I'm here!!! After about 20 some hours of travel, I arrived yesterday morning. South Africa is beautiful!!! I'm sorry to report that I don't have any pictures to post yet, but I definitely will have something soon. Capetown looks very different than what we would consider the typical African landscape. Picture a huge mountain range next to the Napa Valley wine country, and you have it! It's winter here now so it can get pretty chilly at night. Gary & Marnelle (the couple I'm staying with) have a beautiful home here and have made me feel so welcome. They live in Paarl (a small community outside of Capetown) and are within walking distance of downtown.
We took things pretty slow yesterday to help me get over my jet lag. They drove me around the Paarl and some other nearby communities where they work. I can't tell you how many times I tried to get in the car on the passenger side only to realize that the driver is on the right...it tripped me out. I got to meet several pastors yesterday and visit different community centers where Monte Cristo Ministries works. There is such a contrast here of prosperity and poverty, from the white Afrikaaners to the poorer colored and blacks. I feel like I'm asking a million questions but I just want to know so much!
To keep things short and sweet, I decided to start organizing my blogs into my "high, low, thank you". For some, you know how much I love this game!
- High: Two major highs... The first was yesterday at one of the community centers. We walk inside this cold, cement building and see these young girls practicing their dances. Some of you know how much I LOVE dancing, so needless to say, I couldn't stop smiling. These kids were having so much fun and loving life, and I am just praying for a chance to dance with them! Second high was today... Monte Cristo Ministries (MCM) runs an orphanage called Bowy house. We took five of their kids to the petting zoo today and lunch at McDonald's, and we had a great time. These kids didn't really know what to do with all these animals, but they were precious to watch. I learned that all of them are HIV positive, but you would never know it....
- Low: I think the hardest thing so far is getting used to life here. I've been around a lot of people who either live here/have been here before, so sometimes I feel like I'm just trying to keep up instead of being able to just take everything in and enjoy it all. That..and missing all of you...
- Thank you: Praise God that I got here safely and the jet lag hasn't been too bad. I still cannot believe that I am in Africa!
Prayer Requests:
- Continued health and safety
- For the Lord to use me however He wishes
- That I would give myself time to get to know what life is like here... I often put so much pressure on myself instead of learning to enjoy the moment.
- That I would release all of my expectations...Africa has been on my heart for so long and I think that this puts pressure on me to know everything and love everything instantly, instead of giving myself more time.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. I miss you dearly...
much love... alair
4 comments:
Alair...I was hoping for an update and here it is on my screen. You know what made my heart leap? Your desire to dance with the girls there. I stopped and asked God if He would supply you that opportunity. It is more than dancing...it is connecting with them in a passionate, spiritual way. God will arrange that..how I'd love to see it. Let all your expectations go and ask the Holy Spirit to breathe on you...I pray it takes your breath away. I love you!
mama sue
Hi Alair..oh my gosh..how great to "talk" to you and "hear" how you are doing..I praise God for blogs!! I can just picture you there and the dancing..yes..I am sensing the class you have been taking is, like, what you will do, huh?? You don't sound too far away but Taylor and I miss you quite a bit..however..we share you with all those that will be so blessed by having you there..and so I pray this prayer from your mom's heart, "Father God, I praise you for Alair..and I thankyou for those who are now "taking care" of her for me..Jesus..I ask for your strength for her today..this day and that she would draw upon your strength for just this day..I pray for your wisdom to be poured into her and that she would enter into your rest, that she would know that you are carrying her and you are the one truly taking care of her..please keep her and the team safe, united, and so, so healthy..May they all keep their eyes on you and know that you have each day planned and that you are right beside them every moment. I thank you, God, for the gift of Gary and Marnelle and all they have provided for Alair and that I know that I know that I know she is well with them..I release your grace and your strength into her and may she stand upon your Word and stay ever close to you..may she be still and know that you are God..I pray this in Jesus' mighty name and ask all of this in His holy name as well..amen and amen..
Bye for now, Alair..I love you a whole bunch..
Mom (and Taylor, too)
hi alair! wow - i can't believe you are actually in africa. it is so cool to see where God has led you. a friend from school has been there, and described it to me a lot like you have. it sounds awesome. i'm keeping you in my prayers! love you!
fresh prince of alair! yes! thats so rad! anyways, i am so stoked for you to be on this trip. what an amazing blessing to serve God in another country, i pray God gives you many oppurtunities and that you will see with the eyes and heart of God!
by the way... tay and i are going to rock n water! god is good! we'll miss you being there, maybe i will fall out of the boat for you.
<3 chelsea
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