This week has flown by. We just started our new ministry and now it’s Saturday. Our new ministry is great! Like I said before we are working with Timion. I got to work in the garden this week which was amazing. I was so happy to get outside and do a little manual labor. We also got to meet some new amazing ministry partners. We mainly get to work with either Lusanda or Sakhile. They are both so full of energy and so much fun to work with. I was given the chance to work with both of them a lot and got to have good conversations as well.
Our first day at ministry I helped Sakhile prune the suckers from the tomatoes, or in Wayne’s eyes… we destroyed the tomato plants. Haha! We also learned about a way of farming called farming God’s way. It is definitely an interesting way of farming. It takes the idea of how God farms naturally. For instance, the forest is always green and produces fruit and so they try and mimic the growing environments of it. Part of this entails incorporating the natural blanket that the forest has with leaves, pine needles and whatever else is on the forest floor. We put a blanket of grass on the garden to replicate that idea. It seems to work as the crops here are gorgeous but, it is definitely more of a hassle.
We also get to work with some donkeys at ministry. Timion wants to be able to use them as a animal therapy type thing and so they need them to be trained. We were given the job to speed this along which all the girls are so excited about. Me on the other hand… not a fan of donkeys. Haha. But I don’t mind using my horse skills to better the experience for the kids. They are also kind of cute:)
This week I have got the chance to work with both the donkeys and the garden. From petting, feeding and shoveling compost I have felt right at home. Haha. Makes me feel like I am back with my horsys so it’s nice. Have been able to get a little sun so I can come back a little bit more tan than when I left. I also have been able to learn more about a new culture/tribe. Sakhile is Zulu so it’s been really fun talking to him. He taught us Ya Boe which means I agree. Now we all say it a bunch. Haha. He also has the most contagious smile ever:) he is kinda cute too. Lol. Who knows everyone might have to get use to the idea of me being in South Africa forever. Haha. Kidding for right now. But I do feel like the Lord is definitely calling me back here in the future so who knows what the future may hold:) Lusanda is so inspiring too. She is full of joy and is singing all the time when she is working. She also wants to get to know YOU and is very intentional about her time she spends with you. I absolutely love her!
Our free time this week was absolutely amazing this week too! I got to surf AND go hiking! We hiked a local hike called Lady Slipper. It was amazing. I have never summited a mountain in the coast and see miles of ocean on one side and miles of green mountains on the other. As I was hiking up the mountain I also had some really cool time with God. It’s crazy how much hiking relates to life and our walk with God. Now only does God make a trail for us to follow but he also equips us with the body to make it to the top. There are struggles on the trial. We sweat, we thirst, we stumble but if we keep on the path we make it to the top. When we get to the top all our struggle suddenly makes sense. We can see where we came from and the beauty of where we are now. When you rush through the hike and only focus on the end then you miss out on so much. Every little bird abs animal abs perfectly places free that God created. You also feel way more pain. It’s harder because you can’t do it on your own. It’s the same in life. If we rush through the journeys of life then we miss out on all the little beauty’s that God has placed for us. We try and do it all on our own and we actually get work out faster and often don’t get the same fulfillment on the end as if we would have done it with God. Hiking was way more than just a hike. It enabled me to reset and gain a new perspective of God that is represented by one of my passions!
Surfing was also great as usual. I finally had a light bulb moment and thing I have it figured out. I was able to stand up every time and ride the wave in! Next time it’s on to the big waves! I also learned and greeted a guy today that I thought was super cool! His name is Simon. He walks up and down the beach everyday and prays for everyone that he sees as well as the businesses he sees on the beach. It was just a testament to me that ministry is constant. I can be a missionary in my own home. Yes, Africa has been an amazing growing experience but I think God is preparing me for the ministry I may have and be apart of at home!
Ministry!!!
Our wild Ministry Friend!! he even has chased us!
Lady Skipper Hike!!
We also made some home made fresh corn tortillas!!
