Why South Africa?

Well, since I now have a blog I was thinking that maybe I better start using it, so here I am writing another post. Shocking! I thought that maybe you would all like to know how I came to this point in my life. How did South Africa happen? My last semester at ACU was so hard but also an amazing blessing! There were so many days that I was scared and worried about the future. I hated that question, "What are you doing after graduation?" Of course my answer was always, "Ummmmmmm!" There was a specific week where I was broken and in complete need of the Lord's guidance. One Saturday I cracked and kind of had a nervous break down. But the next day a door opened for missions and then the next day and the next. During that week there were 3 open doors that God was showing me. I had an interview for a church internship and had set up another for missions in the US and although I didn't walk through any of them God revealed His spirit to me and taught me something I will never forget. He taught me that my life is in the best hands it possibly could be. My life is in the hands of the one who loves me more than anything in existence ever could. My life has a plan and it is divine and crafted by the Lord! Who am I to fear about something that has already been taken care of? Who am I to fear the Lord's plan? When I graduated from college of course there was still fear and anxiety about the future but there was also an awareness that God was planning something. I spent months trying to figure out what I wanted, what God wanted for me. I don't know exactly how it happened but it came to me that I really wanted to go somewhere for a year. I had no clue where that was but I definitely starting looking. Singapore became an option and I was getting so excited about the upcoming year. The day that I was starting to commit to Singapore, Thailand opened up. Now you have to understand, ever since I came back from Thailand in the summer of 2010, I told God, "Lord, if you want me to go to Thailand for a year you have to provide a partner for me!" This was the one thing I had to have to got for a year otherwise I could not go back. I prayed this prayer for a year and that day when I was committed to Singapore the Lord provided a partner for me. The moment I heard this I wept. I knew this was where God wanted me to go! He was finally calling me back to a place that I loved and making it very clear. But... then I started to plan for this and my partner fell through and then I was back to square one. During the next few weeks I was looking at different countries and trying to figure out where I was supposed to go. Also, during that time miss Shelby Dunlap joined in on the adventure. We talked and searched about different places to go then I was talking to a friend and South Africa opened up. A few weeks before this I had a vision about living in South Africa long term and doing a ministry with young women but the idea of going there now was just not entering my mind. The crazy thing was that my friend had the same vision. After this, while every other door was closing the door to South Africa was only getting larger. Within the week, I was committed! :) After looking into Australia, several places in Europe and in Africa, South Africa was the only place that brought either of us excitement. So, South Africa it is! Now, I am leaving for Cape Town on February 16th! Although I still need about $10,000, my visa, an apartment, and a car, I could not be happier! There is zero question that this is where the Lord wants me. Yes, I am so excited about living in this new place and what the Lord has in store but honestly, the one thing that makes me smile almost constantly every single day is that I know the Lord has a plan for me! He wants to use me! He wants to use Jennifer Lynn Lewis! No kidding! It is mind boggling to me to know that the Lord has called me, a 23 year old college grad, to move to Africa to spread the truth! Can you all please just sit back and acknowledge how incredible it is that the Lord, the creator of the universe, actually wants to use you! I have no idea what this year holds and what my awesome God has planned for me but I do know that I serve an amazing and beautiful Lord! I pray that you know that too! ;) Oh and if you happen to feel called to help me financially you are always welcome to donate. ;) The info for that is on the right directly under "Every bit counts!"