Oh where to start? Well, I'll start with where I left off! Yesterday afternoon I received a call from my study abroad advisor back at UMSL. I explained to her the problems I'd been having, and also my concern about how this would affect my grades and gpa back home. She told me that they didn't advertise this to students prior to going abroad because they didn't want them to blow off classes, but they were very flexible in how grades transferred back home. They know other universities have different standards and they look more at how the students have done in their previous semesters to see how their grades should factor in. Basically, I just need to pass my classes here, and I'll be ok. As she was saying this, it all sort of started clicking in my head. The fact that somehow I got a schedule where I only have classes on Monday and Tuesdays, and that I don't need to devote as much time to them as I would back in the states, is more confirmation that God doesn't want me focusing on them.
Last night I went to a prayer meeting at Jubilee. I walked into the room and just had to smile, because it was set up the exact same way we set up prayer meetings back home, chairs and all! Anyway, we started with a time of worship, and the Spirit just FELL on us. Lots of pictures and words, and we all broke up and started praying for one another. As Jo, myself, and another lady were praying for this women, she was just slain in the Spirit! I haven't seen that since I was a little girl! I looked around and saw others too, amazing! The ladies that prayed for me were so encouraging too. One of the ladies kept praying phrases from Isaiah 61, which was God because there's no way she could've known those are the promises He's spoken to me! Afterwards, my phone rang, and it was parents calling! It was so good to talk to them!
Today I met with one of the college leaders, and she gave me some good pointers for where to get involved. I then met with the overseer of all the volunteering at Jubilee, and am going to try some things out next week. I told her my whole story: of how I'd always wanted to come here, my fiascos with UWC, etc. Before I left she prayed for me, and told me that she felt like God wanted to say to me "Well done", and He's proud of how I have handled this."I of course started to cry, as that was so what I needed to hear, and felt really relieved and encouraged.
The most amazing thing about today is that I've found out about 2 separate events of people praying for me. I was just talking to my sister Jo, and she told me she was awake at 3:30 her time, praying for God's comfort and peace for me...turns out that was the exact time I was meeting with this woman! Also my boyfriend Mitch met a man last week who was a believer and ended up telling him of my problems here. Last Tuesday at 2 am this guy, who doesn't even know me, woke up feeling like he needed to be praying for me--that was when I was meeting with the professor at UWC and was about reaching my lowest point. To know God had someone praying for me meant that was most likely why I was even able to get through that meeting! Amazing! And I know of how many people back home who have been praying, and I am convinved that has given me the strength at this beginning point, so thank you thank you THANK YOU. It's incredible to be in God's family!
Tonight we are having some students who are also international (Norwegian, Dutch, Germans, etc.) over for a Braii ( a South Africa BBQ that is very popular here). Tomorrow I am going to visit children in a very poor area of town with Jess Loizides, and will be going to the beach on Saturday I believe! I'm starting to stand out a little less with my paleness :)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The rollercoaster continues...
Week Two is starting out just about as bumpy as week one. We went to campus on Monday for classes and it turned out to be a madhouse. They extended registering for a classes an extra week, which meant that we were not allowed to add or drop any classes until next week. It also turns out 2 of the classes I had hoped to take that would count towards my major were not actually being offered. So right now I have 2 classes that should help me advance towards graduation instead of 4.
The past 2 days on campus has been incredibly stressful and difficult. I've had to trust God like never before while being terrified. I cannot even begin to describe it as there is nothing that comes close to this campus in the States. Classes being switched around, professors don't know what books they need, students protesting outside deans offices, lines that wrap around buildings...it's been incredibly hard on campus.The only thing that has kept me sane is knowing God has brought me here for a purpose, even if I don't know the reason yet. The only fortunate thing about these classes is they only meet once a week, thus I would only have class Monday and Tuesday. In praying about this, that would free up a lot of my time. I think I'm going to use that time to serve the Church. I'm going to talk to some people at Jubilee, and just see where I can serve. I still have not had the time to really connect with any one there other than the Loizides, and I know the more I get involved at Jubilee and know people, the more I will start to feel at home here.
When I put the whole UWC mess aside and just consider the fact that I'm in South Africa, I'm overwhelmed with gladness. I don't regret this at all, and even with this being an incredibly scary and frustrating time, I KNOW I am supposed to be here. God is indeed stretching me, and I'm just having to repeat the truth that He is GOOD all the time, and He is faithful.
The house we moved into does not have internet, something we were not told when we moved in. We are currently attempting to get it, but it's very different from the States--we have to get a landline installed before we can buy internet, and since we are not from SA, things are even more tricky. I obviously can go to internet cafe's, but I can't at night, as that would have me walking back home after dark, which is absolutely not an option here. So, communication may be irregular or weird until I am able to get that set up, IF I am able to. So, bear with me!
It has been 10 days since I left the States! Sounds like a small number, but that has flown, maybe because I have been in survival mode getting all the basic necessities taken care of. I would ask of you to please keep praying for me, not just in terms of getting the house livable and classes and such, but direction for my time here. Also, please pray against loneliness. I know when things settle down I'll have time to eventually make friends, but right now,besides the other three UM students with me, the Loizides are my only friends, and incredible friends they are!
This week is a week of prayer at Jubilee, and tonight is their corporate meeting. This afternoon I think Jo is going to take me to get a few necessities for my room, and I will go to that meeting tonight. Tomorrow morning I am having coffee with the college ministry leader at Jubilee; I'm excited to meet with her. Each morning I've just asked God for the grace for that day. I'm excited to be where I know I'm supposed to be, I love the locals, the feel of this city, the whole "Africa-ness" of it all. Despite the rough time with UWC, I am so happy to be here.
The past 2 days on campus has been incredibly stressful and difficult. I've had to trust God like never before while being terrified. I cannot even begin to describe it as there is nothing that comes close to this campus in the States. Classes being switched around, professors don't know what books they need, students protesting outside deans offices, lines that wrap around buildings...it's been incredibly hard on campus.The only thing that has kept me sane is knowing God has brought me here for a purpose, even if I don't know the reason yet. The only fortunate thing about these classes is they only meet once a week, thus I would only have class Monday and Tuesday. In praying about this, that would free up a lot of my time. I think I'm going to use that time to serve the Church. I'm going to talk to some people at Jubilee, and just see where I can serve. I still have not had the time to really connect with any one there other than the Loizides, and I know the more I get involved at Jubilee and know people, the more I will start to feel at home here.
When I put the whole UWC mess aside and just consider the fact that I'm in South Africa, I'm overwhelmed with gladness. I don't regret this at all, and even with this being an incredibly scary and frustrating time, I KNOW I am supposed to be here. God is indeed stretching me, and I'm just having to repeat the truth that He is GOOD all the time, and He is faithful.
The house we moved into does not have internet, something we were not told when we moved in. We are currently attempting to get it, but it's very different from the States--we have to get a landline installed before we can buy internet, and since we are not from SA, things are even more tricky. I obviously can go to internet cafe's, but I can't at night, as that would have me walking back home after dark, which is absolutely not an option here. So, communication may be irregular or weird until I am able to get that set up, IF I am able to. So, bear with me!
It has been 10 days since I left the States! Sounds like a small number, but that has flown, maybe because I have been in survival mode getting all the basic necessities taken care of. I would ask of you to please keep praying for me, not just in terms of getting the house livable and classes and such, but direction for my time here. Also, please pray against loneliness. I know when things settle down I'll have time to eventually make friends, but right now,besides the other three UM students with me, the Loizides are my only friends, and incredible friends they are!
This week is a week of prayer at Jubilee, and tonight is their corporate meeting. This afternoon I think Jo is going to take me to get a few necessities for my room, and I will go to that meeting tonight. Tomorrow morning I am having coffee with the college ministry leader at Jubilee; I'm excited to meet with her. Each morning I've just asked God for the grace for that day. I'm excited to be where I know I'm supposed to be, I love the locals, the feel of this city, the whole "Africa-ness" of it all. Despite the rough time with UWC, I am so happy to be here.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
So loved
As I was sent off, it was with incredible support and love from everyone back home. My friend Gretchen made a "digital letter" for me to watch while I'm here. I BAWLED when she showed me it before I left, just undone. I lead such a blessed life, and I have some amazing relationships!
This is the slideshow; many of you are in it! :)
This is the slideshow; many of you are in it! :)
Homelessness, Hostels in China, Massive "Queus",and the amazing family of God
**DISCLAIMER** This post will be ridiculously long, as I let a very filled week go by before having time to update it. Feel free to skim, not read, or leave open for a few days. I'll try to do better on more frequent and thus shorter posts. For those who don't want to read it all, I'm alive and well, so you are good to go :)
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Sorry for the lack of blogging! You'll understand why after this post. Let me catch y'all up to speed on my first week here:
-Saying goodbye was incredibly hard. It took alot of courage and God giving me strength to say goodbye to everything that I knew and loved. I was excited, but also really sad. It was great to be at Mobilise that last weekend and be close to everyone. I had about 16 letters from friends to read on the plane; I felt incredibly loved and supported.
-Tuesday morning we went to UWC. We, including the UM professor who went with us and had been there before, were all under the impression that we would be able to live on campus for a week or two while they helped us find somewhere off campus to live. None of us wanted to live on campus, because it's away from everything. Obs is an area where loads of students live, and coincidentally, where Jubilee is located. We all wanted to live there. We found out upon arrival, that we could live on campus for a week, but would be charged for the whole semester, and that they didn't have any housing leads for us. We, with all our luggage, were then place in a random room with a really slow internet connection to find for ourselves. Finding homes in a foreign country is just a little difficult, fyi. The director showed us a website with a hostel in Obs we could stay in on Wednesday-Sunday, but it had no openings for that night. We then used that website to find a hostel for that night in Obs. We found one for really cheap, reserved it, printed it off the website, showed it to the lady. At 6 our driver came to pick us up. We showed him the reservation and he said," I...can't take you here." Thinking it was really unsafe or something, we asked why. He said "Because its in China man!". China. CHINA. We booked a hostel in CHINA,and the lady didn't even point it out! At that point we all started laughing because it ws ridiculous. He took us to this other hostel that we roughed it out for a night. Unbelievable first night, and there were guys and girls in our room in this hostel, so I didn't sleep very well.
-Wednesday was orientation, but none of us could pay any attention because we were all preoccupied with trying to find a house! The one useful part was the tour of campus, which we had to miss to go view a house, which turned out to not work out.
-Thursday was registration, which we were warned would be a nightmare. Student formed a queu (which is a line here, we had to ask) that went out the main doors down the streets! We got to bypass it, and we were all still in line from 10-5. At one point they gave me another girls student number, then said my account didn't show I had paid, so I had to wait for the same lady to clear my account; it was nervewracking. They then registered me for a whole year! I didn't bother to correct them; on Monday I'll go find the place to drop classes. We went back to our hostel, exhausted. We went to a Braii ( a South African BBQ; very popular here) with students from Norway and the Netherlands and other countries that night. By Thursday, I was so weary and overwhelmed and nervous about the house thing that I wasn't enjoying myself at all.
-Friday morning I woke up and explored Obs a bit. I found Jubilee, and went in and met a few people! I got to see Lex briefly, which was really neat. He said "Oh you're so pale, we must get you in the sun--she's coming from winter in the states!" We then went to a house showing. Not ideal, but in Obs and we could move in the following week,so we took it. It's by the train, so it will be loud, but its alright. It was weird that the first lease I've ever signed was in South Africa! I was incredibly relieved and thankful to God for providing, even with no help from the university here. Later on Jo Loizedes picked me up and we went to their place. Lex taught me to play cricket with him and his son, John. They were very easy on me, and I managed to win the second game, which Lex was nonplussed about..but then again, they held back alot :) Had dinner, then Lex and Jo showed me all around Cape. It was BREATHTAKING. Nothing I can say can describe it; I fell in love with it all immediately. After dark we went to Mount Nelson, a very fancy English hotel, and chatted over wine for a long time. It was the best thing since arriving!
-Saturday morning I went with Jess Loizedes to Kids Club. It's a ministry of Jubilee for kids from very poor areas. We played with and loved on about 65 African kids. Complete chaos, but so fun. We fed them waffles on ice cream (don't ask me, it was good though). That afternoon Jo and their kids and I went to Simon's Town, on the inside of the Cape, where I saw the Indian Ocean for the first time! Again, gorgeous. I spent the evening with them again as well; I am so thankful for them!
Today I went to Jubilee--it was SO SO neat to go to a church on the otherside of the world and feel like family!! We sang songs that had Xhosa, French, and English all in them. Tonight they meet again, and lots of students go to that meeting, so I'm going to go as well. Classes start tomorrow, which I'm sure will be disorganized and crazy again. :)
That's a summary of my first week. It started off pretty bad, and at some points I was terrified, but this weekend has been awesome. I'm so excited that I live so close to Jubilee, and for making some friends and getting involved. Again, sorry for such a long post; I'll keep them shorter next time! If you want to see pictures and videos, I have some on Facebook.
************************************************************************************
Sorry for the lack of blogging! You'll understand why after this post. Let me catch y'all up to speed on my first week here:
-Saying goodbye was incredibly hard. It took alot of courage and God giving me strength to say goodbye to everything that I knew and loved. I was excited, but also really sad. It was great to be at Mobilise that last weekend and be close to everyone. I had about 16 letters from friends to read on the plane; I felt incredibly loved and supported.
-Tuesday morning we went to UWC. We, including the UM professor who went with us and had been there before, were all under the impression that we would be able to live on campus for a week or two while they helped us find somewhere off campus to live. None of us wanted to live on campus, because it's away from everything. Obs is an area where loads of students live, and coincidentally, where Jubilee is located. We all wanted to live there. We found out upon arrival, that we could live on campus for a week, but would be charged for the whole semester, and that they didn't have any housing leads for us. We, with all our luggage, were then place in a random room with a really slow internet connection to find for ourselves. Finding homes in a foreign country is just a little difficult, fyi. The director showed us a website with a hostel in Obs we could stay in on Wednesday-Sunday, but it had no openings for that night. We then used that website to find a hostel for that night in Obs. We found one for really cheap, reserved it, printed it off the website, showed it to the lady. At 6 our driver came to pick us up. We showed him the reservation and he said," I...can't take you here." Thinking it was really unsafe or something, we asked why. He said "Because its in China man!". China. CHINA. We booked a hostel in CHINA,and the lady didn't even point it out! At that point we all started laughing because it ws ridiculous. He took us to this other hostel that we roughed it out for a night. Unbelievable first night, and there were guys and girls in our room in this hostel, so I didn't sleep very well.
-Wednesday was orientation, but none of us could pay any attention because we were all preoccupied with trying to find a house! The one useful part was the tour of campus, which we had to miss to go view a house, which turned out to not work out.
-Thursday was registration, which we were warned would be a nightmare. Student formed a queu (which is a line here, we had to ask) that went out the main doors down the streets! We got to bypass it, and we were all still in line from 10-5. At one point they gave me another girls student number, then said my account didn't show I had paid, so I had to wait for the same lady to clear my account; it was nervewracking. They then registered me for a whole year! I didn't bother to correct them; on Monday I'll go find the place to drop classes. We went back to our hostel, exhausted. We went to a Braii ( a South African BBQ; very popular here) with students from Norway and the Netherlands and other countries that night. By Thursday, I was so weary and overwhelmed and nervous about the house thing that I wasn't enjoying myself at all.
-Friday morning I woke up and explored Obs a bit. I found Jubilee, and went in and met a few people! I got to see Lex briefly, which was really neat. He said "Oh you're so pale, we must get you in the sun--she's coming from winter in the states!" We then went to a house showing. Not ideal, but in Obs and we could move in the following week,so we took it. It's by the train, so it will be loud, but its alright. It was weird that the first lease I've ever signed was in South Africa! I was incredibly relieved and thankful to God for providing, even with no help from the university here. Later on Jo Loizedes picked me up and we went to their place. Lex taught me to play cricket with him and his son, John. They were very easy on me, and I managed to win the second game, which Lex was nonplussed about..but then again, they held back alot :) Had dinner, then Lex and Jo showed me all around Cape. It was BREATHTAKING. Nothing I can say can describe it; I fell in love with it all immediately. After dark we went to Mount Nelson, a very fancy English hotel, and chatted over wine for a long time. It was the best thing since arriving!
-Saturday morning I went with Jess Loizedes to Kids Club. It's a ministry of Jubilee for kids from very poor areas. We played with and loved on about 65 African kids. Complete chaos, but so fun. We fed them waffles on ice cream (don't ask me, it was good though). That afternoon Jo and their kids and I went to Simon's Town, on the inside of the Cape, where I saw the Indian Ocean for the first time! Again, gorgeous. I spent the evening with them again as well; I am so thankful for them!
Today I went to Jubilee--it was SO SO neat to go to a church on the otherside of the world and feel like family!! We sang songs that had Xhosa, French, and English all in them. Tonight they meet again, and lots of students go to that meeting, so I'm going to go as well. Classes start tomorrow, which I'm sure will be disorganized and crazy again. :)
That's a summary of my first week. It started off pretty bad, and at some points I was terrified, but this weekend has been awesome. I'm so excited that I live so close to Jubilee, and for making some friends and getting involved. Again, sorry for such a long post; I'll keep them shorter next time! If you want to see pictures and videos, I have some on Facebook.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Last post from this side of the world..
Well, the never ending prep work is finally done. All that's left to do now is pack, which will be a huge undertaking as well, because I leave in SIX days! That's right folks, on Sunday I will be boarding a plane to Cape Town. My emotions are everywhere, but in between the ups and downs God has given me an excitement that has been steady. I'm nervous, yet excited. I'm sad, yet excited. How that works, I'm not entirely sure, but I'm going with it. This weekend I went back to my parents house to leave my car with them, and found my "Nation Notebook" that I did when I was in the 6th grade about South Africa. The past week or so I've just been really struck with the kindness of God towards me. As I packed and left my school, where I've been for the past 2 and a half years, I was grateful for such the fun college experience He gave me. And now, He's provided this incredible opportunity for me that I've dreamed of since I was a little girl. He really does give us the desires of our heart!
That's not to say, however, that I haven't felt really nervous and scared about the whole thing. I really don't know what to expect about alot of it, and it's this great big unknown. Leaving everyone I love and going some place completely on my own has given me a new awe in the fact that the God I worship here is the same God over there. In admist everything changing, He is the same. He's going with me and holding me hand, and I am so grateful.
Wrapping up this post, I do have some specific items that I would really appreciate prayer for:
1) Living situation: I don't know anymore if I will be on campus or off. I'll start off on campus, but it's my strong desire to live in Observatory, an area of town that is close to Jubilee. If I'm on campus, it will be difficult for me to get involved in Jubilee. However, living on campus is more convenient and cheaper, as renters will want to up the rent once they know it is American student who will be living. It's hard for me right now not knowing where I'm going to live, and knowing I'm going to have to figure that all out when I get there, in addition to being a new country and figuring out life there.
2) Classes: I've gotten several of their classes pre-approved for credit at UMSL, but I don't know how many, if any, of those classes will be offered this semester, and once again, won't know till I get there. If they aren't, I have to figure out classes that hopefully will count towards my degree, but won't know until I get back home! Like the living situation, somewhat nerve-wracking, but an awesome opportunity to learn a greater dependance on God :)
3) Adjusting to life there: protection from the enemy's lies and feeling of loneliness is huge for me. Also that I could really hit it off initially with some people from Jubilee and begin forming relationships with them there. I know that will really help me feel like I have family away from family here.
"But let ALL who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as a shield."-ps. 5:11-12
You'll hear from me again when I'm on the other side of the world!
That's not to say, however, that I haven't felt really nervous and scared about the whole thing. I really don't know what to expect about alot of it, and it's this great big unknown. Leaving everyone I love and going some place completely on my own has given me a new awe in the fact that the God I worship here is the same God over there. In admist everything changing, He is the same. He's going with me and holding me hand, and I am so grateful.
Wrapping up this post, I do have some specific items that I would really appreciate prayer for:
1) Living situation: I don't know anymore if I will be on campus or off. I'll start off on campus, but it's my strong desire to live in Observatory, an area of town that is close to Jubilee. If I'm on campus, it will be difficult for me to get involved in Jubilee. However, living on campus is more convenient and cheaper, as renters will want to up the rent once they know it is American student who will be living. It's hard for me right now not knowing where I'm going to live, and knowing I'm going to have to figure that all out when I get there, in addition to being a new country and figuring out life there.
2) Classes: I've gotten several of their classes pre-approved for credit at UMSL, but I don't know how many, if any, of those classes will be offered this semester, and once again, won't know till I get there. If they aren't, I have to figure out classes that hopefully will count towards my degree, but won't know until I get back home! Like the living situation, somewhat nerve-wracking, but an awesome opportunity to learn a greater dependance on God :)
3) Adjusting to life there: protection from the enemy's lies and feeling of loneliness is huge for me. Also that I could really hit it off initially with some people from Jubilee and begin forming relationships with them there. I know that will really help me feel like I have family away from family here.
"But let ALL who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as a shield."-ps. 5:11-12
You'll hear from me again when I'm on the other side of the world!
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