Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Also check out the short video John and I made for the trip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvKHi8UEA-0&feature=plcp




After arriving here in Nashville on Monday, its hard for me to find something to say. I already miss Cape Town and all my relationships back in South Africa so much. John and I’s experience in South Africa was at the very least amazing, and truly believe God brought me on this trip at His perfect timing. God prepared my heart for this trip specifically, whether I realized it or not. In college, being on my own for the first time, I had a lot of struggle with my faith and lots of doubts and questions. I felt like I did not really know how to genuinely live for Christ. Thus, I know for a fact God brought this trip into my life at the perfect time. While in South Africa, God used His word, His Spirit, and the people I came into contact with to teach me. Pastor Ohm was a huge contributor to this, and God constantly gave him wisdom to speak into John and I’s life. Each day he would encourage us in the mission field, but he also would give us guidelines to live by when we went back to university in the fall. Through all this, I began to understand the true meaning of “For the Kingdom,” which I think every Christian should learn/experience. Our purpose on this Earth is to serve and love Christ, love those around us, and bring forth his kingdom. Every aspect of our lives should involve furthering God’s kingdom, loving others, and bringing God glory. Though I am not in South Africa anymore, my work as a missionary is not over. I don’t have to be in Cape Town to make disciples of Christ and love others. I pray very seriously that God will bring me back to Cape Town to work in the future because South Africa now holds a huge place in my heart, but right now I know God’s plan for me is in Knoxville. Already I feel the temptation to just jump back into my old schedule and live as if South Africa was just a vacation. But as I go back to Knoxville, I want to study for God and not seek money or approval. I also want to make my relationships more God focused and Kingdom minded. Lastly, I want play Rugby for God’s glory and experience His joy, as well as share Christ with my teammates. Please pray that God will give me the strength, focus, and grace I need to be obedient to Him and follow his will with every step that I take. I hope to pray harder, read more, love better, and live more joyfully as God takes me into this new year.