February has come so soon. It feels like we've been part of the Global family for years, where in reality it's only been 3 weeks! What a loaded and blessed time it's been!
Starting out in Jeffrey's we camped out in the caravan park, pitching our tents and getting to know everyone. Every morning starting at 06:00 with solo time on the beach, every night ended of with story telling around the camp fire. We had some local projects, building and painting Stefan's house, making a playground for the Global Leadership Academy and moving a Wendy house. The theme of our time was GPS – God People Self.
From there we moved to the UCSA grounds, still in Jeffrey's. The focus moved from physical work to personal en spiritual growth. We started with the Veritas Bible course and Theophostic Prayer Ministry. Examining Scripture, learning about the importance of forgiveness, sharing struggles and past experiences.
We left for story telling in our respective teams. We, as South Bound, went to a farm about an hour from Jeffrey's and shared our life stories with each other. It was a good time for the team to really get to know each other and understand where we're all coming from and what God has done in our lives.
Last week they dropped us off in the bush. Not knowing what to expect, we were divided into groups of 6, given a trunk with a saw, panga, kettle, matches, toilet paper and a small ground sheet. We could pick any 6 items from our backpacks to survive in the bush for 3 days. Being as unpractical as I am, I settled for a sleeping bag, shorts, jacket, a space blanket, deodorant and a harmonica. Lol – at least we could serenade all our visitors! =o) Luckily we had one toothbrush between us, so it was good sharing and bonding time every morning.
Same as Survivor on the TV, we had to build a shelter, with leaves and branches. We had a very nice and spacious TP tent! It kept us dry, most of the time. Tree mail always directed us to where our next challenge would be. If you don't win, you don't get food. We finished last on the first 2 challenges, so we were left with only potatoes for dinner and coffee for breakfast. It taught me that you don't need a lot to be joyful. Our team, the Bush Moose, entered every challenge with a new song and good spirits and soon our luck changed. We ended second in an endurance challenge, after sitting for an hour in an interrogation position, which landed us pasta and baked beans (food fit for a king!). That night we won immunity by finishing our 7-course meal first. Now this might not sound like a challenge, but when you have dishes like crickets in rice, dog food and chicken livers, it makes your appetite a little bit less.
With renewed strength, we chopped down 50 Black wattle trees and stripped them for poles to earn bread, jam and butter for lunch! That was the best toast I ever had! We ended Survivor 2011 with a final tribal counsel and a huge bonfire on the riverbank. Was a very blessed time!
After arriving 06:30 at the main camp site in the bush on Thursday morning, we had 2 hours to take a shower (the first one in 4 days) and prepare for the Gr. 8's from GLA to arrive. The rest of the school arrived Friday for a fun-packed camp. Sunday we arrived back in Jeffrey's, had our second shower for the week and just regrouped. I think in one day we made up for all the weight we lost in the bush!
We started our forth week with a visit from Floyd McClung. The joy in him is contagious! He really blessed us with his teaching about sharing the gospel and doing so in as little words a possible. We don't always have an hour or more to share with someone, but only 5 minutes and it's important to be ready to share the good news with anyone we meet. We continued the day by praying for our coming projects in the Transkei and the people in the community. So tomorrow we're on our way to PE to support the GLA school's athletics day and compete in a few items and then we are off to the Coffee Bay for 10 days. We'll be building a fence around a local school there and just minister with the people in the community. If you want to see more about our project, just follow the link to the blog: http://www.gcex.org/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=fence-of-love.html& Itemid=
A few things that stood out for me in these 3 weeks:
The first thing your do when you get on the beach is to take off your shoes. There is just a holiness to the sea. Calmness in the midst of the crashing waves. Krag in die branders, mag in die wind en prag in die sand.
Life is all about seasons. And it's important to do what needs to be done in the season that you are in, so that you can be ready for the next season. There isn't time to go back and finish what you didn't do now. Van uitstel kom afstel...
Rom 12:10 "Honor one another above yourself." That doesn't mean to think less of yourself, but to lift your standards on other people and place that above yourself. Just imagine the possibilities then!
God doesn't want to break you down, He just wants to break down and work in those areas of your life which aren't in line with Him, so that He can grow – in all of you!
I need to learn this year to not just serve, but to live amongst the nations. Not to help and then shrink back into my team bubble, but to live between them, because that's where God's miracles will seen.
Healing is a process, not a race.
When you don't forgive others for what's been done to you, you'll do the same to someone else!
What other people have done to you affects the things you believe about yourself. Lies are caused by scars from past experiences.
Knowing about Christ and knowing Christ is not the same.
I'm grateful that my bag is already full and heavy for this year. Because as masks start coming down, I will have no space to put them in my bag and bring them back home. I have to leave them there and just be who I am!
We live and testify from the overflow in our lives.
Thank you for your support, prayers and just being there! I pray that the grace of our God will be ever present in your live and that the power that raised Jesus from the dead will carry you through every challenge in your life!
Till next time. Blessings!
Linel*