Hello Everyone!!
I'm so glad to finally catch up with you after one month in South Africa! Boy, does time fly when you are having fun! Just to give you a little update on where I currently am and what I'm doing.... I'm in Jeffrey's Baii (Bay), South Africa (the most beautiful place) and I have been here for the past 3 weeks for training. We are having the best time but staying absolutely crazy busy! This is the 2nd time that I've made it to the internet cafe since I've been here. We spent the 1st week getting to know each other and sharing our testimonies with the team. We just THOUGHT then that we were tired and busy :) Since then we have spent time studying the book of Matthew, Colossians, Ephesians and we're now on Galations. We are using the "Veritas" bible study learning how to break down
scripture, read it in it's context, and reteach it in an modern day sense. It's very intense and deep but it's incredible how much more you get out of one little verse! Also we have been busy with a couple of service projects. Every Thursday morning we go to Global Leadership Academy (GLA) and work with the children sharing our testimonies, the gospel and talking to them about our journey. It's been great to in a sense, "practice" with the children before we take off for the year. We also go to "Ithemba" a local daycare here in the neglected part of town a couple of afternoons a week and play with the children while the guys have been building them a playground. It's been keeping us pretty busy on top of our two, two hour sessions a day and workshops learning dances and dramas for the year.
I can't express to you how much fun I'm having, how well my teeny tiny tent sleeps&
nbsp;and how excited I am to see what God has instore for this year! We have 5 incredible teams put together and I ask that you please remember to pray for North Bound, South Bound, Explore Africa, Work Your Way and Hidden World teams. We are all now a family and will have a hard time parting in a month!
We have 3 and a half more weeks of training then we will head to Pretoria, SA on Feb. 21 to apply for visas. From there we will head to Johannesburg and fly out on March 1st. Our 1st destination is Athens, Greece!!!
Hope everyone is doing well and would like to just let a out a big........
1...2...3... HEY Y'
ALL...BYE Y'ALL!!!
Loving Jesus,
Mary Kate
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Comments
I am so very happy to hear from you, dear child. I am happy to learn that you are both, well and content with this, wonderful journey Christ is leading you on! I, too, can't wait to learn the direction He will take you on. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding! God Bless today, and tomorrow. Please keep us all posted back home. You remain in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Gail
Oh Mary Kate.....what a wonderful life experience and opportunity to participate in the lives of the people of this world and share with and in the love of God!! You will remain in my prayers....I will be asking for your experiences to be rich and full and that the seeds you plant today will take root and continue to blossom in the lives of others for years to come!! I gotta admit....I am a wee bit jealous! I love your enthusiasm and joy and wish you the most successful year!!!! Continue to share....we love hearing from you!!! Tricia Seay
PS Montgomery still misses your Mama and the other 3 Owens girls....hasn't been the same since they left!!!
Hey May May!!
What an incredible month! OMG! Already you are beginning what will be a year of experiences that will affect you and those you reach forever. I will certainly keep you in my prayers! Everything you need will be provided, so just let go of any anxiety on that front. I can't wait to hear how people will respond to you in some of the places you will go. What a great privilege to be able to bring the good news to people all over the globe. Tricia is right, the seeds you are planting will not be wasted. Things here are just rocking along! I'm doing the flowers for a couple of weddings coming up, so that's fun. Baby Virginia will be baptized on Feb.21, and we're hoping we can stuff the little butterball into the christening gown. She is about the cutest little thing I've ever seen! Bo and John are doing great. I love you MayMay and can't wait to hear from you again!
Aunt Lo
Hey MK, looks like you are having a great time and doing some incredible work. Miss you but excited for you. Take care! Much love to you sweet girl! Monica Thornton
Looks like you are having an AMAZING time! I know you are and loving it! The pictures are beautiful! I can't wait to see you again and missing you tons!! I'm so excited at what you are doing and I know God has an awesome plan set up for your life! I will continue keeping you in my daily thoughts and prayers! I love you sister!! xoxo lois katherine
LOVE IT, you have fun and take care. MISS YOU LOTS
nancy
Mary Kate we are so excited to hear about the first of your many experiences! You look and sound happy! The Beckett Family misses you, but are looking forward to learning all about your journey. We are so proud of the work you are doing. We'll be praying for you and the others. Love, Emily, Henry, Bill, and Stephanie
Dear, sweet Mary Kate...
McLendon and I were so excited to read all about your wonderful work and what a gift you are GIVING and already RECEIVING from God. Bless you! We miss you- thank you so much for your blog. We are praying for you daily.
This is from McLendon (I'm typing her words)
"Mary Kate, I can't believe you are going to Athens, Greece next! I bet it will be awesome to go there and also in South Africa right now. I hope that you'll have a good time over there, and send me a message sometime. I bet you are working very hard, and you are very busy from what you have said. I'm praying for you and hoping that you will be ok. Love, McLendon"
oh, and I love you too!
In His Name,
Mindy
Big Juicy,
We are praying for you and hope that you doing well.
Pasta T
MaryKate, I know God is going to do some amazing things in your life through this journey with Global Challenge. Remember this is only the beginning to what God has planned for your life.
Stay the course!We love you, and are praying for you and your team. Please tell PJ I said Hello!
Adam
Mary Kate- so proud of you and all God is doing in your life. Thank you for sharing your story. You are touching so many lives back home.
Don't know if you remember me- a frien of your mom's. Hayes & my son Matt were friends for long time.
You are in my prayers.
Hey Maywe..I cant tell you how proud of you I am , please continue to be the inspiration to the world that you are . I am so proud of you doing your part of fullfilling the Great Commision, that is all you can do. We miss you so bad !! I Love You So Much..words cant express !!! Dad --Please be
safe !!!