was traveling to the States for the first time for vacation with her sisters, and the other was from Burundi and was a college student in the U.S. They were both believers, and we had some great conversations about missions, ministry, cultural differences, etc. and we laughed alot:) The girl from Angola had actually worked with the Navigators earlier in her life, and had interacted with a number of Western missionaries in Namibia over the years, so it was really interesting and helpful to hear her perspective. I had trouble sleeping, so other than 2-3 hours of catnapping, I watched movies, listened to music and read (I'm in the middle of The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer and loving it!). Seems I don't have much time for movies these days, so I took advantage of the opportunity to get caught up:) I would highly recommend the movie "We Bought a Zoo," if you haven't already seen it!
My last two days in Arandis at the end of July were incredibly memorable! Lots of pictures were taken, videos recorded, and "see you soons" said:) I wanted to remember everyone's voices! I received a huge stack of handmade cards from the 1-3 graders, and they performed the song I taught them, called "Stop, Let Me Tell you!" (complete with the motions!) The lyrics go like this:
Stop, and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me!
Stop, and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me!
He forgave my sin and He cleansed my soul
He saved my heart and He made me whole
Stop, and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me!
Such solid Biblical truth, right?! This is actually a favorite at my home church here in Columbia in the children's ministry as well, so I can't wait to show the kids this video! I was so moved by how the Lord gave them such a love for this song--it wasn't something that I pushed or forced at all, they just took it and ran with it :) I was so privileged and humbled to play a small role at Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy for a short time. It was life-changing and I will never forget the faces of all the children I worked with, or the teachers and staff:) My parting message to them was the words of the apostle Paul, which we see in Philippians 1:3-6:
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He would began a good work in your will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
The Lord gave me a creative idea about how to leave well. I believe He has given me the gift of encouragement, and I wanted to leave something concrete with each special person that He had allowed me to connect with and journey with while I was in Arandis. He allowed me to think ahead and plan and take an individual picture with each of them and get them printed in Swakopmund with a couple days to spare. Then, I wrote a message on the back of each photo, as well as a Bible verse. The Lord gave me specific words of encouragement for each person. I think I wrote on the back of close to 50 photos! I wanted the messages to be specific to each person, and I wanted them to know that they are significant and loved. Many of them don't have many pictures of themselves, and many people who come to volunteer tend to take lots of pictures on their cameras but then leave without printing and handing out any of the pictures:( I pray and trust that the Lord will use His words written by my hand to encourage His children in Arandis whenever they look at their photo and read the message on the back:)
I will never forget my last night in Arandis. My host family cooked a delicious meal for me (lasagna!) and we made chocolate peanut butter bars for dessert, which is quite a treat because chocolate and peanut butter are not cheap! They gave me a beautiful pair of earrings and two beautiful handmade cards that touched me deeply. Then, we all brought our mattresses into the living room and watched "The God Must Be Crazy." I can't believe I have never see that movie before! My brothers used to talk about it all the time, about how hysterical it was, and now I can agree! It was so fitting to watch it while in Namibia, because there are Bushmen here. Anyway, then we had an epic sleepover! I must admit, I slept terribly (Ashley, my 6 year old host sister, apparently swings her arms wildly in her sleep) but that just made it all the more memorable:)
After many "see you soons" rather than goodbyes and prayers at school and at the homes of each of the foster families and the other missionaries, I left for Windhoek, the capital, on Wednesday, July 31st in the afternoon. It was about a 3 hour bus ride. I only cried once in all of the goodbyes, when I was reading my letter to my host family. And it wasn't out of sadness, but out of profound thankfulness for what the Lord had done. I was beyond blessed to have been able to be a part of their family for those short 3 weeks. It was not something that I had expected or planned, and the Lord blessed me immensely through the experience, beyond words can really describe.
The very next day, August 1st, my dear friend from Zambia, Lindiwe, arrived in Windhoek to spend the next 4 days with me! She traveled almost a day by bus to come, and I was so touched and thankful! Her bus arrived 3 hours late (in typical African fashion), but she arrived in one piece, thank the Lord:) There are not enough words to describe how sweet of a time the Lord allowed us to have. I am beyond thankful that He allowed us to see each other again. He is SO good! We exchanged gifts. We were able to catch up on the past two years and our friends and families. We talked about missions, ministry, cultural differences, etc. We had devotional time together each morning and prayed alot together. We listened to music, we watched movies. We laughed, we told stories. We went shopping, we toured downtown, we crashed some rooftop five star hotel pools, we picnicked in the park, we got our exercise walking everywhere. We cooked Zambian food. We had coffee at a cafe. We got Lindiwe's ears pierced. We made new friends. We saw the Lord bless us and provide for us financially in multiple ways. We were able to encourage one another and carry each other's burdens. We also had the privilege of meeting Marco, a Namibian university student living at the missionary guesthouse where we stayed. He helped to run the guesthouse, and showed us all around the city! He was a wonderful host and took such great care of us. The Lord allowed us to be blessed by him and bless him in return, and we were so thankful for that privilege. On our last day together, Lindiwe, Marco and I went on a game drive at a lodge about 30 minutes outside of Windhoek. Neither one of them had every been on a game drive, and it was my pleasure to help them experience one for the first time! We saw lots of different types of animals, my favorite being the white rhino!
Leaving Namibia was different than Zambia. When I left Zambia in July of 2011, I really had no idea if I would ever return, if I would ever see my new Zambian friends and family again. However, leaving Namibia, I just have the sense that it won't be my last time seeing my new Namibian family and friends. Many of them only wanted to say "see you soon, Lord willing," as I did:) I don't know what lies ahead or if the Lord will call me to serve again specifically with Children of Promise Ministries or more generally in Namibia or another southern African country, but I do know this: God has given me His love for these people. I love this country, and the Lord has shown and confirmed to me that I have been used by Him in this place through the relationships He allowed me to form. I guess it's only human to wonder at the end of an experience like this if your presence has had any real, substantial, eternal impact. The Lord was so good to encourage and affirm me in various ways through the words of others I served alongside of, and through a number of different interactions I had. He has shown me that He has gifted me in teaching His word and in encouraging and connecting easily with others, across cultural barriers. And I don't say this pridefully, please believe me. I say this because I believe it is crucial for each believer to discover the ways in which the Lord has gifted them, so that they can further develop these giftings and serve in ways that they can be used most effectively by Him. I am truly humbled that my God would use me at all.
He has also confirmed that He has given me a passion for discipleship, for teaching His word, for equipping local believers to carry out this work. They are the ones who can best reach their own people. While I loved my time teaching the first and second graders at the school, my absolute favorite part of my time in Arandis (besides my host family) was my time with the teen girls and foster moms in the ministry, both in the bible study and just in everyday life. I loved journeying with them and coming alongside them. It's funny, because I said a long time ago that I would never work with youth. Kids, absolutely, but teens?! Yikes! They used to scare me, and the idea of say teaching in a middle or high school terrified me. Pathetic I know, but true. Hand me a screaming baby or toddler and I'm fine, but teens?! It's crazy how the Lord changes our heart and our desires to line up with His heart and His desires. He allowed me to connect with those girls, those moms, in ways that I never would have expected. And a huge part of the population in Namibia and the rest of southern Africa are young people. I did work with alot of young people in Zambia too, and maybe that's where it all started. Anyway, the Lord is up to something. Even since I have been back here in Columbia, He has opened the door for me to partner with a crisis pregnancy center downtown that goes into a low income housing community every week to teach life skills, the Word, and mentor the teen girls living there. I am excited about the opportunity to share Christ and invest and pour into these girls through teaching and mentoring. I know I will learn so much from them too:)
I doubt anyone has made it this far in my post, but if you have, hats off to you! This is what happens when you only blog four times in 6 weeks. Whoops! Thank you all for your love, support and prayers. I have experienced firsthand that they have made all the difference! I covet your prayers--please continue to remember me in your prayers as you are able, and I will do the same for you! Please also pray that the fruit the Lord allowed me to see in Namibia would be LASTING! I have been so humbled that the Lord would choose to use me at all in these various corners of His vineyard (Namibia, Columbia, etc.) for His glory. What an honor to co-labor with Him!
I will leave you with these lyrics (this song was at the top of my Africa playlist):
All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide
You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to your heart
And surely your goodness and mercy will follow me
All the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood
And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This is my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way
All the way my Savior leads me
All the way my Savior leads me
He is worth it. He is worthy. He is my King, and I love Him. Hand and hand we will continue to journey together:)
For His Glory and in Response to His Love,
Steph
https://picasaweb.google.com/100039614502435865127/NamibiaJuly2013?authkey=Gv1sRgCI2Y0rSZlsC_Vg
My journey back was much smoother than my journey there, and I actually had a bit of downtown in the airports in Johannesburg and New York City (JFK). On my longest flight (about 16 hours from South Africa to New York), I sat between two African young women my age, which was a blast! The one was an Angolan who worked for an oil company in Angola but who had spent many years of her life in Namibia and was traveling to the States for the first time for vacation with her sisters, and the other was from Burundi and was a college student in the U.S. They were both believers, and we had some great conversations about missions, ministry, cultural differences, etc. and we laughed alot:) The girl from Angola had actually worked with the Navigators earlier in her life, and had interacted with a number of Western missionaries in Namibia over the years, so it was really interesting and helpful to hear her perspective. I had trouble sleeping, so other than 2-3 hours of catnapping, I watched movies, listened to music and read (I'm in the middle of The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer and loving it!). Seems I don't have much time for movies these days, so I took advantage of the opportunity to get caught up:) I would highly recommend the movie "We Bought a Zoo," if you haven't already seen it!
My last two days in Arandis at the end of July were incredibly memorable! Lots of pictures were taken, videos recorded, and "see you soons" said:) I wanted to remember everyone's voices! I received a huge stack of handmade cards from the 1-3 graders, and they performed the song I taught them, called "Stop, Let Me Tell you!" (complete with the motions!) The lyrics go like this:
Stop, and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me!
Stop, and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me!
He forgave my sin and He cleansed my soul
He saved my heart and He made me whole
Stop, and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me!
Such solid Biblical truth, right?! This is actually a favorite at my home church here in Columbia in the children's ministry as well, so I can't wait to show the kids this video! I was so moved by how the Lord gave them such a love for this song--it wasn't something that I pushed or forced at all, they just took it and ran with it :) I was so privileged and humbled to play a small role at Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy for a short time. It was life-changing and I will never forget the faces of all the children I worked with, or the teachers and staff:) My parting message to them was the words of the apostle Paul, which we see in Philippians 1:3-6:
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He would began a good work in your will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
The Lord gave me a creative idea about how to leave well. I believe He has given me the gift of encouragement, and I wanted to leave something concrete with each special person that He had allowed me to connect with and journey with while I was in Arandis. He allowed me to think ahead and plan and take an individual picture with each of them and get them printed in Swakopmund with a couple days to spare. Then, I wrote a message on the back of each photo, as well as a Bible verse. The Lord gave me specific words of encouragement for each person. I think I wrote on the back of close to 50 photos! I wanted the messages to be specific to each person, and I wanted them to know that they are significant and loved. Many of them don't have many pictures of themselves, and many people who come to volunteer tend to take lots of pictures on their cameras but then leave without printing and handing out any of the pictures:( I pray and trust that the Lord will use His words written by my hand to encourage His children in Arandis whenever they look at their photo and read the message on the back:)
I will never forget my last night in Arandis. My host family cooked a delicious meal for me (lasagna!) and we made chocolate peanut butter bars for dessert, which is quite a treat because chocolate and peanut butter are not cheap! They gave me a beautiful pair of earrings and two beautiful handmade cards that touched me deeply. Then, we all brought our mattresses into the living room and watched "The God Must Be Crazy." I can't believe I have never see that movie before! My brothers used to talk about it all the time, about how hysterical it was, and now I can agree! It was so fitting to watch it while in Namibia, because there are Bushmen here. Anyway, then we had an epic sleepover! I must admit, I slept terribly (Ashley, my 6 year old host sister, apparently swings her arms wildly in her sleep) but that just made it all the more memorable:)
After many "see you soons" rather than goodbyes and prayers at school and at the homes of each of the foster families and the other missionaries, I left for Windhoek, the capital, on Wednesday, July 31st in the afternoon. It was about a 3 hour bus ride. I only cried once in all of the goodbyes, when I was reading my letter to my host family. And it wasn't out of sadness, but out of profound thankfulness for what the Lord had done. I was beyond blessed to have been able to be a part of their family for those short 3 weeks. It was not something that I had expected or planned, and the Lord blessed me immensely through the experience, beyond words can really describe.
The very next day, August 1st, my dear friend from Zambia, Lindiwe, arrived in Windhoek to spend the next 4 days with me! She traveled almost a day by bus to come, and I was so touched and thankful! Her bus arrived 3 hours late (in typical African fashion), but she arrived in one piece, thank the Lord:) There are not enough words to describe how sweet of a time the Lord allowed us to have. I am beyond thankful that He allowed us to see each other again. He is SO good! We exchanged gifts. We were able to catch up on the past two years and our friends and families. We talked about missions, ministry, cultural differences, etc. We had devotional time together each morning and prayed alot together. We listened to music, we watched movies. We laughed, we told stories. We went shopping, we toured downtown, we crashed some rooftop five star hotel pools, we picnicked in the park, we got our exercise walking everywhere. We cooked Zambian food. We had coffee at a cafe. We got Lindiwe's ears pierced. We made new friends. We saw the Lord bless us and provide for us financially in multiple ways. We were able to encourage one another and carry each other's burdens. We also had the privilege of meeting Marco, a Namibian university student living at the missionary guesthouse where we stayed. He helped to run the guesthouse, and showed us all around the city! He was a wonderful host and took such great care of us. The Lord allowed us to be blessed by him and bless him in return, and we were so thankful for that privilege. On our last day together, Lindiwe, Marco and I went on a game drive at a lodge about 30 minutes outside of Windhoek. Neither one of them had every been on a game drive, and it was my pleasure to help them experience one for the first time! We saw lots of different types of animals, my favorite being the white rhino!
Leaving Namibia was different than Zambia. When I left Zambia in July of 2011, I really had no idea if I would ever return, if I would ever see my new Zambian friends and family again. However, leaving Namibia, I just have the sense that it won't be my last time seeing my new Namibian family and friends. Many of them only wanted to say "see you soon, Lord willing," as I did:) I don't know what lies ahead or if the Lord will call me to serve again specifically with Children of Promise Ministries or more generally in Namibia or another southern African country, but I do know this: God has given me His love for these people. I love this country, and the Lord has shown and confirmed to me that I have been used by Him in this place through the relationships He allowed me to form. I guess it's only human to wonder at the end of an experience like this if your presence has had any real, substantial, eternal impact. The Lord was so good to encourage and affirm me in various ways through the words of others I served alongside of, and through a number of different interactions I had. He has shown me that He has gifted me in teaching His word and in encouraging and connecting easily with others, across cultural barriers. And I don't say this pridefully, please believe me. I say this because I believe it is crucial for each believer to discover the ways in which the Lord has gifted them, so that they can further develop these giftings and serve in ways that they can be used most effectively by Him. I am truly humbled that my God would use me at all.
He has also confirmed that He has given me a passion for discipleship, for teaching His word, for equipping local believers to carry out this work. They are the ones who can best reach their own people. While I loved my time teaching the first and second graders at the school, my absolute favorite part of my time in Arandis (besides my host family) was my time with the teen girls and foster moms in the ministry, both in the bible study and just in everyday life. I loved journeying with them and coming alongside them. It's funny, because I said a long time ago that I would never work with youth. Kids, absolutely, but teens?! Yikes! They used to scare me, and the idea of say teaching in a middle or high school terrified me. Pathetic I know, but true. Hand me a screaming baby or toddler and I'm fine, but teens?! It's crazy how the Lord changes our heart and our desires to line up with His heart and His desires. He allowed me to connect with those girls, those moms, in ways that I never would have expected. And a huge part of the population in Namibia and the rest of southern Africa are young people. I did work with alot of young people in Zambia too, and maybe that's where it all started. Anyway, the Lord is up to something. Even since I have been back here in Columbia, He has opened the door for me to partner with a crisis pregnancy center downtown that goes into a low income housing community every week to teach life skills, the Word, and mentor the teen girls living there. I am excited about the opportunity to share Christ and invest and pour into these girls through teaching and mentoring. I know I will learn so much from them too:)
I doubt anyone has made it this far in my post, but if you have, hats off to you! This is what happens when you only blog four times in 6 weeks. Whoops! Thank you all for your love, support and prayers. I have experienced firsthand that they have made all the difference! I covet your prayers--please continue to remember me in your prayers as you are able, and I will do the same for you! Please also pray that the fruit the Lord allowed me to see in Namibia would be LASTING! I have been so humbled that the Lord would choose to use me at all in these various corners of His vineyard (Namibia, Columbia, etc.) for His glory. What an honor to co-labor with Him!
I will leave you with these lyrics (this song was at the top of my Africa playlist):
All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide
You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to your heart
And surely your goodness and mercy will follow me
All the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood
And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This is my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way
All the way my Savior leads me
All the way my Savior leads me
He is worth it. He is worthy. He is my King, and I love Him. Hand and hand we will continue to journey together:)
For His Glory and in Response to His Love,
Steph
https://picasaweb.google.com/100039614502435865127/NamibiaJuly2013?authkey=Gv1sRgCI2Y0rSZlsC_Vg
Monday, July 29, 2013
My Heart is Full
Only 2 days left here in Arandis! I can’t believe it. Over the past two weeks, this is what I’ve been
up to:
-A team of 15 (mostly teens and then 4 leaders) from
Minnesota was here two weeks ago for one week, and I enjoyed coming alongside
of them and encouraging them, particularly the girls/women on the team. I enjoyed sitting in on two different
fellowship nights the girls/ladies on the team had for the teen girls in the
ministry. One night the theme was our
stories/testimonies and the other night was about purity in relationships. It was a blessing to be able to share from my
experience and just help out with whatever was needed, including helping to
lead a small group.
-I’ve been continuing to teach first grade in the
mornings. The past couple of weeks have
been a combination of me lead teaching in first grade as well as me serving in
a supporting role in both first grade and second grade. It has been such an incredible learning
experience, and I have really enjoyed working alongside the Namibian teachers,
as well as Ms. Nan, the missionary from the States who is the principal of the
school and the first grade teacher. The
kids have definitely given me a run for my money in terms of discipline, and I’ve
had to learn to stop smiling and laughing, even a little, in order for them to
take me seriouslyJ I have enjoyed every minute with them though,
and even though the days have been tiring, they have been incredibly
fulfilling.
-In the afternoons, I’ve continued to visit the
ministry foster homes and help out the kids with whatever I can—tutoring,
helping them study for their tests, encouraging them, praying with them,
sharing Scripture and music and pictures with them, playing games/sports with
them. I have loved this part of my time
here!
-I participated in a prayer walk around town here one
night a few weeks ago with the team that was here from Minnesota, as well as
with members of the local church here and the pastor and his family. It was a powerful experience. The town of Arandis needs to come to know the
Lord so desperately—there is so much alcohol abuse, drug use and corruption and
there are few job opportunities and so many broken families. It was a privilege to pray alongside local
believers for God’s hand of salvation and mercy to come upon this town and
bring healing and restoration.
-Last Saturday I went for a walk in the desert
with my host family, and we were able to find some beautiful rocks for me to
take back home for friends and familyJ
On Sunday we had a braii for lunch (something Namibians LOVE to do!)-we grilled
chicken and sausage, as well as sweet bread rolls, and even had potato
salad. It was delicious! The meal took two hours to prepare, but only
15 minutes to eat it…yum yum!
-I have led the second and third bible study in
the series I am doing here with the teen girls and foster moms in the ministry,
called Search for Significance. The
series is all about how to find your identity in Christ ALONE. Two weeks ago we talked about the Performance
Trap (the lie that we have to perform a certain way in order to be loved/accepted
by God) and last week we talked about the Approval Addict (the lie that we have
to meet the expectations of certain people in order to be loved/accepted by God). Between 15 and 30 people have shown up, and
it has been such an encouraging time for everyone. The part I have loved most about the study is
that we get into the Word together and look at what the Lord says about who we
all are in Christ, as believers, and talk about how to apply these truths to
our lives and change the way we think about ourselves, for the better, with the
Lord’s help. I can see that this study
hits home in the lives of all those who have been attending (including myself),
and I praise the Lord for that. I am so
thankful for the opportunity to teach his Word and encourage others. It has been so humbling, and such a privilege
and a joy.
-I have immensely enjoyed my time with my Namibian
host family! The Lord has knit my host
mom Beulla and I very closely these past two weeks, and we have been able to
share each other’s burdens and pray for and encourage and bless one
another. It has been a blessing and a
privilege, and my heart is so full. This
past week we were able to work through some of the Shepherding a Child’s Heart
material that I brought along, and that was wonderful. I have fallen in love with my 6 host sisters
(as I knew I would), and I will miss them all so much when I leave for Windhoek
this Wednesday.
-I had the flu last week and had to miss school
for two days. The only lingering thing
left from it is a cough I still have that is getting better each day. Thankful for the Lord’s healing!
-This past weekend I had the awesome opportunity to
travel north five hours to Etosha National Park with two Namibians and five
other Americans. We left Arandis on
Friday late morning and arrived back in Arandis late Saturday night. It was a full day and a half! We stayed at an beautiful lodge
run by a wonderful Christian family from Namibia, and they had their own
cheetahs! It was so neat to watch them
get fed at sunset. All day Saturday we
drove on our own through the park, seeing tons of zebras, giraffes, spring box
and ostrich, as well as a few wildebeest, oryx, impala, kudu, different types
of birds, 3 elephants, etc. The watering holes were the jackpot! On our drive to the park on Friday afternoon,
we saw tons of wharthogs (which we joked had all escaped from the park) and a
few sheep, goats, and cattle. I had hoped we would see a rhino (which are quite
rare because they’ve been hunted so much) and a few lions, but we didn’t. Lions apparently only come out at night and they
rest in the bush during the day. How
lazy! J
-This past Sunday for lunch I made a Zambian meal
for my Namibian host family! We had Tonga chicken, nshima, beans, and a tomato
and onion sauce. It turned out better
than I expected and my family raved about itJ
We had a family photo shoot after lunch, which was a ton of fun. My host sisters have big exams coming up the
next few weeks, so we all rested and in the evening I helped them study, and
afterwards, we had some girl time and a dance party with glow sticks in the
street and in our backyard, with the beautiful African sky under us. It was a night I will never forgetJ
I leave for Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, this
Wednesday July 31st (about a 4 hour drive), and will be there until
the following Monday August 5th, when I will be flying back home to
the States. A very good Zambian friend
of mine is taking the bus from Zambia to meet me in Windhoek, where we will
spend a few days together. I am so
excited! I haven’t seen here in 2 years! Please be praying that we would be able to
encourage one another and point each other to Christ at all times. Thanks!
My heart is full. I love these people, and I love this place. God is so good.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Streams in the Desert
Wow, what a past week and a half it has been! I have only been here in Arandis for 2 1/2
weeks, but it feels like so much longer than that (in a good way)! The east winds have been cool and strong in
the mornings, but the air is warm here in the desert during the day as the sun
rises high in the sky, and I am thankful for that! The nights get rather cold, but that is what
a sleeping bag is forJ Flexibility is the name of the game here in
Africa, as things change all the time and you just have to roll with it. As they say, “this is Africa!” This has definitely applied to my living
situation here over the past week. Due
to unforeseen circumstances, I had to temporarily move into the house of one of
the long-term missionaries here at the beginning of last week, staying with 4
other Westerners. However, earlier this
week I moved in with a Namibian family for my last two and a half weeks
here. So 3 moves in 2 ½ weeks--it’s safe
to say I have had packing fatigue… I didn’t even fold my clothes to put them in
my bag for this last move haha.
But…I am so happy to be staying with a local
family! I have had two other host family
experiences in the past, for 5 months in Ecuador and for a year in Zambia, and
I just love and appreciate getting to do life with local people. It is in the home that a foreigner begins to
understand the different layers of a culture, and relationships and trust can
be built. Over the past couple of weeks,
I have already been getting to know the family I am staying with now, and I
didn’t even know that I would have the chance to stay with them! There is a husband and a wife (Unce Frank and
Auntie Buella), and they have two of their own children and four foster
children, all girls between the ages of kindergarten and around age 20; they are
one of the foster families in the ministry.
The girls’ names are Buezetta, Zandria, Chandre, Nanysha, Zuelery and
Ashley. I hope and pray the Lord will
use me to come alongside of them and encourage them, point them to Christ at
all times, and pour into them as much as I can and in whatever ways I can. I am so thankful for this opportunity—I had
no idea the Lord would give me this blessing!
Last week was full but fulfilling. My mornings were spent in the first grade
classroom. Man, those 11 munchkins are a
handful, but are they ever adorable!
Amor, Karere, Consultis, Katalina, Lissa, Brandon, Phenni, Eunice,
Kananjo and Innocent keep me busy and on my toes, but they want to learn and do
wellJ Keeping them focused and on task has been
challenging, but we are working on that.
They keep me laughing for sure! I
shadowed Ms. Nan, the regular first grade teacher, who is a missionary from the
States and also the principal of the school, Monday through Wednesday, and then
on Thursday and Friday I was on my own, with Ms. Maria, the Namibian teaching
assistant, coming and going and helping out as she was able to. I am learning so much (as I am not a
certified teacher nor do I have an extensive professional teaching background
in the States). I believe the Lord is
equipping me and giving me the strength, wisdom and patience and peace that I
need daily! Please continue praying to
that end.
My afternoons have been rich in relationships, as
I spend every afternoon with older kids in the ministry, tutoring them at their
homes and playing outside on the streets with them. I think I may have pulled a muscle in my leg
last week while playing soccer with them…whoops! Guess I need to stretch moreL Two Sundays ago I taught the basics of volleyball
to about 20 kids, as well as one of the host mommies. We had such a good time! It’s exciting to see them willing to try
something new, and improve as they work hardJ
The first Bible study I did last Friday with the
teen girls and foster mommies in the ministry was fruitful! More than I expected showed up (15 girls!),
as well as two of the foster mommies. I
introduced the theme for the Bible study, the search for significance—finding
our identity in Christ alone. I am using
an outline I made from the book Search for Significance by Robert McGee. The group was a bit shy, and the style was
more of me teaching and asking the whole group questions, to help lay the
foundation for the rest of the study in the coming weeks. I shared Scripture and we listened to a few
really powerful songs relating to the topicJ We will meet this coming Friday afternoon
again, and I hope to be able to draw them out a bit more by breaking them up
into smaller groups and having them reflect and share with one another about
this week’s topic—avoiding the trap of trying to find your worth in how you
perform. Please be praying for wisdom
for me, as well as soft, receptive hearts.
And wow, what a day we all had in Swakopmund this
past Saturday! Swakopmund is the closest
city to Arandis, about 30 minutes by car.
It is a beautiful coastal city that has a strong German influence. There is a church there, called Shofar
church, that started an outreach ministry with Children of Promise ministries (the
ministry I am serving with here) awhile back.
Every month, they organize a fun trip/outing for all of the ministry
children, foster mommies, volunteers and missionaries. On Saturday, they came to pick us all up and
took us into Swakopmund for the day. We
went to the aquarium, as well as to Spur (a nice “Western style” restaurant
with burgers and French fries and ice cream), and then back to their church to
watch an inspirational movie called “The Letter Writer.” It was beautiful and moving, and there wasn’t
a dry eye in the room. The themes of the
movie were forgiveness, the power of our words, using our gifts to bless
others, etc. I was impressed with Shofar
church-they are the only church in the area doing anything for those in need in
their own community. They are showing
these children that they are valuable and important! Praise God!
I had yet another marriage proposal the other day
walking home from school. It was from a
Namibian constructor worker from the top of a roof he was working on. He called to me, “Miss, you are
beautiful. Marry me! I LOOOOVE YOU!” I said back to him, “But how can you love me
when you don’t even know me?” And he
replied, “Oh miss, don’t worry…you will come to love me!” I just had to laugh. From 5 year old boys to grown men, I have had
quite the array of proposals, both here in Arandis on this trip and in other
parts of southern Africa in the past.
Now though, when the kids at school come up and give me a giant hug and
tell me that I look beautiful every day, that touches my heart, and I can take
that a bit more seriously than those silly proposals from strangersJ
I have been enjoying all the walking I have been
doing, as well as the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets here. The African sky at night is just
breathtaking. Everything is so clear,
and the stars feel so close. It’s like
you can reach out and touch the Milky Way.
Man, how I’ve missed it!
One last thought--I love how water is used
throughout the Bible to represent life--eternal, abundant life. This is my prayer for Arandis and for the
rest of Namibia, for the hearts of all those who need the waters of eternal
life to quench their parched souls. May
they be satisfied by the Father’s steadfast love!
“The
wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom
like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and
singing…for waters break forth in the wilderness; and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of
water…” Isaiah 35:1-2,6-7
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Adding to the beauty
Wow--I can't believe I've been here in Arandis for a week now! As I sit here typing this, I hear children laughing and playing next door and in the street, dogs barking outside my window, and music blaring from a shebeen (bar) a street over. I've missed these sounds more than I realized (okay, maybe not the music blaring from the shebeen--it's been making it hard for me to fall asleep at night). But the children and the dogs? Yes:) Memories of my time in Zambia have come flooding back:) The Lord is so good to have allowed me to return to this beautiful continent. As I expected, there are definitely similarities, but there are also differences between my time in Zambia and other countries in southern Africa and my time here in Namibia so far. One of the most obvious ones would probably be that I am in the desert here in Arandis, and it is much colder than I expected it would be! Apparently, temperatures right now are lower than they typically are this time of year, so even the locals are shivering:)
By God's grace, the adjustment to life here has been smooth. I think the fact that I was able to call Zambia home for awhile back in 2010/2011 has helped, because I knew a bit better what to expect this time around. Definitely am still no expert, and will never be. I have loved getting to know the kids in the the ministry, as well as the foster mommies, other short-term volunteers, the long-term missionaries here, the Namibian teachers, those at the local church, and others around town. There are lots of names and faces to remember, but I'm working on it! Everything in Arandis is within a 15 minute walk, which I love, and I have enjoyed exploring:)
This past week, I helped out each morning in the second grade classroom at Talitha-Kumi Academy, the school that was founded and is run by the ministry I am serving with here, Children of Promise Ministries. Some days I was on my own, and other days I was the helper. The school is right down the road from where I am staying at the ministry center, so the 7:10 a.m. start time isn't quite as painful as it could be if I lived further from the school:)
The road I live on
I have been tutoring a few of the older kids in the afternoons at the school, and had the opportunity last Monday evening to attend a weekly prayer meeting held by the pastor of the local church here in town, who is Zambian! We did prayer a bit differently, all praying at one time! I thought that was just a Korean church thing, but I guess not:) On Wednesday, I was able to help out with a youth conference in town, and was able to pray with teen girls and encourage them and share with them from my own walk with Christ and life experience. So thankful for that opportunity!
So far, the Lord has blessed me with a number of opportunities just to encourage and pray with various individuals. It has been a privilege to co-labor with Him in His ministry here in Arandis, and the gift of His peace has been incredible this week. The following words have been impressed upon my heart by the Lord this week: encourage. point them back to me. point them to the truths in my word. embrace humility. let your gentleness be evident to all. observe. be prayful at all times. take the posture of a learner. let me infuse you with my joy and peace so that you can pour into those around you. you are my vessel, making known the riches of my mercies to everyone you interact with. give thanks at all times. i am with you. trust me. be flexible. laugh often. add to the beauty of this place.
This coming week, I will be helping out in the first grade classroom in the mornings, and then will be visiting the homes of a couple different foster families to help the older kids with their homework in the afternoons. I'm looking forward to the relationships the Lord will continue to allow me to form. On Friday, I hope to begin teaching the 5th-7th grades the basics of volleyball during gym class, to be continued over the weekends:)
Starting next Saturday morning, I also plan to help facilitate a parenting series for the foster parents in the ministry using the book Shepherding a Child's Heart, as well as a series on finding identity in Christ with the teen girls in the ministry (using The Search for Significance student edition book). I'm excited! It is so awesome to see how the Lord has equipped me for these opportunities over the past year as I've worked through these books at CIU and at church.
I will leave you with a couple of pictures from last weekend, when I was able to visit Moonscape, a mountainous region not far from Arandis, as well as the huge sand dunes right outside Swakopmund, a coastal city about 30 minutes by car from Arandis.
You can see the rest of my Namibia photo album on Picasa here: https://picasaweb.google.com/100039614502435865127/NamibiaJuly2013
"Blessed be the (wo)man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is in the LORD. He (she) is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:8). May this be true of me, Father, and may I be found in you!
Love from Arandis,
Steph
By God's grace, the adjustment to life here has been smooth. I think the fact that I was able to call Zambia home for awhile back in 2010/2011 has helped, because I knew a bit better what to expect this time around. Definitely am still no expert, and will never be. I have loved getting to know the kids in the the ministry, as well as the foster mommies, other short-term volunteers, the long-term missionaries here, the Namibian teachers, those at the local church, and others around town. There are lots of names and faces to remember, but I'm working on it! Everything in Arandis is within a 15 minute walk, which I love, and I have enjoyed exploring:)
This past week, I helped out each morning in the second grade classroom at Talitha-Kumi Academy, the school that was founded and is run by the ministry I am serving with here, Children of Promise Ministries. Some days I was on my own, and other days I was the helper. The school is right down the road from where I am staying at the ministry center, so the 7:10 a.m. start time isn't quite as painful as it could be if I lived further from the school:)
I have been tutoring a few of the older kids in the afternoons at the school, and had the opportunity last Monday evening to attend a weekly prayer meeting held by the pastor of the local church here in town, who is Zambian! We did prayer a bit differently, all praying at one time! I thought that was just a Korean church thing, but I guess not:) On Wednesday, I was able to help out with a youth conference in town, and was able to pray with teen girls and encourage them and share with them from my own walk with Christ and life experience. So thankful for that opportunity!
At the end of the youth conference with Estomitch and Annalisa
So far, the Lord has blessed me with a number of opportunities just to encourage and pray with various individuals. It has been a privilege to co-labor with Him in His ministry here in Arandis, and the gift of His peace has been incredible this week. The following words have been impressed upon my heart by the Lord this week: encourage. point them back to me. point them to the truths in my word. embrace humility. let your gentleness be evident to all. observe. be prayful at all times. take the posture of a learner. let me infuse you with my joy and peace so that you can pour into those around you. you are my vessel, making known the riches of my mercies to everyone you interact with. give thanks at all times. i am with you. trust me. be flexible. laugh often. add to the beauty of this place.
This coming week, I will be helping out in the first grade classroom in the mornings, and then will be visiting the homes of a couple different foster families to help the older kids with their homework in the afternoons. I'm looking forward to the relationships the Lord will continue to allow me to form. On Friday, I hope to begin teaching the 5th-7th grades the basics of volleyball during gym class, to be continued over the weekends:)
Starting next Saturday morning, I also plan to help facilitate a parenting series for the foster parents in the ministry using the book Shepherding a Child's Heart, as well as a series on finding identity in Christ with the teen girls in the ministry (using The Search for Significance student edition book). I'm excited! It is so awesome to see how the Lord has equipped me for these opportunities over the past year as I've worked through these books at CIU and at church.
I will leave you with a couple of pictures from last weekend, when I was able to visit Moonscape, a mountainous region not far from Arandis, as well as the huge sand dunes right outside Swakopmund, a coastal city about 30 minutes by car from Arandis.
You can see the rest of my Namibia photo album on Picasa here: https://picasaweb.google.com/100039614502435865127/NamibiaJuly2013
"Blessed be the (wo)man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is in the LORD. He (she) is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:8). May this be true of me, Father, and may I be found in you!
Love from Arandis,
Steph
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Establish the work of my hands!
As I sit here at my desk with my luggage sitting at the door, Namibia bound in just 12 hours, this is my prayer:
"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands." -Psalm 90:17
May I be found worthy of the calling I have received!
"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." -2 Thessalonians 1:11
I should be arriving in Arandis, my final stop, at around 11 am on Friday the 28th east coast US time (4 pm Namibia time, there is a 5 hour time difference). I will do my best to send out an email as soon as I can after I arrive, to let everyone know that I've arrived safely. One car, three planes, one bus and another car later, I should be in Arandis! Here we go:)
"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands." -Psalm 90:17
May I be found worthy of the calling I have received!
"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." -2 Thessalonians 1:11
I should be arriving in Arandis, my final stop, at around 11 am on Friday the 28th east coast US time (4 pm Namibia time, there is a 5 hour time difference). I will do my best to send out an email as soon as I can after I arrive, to let everyone know that I've arrived safely. One car, three planes, one bus and another car later, I should be in Arandis! Here we go:)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Homeward Bound
In exactly one week at this time, I will be driving to Charlotte, beginning my 30+ hour journey to Arandis, Namibia!
A couple of months ago, I found the song below on Pandora and couldn't get enough of it. I'm not one to spend much money on music, but I downloaded this song from Itunes immediately and added it my Namibia playlist. I think the reason I've enjoyed this song so much is because of how it stirs my affections for Christ and keeps me mindful of the true weight of his compelling love and sacrifice. It keeps me focused on eternity when the temporal all around me tries to suck me in, and it encourages my heart when I am weary. The true Christian walk is about perseverance, strengthening of character, becoming more like Christ himself (2 Cor 3:18). So I press on, with the love of Christ pushing me forward towards the things that bring him glory and holding me back from those things that don't, empowering me to live less and less for myself and more and more for him. Not only is he worth it, he is WORTHY!
This song, taken from 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, is my spiritual anthem as I take one step closer to home, in the earthly sense that Africa seems like my second home these days, but more deeply in the eternal sense, as I continue to journey with Christ , sojourning closer towards my everlasting home with each passing day.
If you have a few minutes, I hope you will listen to this song. I pray that the Lord would use it to speak to your heart in a powerful way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lYwaN5KdgM
Homeward Bound
by Kristine Mueller
I will run, I will run this race,
And I will do it all for love.
Your love compels me forward,
Your love controls my heart,
And I just can't, I cannot get away.
So I will fight this good fight of faith,
And I will do it all for love.
You are my great reward,
You're so worth fighting for
And I can't wait to see Your face.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
A couple of months ago, I found the song below on Pandora and couldn't get enough of it. I'm not one to spend much money on music, but I downloaded this song from Itunes immediately and added it my Namibia playlist. I think the reason I've enjoyed this song so much is because of how it stirs my affections for Christ and keeps me mindful of the true weight of his compelling love and sacrifice. It keeps me focused on eternity when the temporal all around me tries to suck me in, and it encourages my heart when I am weary. The true Christian walk is about perseverance, strengthening of character, becoming more like Christ himself (2 Cor 3:18). So I press on, with the love of Christ pushing me forward towards the things that bring him glory and holding me back from those things that don't, empowering me to live less and less for myself and more and more for him. Not only is he worth it, he is WORTHY!
This song, taken from 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, is my spiritual anthem as I take one step closer to home, in the earthly sense that Africa seems like my second home these days, but more deeply in the eternal sense, as I continue to journey with Christ , sojourning closer towards my everlasting home with each passing day.
If you have a few minutes, I hope you will listen to this song. I pray that the Lord would use it to speak to your heart in a powerful way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lYwaN5KdgM
Homeward Bound
by Kristine Mueller
I will run, I will run this race,
And I will do it all for love.
Your love compels me forward,
Your love controls my heart,
And I just can't, I cannot get away.
So I will fight this good fight of faith,
And I will do it all for love.
You are my great reward,
You're so worth fighting for
And I can't wait to see Your face.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
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