t.i.a.

(Pictures coming soon, when I find a strong enough internet connection to upload)

So apparently I’m not very good at updating this consistently. My time in South Africa has come to an end, and since I last wrote I have experienced everything from traditional African barbeques, diving with Great White sharks, Hindu temples, a life changing Bollywood film, spending time in townships, and church services ranging from African Pentecostal, Indian Baptist and Afrikaner Anglican. Currently I am in Nigeria with a 24 hour lay over before continuing on to Freetown, Sierra Leone. As I reflect on the time spent in South Africa, my most valued experiences and memories were those when I was face to face with the reality of Africa and the beauty of the people there. I hope these pictures can somewhat convey what I’ve seen, the fun that I’ve had and the memories I have made.

On another note, things have been quite heavy these last couple of weeks after plans in Sierra Leone started falling apart. The organization that I had planned on being with emailed 10 days before my projected arrival in Freetown stating simply that they could not take me anymore due to their financial instability. Crushed and broken, I anticipated coming home to the Northwest in utter defeat after almost a year of planning for my time in Sierra Leone. As I sat in the dirt under the African sky, I prayed this exact prayer as recorded in my journal:

If you can hear me O God take this into your hands, ease my heart, bring about your peace, place me where I can do your will, and further your kingdom by love, grace, service, humility, patience and solidarity.

After some quick emails, I heard back from Global Rescue Mission Sierra Leone the very next day saying they are in need of both me and Heidi, for they have two volunteers leaving at the end of the month. We will be working in schools and with amputees and street children. We will be a part of many new programs beginning this year. Plans have still been rocky and wearisome but everything is coming together. Be praying for me as I travel there tomorrow morning. If you are reading this, know that you mean the world to me. Missing you all.