The last few days...

Well, it's been several days since my last post!  It has been a pretty crazy few days too.  Bear with me with this very long post!  Monday was a great day in Ocean View with the kiddos.  We started early at the civic center setting up for the day.  There is actually a World Racers team working with us now too.  That is such a fascinating experience.  For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it's a group of people who travel around to 11 different countries within a one year period.  I talked to a couple of the girls about it and they said they have really enjoyed it so far, even though it is extremely difficult.  When I heard one of the girls was from Seattle, I told her my dad actually works for Starbucks and come to find out her dad does too!  All of them are really cool and extremely helpful.  It went very well that morning with crafts too.  I am also learning a lot of the kids names which I absolutely love.  After playing with the kids, we all ate lunch there.  Will and I both pack our lunches every day so we eat sandwiches, apples, and chips usually.  Once the kids leave, the teens come for their holiday club.  It's a totally different atmosphere with 13-18 year olds there.  We still make crafts (homemade drums), which they really enjoy.  We also broke up into small groups to answer questions about the Bible story.  We asked the questions: How can we praise God?  Why do we praise God?  What ways can keep us from praising God?  Granted, all of their answers were in Afrikaans, but I could tell the teens were really interested in the conversation.  This was very encouraging to see.  Even though they face so many struggles every day, they are still willing to talk about Christ and their spiritual walks.  


Monday night, all of the volunteers went over to Tim and Natasha's (volunteer coordinators) for a Bible study.  It was a great time of fellowship with everyone there.  There was a total of 31 people who packed in to their beautiful home.  We discussed ways that we need community more than we realize, we need Jesus more than we realize, and the world needs us more than realize.  It was a great talk and a lot of people spoke up and made some very valuable points.  It was really encouraging to hear about their experiences so far within the communities.  


The plan for Tuesday was pretty different for me.  Instead of going to Ocean View, I went with the Samford girls to Stellenbosch (about an hour away).  The professor, Dr. Knapp, is in charge of ethical leadership initiatives on campus at Samford.  He has built a relationship with Stellenbosch University to enhance cultural change within the communities of each university.  We met for about two and a half hours with graduate students of the university to talk about the cultural similarities and differences between both universities.  Many interesting points were brought up about education issues, public policy, family units, social injustices, etc.  We left around 2:30 and then went to a local market and then to Mugg and Bean.  I ordered a red velvet waffle.  Yes, that does exist.  LOOK AT THIS GOODNESS!!!!

We left Stellenbosch around 5:00 to head back home.  We made it just in time for dinner, which was absolutely incredible.  It was some sort of chicken pie dish with rice, vegetables, and a salad.  SO GOOD- as usual.  After dinner, I went up the room and read some of Radical.  I am getting close to finishing it!  It is such a great book.  It really encourages people to live in a simple way that is reflective of how Christ once lived.  Solid.  








This morning, Will and I met the rest of the life skills educators at the office in Ocean View.    We gave the office a very deep clean and then helped cut out shapes for the craft.  We went down to the civic center after lunch and then set up for the holiday clubs that afternoon.  While setting up, I went outside and played with the kids for a little while.  I taught some of the girls how to do the funky chicken and the hand jive.  Both were very easy to teach and they all loved practicing them to see how fast they could go.  It was quite entertaining.  They kept asking my name, so I told them and let them know they could call me KT for short.  So, for the rest of the day, all the little girls kept shouting from across the room, "KT! KT! KT!" while performing the funky chicken.  So great.  We had a great day with all of  the teens and kids combined.  About 100 were there so every volunteer had their hands full!  It all ran very smoothly which was definitely a praise!  So thankful to be working with the kids here and I really feel that I am getting to know a lot of them.  The life skills educators are all incredible as well.  I am becoming great friends with Laureezy, Chanette, and Melissa.  All are very hard workers are really love all of the kids in Ocean View.  I love being a part of the team and serving with them each day!  


Thank you everyone for continually praying for me while I am over here.  I know I say this all the time, but I truly am so thankful to be serving in Cape Town and being a part of God's plan for the Kingdom.  I am humbled each and every day I am here.  I am also learning to trust in the Lord more than I ever have before.  Knowing that Christ is by my side in this journey is just so amazing.  I pray that I continue to trust in Him at all times and I ask that you all please pray for me in that as well.  


Thank you again for reading and keeping up with what the Lord is doing in my life!  Looking forward to what's to come.


In Him, 


Katherine


"The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves. 
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you, 
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”