4th Week! <3

Hello! So here’s the update to my loyal prayer warriors. J

We are in our fourth week. Time is flying by! I can’t even believe it. We left Shikwaru Game Farm Friday morning and traveled 8 hours to an amazing South African couple who opened their home to us for the night. Spent the night there in amazing comfortable beds and woke up at 5:30 the next morning for another 10 hour journey. (Yes, the trip was 18 hours) During the Saturday drive, we almost... ALMOST ran out of gas in the midst of our beautiful drive through gorgeous mountains). I’m convinced that angels were pushing our car to the next gas station. The Lord was faithful though! J Then we met our guide/translator, Tony! He really is awesome. We love him. And he brought us to where we were going to be staying. It’s called “Brighton Resort” and don’t let the name fool you. Haha, it’s in a pretty ghetto area. So lets just say safety was one of our main prayers. Haha! There were 6 beds, two rooms and one bathroom. No air, but the weather is still PERFECT! It’s gotten really really cold! I can see my breath and as a Floridian, that’s rare. Haha. So, we’re good! (And hot water if you’re first in the shower) Haha. We started ministry this week which was an amazing experience! Every school was different though. Some schools the kids were SO excited to have you, jumping all over you, touching your hair, holding your hand, talking to you, taking pictures with you and other schools were more distant, timid and shy. Those were more of a challenge, but sometimes in our walk with the Lord that’s what we need in order to grow. And our team has definitely grown! We’ve watched hundreds of kids come to the Lord and we’ve had opportunities to do alter calls which are SO rare! Most schools your not even allowed mention Gods name! So that was truly a blessing. God has blessed us so much this week. I’m getting more and more comfortable the more dramas we perform and the more times I tell my testimony. It gets a little bit easier every time. Africa is still beautiful. We’re seeing the “not so amazing” side of South Africa this week, but that is what we are here for! The children are beautiful, I fall in love with every child I meet. They just savor the words you speak to them and the moments they get to spend with you. Its encouraging because I know that’s how it should be with our Father. It really has pulled on my heart and taught me something about my own relationship with my Lord.

I’m doing so good, my team is feeling more and more like family and Africa is feeling more and more like home. I’ve haven’t gotten sick at all, the Lord has blessed me with health. I’m sure there from your prayers as well.

And now! Yesterday we arrived in Mossel Bay!!!!! We’re staying in someone’s house that works with Book of Hope. AND IT IS AMAZINGGG!!!!!! We basically have our own house! Its big and we each have our own bed. I’m rooming with Dom! We are staying here till October 2^nd! And I/we are more then excited and extremely blessed! Our view is the Indian Ocean and the beach! (not what you picture when you think Africa, right?) Haha! And there’s whales jumping ALL THE TIME!! We’ve gotten really cool pictures. Think about it… I wake up in the morning, sit up, look out my window to an amazing view of the Indian Ocean with whales jumping in it!!!! Haha, can’t get much better then that! I can’t say all of our houses will be like that but we’re here for about 2 weeks, so we’re going to take advantage! So, as of right now we are being WELL taken care of! J!!

Thank you guys so so so so so much for being behind me on this. I love you guys so very much and I miss you like crazy.

Please keep praying!! God is hearing your prayers.

-Char

PS –

Just a few individual hellos:

Mamma – YOU HAVE GOT TO COME HERE IN APRIL!! It’s the most beautiful place in the world. There is nothing like it! The children are welcoming and gorgeous. The farm is unbelievable! You’ll go on little Safari drives and see all these animals! And I know you’ll love that! Plus being here, you just have this intimate connection with the Lord. It almost feels like your physically closer to Him. It gives you a peace and an assurance that He is still here for us. I love you so much Mamma, I pray for you every day… 5 times a day. My whole team does. I miss Papa with my whole heart. Can’t say that has sunk in yet. You’re a trooper Mamma. The strongest, most faithful, forgiving, believing woman I know. If I’m half the woman you are today when I grow up, I will be content with who I grew up to be. I love you so much.

Rob & Julie – I am praying constantly for you guys and my soon to be cousins! I’m praying for health, growth, strength, and the Lords blessings on those babies. I’m so glad I’m going to be home when they arrive! I miss Colbster and Mason WAY TOO MUCH! I’m always telling stories about them to my team! Tell them I miss them so much and I will be home from “Afrita-duty” before they know it! Haha. Also! Funny story for you Jules, my friend Dom was feeling nauseous and I was like “Oh! Eat anything that has citrus!! Mu aunt is pregnant with twins and that’s what she does when she’s sick!!” And they all looked at my like I was NUTS! Haha. Thanks a lot. Lol, I miss you guys so much!

Hope – I la la la love you more then you will ever know. I so wish you were here spending this time with me and experiencing this! I know that you are where your supposed to be though and you are right where the Lord wants you. Plus, if it wasn’t for your words of wisdom I don’t think I would of ever been talked into doing this in the first place. I miss you like crazy, I’m always praying for you that you may not grow weary in what you are doing but be reminded that this is right where God wants you and he wants to work in you TODAY! I’m so looking forward to going to college with you. (Don’t bail on me you I’m going to punch you in the face.)

Stets – Awesomee job on your gamee!!! Even though I’m on the other side of the world I’m still getting updates! You’ve probably gotten a lot smaller since you haven’t been working out and you’ve been too busy practicing. Sucks for you. Haha, I hope your playing with everything you have in you. You’ve been waiting for this! You’ve trained for this! Now go shine ya big bug a lug. Hahaha. J I miss you a lot. Sometimes little sayings will slip and I’ll realize I sounded just like you.

Blesi – I hope your LOVING middle school! I was just telling my team leader, Senorita that my parents are going to have to watch out because your attitude is a spitting image of me! But I know that you are going to be a little bit smarter then I was when I was your age. I’m praying for you a lot that even at a young age your relationship will begin growing in the Lord and you won’t waste or regret any years of your life. The Lord has an amazing plan for people like you and me. Remember to be yourself and be crazy and wild, but do it as unto the Lord. Be yourself and love Him with everything inside you.