I'm finally here!

Hello to all my friends and family that will be reading this blog. All of this blogging stuff is very new to me, but I am so thankful to have an outlet to write down my thoughts and let the people that mean the most to me read about what He is doing in SA. Oh, and I also want to give a huge thank you to my man for making this little blog happen. Thank you, sweetie.

So, I arrived in my city about five days ago. I had training for about ten days when I first arrived in SA, and then took a train to my city. I am still getting adjusted to my new surroundings. Things are VERY different here. One thing that is going to take some getting used to is the water. We only have good water for a couple of hours a day. Shopping for groceries has also been a challenge. My teammate and I had our first "crazy food experience" the other day. We opened a bag of pasta and soon found many bugs swimming around in the pot. No worries though. We just walked down to one of the nearest markets and bought a new bag. Although there are things that will take time to get used to, I am very blessed to be where I am. My city has many beautiful parks, and overall it is easy to get around. We have already taken many taxi's, rickshaws, and jeep rides.

The one thing that I have been blessed with the most is my team. My teammate and I get along really well. We became instant friends, and I can depend on her. The other members of our team here have taken us in and made us feel like family. Having instant community is such a gift! Every week we will have a group fellowship together. We sing songs and go over a lesson. Nationals are coming to this group, and that is definitely a praise! We have alredy celebrated two birthdays, seen a movie in a very nice theater, and been shopping in the mall. Our new family has shown us the ropes and prepared us for what is to come. I could not be more thankful!

This first week we are focusing on orientation and being trained for the medical camps we will be leading. By the end of the week we will have already started the first medical camp and will continue that work the following week. We have a lot to get prepared for, and I know that He has given us everything we need to do this work! I am learning to trust more and more. I know that I cannot do any of this on my own, and I am thankful for the hard things that make me look to my Father. Only He can supply me with what it takes to share these things.

Thank you all for the support and intercession. I know that your words and thoughts have brought me through so much! Days have been hard, but His strength gets me through. He is good. I believe that more everyday. I want to leave you guys with some things to be thinking about and lifting up. I love you all. Know that I am thinking of you!

Lift up the women that we will be sharing with this week. Ask for Him to bring people of peace into our lives that want to know more.
Lift up the workers already here. Ask for strength and encouragement.
Lift up my teammate and I as we seek to present this the best way possible. Ask for boldness and courage!

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore p earnestly to the L*** of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.