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 :)
2 comments:
Hey there, Amanda. Saw the pics. Nice pad. Beautiful color scheme in the bathroom. ;o) The Draks look really beautiful too. Lush. And GREEN! :o)
Sorry to hear you've had a bit of homesickness lately. That's understandable. You're wise to remember that it will pass. :o)
Sounds like fun times playing soccer and submerging yourself in some of the other cultural activities. I think you should submerge yourself in the coffee-shop culture...with a book, of course...and maybe some of that Roiboos tea! :o)
Have a happy day. You're in my prayers! :o) Matt
Glad you're enjoying being here ("Drakensberg Delight"!!! haha) - and homesickness is fine, as long as you feel free to ask for a hug any time :)
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