From Here to South Africa: "Your strength is limitless!"

Why hello there! Greetings from Kommetjie, South Africa! Well, Shelbs and I have now been here for a month... CRAZY! This past weekend we went on a volunteer retreat and the whole way there I was looking out at the mountains and just amazed at where the Lord has brought me! It has been a month and still I can't get used to the idea that I am really here in South Africa. Just amazing! Anyways, on the retreat we went to a place called Herolds Bay where we chilled on the beach and did a whole lot of relaxing. It was wonderful getting to be around all of the volunteers and share life with them for a few days. It is absolutely incredible to get to know so many wonderful people. These are people that have given up a year or more of their lives to come serve the Lord here in South Africa. I just love being around all of these people that actually get me and my passion for the world and for missions because they have that same passion. Yes, the weekend was wonderful but it had to end some time. So we are back to work! I am extremely excited about the weeks to come because this week there is a team from the USA working with us and the kids. Next week we are doing a teens camp which I cannot wait for. Then the next week an Australian team comes. I am not exactly sure what this month will be like but I am sure it will be eventful. So far today we had a block party by the primary school in Capricorn. Shelby and I led the kids in the "cha cha slide" dance which was super fun with at least 100 little children. It is a lot of fun to have a large team here because they did a dance, a skit, face panting, and were really great with the kids. They are such a blessing and the kids love to have new people around. Tomorrow we will do the same party in Overcome. This is a really great outreach because it gets our name out there and hopefully more children will start coming to kids camp every week. Please be in prayer about this and about lots of kids and teens coming to kids/teens club. One thing that I have noticed and starting thinking about is that these kids futures are in real danger. I will be tossing a ball with a child and I look up and see a group of teenage guys and they look so scary and dangerous. I ask the teens that do come to club (which is about 5) why the other teens don't come and they all say it's because they are doing drugs. I look at the smiling faces of the young children I see every week and wonder what their futures are going to hold. Right now I have an opportunity to plant a seed of love in them but the hard and scary thing is that the world they are living in and growing up in is making it very hard for that seed to grow in any way. The Lord is so powerful and he makes everything possible but sometimes it is hard to be hopeful when you look at the world these kids go home to. The only thing I can do is pray and put these children in the Lord's hands which is the best place for them to be! Well, I will try to be more consistent with my posts especially this month since there is lots going on. Thank you all so much for reading my blog and for the prayers. Blessings!