Thank you all for your patience as I post this journal. My trip to South Africa was so amazing; I do not know if this will even tell the story of all that the Lord accomplished in me and through me. I pray I can convey it all.

A breathtaking winery in the mountains of Gordon’s Bay.

The landscape is breathtaking. Views of the mountains and the bay are awe-inspiring. I never tired of seeing it.

At first, things were off to a rough start as eight students could not come due to passport and visa issues. Further, I got sick the first week and lost my voice. Thankfully, I recovered well, though we missed the students who did not come.

Once over the jetlag and illness, the trip was paradoxically amazing and heartwrenching. Every person I met was just a pleasure to know and love. Each meeting felt like I was meeting a person from my extended family. Their hearts are warm, and their eyes are aflame with the love of Christ. The students were motivated and excited about learning. As an instructor, I spent a lot of time with them.

The students of Covenant College and one of the co-instructors.

All of the students, both from Zimbabwe and Zambia, were hungry for a move of God and were like sponges, learning everything they could about the ministry gifts they steward. We have forged lifelong relationships. Some of the younger ones call me "mum." My heart will never be the same!

If I could describe the students in just a few words, I say joyful, loving, and resilient. The first day they arrived, traveling a two-day journey, the main powerline to the farm was stolen during the loadshedding time! Yes, I said stolen. Loadshedding is when the government shuts off the power in your area for two to four hours a day randomly. Everybody deals with it. The wealthy have generators. The farm where the church and school meet does have a generator that is currently inoperative. Therefore, the students were unable to shower while traveling, and now no power on campus for two days. At the farm, that means no running water, including flushing toilets. These Godly people prayed, thanked God, adjusted, and did not complain. I was convicted by their Godly contentment. I learned so much from them.

"I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every [circumstance], I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:12-13 NASB20

When I wasn't teaching, I ministered at the local church and visited some places in the community and a nearby city. Every experience changed my heart in ways that are not fully realized.

The garden outside of the school with one of the employees who help the children learn to garden.

I visited a township school with grades K through 6, a preschool, and a nearby city. The teacher-to-student ratio at the school is 1 to 45. Yes, you read that correctly. The teachers have no aids or assistants. They are stressed but manage amazingly well. There is one counselor between the two schools that can give the teachers a break when he is able. Many of the children suffer from some survival challenge at home, hunger, homelessness, abuse, or a combination. Again in the bleakest of circumstances, they find hope. I cannot tell you how many times I heard how thankful they were that we would come and take the time to see them and pray for them. There is hope in realizing you are seen during a time of struggle. Though I had no answers to solve the complex challenges they face, they found hope in our commitment to visit and continue in prayers with them for solutions.

Emily is to my left, the teachers and students of Emily’s Preschool.

The preschool teacher-to-student ratio was better. Yet, the building needed many repairs and had an electric fence for protection. Again, the staff is so loving to the children, even while experiencing their own personal hurts and challenges. As we ministered to the teachers and the Director there, my heart cried, and I was filled with hope at the same time.

The Director's name is Emily, and she has quite a story. She is a single mother and testifies many days she comes to work early to pray for the needs of the preschool. There are days when she has no food to feed the children and no money to buy it. She understands that if she cannot give the children a meal, some will go hungry that day. She says in those times, she prays and trusts God to meet their need. Often she opens the door after she has prayed to see a bag of groceries left by someone. Emily lives by faith to maintain her preschool and care for the teachers and children. Her story fueled my hope in God and commitment to do whatever I can to help.

No matter the struggle, these people love God with all their hearts.

After the women’s conference. The women to my left is a small business owner, the one to my right was on of the speakers at the conference.

At the local church, I ministered at a women's conference. I shared about identity, distinguishing who you are from your circumstance and struggle. We answered the questions; who are you, whose are you, and where do you live? We had a powerful time!

Many ladies at the conference are small business owners or aspiring to be business owners. During the conference, they had a speaker come and teach them about budgeting, and another about monitoring their health. They received ministry to their total person; spirit, soul, and body.

After the women’s conference in Atlantis. Hester is to my left.

The final visit outside teaching at the bible college was to another group of ladies in the city of Atlantis. You can read about the heartwrenching history of this city here. At this conference, I ministered to them about affliction. Unbeknownst to me, these ladies deal with many struggles. Just before I got up to speak, we prayed for a lady who needed a move of God in her life. And after the conference, I found out about some of the many challenges they face in their neighborhoods.

What was so heartwarming about Atlantis was their servant leader there, Hester. She is the pastor of their church. I would call her the pastor of the community. As we waited for our ride home after the service, we had the opportunity to walk around the local markets. Every place we went, people knew Hester. They greeted her with honor and respect asking for her prayers, or she would ask about their families and how she could pray for them. It was such a blessing to see! I wondered would our pastors walk the streets like this and just be with the people, love on them, and pray for them. I know Jesus would because He did. Well, so does Hester!

So while I was in South Africa, there was a potential uprising. There was a man who was calling for the President to resign and organized a countrywide strike with the motive of shutting down the government. Though he called for peaceful protests there was concern of vandalism and violence in the streets. When we arrived at the campus that morning, the students wanted to pray about the protest. Their testimony was they came to school for peaceful learning and wanted the country to remain peaceful. So for the first half hour of class, we prayed. I also sent word to my prayer partners here in the States to pray with us. After about an hour, it began to rain like a monsoon! The students were rejoicing saying, "No one will protest in this!" I confirmed that kind of heavy rain was unusual in South Africa. The local pastor said he had never seen rain like that. It lasted for over an hour. Further, the main public transportation decided to cease operation for the day. Between the two, there was no protest, no government shutdown. All was peaceful! Praise God! The students were excited to see the hand of God move on their behalf in such a mighty way! It fueled their faith even more.

Well, after over 1400 words, the facts are written. Yet, my heart is bearly conveyed. I still lay awake at night processing everything I saw and learned. I saw God move in the hearts of people in amazing ways. I saw the hand of God stop a governmental uprising. I saw people constantly challenged with struggle live life with contentment. I saw such tremendous potential and hope. I saw both heartache and heart passion for God.

I will never be the same. Ever.

Thank you so much for your love, care, and support. I could not have done this without all of you.

My Journey to south africa

REACH OUT!

My Journey to south africa

Gratitude

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