I Ran From An Ostrich

Hello friends and family!

A lot has happened these past couple weeks. Our team started working with the program called Timion here in Jeffery’s Bay. Timion focuses on helping families who have a child with cerebral palsy. Timion hand makes equipment made for people who have cerebral palsy so that they can be given the proper care that they need. Timion is the only company in South Africa that makes equipment specifically designed for that need. Their goal is to teach parents how to care for their child properly and build lasting relationships with them so that they can love and support the families in the best way that they can. Timion also has a community garden. The garden started 8 months ago so they’re still learning how to properly garden and get it down themselves. In the future Timion’s goal is to teach people how to garden themselves so they can be self sustainable and have healthy food available to them. 

The garden is where I come in! This past week I’ve been in the garden learning how to harvest vegetables, watering the plants, turning over compost piles (this causes lots of blisters) and doing lots of weeding. I have absolutely loved learning about gardening. Last month at Beats and Books we were so busy with the kids that my team wasn’t able to really talk to each other while we worked, but this month we’re able to talk and work at the same time which has been so fun and fruitful. I’ve also spent some time alone weeding in the garden which has been very beneficial to my faith. It’s taught me the joy in being alone and how important it is to spend alone time in the presence of the Lord. God’s voice doesn’t always come in a storm it often comes as a whisper, so it’s so vital to seek out those quiet places to practice listening prayer. Near the garden lives a wild ostrich. Luanda (one of the head gardeners) told me that this ostrich is known for chasing people. One day while walking we came upon the ostrich sitting in the middle of the path. We had a staring contest with it…until it stood up. That’s when I turned around and ran. Thankfully it did not chase us. Last Friday the ostrich walked right up to the fence surrounding the garden. I was on one side and the ostrich was on the other, probably only 5 feet away. I looked at it and said “go away, you can’t be here.” It turned around and walked away. That definitely doesn’t happen everyday. 

Last weekend my team visited Addo Park which is a section of land that has game drives aka safaris. We were able to drive around for SIX hours looking at wild buffalo, warthogs, kudu, zebras and my favorite, elephants. It was a breathtaking experience. There were baby elephants also. This weekend we went on a hike to the top of Lady’s Slipper. It was a strenuous hike but when you reached the top it was completely worth it. The Bible passage that was on my heart the entire hike was Matthew 6:25-34.

It says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow or reap, or gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying ‘what will we eat’ or ‘what will we drink?’ Or ‘what will we wear?’ For the unconverted pressure these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue His Kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of it’s own.” 

The trip is almost coming to a close! I’m looking forward to seeing all my people at home but I’m also dreading saying goodbye to my new found best friends. The Lord is always working. Always moving. Always constant. He is so good. 

 

Prayer requests: I need prayer for when I am transitioning back into the states. Please start praying over this now, I’m going to need it!

Pray that I can be completely present where I am instead of thinking about the things I need to do when I get back home 

Pray that my eyes are always open and willing to hear what the Lord is telling me 

 

Sadly it didn’t work to upload pictures, so next blog i’ll post some of the mountain and the elephants 😉