Home in a month! This is a long one... ;)

Hi to everyone that is half a world away!!
I’m sorry it’s been about two weeks since I’ve updated! We haven’t been able to get to the internet.
Well, here is my life the past two weeks in a nut shell! =)
We left Lesotho on the 17th! We we’re ready to get back to ministry so that was an exciting day. =) Then on October 18th, we arrived in Eshowe, South Africa! Eshowe is this little town really close to Durban. (Durban is a pretty well known) Eshowe is an absolutely gorgeous town! It’s so small and everyone knows everyone. Tons and tons of greenery! Me, Dom, Tam and Sean went on a hike through the forest and ended up finding this man made boardwalk that led to this ladder that led to this huge platform that showed you a view of the entire town! It was nuts! We couldn’t believe it! Haha!
Our nationals name was Laif and his wife, Queen. And elder couple, but super sweet. Laif is really, really passionate about missions and has a pretty cool testimony. God called him to missions only a few years ago. His age was the thing that was stopping him from reaching out to the students in his town, he thought he was too old. Until one night, God revealed to him that youth of this generation weren’t willing and He needed him. Laif has been more then willing since that moment he had with the Lord! We we’re the first team from BOH that has ever been to Eshowe! We knocked out about 16 schools which was nuts! So we we’re in about 4 schools a day. The days we’re extremely long…but it was worth every second! I was given the opportunity to tell my testimony several times, the response was unbelievable! We we’re also given the opportunity to have one on one time with the students at this one secondary school. I sat down with these two girls, Nokwanda and Caroline, and talked for about an hour and a half! It was so incredible!!! They asked question after question after question. Some of the questions they asked, “Can I still serve God even if I’m famous? I only pray to God when I need something, is that bad? Why do I feel like sometimes God isn’t there or He doesn’t hear me? Is dating okay at this age?” At the end of the conversation one of the girls confessed that she was a lesbian and didn’t want to be in the relationship anymore, but didn’t know how to get out of it. We got to talk about EVERYTHING! She really had a breaking moment at the end of our time together! It was almost like these girls had these questions burning inside them for so long and had no one to go to and ask. They we’re so eager for answers. Neither girls lived with their parents. I ended up seeing that one girl three more times that week! It was a total God thing. We exchanged email addresses and I’m most definitely going to be keeping in touch with her! But, the Spirit spoke that day. I was in shock leaving that school. I couldn’t even BELIEVE what God had just done!!
All the students in Eshowe we’re really welcoming and inquisitive. They wanted truth. When we passed out the books they we’re sooo excited to get a book! Haha. They spoke Zulu, but the older students understood English so it worked out. We had a translator for the babies. 
I savored every moment in Eshowe! We got really connected with one church, and they are so supportive of Book of Hope and really wanted to get involved with our ministry!

The place that we stayed was SPECTACULAR! It was huge! The house keeper, Susan, cooked every meal for us! She was one AWESOME cook and a really, really sweet lady! Her kids we’re tight too! We miss her already! It was called the “Environmental Center”, mainly for big teams to stay at. So I roomed with Daneli. We had our own BATH! I took one almost every night! Haha..
So that was mainly it for Eshowe…we we’re there for a week. I really really really loved it there!! I had a BLAST with the kids!! I didn’t want to leave. We we’re treated super well. I was stretched there, challenged, learned a lot, there were times we’re I was exhausted and times when I was full of energy. We laughed a TON there! I can’t even tell you why…it was just a hilarious week for some reason. It was a malarias area so every time we saw any kind of bug we would scream, “MALARIA!!!” and sprint away from it. Susan got a KICK out of that…Hahaha. We worked really hard though that week! I was really proud of my family!

So then on the 27th we began our next journey, we traveled 10 hours and stopped in East London. East London was SICK! We ended up sleeping at this “Backpackers” Inn called the “Sugar Shack”. Right across the street from the beach. It was a TOTAL surf, hippie camp. I don’t even know how to describe it! There we’re tents pitched everywhere and South African surfers just chillin. Hahah, it was SICK!
Me and Tam met this guy that worked there, Ricky…he was making drums out of a tree stump! We we’re talking with him and just messing with him and we made him promise to give us drum lessons! He was HILARIOUS and really cool. He loved us. So later that night, he gave us lessons!!! It was one of the best, most entertaining nights of my life!! We we’re sitting there, in East Londan, ZA…with South African drummers, in a surf shack, drumming, doing African tribal dances, laughing, with the beach and the waves crashing right behind us…
Now tell me life doesn’t get much better then that! Hahah, it was a BLAST!!

Then on the 28th, drove another TEN hours and stopped back at Mossel Bay and stayed the night with Vernin and Trudy! It was so good to see them and a really nice surprise! Tony even came by in the morning and said hello, because he missed us. =)

Then…on the 29th! WE ARRIVED IN CAPE TOWN!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?! I’m in Cape Town!!! One of the most beautiful cities in the entire WORLD!! And I’m here! It took about 5 hours to get to Cape Town and my heart was racing the whole drive because I was so excited to get there! Finally!!! After a 25 hour drive…3 days…we arrived in Cape Town!! =) We are staying with Lucinda and Shaun Timoney. They are missionaries from Calvary so some of you may know her! Her kids are Shane, Lindsay and Carly Kotrell. But none of them are here. But she has started this whole surf ministry here in South Africa and has this HUGE house here. So we are going to have a BLAST here!!! (Supposedly Dad, you’ve stayed here before? Haha, so you can tell them how cool it is.) We all walked down to the beach today, it’s kind of chilly, but the weather is closest thing to PERFECT! We are supposed to be doing some surfers Bible Study a few times a week, go to some prisons and childrens center, and we’ve planned to do a lot of the typical tourists spots here in Cape Town! Which I’m excited for…And Shaun is going to take some of us surfing! Haha, imagine that.... And! There are penguins on the beaches here….!!!! Hahaha. How crazy is that?!!
I’m STOKED for these next two weeks… they are going to be a blast. We have a lot planned. Two birthdays to celebrate! (Dom and Tams). We’re going to this restaurant that serves African food and you sit in tree houses and they dance and play the drums and Afrian music, and then you get to go outside and hold and play with baby CHEETAHS for their birthdays! Haha, I can’t believe the things I’m going to be experiencing this next week!!! I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys before we do it, so I’ll write about my experience here next week!
I could live here…any day. Hands down.
Every inch of Africa that I’ve seen so far is still gorgeous. This country is really something else. It shows you a different picture of the Lord, that is for sure!

So God has really really really been blessing us…and showing us a good time. There were a few outbreaks that went down last week, but it only benefitted the team. So, I can say that I’ve been stretched. Some days more then others. I’ve had different breaking moments, facing and dealing with things I’ve brushed under the carpet for so long. I still pray constantly that I don’t want this trip to be just an “experience” or a “moment” but to permanently change my view of God and my relationship that I have with him! I see God answering that prayer more and more each day as long as I remember that this intimate love relationship with him is a daily decision and dedication. Times will get hard, and I’ll still make mistakes. BUT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM HIS LOVE!!
Romans 8:38-39 –best verse ever.

I’ve learned lately that this whole “journey” with God thing…it’s supposed to be exciting. And God intended for it to be a BLAST! I really believe he wants it to be exciting, adventurous, mysterious, fun, memorable, and even at times risky! This walk with God is supposed to be an adventure! And when we finally give in, and die to our fear of obedience, we encounter the full experience with God.
And let me tell you, I am definitely having an ADVENTURE! God is so crazy! He has so much to offer us…

I’ve also been learning a lot about my prayer life with the Lord. I’ve learned that God, “whispers in pleasure, and screams in pain”. When everything is perfect and we are living in our little bubbles and our life is perfectly organized the way we would like it to be…God is very quiet and it’s hard to hear his voice because we tend to feel like we don’t need Him. But when we are facing our problems and not hiding them, when we are risking our comfort zone, sacrificing and suffering in His name…that is when the voice of the Lord is most evident and obvious. Because we understand that we NEED him.
Most of our prayers that we pray are already answered. The answers are in the Bible and we just need to seek them out. God will never tell us to do something that contradicts his Word. Everything lines up! It’s crazy how simple God really is! I’ve also learned to pray for very specific things…because then I am able to see God specifically answer my prayers. He will never stop speaking…when we are asking for guidance he will speak through anyone and anything to confirm over and over again that it is His will. We just have to be aware of His voice and learn to recognize it.

I’ve been praying for all you family and friends so much lately. The Lord will lay specific names on my heart, either through dreams, random memories, a song that plays…anything! And I faithfully pray for you guys! I think the reason I pray for you all so much is because I am not physically with you and when I pray for you all it makes me feel closer to you because I know I am with you in Spirit. =) I’ve learned a lot about that too. =)

Anyways, I miss you guys TONS!! I really do!!! But I do have to admit…I absolutely love it here and don’t exactly want to come home yet…
Haha, so I guess it’s a good thing that I still have 4 weeks! But before I know it, it’s going to be two! And then I’ll be home! I know you’ll all be really happy to have me home because I KNOW you guys can’t live without me. =) Hahah, but I’m really really happy and I don’t want to leave!! I think that is all due to your prayers.

Keep e-mailing me! I love hearing from everyone! I’ll be making some calls soon. So get excited! I love you guys so much!!! Keep praying, thank you guys for everything! You are the most amazing friends and family I could ever possibly ask for. I love you guys!!!!!!!!

Especially you mom – that package! I nearly cried when Lucinda gave it to me! You’re the BEST!!! You made the rest of my week complete!!! I LOVE YOU! You know me so well, pictures and everything! It’s so clear that you are my mother. You put things in their only a mother that knows her daughter would. We’re having a blast with the little things you threw in there! Haha, I love you!!!!!!! I MISS YOU TONS!!!!!!
Everyone saw pictures of you and they were like, “You mom looks SO YOUNG!!! How old is she??? She is gorgeous!!!!!” Then they see Mamma, and they we’re like, “That’s your grandma??? She looks like your moms sister!! She’s so pretty!” They we’re going on and on about how good looking our family is. And I was all…”well what can I say? If you got it flaunt it…you know what I’m sayin….”
Hahahah, I LOVE YOU! THANK YOU TONS!! =)

PICTURES!!

Here are some of MANY! I tried giving you guys a little glimpse of everything! Animals! Our view in Mossel Bay! (The one with the balcony), our reaction to the car breaking down (try to figure out which one THAT is, hahaha), the beach, the BEAUTIFUL south african kids, CONGO CAVES! (that was crazzy) our dramas, me telling my testimony, game drives, my team, ice cream at KFC for treat days, and beautiful pictures of the most amazing country ever..SOUTH AFRICA!...almost everything! Haha.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

LOVING AFRICA!

Oh wow!
Where to begin... It’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone! It’s been a crazy two weeks so you guys are going to have to cut me some slack. =) Haha. I don’t even remember where I left off.
We left Mossel Bay on October 2nd and traveled back to Bloemfontein, stayed the night there, woke up early the next morning and crossed the borders into Lesotho! (Le-soo-too). Lesotho is a tiny country inside of South Africa. The entire country is really battling poverty. Every house is made out of shutters and precious naked babies everywhere you look. It’s so heart breaking especially when you see these people as God see’s them.
When we pulled into the place that we are staying, every kid that saw white people started chasing our car and trying to jump on it, Hahah. The kids will sit there and stare at you, and as soon as you look at them they get a huge smile on there face and wave. Most kids have never seen a white person, so you can only imagine…
Haha. The place we are staying has 12 beds in one room! So we’re pretty tight. They do have hot water (such a blessing!) but no kitchen. So the food thing has been a bit of a challenge. But we have managed and God has provided, once again.
We actually aren’t doing ministry in Lesotho. We have been asked to do “research” this week. And in doing research, we are assigned to get into as many schools as we can and give a survey to the kids. The survey is given in English, there are 42 questions, yet each question has letters A-S underneath. It is SUCH a pain…because it takes over two hours to complete. The students don’t understand half the questions we are asking or half the words we say because there 1st language is Sesotho. We are really helping Book of Hope by doing this though. Because now they can make the Book of Hope in their language and Lesotho is one more country they can start spreading the gospel in. So, what we have been doing is beneficial…but it’s the farthest thing from fun.

Last Wednesday, October 7th, we drove for 5 hours trying to get into schools and every school we went to denied us. We’ve been doing a TON of driving…so last week was pretty stretching. The Lord is teaching me to do things with a servant’s heart, even when I don’t feel like it. To serve Him in and out of season, even when I don’t feel like it or when something isn’t my really my heart.

The next day! We wake up early in the morning on October 8th. We we’re supposed to pack an over night bag because we we’re driving to a school 5 hours away. But! That morning we we’re told that it was only 2 ½ hours so to leave our over night bags because we’ll just drive back home and sleep here. So, we leave our bags get in the car…and begin out journey. We we’re driving to an extremely rural area. The school was in this little village in the middle of no where. To get to this village we had to go over this mountain, and the mountain road was really steep with sharp turns. So our co-leader Ryan was driving, and most of us we’re terrified because how steep the edge of the mountain was. So we’re finally almost off the mountain and we hear something drop. Daneli goes, “Oh no! That doesn’t sound or smell good, pull off!” We pull off the side of the road and it turns out the clutch had burnt out because of the way Ryan was holding it down when we we’re going down the mountain. Of coure me and Dom are in the back cracking up…Hahah. So Daneli and our translator, Palesa, start walking to the village to see if there is anyone that can help us. The rest of us stayed there in the middle of NO WHERE. It was so Africa though! There were African people walking by on donkeys, herding sheep dressed in clothes. AFRICA! But! The mountain was really beautiful. So me, Dom and Tamara get out go in the mountain to go to the bathroom (that was an experience) and the just sit outside. It started getting really cold and then of course…started to rain! So we we’re wating and praying for Daneli to come back safely with help. A black truck pulls up and Daneli is inside it! We we’re really excited. They tie a rope to our car and pull us into the town to the school which was by the grace of God only about 7 mins. Away! We get to the school and immediately go and do the surveys. It turns out that the only mechanic in town couldn’t fix our car so they had to go back over the mountain and find another mechanic. They do, but he said he couldn’t fix the car until tomorrow. (which is funny because left our overnight bags!) So we go on a random searching spree for somewhere to sleep that night! We luckily find this little “lodge” to sleep at! They provided dinner for us too so we we’re really thankful for that! 6 girls had to squish into two beds that night. And the two boys got there own room. Didn’t sleep very well!
The next morning Daneli goes with the principal that was helping us out to find the parts for the car. The rest of us walk back to the school and hung out with the kids the entire day! We we’re there for about 8 hours…and didn’t end up leaving until 8:00 that night! We didn’t eat all day, it was freezing…and the longest day ever!!! And! Our mechanic was drunk. Finally around 7:30 someone invited us to have tea and bread. It was amazing! The to end off this insane journey! We end up having to take the mechanics back down the mountain in our car. So all 5 girls piled on top of each other in the back and rode that way for about an hour and a half in the dark! It was risky…Hahah, but hilarious and the Lord had his hand over us! It was ONE crazy adventure!!
It was really funny and a story I will tell for the rest of my life. =)

We’ve definitely had an experience in Lesotho. We we’re ready to leave but plans changed and we we’re asked to stay here for one more week. Blah. The kids here really do need Jesus in their lives though! A lot of the rural areas we’ve been to, the kids haven’t even seen a car before. I believe that God is going to use Book of Hope dramatically in this country!

The Lord has been showing up in my life over and over again this past week. I’ve been leading workouts with the girls! That has been going really good and actually a lot of fun. I finally feel like God is revealing himself to me. It’s like I’ve created such a habit to spend so much time with him daily. This journey with Him is so exciting! Having to trust God with everything I do is such a valuable lesson I’m learning. I’m so looking forward to this next year of my life. I’m beginning to become so sensitive to sin. The Lord is making me so aware of good and evil. I’m always in prayer that I will hate what God hates and love what He loves. I’m realizing that God hears our every prayer! He hears them and He works with them! The things I ask for He provides for me. We serve an incredible God! He is so protective of us and loves blessing us! He is so faithful and amazing…

I’m definitely missing South Africa! We are here till Saturday then we go to the “unknown”. I’m really excited to get back to ministry! I actually miss it! Haha. The team is doing great! We’re making so many memories and are constantly laughing. We’ve been faithful to each other in prayer and that is what is creating unity with us. God has his hand on this team and we all see Him at work. He’s breaking down walls, but in the best most sensitive way. I’m seeing who I am in the Lord. I’m seeing myself as God sees me. It takes time and I don’t have anything nailed down…but that is the interesting part about being a Christian. I still Charlee, still a mess and still make mistakes all the time and he loves me for it! He created me this way. And He wants me to be myself, and be free. And being in the will of God is the most freeing feeling we can experience!

WELL! That is my update for now! Pray that this week will fly by. October has been a challenge, but we have about 15 days left of it. Then one month till I’m home! Can you guys believe it? Time is FLYING! Thank you so much for your faithful prayers!!!!
I MISS YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! AND I LOVE YOU EVEN MORE! Thank you for your support…I’m so happy here!
I love you I love you I love you!!!!!
Love,
Charleeeee!

Week 5 & Going Strong!!

So I am in my 5th week.
Can you believe it?! We celebrated our one month on Monday! (I’m writing this on Wednesday). I’ve been thinking about everyone a lot lately and there are moments when I miss you guys entirely too much! Especially this past week, I’ve seen Satan’s attacks on myself and my team and things have been semi-rough around here. But! We are entering the end of the week and we got through it and are seeing the light at the end of this tunnel.
Africa is officially feels like home to me now. This week was a holiday week for the South African children, so we didn’t do any schools presentations. But instead! We went to these two children places; basically a ministry for neighborhood kids that two elder women bring together, sing with them, give them soup and a piece of bread and send them on their way. So, Monday Tuesday and today we spent a lot of time with the same kids which was such a blessing because in an “evangelistic” ministry forming relationships is out of the question. So these past three days we really got to spend time with the kids and just love on them.
So here are two stories for you guys that I would so appreciate if you kept these kids in your prayers…
First story - I met these 4 girls that were between ages 12-14 that we’re all friends and in my group this whole week. (I got closest with them) So today when we had to say goodbye…they started crying begging me not to leave! It completely broke my heart. I didn’t want to leave at all! It was really neat to see that relationship form and see how they just so desperately just wanted someone to look up to, to love them and be their friend. Not sure about their background, but most likely not stable. The most BEAUTIFUL girls with such incredible gifts and talents.

Second story – A little girl about the age of 9 with her baby sister, Jamilee who is 2 years old. Jamilee was crying and crying the whole time we we’re singing with the children and she had caught my eye. So when we went outside her sister was holding her and Jamilee continued crying. I asked if I could see the baby and she nodded. I picked her up and she had wet her pants and her whole face was covered in tears, snot and dirt. I asked if she was sick and the sister said “Yes…and very hungry” So I ran inside, grabbed my apple out of my bag and a tissue and cleaned her up. The older sister said thank you and nodded in appreciation and gave me a huge hug. Please keep those two in your prayers as well! I don’t know there background but just pray for Gods faithfulness in their lives and he will provide food and health.
Those were the few children that really, really stuck out to me.

But other then that! Things have been awesome!
We’ve been doing a Youth Rally in this church every night. I spoke the first night on Paul and Purity. (Which was NUTS! Because it was in front of an entire congregation since it was a Sunday night!! Not just Youth!!) Then the last three nights were Youth. But God has been so faithful! Every thing has run so smoothly. I really believe He spoke through me. It was a really, really neat experience. It has been cool being around youth and seeing their passion for the Lord.

Loved our time in Mossel Bay.
BUT! It is time to pack up and go. Tomorrow we are getting a day off to regroup, and then Friday morning we are off to our next destination. (Not too sure where it is or what its called but I know its 10 hours away) There, we will be going into schools, not doing presentations, but sitting with the kids and doing interviews and seeing exactly HOW EFFECTIVE Book of Hope really is. So that will be really awesome. I’m pretty sure we have 15 schools to knock out in 5 days. So next week will be extremely busyyy!
Keep us in your prayers next week! Pray for consistency, energy, and perseverance.

The Lord is at work in my life. I can’t say it’s the easiest thing in the world when the Lord breaks you of all your imperfections…But, I can say I’m thankful for it. He’s been stripping me of all my fleshly desires and making me see myself for who I am in Him. I pray that everything I learn, I won’t forget! That I’ll begin building my life, my morals and my relationship with Him on a firm, FIRM foundation. He’s been teaching me security and what it REALLY means to love, what it means to have perseverence and how to make my relationship with Him very sincere and intimate. I don’t want to waste any more of my life not being all I can be for my Lord because “The day of salvation is nearer then when I first believed”!!!

I miss you guys a lot. Sometimes I so wish I could be home with you all! But I am really really happy where I am at right now. The Lord has been GOOD! He always is. This is a life changing experience and I am sooo grateful for it! And I’ll be home before you know it! Don’t think I’ve forgotten you guys just because I’m in the most BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY in the world!!!! Hahaha. J I still love my team!! I’m forming awesome relationships and the Lord is blessing me all the time, every day. I know your prayers are still being heard! I love you guys so much!!! I miss you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love always,
CHAR!

Katie Boo – I miss you a lot beautiful!!!!!! I think about you all the time and this trip reminds me of our Bahamas experiences so much! Haha, I can only imagine if you were here with me. I pray for you EVERY DAY! Believe me when I say that too. I hope CCA is treating you right and that you have stepped up to the plate this year! You’re a leader in so many different aspects. And DON’T forget that. I can’t believe how long we’ve been friends! You have no idea how freakin’ grateful I am for this friendship. Well my love, I love you I love you I love you! Be who you know you are called to be! Muah!

Hopeyyy – My beautiful sister! How much I’ve missed you this week. Ugh, there are moments when things happen that I’m like... “MAN! IF HOPE WERE HERE SHE’D BE ROLLING ON THE FLOOR LAUGHIN!” Hahaha. I so wish you were with me! I love you so much. I can’t believe the work your doing at home. I’m sure there are going to be some dull moments but keep at it! Keep being an example, because you’ll never know how much your example has effected my life. (aka – going to Africa for 4 months) J I love you!!!!

Gaby – I’m not sure if your home or not but I MISS YOU SOOOOOO MUCHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant wait to see you and be home with you at home sleeping in your bed!!!!!!!!!! Ugh…. I cant believe how long its been since I’ve seen you. I love you so much gab! Every time I look at my bracelet I’m like “awww…daby!!! I miss you bashy!” I cant wait to re-unite with you! I’m going to tackle you for at least 4 hours when I see you. I love you I love youuuuuuuuu sooo much! MUAHH!!!