Faith

  We are here, and all of us passed "Bootcamp"! Oh my gosh you guys if I sat and told you everything that has happened you would be here for a while! I am only going to sum it all up in three words. I am learning. Every day God is showing me something, but what has stuck out the most was the lack of faith I have. The people here have mustard seed at least, and if they have that, how little is mine? I finally figured it out, the reason I have so little. The society I am in, I don't exercise faith back home because I DON'T NEED IT!! I have everything I  need, if I don't, I go and get it. When Jesus says "It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God", growing up I always thought it was he because he didn't want to part with his possessions, and yes thats apart of it. But the rich man doesn't have much faith because, he doesn't need it. He has everything, he doesn't have to depend on God. Here you do. Someone told me once, "once you go to Africa, it gets into your skin, you get hooked", it's so true.

  Our plane ride was safe, long, but very encouraging. We met so many missionaries on the way and in the plane, two traveled with us all the way. One of them was a life savor, we were told the wrong gate, and she went to look on the screen and it was totally the opposite. I am going to say this again........it was LOOOOOOONG! But movies and giddy team mates were a God send. The food was interesting.

   I am so blessed to have the team mates I do. We have all been amazed, at how we are hand picked to be here. It's been proven so many times, there is no way any human can pick it out! It was all God. We have laughed together so many times, and cried separately, not together yet. My room mate and I have so much fun, we are working on memorizing James together, love it.

  Okay so third day working with children, and Grade 1 is so my grade. I am falling in love with the children. So they did the all time "lets get the new teacher trick", they tried to switch names on me...it doesn't work when some of the boys in the back of the line are laughing and giggling. :) In Grade 1, I help them with their reading, math, and check their work. I'm the "assistant teacher", the school system is set up differently so thats the easiest way to describe my title. I'm basically just the eyes and ears of the teacher. It's amazing, this wasn't the grade I wanted to work with, because I worked with 3rd and 5th in the past, I assumed that would work. Nope, Grade 1. Sweet children that just want attention. I had to discipline one of the boys, and after school was over he came and gave me his piece of candy that he had for that day.

  We went to our outreach today. We had understood that it was an orphanage, it's actually not. It's for the vulnerable children, which means the children that have lost there parents and are living with an elderly grandmother who can't take care of them. It was very humbling. About the time I am thinking that I have been humbled, thats when the Lord gives me another slice of humble pie. They don't speak English, they speak Venda/Vendu. The children at the school have to speak English.

  We have had our fair share of spiritual warfare. Nothing life threatening, but alot of mind games. As we are going into these next three weeks, just keeps us in prayer. We are getting out of the honeymoon phase, and into the reality of it all. I have only had one moment so far where I made the statement "I can't do this". I was tired, hot, trying to sleep, and covered in mosquito bites. And the Holy Spirit gave me a verse Philippians 3:14. Which was one of the verses I received at my a party. By a little girl in my small group in church.

 My heart is slowly trying to relocate. I say trying because the next few weeks are going to be tough. Our team is constantly being reminded of why we are here. We are surrounded by amazing men and woman of God. Some are Americans, which was wonderful to know, because it's easier, they can relate.

  Camping for ten days was eventful, first night in a tent, my tent mate(Shea) and I were getting ready for bed when we here this scratching noise under the tent...it was termites. Yay! So we slept with the noise of termites crawling around all night. And these are about two centimeters long...ugh! I was finally, truly disgusted by a crawling bug. Then we went monkey hunting. We were getting ready for maintenance and there was a monkey in a tree across the field. A little smaller than a baboon, our Supervisor, Piet, grabbed his air rifle and we go monkey hunting in the singles living quarters. It was a holiday so no one was there. Then we ate a finch, one of the guys decided to kill it and then eat it. The team tried it, I wasn't to fond of the idea. For some reason.

  I could be here for days telling you all of the things that have happened. I was telling my mom, looking back everything that I have done over the years has prepared me for this. Living History, helping build a house, farming, everything. I'm not afraid of hard work, I may not always want to pitch in, but I'm not wimpy. My parents discipline, the way they raised me.  Everything thing that I have done or gone through has prepared me for this, thats not coincidence, that's God.

  I love you guys and wish I could share more. I can get on the internet twice a week, so I'll keep you posted. Also I may have to change my email, because my email is not working properly. I can receive just not send. :)