Getting Settled

Wow! Brett and I have been here since Monday and time is flying and yet it seems so slow. I wanted to just take a moment and fill you in on what we've been doing and how we've been preparing for the new season that God has brought us to.

As we landed in Johannesburg, Brett and I both looked at each other and said "we're home." This is what South Africa feels like to us. As we like to say at RWOC "it can't be explained, only experienced." We arrived on Monday and were greeted at the airport by John Shaw. ALL of our totes, 6 in total, made it from NC all the way to South Africa without being opened by TSA or any other security. This, my friends, is pretty cool, since there is usually at least one piece of luggage that gets opened somewhere along the way. We arrived on base after lunch and were taken to our "house" for the next little while. We are a back room of the, what I like to call, Big House. John and Carla hosted us for dinner and the pot roast, potatoes, bread and gravy were fabulous!! 

Tuesday was a holiday and, unlike in the US, very few places were open. We worked on organizing our stuff, which it still isn't completely done, and spent the day visiting with staff on base. Michael and Lindsey Kaufman invited us to breakfast, which was pancakes and eggs. For lunch, we went to the Oliveria's, where Marisa fixed chicken, a traditional New Years vegetable salad, rice, fruit salad, and fried bread. I could eat this fried bread until Jesus comes! For dinner it's back to the Shaw's for pork chops, rice, and black eyed peas. Basically we ate all day!

Wednesday started out with a time of worship with the team and talking about what they did over the holiday, Brett and I laughed and said "what holiday?" We also shared with each other a scripture that God had given to us to bring in the New Year. It was a wonderful time of hearing and sharing God with those we will be ministering with. Then it was off to town! Carla took us to get our phones hooked up. We looked like teenagers at lunch sitting around the table updating our contacts and getting used to using things like Viber and Whatsapp. Talking on the phone here is expensive so everybody uses sms, what we call text. Then it was off to Macro, which is similar to Sam's Club. We purchased a mini fridge, a toaster oven with hot plate and some other things needed for our room. Yes, you need to know these details!!!

Thursday, more of the same trying to get myself organized! Still working on it! Now we're to Friday. Today was a staff work day to get the base ready for the people coming in for DTS, which is what Brett and I will be doing for the next five months, an SOS'er, someone who comes for a season of service, and two YWAM teams, one from Orlando and one from England. Just so you know....this is a lot of people!! Please pray for everyone traveling in and the staff.

We begin our DTS training on January 14 and our days will be filled with classes, work around base, and community outreach. Until then we will be organizing our home and our time. 

Thank you all for your prayers and if you wish to be a part of our email newsletter, please send me an email to heartsforza@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you!