Reality

HELLO ALL!

 

I have officially been here a month and a week! :)

 

While I am so happy to be back in beautiful South Africa and out of the stage of waiting and waiting and more waiting on my visa I have to be honest and say that my transition here has been much harder than anticipated. On day three I basically broke down in tears because everything was extremely overwhelming. I got here and stepped into the middle of a 10 week summer internship for college students. I wanted so badly to jump 100% in but I had to take a step back and realize that doing that the first day I got here was not the healthiest way to transition into life in Africa. So after breaking down to my team (which are wonderful and supportive people) I decided it was best for me to stop putting so much pressure on myself to immediately step into everything around me. Who was I kidding?!? I need to get my life sorted out here. I need a car, insurance, internet... all the basic things that you need to live life.

 

So, just this week I finally have internet in my room and I have the ability to be my introverted self and go into my cocoon. :) I have also been trying to get a car for about 3 weeks and it is just taking a little while to get sorted out. Oh and I still don't have a TV license. Ha I will figure that out hopefully this week!

 

But, here are some things I would LOVE prayers for:

- Impact (The summer internship) will be over August 1st. Please keep all of the students in your prayers as God continues to shape them these last weeks.

- Pray for after Impact and for my team! After Impact is over is when we can finally begin focusing on our house church and discipleship.

- Please pray for my personal guidance and clarity from God. I have some personal things going on that I need His wisdom in.

- Continued transition into life here in SA.

- Pray for the hearts of those the Lord is calling me and my team to disciple.

- And you are more than welcome to join in with me as I praise Him daily for the incredible blessings He is bestowing on me!!!

 

And here are a few things that have been goin on around here:

 

This past week we had a camp for kids. I was in charge of the lovely "Chubby Bunny" station where I was spit on quite a bit. :)

And this was a game which involved eating M&Ms out of a pan of powdered sugar.

 

And these are just some of the awesome Impacter's here this summer (also known as SA's winter).



 

Blessings!

Tv License?

Hello from South Africa!

 

It is great to finally be here. So far I have just been trying to settle in to my new home and get everything that I need. It has been a tad rough transitioning but the Lord is faithful and He is sustaining me. But here's a little story of what it has been like so far...

 

So, this past Monday I was determined to get things done. So I borrowed a car and went to the mall alone for the first time. I decided I needed to buy a TV because watching movies is how I relax and I have no way of watching them right now. I went into the store and picked out a TV and told the sales guy that I wanted to purchase it. He looked at me and told me it was a great choice and then said, "Now here comes the hard part! You have to have a TV license." I say, "I am sorry! What exactly is a TV license?" He then goes on to explain that in order to purchase a TV you have to go to the post office and pay for a license. He also said, "But the good news is that once you get one then you have it for life, you just have to pay an annual fee." .... (I have a blank stare on my face) I asked him what would happen if I didn't want the license eventually and I didn't want to continue to pay the fee. He then proceeds to explain that it is actually a difficult process getting rid of the license and you have to prove to them that you no longer own a TV. Needless to say I left the store frustrated.

 

After leaving that store I decide I would buy some groceries so I go into the store and pick up a basket. I thought I would get some kiwi so I get a plastic bag and then remember that you have to weigh all your fruit here before you go to the check out. So, I put down the bag and walk out because I just can't handle it.

 

Then I head to my car. Well, here when you first come into a parking garage you get a ticket and before you leave you have to pay for the ticket. So I pay and get in the car. Well, I am leaving and the machine does not accept my ticket. Then I have to call for help.... It was rough.

 

So, I get home and Ashley (my teammate) and I decide we are going to try and figure out if my internet will work. I haven't been able to get internet in my room yet so it's on my list to figure out what exactly to do. So Ashley and I proceed to try to fix the internet for the next two hours and well.... I still don't have internet in my room.

 

This may sound like extremely minor things to you but when you have just moved to a new country these little things are huge and cause incredible frustration and disappointment. So the day started out with me being optimistic that I would have things done by the end of the day and I got to the end and there was nothing done.... :(

 

 But, the next day I was able to go shopping with Ashley and I bought a ton. AND today I got a car! It is not yet in my possession but it should be in a few days. So YAY!!!!!!! Pictures will come later.

 

So here are a few pics of my new home and other stuff...

 

So I am finally with these wonderful people.

 

When I came home for the first time there were a lot of people from a summer internship we do here every year waiting at my new home. They made me signs! It was a great surprise. :)

 

 My bedroom

 

 

 

 

I have two closets. :)

 

 

The backyard

 

 The interns at Impact did a whole day of kids games.

 

 We all went to Cape Point which was so wonderful because that is near where I lived in 2012.

 

 Oh Hout Bay! This is just around the corner from where I lived before. I cried when I say it again.

 

And we also did our first annual "real talk" girls conference. Ashley and I hope this is the first of many.

 

That's about it!

 

:) 

 

 

Anticipation...

Patience! This is a word I know entirely too well after these last few months.

 

As you all should know April 15th was supposed to be a huge day for me. It was supposed to be the day that God begins my journey in South Africa. I woke up that morning wondering if I would be on my flight that afternoon. I packed.... I went to go get my last pedicure with my mom... While sitting there getting my toe nails done I got the call. Was I going to be leaving April 15th? No!

 

While this experience was completely paralyzing it is a good story and its pretty funny. When I got the call and immediately started crying all the women in the salon were freaking out and grabbing me tissues and every single eye was on me. I am sure one day I will think back and only see the blessings on that day.... Actually, I think that day has already come. I remember my heart sinking the moment I saw a call coming in from Washington DC but I also remember what happened next. I remember my teammates, Casper and Ashley, calling me immediately from South Africa heart broken for me. I remember my mom taking me shopping and buying me a blue bracelet that she told me I have to wear to remember her while I am in Africa. This may seem so simple to some people reading this but you have to understand the context. The weeks prior to April 15th I had been completely stressed trying to make sure everything was working out with my visa because a million and one things were going wrong. So, because of that stress my last few weeks at home with my mom were not the easiest. This time of shopping and being with my mom was so special to me and its a great memory on one of the hardest days. :)

 

Thus begins a journey that I am not sure I am able to describe. Things kept happening with my visa that I knew it would not be the next day or the next week that I got my passport back. These last 49 days of waiting have been some of the hardest yet strangest days of my life. It feels like the desert. I have been in a place where I have no purpose, absolutely ZERO control, and what feels like complete nothingness. People ask how I am doing or feeling and I usually respond with, "......."

There are no words!

 

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." -Romans 8:26

These words have a new meaning! There were many days when I could not hold myself up and I fell to my knees and cried. Complete brokenness.

 

Then on May 10th a reason was revealed of why I am still here in Texas. Around 12:45 am my granddaddy passed away after a stroke. I was actually in Houston when I got the news of the stroke and had 4 and a half hours to reflect and realize how grateful I am for the Lord keeping me here during this time. I thought for sure that my visa would come that week but while I was sitting next to my granddad in the hospital I got news that something else had gone wrong with my visa and it could be months more. Even writing this now I have tears in my eyes because it has felt as if there is a chisel breaking me little by little.

 

Even though everything that has been happening has been hard I have never been angry at God or felt distant. Do you ever notice those couples who have been together for 50 years and they can sit and have dinner in complete silence because they are so comfortable with each other?!? That's kind of what it feels like. I know He is there and I know He is looking out for me but there are no words. All I can do is trust in the God who loves me more than I can imagine. All I can do is live out the words I have always read and believed, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.

 

And now.... well, on Friday I received a message that said, "Jennifer, your visa is ready!"

Talk about a SHOCK! Again, no words! There is absolutely no reason why all of a sudden it would come through but I have decided that I don't care or need to know.

 

So now I am sitting by my front door writing this and waiting....

I'm hoping that my last line I type will be, "IT'S HERE!" with a picture of me holding it!

 

While I am waiting I am reminded of everyone who has been praying for me. I can't tell you how much it means to have people praying for me when I can't. It brought me so much comfort in those times that I wished I could find the words but couldn't. Thank you for interceding for me!

 

Side note: A fedex truck went by my house and my heart felt as if it was going to burst out of my chest. I also keep hearing things and every time I do I have to get up and check!

 

For the last two months my bags have been packed and ready to go but its like someone pushed the pause button on my life. I stopped thinking about South Africa and stopped thinking pretty much at all. I was beginning to wonder if I wasn't actually going to be moving to Africa. Then, the moment I heard the words, "Jennifer, your visa is ready!" its like I was taken off pause and playing again. I can't stop thinking about SA and I will randomly start giggling (Just giggled writing that). I even skipped around my house.

 

and...........

 

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

(Don't be deceived by this picture because right before this I was shaking all over my body and balling my eyes out!)

It's happening!

Well, it's all actually happening! In less than eight days I will be moving to Stellenbosch, South Africa!!! YIKES! Can't believe it is actually happening. Next week I will be living life with...

 

Casper, Ashley and Zoe Steenkamp. Get read Steenkamp family!

 

I am very happy to announce that I am 100% funded! YAY! God is good and my goodness he blows my mind with how he provides!

 

Packing is much more difficult than I imagined. How do you pack your life into 3 bags? Ill let you know if I figure out the answer to that question. :/

 

It has also been a tad stressful getting my visa but I am hopeful it all will be just fine and will be sorted before I get on a plane on the 15th. (sigh) Feel free to lift this up in prayer! :)

 

And how am I feeling? Well, when I think about the fact that NEXT WEEK I will be back in South Africa I can't help but smile! But if I think about the things ahead... well.... I have to admit that it freaks me out. I have NO DOUBT that this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life but it still scares me. I have never felt more inadequate in my life. I know that God has HUGE plans for me and my team but when you move to a country with no clue what will actually happen you get a little scared. But regardless of how I am feeling and how scared I actually am, nothing will keep me from taking this leap of faith! I can't wait to see how God works through me and what he has in store! I am just so grateful that God tends to call the inadequate, the unschooled, the ordinary! :)

 

Anywho, please keep me in your prayers as I make this transition and the goodbyes that are coming! Thanks!

 

Let the journey begin

From the title you might be thinking I am now settled in wonderful Stellenbosch, South Africa...well, not quite. I am now living in Plano, Texas with my dear ole mama!

So, now it is just me and my mom in our beautiful home. Anyways, I moved back home in November and in the beginning of January started working for my sponsoring church, Greenville Oaks Church of Christ. Let me just take a moment (perhaps more than just a moment) to say how much I love this church.

After moving around most of my life Greenville Oaks was the first church family I really ever had. Yes, I grew up traveling the world (which I loved and I am very grateful for) but Greenville Oaks is where I began my love for missions. I started attending this church in 2004 when I was a sophomore in high school. This was where I had my first true and real friend since I moved back to the United States!

Shout out to miss Katelyn for always being there! Id say we grew up well! :)

Anywho, so I began going on my first mission trip to Grenada and LOVED it! I then proceeded to go every summer for the next five summers. I was actually the only youth member that went every year, what can I say, I fell in love with the place and the people. I mean it is beautiful! Just look at it!

Through these trips I began to realize my love for being in new cultures and I remember that a ten day trip was getting to the point where that was just tooooooo short! So, in college I took another missions trip but this time it was for the whole summer, 2.5 months. I went to Chiang Mai, Thailand!

(If you haven't noticed I really love pictures)

And who was it that supported me on this endeavor??? That's right! Greenville Oaks! :) Then, as you all know, that trip was not long enough for me either. So, Greenville Oaks supported me yet again for an even longer trip! 9 months to beautiful South Africa!

(See those houses? That's where my house was!)

So, ALL of this being said, Greenville Oaks has always been there for me and has helped me grow on so many levels! Now, they are doing it yet again. Not only are they supporting me financially but they are also giving me incredible spiritual and emotional support. The whole congregation is pouring out their blessings and love on me in ways I didn't expect. I could not have asked God for a greater place to stand behind me as I move to South Africa. So, Greenville Oaks, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do!

 

I do have to say that God is doing some crazy stuff in my life. I think he really enjoys blowing my mind or something.

Moving overseas means lots and lots of raising money! Yes, the church is giving me so much but I still don't have all of my support which is something I am praying for and working on. But, even along those lines every time I get a donation I become overwhelmed by the grace and love of God! It always blows my mind how he provides for his children even when I feel so disobedient at times. 

Not only is he providing financially but he is also helping me with things I didn't even know I needed help with. Now, moving overseas to be a missionary seems like a HUGE task in my mind; a task I really don't feel qualified for yet for some reason I am being called to do this. But, along with this task comes some insecurities. While discipleship is my passion and gets my heart beating fast, I have never really felt qualified or prepared for this. Amazingly and something I love about God is that he knows everything that is on our heart and every worry that comes into our minds. So, he says, "well, let me provide away for you to learn how to do this!" So, now I have my own personal discipleship Yoda. I am being taught by an amazing member of Greenville Oaks how to spread the gospel and love others through discipleship. This is something I didn't ask God for because I just couldn't see how I was ever really going to be prepared for such a task. But here comes God, yet again, to my rescue!

Goodness, I am so grateful for all of the things going on in my life currently! I challenge you, whomever you are that is reading this, to live each day with a grateful heart! Look for the little and big blessings in your life. I promise you will begin to see the love and grace of God in each moment of every day! :)

 

Blessings!

 

Here we go again!

 Hello all! 

It has been quite a long time since I have written a blog post but this is going to be the first of many. Why you may ask! Well.... I am moving BACK to South Africa! That's right! I have made the commitment to move to Stellenbosch, South Africa for five years! You may be thinking to yourself that I am crazy to do such a thing but I won't be alone. I am moving over to the great land of Africa with these crazy people...

Meet Casper and Ashley Steenkamp! Oh and ...

This crazy kid is comin along too! This is the one and only Zoe Grace!

Over two years ago I had the privilege of meeting Ashley at a retreat for long term missionaries. I remember her showing me pictures and telling me stories about South africa but little did I know that would be my future. It boggles my mind thinking about how all this happened because I NEVER thought I, Jennifer Lewis, of all people would be called to such a thing as long term mission work. At this point, when I first met Ashley, I was about to graduate college from ACU and I was having a monthly emotional freak out because I had NO CLUE what God was doing or where he was going to take me. Eventually he took me to South Africa for nine months where I immediately fell in love with African people. Have you ever heard someone say that Africa will get in your blood? Well, that is so true! There is something about ALL african people that you can't help but fall in love with them. I mean just look at these faces...

And these...

And these...

Goodness I love them! Anyways! :) 

So, after spending nine months in this amazing place I realized it just wasn't near long enough. You might think nine months is a long time to be somewhere but when I was driving to the Cape Town airport to come back to Texas I realized it was not near long enough. At nine months I had just been making trustworthy relationships and then I had to leave? Nope! That didn't work for me. 

Now I have been home almost a year and through much prayer and searching I made the leap and committed to moving back! :) I have said yes to the Lord and to what he is calling me to do! I am letting go of the fear that holds me back and stepping into His trusting arms. I am committing myself to making lasting discipleship relationships in South Africa. I commit myself to spreading the name of Jesus! 

When I tell people about what I am doing and the move I am making many don't understand or get it. But honestly, neither do I! I feel so inadequate for such a task and completely unworthy. Over the past few months this insecurity has been paralyzing and has honestly freaked me out a tad. But... every time I feel afraid and unworthy the Lord reminds me of who he is! He reminds me that he loves to call the weak.  When I think about that, I become so grateful because there is nothing left to do but to rely on His strength and not mine. 

All of this being said... Please please please pray for team South Africa! We are planning to move in March 2014! Yes, 2014! That means we leave in less than five months people! WAH! :) Please also pray for the city of Stellenbosch and for South Africa as a whole! I don't know how or when but I have this crazy vision of the Holy Spirit washing over South Africa as a whole and being changed forever in the name of Jesus! Thank goodness the God I love is a God of the impossible! :) 

And of course being a missionary I have to raise all my support over here in the awesome USA. Fortunately I do have a large portion of my funding but I am not there yet! So, if you are willing please pray and consider supporting me with a one time donation or monthly donation! 

You can visit www.teamsouthafrica.org to find out how. :) 

Thank you!

Be blessed! :)

And another picture for you just because I love it!

Stuck...

Just an hour before i was headed to the airport to wait for the third day in a row i was sitting trying to talk myself into being thankful for the little things going on around me. I was trying to remind myself that i am safe, i don't have a family or home that has been destroyed by a storm. I am also not someone who is waiting to fly home to New York to possibly...nothing. Now i sit here eating lunch truly beginning to realize just how grateful i really am. Yes, i hate being in the airport for hours and hours for days. But if i had gotten on the plane on monday i wouldn't have met two missions teams, one of which has kind of taken me on as another member of their team. I wouldn't have heard the story of a precious South African man who drove me to the airport this morning or had that great conversation with the 22 year old man who made my dinner at my hotel last night. I wouldn't have been blessed by the smile of a beautiful woman who buried her husband last week. Sometimes it does feel hopeless and that i will be stuck here forever but when i look around on that plane, instead of getting on a plane with complete strangers i will be sharing a flight with real people who i can now call friends. 

Wherever i am through this journey i seem to keep finding mothers who take care of me. In KFC an indian woman wanted to call me later to make sure i was safe and okay. In line yesterday i stood by a woman who later would come up to me just to make sure i was still doing alright. And not to mention the many people who put me before themselves in line because they know my own mother wants me home since it has been so long. So yes i am dying to get called to be on that 19 hour flight home but i would be blind if i didn't see the joy that surrounds me. This is entire experience is reminding me that when i am stuck anywhere; maybe a christmas shopping line, the doctors waiting room or even in church that the people around me are not just bodies but they are people with stories that may even change your life forever. So next time you are annoyed at a long line stop! Why not open your mouth and ask the other annoyed person next to you their name! Just try it!

Hope you are blessed! I am! 

Wow! The Joburg airport is listening to country music! Ha!