Baboon Crossing

Today was a good day.

After not sleeping for at least 36 hours I slept for 10 hours. The Wannemachers ( Who I am staying with for the first few weeks) graciously let me go to bed early last night while they entertained company. I slept like a rock.

This Morning Bill Carr and I went to downtown Fish Hoek. (Fish Hoek is where I will primarily be working and Living. It is about 45 minutes to an hour from downtown Cape Town.) We went to a car dealer ship where I put a down payment on a 93 Nissan Sentra that was in immaculate condition, according to guys who looked at it for me. And the best part is it’s a automatic, so I don’t have to learn to drive a stick shift. PTL. That was something that was a little nerve racking for me. I should be able to get the car on Wednesday. After wards I went to The Cape with Susan Newkirk and her Dad who was visiting with the Missions Directory at Susan’s home church in St. Louis, Twin Oaks Pres.

The Cape was absolute stunning. All day I have been imaging God creating the world, I think he had a really fun time with CT (Cape Town). Everywhere you look you see either mountain or Oceans and usually both at the same time. I was told before I came that this was the most beautiful place in the World. I have heartily believed it, but now I know it is true.

the Cape Of Good Hope!

I giggle every time I think of Baboons I think of Kenya, because my friend Jen Miller and I got chased by some one day in a National Park. But here in CT they have signs for Baboon Crossings (mostly Warnings, because they are Trouble) It is very similar to Deer Crossing signs. Baboons can do a lot of damage to a car.

I am excited about the work they have me planned for me one is to teach 6^th graders bible in a township school. It is a little intimidating to do that, but I know these tasks are the ones the help you grow!

48 Hours

Well in less than 48 hours I will be on an airplane headed to the other side of the world.

The past couple of weeks have been a whirl wind. Last Saturday My friends threw me a going away Bash. It was a lot of fun, and very touching to see how many people showed up. And then on Sunday I was commissioned by the church. It was wonderful to have my parents and two of my sibling’s families there.  We all took communion alongside my taco gang, my small group, my bible study ladies, and my Kenya team! I thought I would be in tears like I was at my friends commissioning last June, but I kept myself together until my daddy prayed. But then it was just a few tears.

After dealing for almost a month with the South African Consulate I finally received my visa. It is amazing the lies Satan can whisper in your ear when you are trying to be patient. But Everyone’s prayers where wonderful and calming and I had to keep reminding myself that God had this under control.  I was thankful and relieved when the visa arrived on Wednesday.

I am now trying to pack. Thanks to my sister Heather, I have the majority done, but I am still lacking priority items and they are at their maximum weight. I believe I am going to have to pay big bucks for one extra suite case. But I am going for a year!

I will not say that I am not nervous or sad, but I think my excitement is truly outweighing those emotions. I will miss my family and friends. But I know God has a plan for me, if he didn’t then all the details would not have come about as well as they have if this was not His plan.

Listen to caineskids Playlist

The Cost of Following Him!

I read a blog by a 20 year old Women who has given up everything from her American Life and has made a life in Uganda taking care of the children there. ( kissesfromKatie.blogspot.com ). Her last blog has meant a lot to me. She talks about the COST of following Jesus.

I have struggled the Last week with leaving my family and my Friends, and my comfort. I keep wanting to say God are you sure? Are you sure this is what you want me to do? I know it is, but it is hard to comprehend. But Katie’s Blog was very encouraging to know that God has called us to Count the Cost of what it takes to follow him. I might not be in my comfort zone but I will find the Joy in following him! I am not saying that there wont be those moments were it is going to be tough, but I know God will be with me and that through him I will find the Joy or serving him.

The count down begins: 49 Days til take off!

Love's the little children of the world!

I just watched a video about the Poor whites in South Africa. It is not surprising to me that there are poor white people in South Africa. But for some reason this video on YouTube has made a lot of people mad. It doesn't say this in so many words but this is the jive I got out of it: That the Blacks are getting richer and the whites are getting poorer and it is the ALL black governments fault!

It is just interesting to me that people feel this way. It is 15 years since apartheid ended. Wouldn't you think that the White and Black communities could get along by now. You have a country of about 6 million people 10% are white 80% Black. The other 10% is of other ethnic backgrounds. And now the whites are screaming that they are being discriminated against. You cant tell me that during apartheid there weren't poor South Africans. This video was very biased and made the South African government seem like the devil. It has only been 15 years since the blacks had freedom. Look how long it took African Americans to have equal rights in this country! A long time after slavery ended. The new South Africa has only its third president. Kinks have to be worked out, and it is never going to be perfect because sadly we live in a fallen world. A world that sees colors and makes judgements on those colors based on how he or she was conditioned to see it.

What amazes me the most is that when Christ is the center their is no color, no ethnic group, no race, we are one large family! Christ is our common ground. How awesome is that. That our savior, The man, the God, who chose us to be his people didn't care if we were blond with blue eyes or brown with brown eyes or black with black eyes. He loves us all because he loves us because he loves us.

So, OK there are poor white people in South Africa. But why do we have to describe them as white. There are poor people ( of all races) in South Africa. Shouldn't we as Christians minister to them all? Shouldn't we show them that no matter what color they are we love them because Christ first loved us. Christ commands us to take care of the poor. And I hope and pray that as I enter into the South African culture that I can be some part in this journey of taking the colored glassed off people eyes and let them see people for who God made them to be, not by what color God put on their skin.

To Find real Joy!

I am often blown away by my selfishness. I am such an American. I want what I don’t have and I cant imagine life with out it. I am eager to find some thing to satisfy my desires. But nothing seems to quench my thirst.
On a daily basis I see people spending money on things that they believe will give them happiness. Things that will bring them joy. But question is does it? Does it bring joy? DO material things bring joy? Does a new hat by Ed Hardy bring joy? Does a Christmas ornament bring Joy? Do new Kick’s bring joy? No, because the Hat gets sweat stains on it and you don’t want to wear it anymore. The Ornament gets broken. The Kicks get dirty. Nothing that we “own” brings us joy. Just disappointment.
The only thing that can bring us joy is God! John 4:13-14 says “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
God is the joy giver. Can you imagine being like a spring bursting forth because of the Joy you have in your heart! I pray to the holy Father that he gives me this Joy daily! Show me in your word your Joy and quench my thirst for Real Joy! And give me a sour taste for the Material things!

America

America!

The land of the free.
The land of prosperity
The land where dreams come true!
　
The land of the Rich
The land of the spoiled
The land where you are never satisfied.

America!

Visit a land that is not free
Visit a land that is poor
Visit a land where nightmares come true

The Land of the poor
The land of the gracious
The land that cant be taken any more!

America!

Be grateful for your Freedom

Be grateful for what you have

Dream Big and help those who cant dream, dream.