Where did the time go?

It's hard for me to believe I've already been in Africa for a month. It's even harder to believe that I only have 21 days left in this beautiful place. I don't know where all this time is going, I just know it's going way too fast. 

Even though I've heard over 8 languages since I've been here (and can't pronounce the names of the cities I've visited or the names of many people I've met), I feel like South Africa is my home away from home. I love the people here. I can't even begin to explain all the things God is teaching me during my time here. 

I do know that what's happening here, what I have the chance to be involved in with OM, is what I'm supposed to do with my life. I don't know where I'll be after university, but I know I'll be somewhere involved with missions. 

Over the past few weeks I've had the chance to help out with a Youth Conference called TeenStreet, be involved with running a Kid's Club, play soccer with kids, get to know some of the most encouraging people I've ever met, watch soccer all the time (I love the world cup), and also begin designing characters for a kid's campaign. I've seen poverty, I've seen grace, I've seen sacrifice, I've seen God answer prayer after prayer. 

I won't be able to upload pictures much anymore while I'm here, but quite a few of the photos I've been taking are up on OM South Africa's blog.  omsa.org.za (go to Blog, then to pictures, then TeenStreet or Orientation 2 or something like that. I didn't take all the pictures there, but quite a few of them. 

Sorry for the lack of stories and details. It's just hard to get on here, and when I get the chance, I'm usually pretty tired from a wonderful day :) 

Cannot wait to share about all of this in person. 

OM Teenstreet

This weekend has been a relaxing one. Yesterday, I drove around with my host, Belinda, and her adorable daughter, Dima. We ran errands and I got to see more of Pretoria! I even got some ice cream :) Today, we went to church and this evening we picked up a team that just finished their outreach in Port Elizabeth. It was really encouraging talking to the girls. Most of them were around my age and from all over the world... places like Holland, Germany, and Cape Town to name a few...

Tomorrow morning I am leaving at 6am for OM's youth conference called Teenstreet. I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing there yet, but I'm looking forward to it (probably some photography)! Please be praying for me. I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories when I get back on Thursday. 

Looking Back and Moving Forward

I cannot believe how quickly the past two weeks have gone. Our team saw God work in so many amazing ways during our stay in Cape Town... At this point, it is too much to write on here, but I'm looking forward to sharing all the stories with you when I'm home. Here are a few highlights...

From the tourist side: African Safari

I was five feet away from the elephant when I took the picture below... we spent a whole day at a game park...I saw lions, giraffes, hippos, elephants, zebras, and many more animals closer than I ever thought I would. It was incredible to be in such a beautiful place and see some of the most beautiful animals I've ever seen. 

World Cup Match- Italy vs. Paraguay

If you think the SuperBowl is a big deal...think again. America needs to get some vuvuzelas and catch the soccer fever that has infected the rest of the world. 

Our whole team was more than excited to be going to South Africa during the World Cup, but I don't think any of us truly had an idea how huge of an event it is, until we arrived. I still cannot believe we had the chance to go to a game. SO FUN. 

OUTREACH:

The ministry end of our trip far outweighed the beauty of Cape Town and even going to the game... As a team, we played 4 matches in 5 days and then participated in a 7 aside tournament last Sunday. Sharing our testimonies with the other teams, on and off the field, was a really important part of our trip. It was so cool to see God work in and through our team, showing us what it means to worship Him on the field and how to be bold in sharing out faith with other teams. 

We also had the chance to coach multiple soccer clinic

s... At a church, in an Afrikaans area, in a Xhosa speaking community, and in a rural farming community. These clinics were probably my favorite part of the trip. Watching the kids play and find so much joy in the sport I love, and at the same time providing a way to hear about who Jesus is... I cannot think of a better combination :) I'd love to share more with you about this on my return. 

Onto OM

Last night, I flew into J0'burg and met up with Operation Mobilization, the mission

 organization I will be spending the rest of this South African winter with. It was so exciting to finally arrive, but even after two weeks in South Africa, I still went to get into the wrong side of the car when leaving the airport. 

I was greeted by Herman and his wife Belinda, who I'm staying with (at least for right now). They made me feel right at home, and I'm already encouraged by them and the rest of the OM staff. 

I'm still unsure of what exactly I'll be doing for the next five weeks, but I'm realizing that I don't need to. Whatever they need me to do, wherever they need me to be... that's where I'll go.

 

This morning, I attended an all-staff Update and Prayer Meeting, then travelled to Durban shortly afterwards with a German couple, Ben and Anna. We went to go check on one of OM's outreach teams in a rural Durban community. I met the group of 8 people from around the world have been staying in the squatter village to share the Gospel, alongside a church in the area for the past 2 weeks. Although we only visited them for about an hour, it was amazing to see their love for God and the people in the village. My role today was to take pictures and get stories from the outreach. I loved talking to the group and getting to meet some of the kids.

The team has been running soccer clinics in the afternoon. Each day they have a session, the number of kids partcipating grows.

Today the children watched the Jesus film...many for the first time. Afterwards, two of the girls led singing and then the kids were free to play.

 I'm so excited for the rest of this winter. 

Lesson from Sunday's Match

Until high school, I never viewed soccer and anything more than a sport. I just enjoyed playing the game and getting better. However, the past few years I've been learning that the soccer field can be a place of worship, a place to glorify God with the ability He's given me. I've also had the chance to use soccer as a way to show God's love to kids on trips to Chile and the Dominican Republic and during the past two summers at On Goal. 

God has used soccer in my life over and over again to show me who He is and how I can serve Him through it. After realizing how amazing it is to see soccer in that way, I've often struggled with the competitive aspect of playing at the university level. Don't get me wrong, I'm very competitive, I love to win, and every time I step on the field, I give it my all and hope to encourage my teammates to do the same; but, I didn't think winning should be that big of a deal. I mean, if we won, awesome. If we didn't, we should work harder in practice and there's always next game.

I still don't think winning is everything, but in the game today, I realized the importance of striving for excellence. Every time we step on that field, we are representing Jesus Christ,we are ambassadors in His name. How can we share about who He is when we're competing? The obvious answer is by how we treat each other, the refs, and our opponents...by playing with integrity. But ALSO, by playing with excellence, playing to the BEST of the ability He's given us. 

In South Africa, we have the opportunity to talk and share with our opponents after the game. We have the chance to share how He's changed our lives. If we play terribly on the field, why should anyone (especially in a culture immersed in soccer as much as South Africa) want to listen to us talk about how important soccer is to us and how much more important Jesus is? 

How much MORE impacting would it be if we play to the BEST of the ability God's given us?Winning isn't about making our name great, but HIS. Everything changes when He is the one we're trying to make famous. 

Travel, Arrival, and First Match

On our journey to Cape Town, our

 team had the opportunity to go into London for a few hours. We walked around, had lunch, and enjoyed visiting England, even if it was only for a short time.

Words cannot express the beauty of Cape Town, South Africa. 

We were greeted by a beautiful view of the beach, ocean, and mountains. Talk about gorgeous. 

The past few days have been filled with soccer matches, site-seeing, ministry, and so many beautiful people. 

On Sunday, we went to church and after lunch, had our first soccer match against the Ambassadors in Sport(AIS) Women's Team.

Bad news: We played awful, even though the score was 2-2.

Good news: We had the opportunity to meet and talk to each of the players on the other team. It was so cool to hear their stories and how they are using their passion for soccer and love for God to reach out to the other teams they play in their league. 

Off to Africa!

Hey everyone! I'm sitting in the JFK International Airport at the moment with the rest of the soccer team, waiting in anticipation for our upcoming longgggg flight to England, then to South Africa! We are expected to arrive in Cape Town at 8am, Saturday morning. 

It's great to be back with the team... everyone is SO excited! The fact I'm about to spend the next two 

months is Africa is slowly starting to hit me. It's hard to believe something I've been talking about for the past year is finally becoming a reality! Please continue to pray for our team. I can't wait to see what God has planned for the next two weeks and the rest of the summer!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-22