Two more days and then we’re packing our bags and boarding the plane.
How time has flown…
It’s a bittersweet feeling. Its sweet because I can’t WAIT to see everyone. Mom, Dad, Hope, Blesi, Stets, Colby, Mason, Mamma, Julie (and the twins) Rob, Katie-Boo, Gaby, Dan, Vince, Court, Sammi…everyone!! But it’s also bitter because, I’m leaving a place that has become home to me. A place that’s changed me. A place that holds memory after memory after memory. The kind of memories that only my family here in Africa can understand. I’ve fallen in love with everything about this country. The land, nature, people, children, smiles, hospitality, animals, weather. Just…everything!! And it’s going to tear me up inside to leave it all. Hopefully, with a lot of hard work and prayer…I’ll be back here again one day. Soon. =)
So two days…! All we are called to do now is finish strong. Not get overwhelmed with excitement or coming home, but to stay focused and not to let the things that we experienced here just be an experience or a moment. But to take everything in, and learn to now put all the things we learned these past 4 months into practice.
All I’m enabled to do is let the Lord prepare my heart. Prepare for the tests and temptations that are ahead of me. To remember the person that God has begun working in, and not look back or dwell on the things of my past.
I’m sure it’s harder said then done, but I’m not scared. I don’t fear the enemy. I’m not impressed by his schemes. But you know what I am impressed with? I’m impressed with the Lords power and strength; with His love for me, forgiveness, and grace. Now THAT is impressive.
So we left Cape Town a little over two weeks ago and we’ve come back to Mokopani, South Africa! (Inside Limpopo) Limpopo is where the Shikwaru Game Farm is, where we trained in the very very very beginning of the trip. And now we are back!!! It’s beautiful here. The farm is almost all green now. In August (which was winter) everything was dead and brown. It’s changed so much! A lot of the animals are out now. We’ve just finished our very last week of ministry and this week is break and the beginning of debrief. There are a bunch of conferences going on here, so we’ve kind of been tossed all over the Farm.
We had a very LOVELY surprise last week! Tasha and Kim Hoskins flew in and came to stay with us for a few days!! Kim was working on decorating the new BOH building, and Tasha was taking a pit stop here before she headed off to Swaziland for about a month. It was so nice to have her here!! Me, Catie and Tash roomed together for those few days.
So remember to keep Tasha in your prayers during her time in Swaziland. =)
The past two weeks we…
-Saw lions, held and feed lion cubs!
-Along with… hyenas’, zebra, giraffe, kudu, wart hogs, impala… everything!
-Switched camps several times
-Had MANY “bug” incidents (still occurring)
-Had a early Thanksgiving Dinner
-Game Drives
-Hired to be part of Shikwaru Game Farms commercial (that was an experience)
-Did hours and hours of survey imputing (not fun)
-Went to town
-Lunch with a Pastor and family
-Sean and I painted fences for hoursss
-Cleaned Shed
-Counted boxes and boxes of books IN shed
-packing
-cleaning
-dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians for Thanksgiving
-Had a "mini-Thanksgiving meal
-And tonight I'm babysitting for these two little farm kids. Ruban and Johan! =)
All that good stuff.
And that’s about it…
It’s been a pretty chill two weeks here. The days are dragged out. It’s a weird feeling when you go from going 100 mph to 10. But, it’s also good to take a breather after a few months like the months we had.
SO! All that to say… I’M COMING HOME!!!!!
I will be seeing all your lovely faces this Wednesday, December 3rd! (Well, family)
I can not even WAIT to tell you guys all about this experience and hopefully drag you guys along with me on my next journey!!!!! =) You guys have been more then I could ever ask for while I was gone. Your prayers have been heard and God has been with me every step of the way through this last season of my life. Without a doubt.
I still can’t believe how fast this all went by! I’m so excited to see you guys!!!!!! I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!
I’LL SEE YOU SOOON!!!!
-Charleeeeee!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
CAPE TOWN.
The adventures in Cape Town!
So, our adventure here in Cape Town has quickly come to an end. =(. We’re packing up tomorrow and leaving Tuesday morning. I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by. We have been here for almost two weeks and I feel like just yesterday we we’re pulling into Lucinda and Shaun’s driveway! Our time here has been INCREDIBLE! Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places in all the earth. Even if you were to try to pick out Cape Towns flaws, you can’t! It’s just that perfect. I think of it as a glimpse of heaven. ;) Haha.
THIS WEEK!! We have…
-Hiked Table Mountain, yes…HIKED it. And when I say hike, I don’t mean…there is a paved trail that we get to follow. I mean ROCK CLIMBING, no trail, find your way to the top, try not to slip and fall off the side of the mountain…HIKE. It was predicted to take 3 hours. I ventured off by myself because the rest we’re slow…and made it in an hour and a half (that’s my dads genes right there =)) It was amazing though! The view at the top was indescribable. I couldn’t believe it. I felt like I was looking at half the world. It put me back into perspective of exactly how small I really am. Haha.
-We did a lot of street ministry. I love doing stuff like that, because I know that the work we are doing is going to these kids that so badly need the truth. They get so excited for a cup of soup and a piece of bread. All you can really do is love on them. These children have gripped such a large part of my heart, since I’ve lived here. I no longer look at them as just “kids”…but there the Lords children. He loves them so much! It becomes habit to fall in love with them in 5 minutes. At this one neighborhood, I had my Colby/Mason fix because my eyes caught onto this one girl, Ashley, she was two years old…had a 3 day old sister and a 17 year old mom. I grabbed her as soon as I saw her and held her in my arms…she clung to me after that and we we’re inseparable for the rest of the afternoon. =) She was the BEST! Then this other girl, she was a TOTAL hoodrat, her name was Shirry-Ann. She was such a punk! She wasn’t “bad”… she was the tough girl out of the bunch. She stuck with me too. I saw myself in her, so we clicked.
-We also did ministry with some farm kids (5 families living in a two bedroom house) They we’re attention deprived, so that was interesting. God opened big doors there.
-We also met these two young couples that are missionaries from a Calvary in California. They’ve been living in South Africa for almost two years…so it was cool being around Americans for a few days. Haha. They we’re the ones who hooked us up with the ministry. They planted a church down here, so we went to that this morning. Gods really got his hand on that church, it was neat to see the Lord at work!
-We also went to Cape of Good Hope!! (Where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet.) That was sick. Saw seals swimming in the ocean!! Haha!
-We saw penguins on the beaches!
-We did some shopping at the Green Market.
-Daneli surprised us with a Tour Bus ride around Cape Town.
-And lastly! We went to this amazing restaurant and saw cheetahs!! Some of us got to pet them! It was crazyyy. Really, really cool.
I’m probably forgetting a bunch of stuff, but maybe that’s better! You guys will just have to wait till I’m home to hear all the adventure stories of Africa. Which is SOON!
God is just becoming so real to me. I don’t know how else to put it. He’s just real. He’s so real. He answers all my prayers and listens to all my complaints. But He still cares about me as an individual! I must annoy Him so much with all my questions and doubts, but knowing God…He just laughs them off and loves me the way I am! He made me this way, and he deals with me and teaches me. He never stops teaching me. I know coming home is going to be the big test, and that is something the Lord is preparing me for. I’ve already gotten a little taste of it all the way over here in South Africa. But, what can I do? I keep going. I put Satan’s attacks behind me, and don’t give him any foothold over my life. I press on, and hope in the Lord. Because sometimes…that’s really all you can do. God is a KING. He’s a warrior and He loves fighting battles for us. I’m just learning how to let go, and give him all mine to fight.
We heard OBAMA BANLADEN is the President. If you guys are held hostage for some reason, let me know and I’ll make myself very comfortable here until war inside America is over. Hahah, just kidding. But seriously.
I MISS YOU GUYS STILL!! And I love you guys tons!
God’s been stretching me to finish strong! I’m big on finishing what I started, but it’s all about finishing STRONG. NO SLACKING. =) Haha.
We’ve got a three day drive when we leave here on Tuesday, and you can only imagine how stretching that is. 8 people, 8 seats, no air, no room, 3 days.
Be praying for safety and strength!
AND A BIG, BIG, BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAMMA!!!!! I didn’t forget! On Saturday I told everyone it was your birthday and prayed blessing over your day and this next year! I wish I could have been there for it. =( I miss you and love you tons! I hope you had an amazing birthday! I LOVE YOU!
Thank you guys for everythinggggg! I couldn’t be happier with the family and friends I’m SO blessed with! I LOVE YOU! I’ll write soon!!!!!
Love always, always, always,
CHAR!
So, our adventure here in Cape Town has quickly come to an end. =(. We’re packing up tomorrow and leaving Tuesday morning. I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by. We have been here for almost two weeks and I feel like just yesterday we we’re pulling into Lucinda and Shaun’s driveway! Our time here has been INCREDIBLE! Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places in all the earth. Even if you were to try to pick out Cape Towns flaws, you can’t! It’s just that perfect. I think of it as a glimpse of heaven. ;) Haha.
THIS WEEK!! We have…
-Hiked Table Mountain, yes…HIKED it. And when I say hike, I don’t mean…there is a paved trail that we get to follow. I mean ROCK CLIMBING, no trail, find your way to the top, try not to slip and fall off the side of the mountain…HIKE. It was predicted to take 3 hours. I ventured off by myself because the rest we’re slow…and made it in an hour and a half (that’s my dads genes right there =)) It was amazing though! The view at the top was indescribable. I couldn’t believe it. I felt like I was looking at half the world. It put me back into perspective of exactly how small I really am. Haha.
-We did a lot of street ministry. I love doing stuff like that, because I know that the work we are doing is going to these kids that so badly need the truth. They get so excited for a cup of soup and a piece of bread. All you can really do is love on them. These children have gripped such a large part of my heart, since I’ve lived here. I no longer look at them as just “kids”…but there the Lords children. He loves them so much! It becomes habit to fall in love with them in 5 minutes. At this one neighborhood, I had my Colby/Mason fix because my eyes caught onto this one girl, Ashley, she was two years old…had a 3 day old sister and a 17 year old mom. I grabbed her as soon as I saw her and held her in my arms…she clung to me after that and we we’re inseparable for the rest of the afternoon. =) She was the BEST! Then this other girl, she was a TOTAL hoodrat, her name was Shirry-Ann. She was such a punk! She wasn’t “bad”… she was the tough girl out of the bunch. She stuck with me too. I saw myself in her, so we clicked.
-We also did ministry with some farm kids (5 families living in a two bedroom house) They we’re attention deprived, so that was interesting. God opened big doors there.
-We also met these two young couples that are missionaries from a Calvary in California. They’ve been living in South Africa for almost two years…so it was cool being around Americans for a few days. Haha. They we’re the ones who hooked us up with the ministry. They planted a church down here, so we went to that this morning. Gods really got his hand on that church, it was neat to see the Lord at work!
-We also went to Cape of Good Hope!! (Where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet.) That was sick. Saw seals swimming in the ocean!! Haha!
-We saw penguins on the beaches!
-We did some shopping at the Green Market.
-Daneli surprised us with a Tour Bus ride around Cape Town.
-And lastly! We went to this amazing restaurant and saw cheetahs!! Some of us got to pet them! It was crazyyy. Really, really cool.
I’m probably forgetting a bunch of stuff, but maybe that’s better! You guys will just have to wait till I’m home to hear all the adventure stories of Africa. Which is SOON!
God is just becoming so real to me. I don’t know how else to put it. He’s just real. He’s so real. He answers all my prayers and listens to all my complaints. But He still cares about me as an individual! I must annoy Him so much with all my questions and doubts, but knowing God…He just laughs them off and loves me the way I am! He made me this way, and he deals with me and teaches me. He never stops teaching me. I know coming home is going to be the big test, and that is something the Lord is preparing me for. I’ve already gotten a little taste of it all the way over here in South Africa. But, what can I do? I keep going. I put Satan’s attacks behind me, and don’t give him any foothold over my life. I press on, and hope in the Lord. Because sometimes…that’s really all you can do. God is a KING. He’s a warrior and He loves fighting battles for us. I’m just learning how to let go, and give him all mine to fight.
We heard OBAMA BANLADEN is the President. If you guys are held hostage for some reason, let me know and I’ll make myself very comfortable here until war inside America is over. Hahah, just kidding. But seriously.
I MISS YOU GUYS STILL!! And I love you guys tons!
God’s been stretching me to finish strong! I’m big on finishing what I started, but it’s all about finishing STRONG. NO SLACKING. =) Haha.
We’ve got a three day drive when we leave here on Tuesday, and you can only imagine how stretching that is. 8 people, 8 seats, no air, no room, 3 days.
Be praying for safety and strength!
AND A BIG, BIG, BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAMMA!!!!! I didn’t forget! On Saturday I told everyone it was your birthday and prayed blessing over your day and this next year! I wish I could have been there for it. =( I miss you and love you tons! I hope you had an amazing birthday! I LOVE YOU!
Thank you guys for everythinggggg! I couldn’t be happier with the family and friends I’m SO blessed with! I LOVE YOU! I’ll write soon!!!!!
Love always, always, always,
CHAR!
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