How can I begin to explain the past week? Sleeping in a cabin with no electricity, showering from a water hose, and yes, using the conveniently placed port-o-johns all around camp. It has been quite a week!
Camp was so much more than I expected it to be! It challenged me spiritually, physically, and socially. I dealt with some sin in my heart that needed to be taken care of before heading out to the mission field like pride, a judgmental attitude, and just a general unbelief that God can and will do amazing things on the field. These are all things I saw in my heart and needed to offer up to God. I saw the necessity of giving Him not only my sin, but offering my entire self to Him. My expectations, fears, talents, time, relationships, hopes…everything has to be in His hands in order for Him to use me and mold me to look more like Jesus. I wrestled over this concept, and will continue to struggle with it! But this week was a great start.
I also got to make 50 new friends this week! My teammates range in age from 18 to 24 years old, and are from all over the US and Canada. As we struggled through team-building exercises this week, (like helping each other through a tangled spider web made of string without touching the boundaries, and constructing a platform for 40 people to stand on made of whatever we could find in the woods), we learned a lot about leadership, helping each other out, working together, and got to see different personalities and strengths come out. For the next 9 months we will be living together, working together, playing together. We learned this week how important it is for us to be the body of Christ together while in South Africa.
I was also challenged to expand my understanding of who God is. So many of us keep God in such a tiny box based only on our experiences and how we’ve personally seen God work. I am guilty of this. But this week, after hearing stories of others on the field and reading in the Word about the things God has and will do, I was encouraged to let God break down the walls of the box I’ve put Him in! I hope to go to South Africa with my heart open to whatever God will do there. I fully expect to be amazed and thrilled by the things I’ll see Him do!
Currently I am sitting in the Atlanta airport. Our flight for DC leaves at 1:30, and this evening we officially depart for South Africa. Pray for safe travels, and I can’t wait to update you from Jeffreys Bay!
Sara,
I’m thankful that you have such a talented and willing spirit that you want to share and serve others and you are seeking God’s direction. He will do amazing things through you, especially with your beautiful singing voice. Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you and praying for you.
hey buddie!!!!!!!!!! i miss u sooo much!!!!! it really isnt the same with out u here!
im babysitting tiff tiff right now..and i figured i would search ur blog! and i found it!!! ( i searched u on google!! ) teehee
ill try to talk to u on skype with dad…
=“`(
i miss ya!!!!!
luv u! <3!!
~Avery
Sara!
I am so excited for you and this amazing trip that you are on. Please know that God is always with you. You have so many people around the world sending up prayers for you and the people you will meet. God is using you to make an eternal difference in the lives of so many people – including your own. Let Him do whatever He wants and the stories you will see unfold will be amazing.
Maybe we can do a little Skype thing with the youth sometime soon! It would be great for us to see you “on the mission field”. Maybe it will inspire the rest of us to remember that is where we all are!
Jeff
Sara,
You are focused on the Crucified One. The One who purchased us, lavished His love on us, redeemed us, forgave us, took the punishment we deserved and has provided eternity to praise and worship Him. All this even thought we were worthless, vile and polluted. This is the One you write about, the God you serve and love and Who is the same in Africa as at home.
May you be used to bring Him great glory through His Gospel,
Ed & Annette
Sara, God Bless YOU! We are thrilled that you are searching your soul and allowing God to worth through your sin and rescue your thoughts so that you might concentrate on serving HIM! Also, we are glad that someone did not TIP OVER YOUR Port o Potty with you in it!!!!
Safe travels my and blessings on you , Mom and I love you so much!
Dad
Sara,
Hi there sweetie. Look I’m blogging!:) I’ve never blogged before. I should set up a blog on how to survive when your kids leave home. Anyway, on Monday Cindy’s song “I will go” was playing in your car CD player- the water works let loose. We have been praying for every morning and any time God brings you to our mind. you are such an inspiration to me.
Love you – Mom