“You are at Home"

Once again, there are many thoughts running through my mind as I write this. One thing I have realized about this place/experience is that it makes me think constantly!!! I don’t think there is a moment that goes by that I am not thinking about something, whether it’s about an experience, a conversation, a book, etc. It’s great though as I am learning so much…about God, myself, those in my community, how to live in a community itself, and what is means to be a Christian. I must admit…these are not always easy things!

However, I still live in the peace that this is 100% where God wants me right now. We are not promised easy times throughout our walk as a Christian, in fact, the Bible plainly tells us that we will have troubles… "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) This is just one of the many times we are told that we will have pain, struggles, or troubles. But, we can take heart…Jesus has overcome the world! We can live with a sense of peace because we know that God is in control, “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)…but that doesn’t always mean it will be easy. All that to say…even if things are tough here at times, I can find peace in knowing that I am following God and that He has my best interests at heart. I say all that, but things aren’t bad right now. They are really good!!! They are just challenging and tough mentally and spiritually at times…which is a good thing.

Random tangent but I wanted to express again how amazing this experience has really been so far. This is a place where I have been stretched, grown, challenged, and taught. This is a place where I have been loved. This is a place where I am allowed to think, learn, and ask questions. This is a place where I can serve others and be served. This is a place where we are poured into while pouring into our community. NieuCommunities is a hard thing to explain to others. You can’t fully understand this amazing experience until you experience it firsthand. I wanted to take a minute to thank you again for journeying with me. I am so very blessed by God to have such an amazing network of family and friends who support me the way you all do. God has created us for community and I feel the awesomeness of that to the fullest extent…both at home and here. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!

Lastly…we had an amazing experience in the township this past week and at the same time have been reading a book called “Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne. This is a book that really makes you think. It brings up the issue of “living with the poor”. More than anything, this book makes you think and ask yourself very tough questions. I don’t think it speaks to everyone in the same way and we can all learn/hear very different things from it. We are learning that through our book discussions. What we have been asking ourselves is…Who are the poor? There are times when we assume people to be poor who really aren’t poor. They might look like they are by our higher standards, but they might live “richer” lives than we ever will. Maybe the “poor” are those around you in nice houses but have no friends and live very lonely, lost lives. So…who are the poor to you?

Living with my “family” in the township opened my eyes to what poor isn’t. I lived with Emily and Solomon and their 3 daughters, Pretty-16, Precious-8, and Nunghile-almost 4. By the way…they gave me a new African name, Matshidiso, which means welcome. It was great! Their youngest daughter always referred to me by that name which was awesome! (She didn’t speak English besides the occasional American songs she would sing along with!)

This family of 5 lives in a cement house (as compared to the tin shacks around them) that is about the size of a small 2 bedroom apartment in the US. They live on one income and worry about what they will do with their daughter’s education when she graduates from high school next year. (Know anyone like that where you are living??? Yep…me too!) Emily would love a job but can’t find one. Unemployment is a big issue for them. But, they are so happy! They are a great family and have wonderful values. They have a roof over their heads, clothes, food and most importantly, love! If you walked up to their house you would assume they are a poor, impoverished family. But, they aren’t. They have so much and are extremely giving. I was blown away by how “at home” I felt. It was so important to Emily that I feel that way. She kept telling me, “You are at home!” However, even though I know the Emily and Solomon aren’t “poor”, how do I deal with the extreme disparities between the poor, middle and upper classes that exists in this country…and all over? So tough!

See…this place really does keep me thinking…constantly!!! Are you thinking now? I hope so!

Submerging...Drakensberg..Homesickness

A cool quote from Henri Nouwen to start out the update: "But from above, in the eyes of God, sorrow and joy are never separated. Where there is pain, there is also healing. Where this is mourning, there is dancing. Where there is poverty, there is the Kingdom." Just something to ponder on. :)

Another 2 weeks of greatness...well, almost. :) There were a few downer moments throughout these two weeks but overall it was a good time.

We started our Submerging Posture this week. We have been trying to submerge into culture the whole time we have been here, but these next 6 weeks will be much more intentional. Next week, April 8-10th, we will be living in the nearby township Soshanguve. All of us will be put with a family that lives near some of our friends there. It will be a very interesting time of truly diving into culture...but we have heard it's very hard for the families not to treat us as guests. We'll see how that goes! I will definitely update you on that time in my next update as I don't even know what to say about it just yet. :) Prayers would be welcomed though: that I have an open mind, heart, and spirit throughout my stay. In the following weeks we will do another submerging experience but we have yet to know all that will be entailed, except for that it will be something we personally arrange. The rest of this posture is filled with other submerging cultural experiences: soccer games, plays, concerts, hanging out with local friends or in local places, watching/reading the news, etc. It should be a great time of getting to know our surroundings on a much deeper level than we already do, which is important when your are hoping to impact a people group/community.

In the next weeks I am hoping to get a set schedule working at the Lerato House. Sometimes it is difficult to get things going with local ministries, so Laura and I are needing to have some persistence right now. But, we are being patient in trusting that God is in control. I am also looking into getting more involved with human-trafficking beyond what the Lerato House does. I am really excited about that. I am even planning a Friday night worship for my group that will have a "Not for Sale" theme. This is a group I heard about in the Fall of 2006 at my local church. They are heavily involved with the human-trafficking/abolitionist movement in the US and internationally. Click here to learn more about them. It's pretty awesome!

In the last week I have felt a bit homesick...which has been the downside. I really do miss my family a ton! We learned, early on, about some of the symptoms of homesickness, but I had yet to really experience them. This week they began to sink in. I didn't really feel like hanging out much with everyone and wanted to just hang out in my room...and watch DVDs on my laptop. :) I love the people I am with tremendously and feel extremely blessed that it has worked out so well with that. But, sometimes there's nothing like home. Though I know this time will pass I would greatly appreciate your prayers. "When you know yourself to be the beloved, and when you have friends around you with whom you live in community, you can do anything." Henri Nouwen I love this quote and am clinging to that right now. I definitely feel loved by God, my friends here, and my family and friends back home. Because of that...I have the strength to stick it out through the tough times.

Lastly, we took a trip to the Drakensberg March 27-30th. At the end of each posture we have a weekend of reflection and/or travel. It was great to get away and see a new part of South Africa. The Drakensberg are amazing!!! We hiked through a part called Giants Castle and I couldn't believe my eyes! I felt like we had found a secret place that no one else had been to. (It helped that we were the only ones out there at that time!) It looked straight out of The Lord of the Rings. We didn't want to leave! I will put a few pictures here but I am going to set up an online photo album soon so that I can share more of them. Truly amazing! It was also just a good time of hanging out with all the apprentices away from our normal life/routine.

Current reading:
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Thanks so much for keeping up with me, praying for me, encouraging me, and being excited for me. I continue to be amazed at the number of people God has put into my life that can show me love and support. It's a great feeling!

Much love and prayers to all!

manda :)