I am in absolute shock that I will be leaving the country in 13 days. I am in even more shock that God has provided the way that He has as far as finances goes. The trip will cost each of my teammates $4,000 and somehow God keeps bringing money in. We are still a little short and are hoping that those loose ends are tied to make sure that all of us are able to go. If you feel led to donate, the donation online is at www.apualumni.com/owmgive under South Africa East.
As far as my team goes, I am beyond excited to experience South Africa with each of them. There are 8 of us on our South Africa East Team: Alex VanBuskirk, Tanya Fry, Jordan Flowers, Sesalli Castillo, Gabby Patton, Meredith Matsushima, Kris Costa, and myself. I know that things will be very different from my first time at Walk In The Light but I know that God is going to use this team mightily. I cannot wait to experience SA in such a different way. These people have already been such an enormous blessing in my life and I know that God has brought together this group for a reason. I can't wait to see what God does here.
I also just received the mailing address for where we will be staying, so if you would like to send anything to me/us in the mail, it may take a while but I should receive it. Here's my address:
Melissa Dowdy
Walk In The Light ministry
PO Box 13680
Cascades 3202
South Africa
As well as the website for Hamba Ekukanyeni/WITL:
http://www.walkinthelight.co.za/
As for my spiritual readiness for the trip, I feel pretty confident that God has me going back for a reason. I am hoping that He sees me prepared to return to give back some of what God has given to me through this wonderful country. I know that I will never be able to fully give back but I am excited to see what opportunities God has ahead of my team. He is good and is so gracious to allow me to return. I couldn't be more thankful for this chance to return to the country that I have longed to return to these last two and a half years. In 13 days, I will be able to experience what I have longed and waited for for so long.
Again, here I am Lord, send me.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
20 days until I taste the waters of Africa once more...
It seems slightly unreal that I will be going back again this summer... it seems like only yesterday that I was in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa with all of my SA friends from study abroad Fall 2009. In all reality, it was almost a year and a half ago that I was in the beautiful country of South Africa. I miss the people, I miss the culture, I miss the ways that God is moving there. I miss getting to be a part of all of those things. But in 20 short days, I will be going back.
Going back.
It seems so unreal.
Yes. I am going back.
I feel like every time I say that to myself it seems more and more real, yet more and more unreal. I know that I will love to be back in this wonderful, beautiful, amazing country but I just cannot begin to fathom how different it will be than the first time I went. I have grown and changed so much since the first time I was there. God used that semester to shape me so much and I cannot even imagine how differently shaping this summer will be. I will be at Walk In The Light (WITL) for almost 2.5 months, so much longer than the one month I was there the first time. Haniville, where WITL is located, is a small township near to Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The people are wonderful, beautiful, so full of life. It will be different to go with a new group but I know that God is working mightily in the members of my team as we each prepare for these next few months. I know that it will be extremely wonderful to go back but I have no way of anticipating how different it will be. There is no need to compare and I am trusting that God knows exactly what He is doing... of course there are always moments of doubt and wondering if He truly wants me to return but I have been praying about it since I got back into the States a year and a half ago... and for the first time I feel like God has me going back for a reason. I know that His plans are much greater than my own. Whether my purpose be merely to encourage and aid the ministry already in place, loving on the members of my team, or changing just one life for His good, it is all worth it. So much prayer has gone into this decision and I finally feel like going back isn't about me anymore. I want to see God move. I know that I will not be the same; I will change just as I did the first time.
But as the wise Reg Codrington once told me, "Once you have tasted the waters of Africa, you will always be thirsting for more." This is my time to return to drink of the waters of Africa, return to a home away from home. Lord, will you use me. Not my will, but yours be done. 20 days, I am ready. Here am I Lord, send me.
Going back.
It seems so unreal.
Yes. I am going back.
I feel like every time I say that to myself it seems more and more real, yet more and more unreal. I know that I will love to be back in this wonderful, beautiful, amazing country but I just cannot begin to fathom how different it will be than the first time I went. I have grown and changed so much since the first time I was there. God used that semester to shape me so much and I cannot even imagine how differently shaping this summer will be. I will be at Walk In The Light (WITL) for almost 2.5 months, so much longer than the one month I was there the first time. Haniville, where WITL is located, is a small township near to Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The people are wonderful, beautiful, so full of life. It will be different to go with a new group but I know that God is working mightily in the members of my team as we each prepare for these next few months. I know that it will be extremely wonderful to go back but I have no way of anticipating how different it will be. There is no need to compare and I am trusting that God knows exactly what He is doing... of course there are always moments of doubt and wondering if He truly wants me to return but I have been praying about it since I got back into the States a year and a half ago... and for the first time I feel like God has me going back for a reason. I know that His plans are much greater than my own. Whether my purpose be merely to encourage and aid the ministry already in place, loving on the members of my team, or changing just one life for His good, it is all worth it. So much prayer has gone into this decision and I finally feel like going back isn't about me anymore. I want to see God move. I know that I will not be the same; I will change just as I did the first time.
But as the wise Reg Codrington once told me, "Once you have tasted the waters of Africa, you will always be thirsting for more." This is my time to return to drink of the waters of Africa, return to a home away from home. Lord, will you use me. Not my will, but yours be done. 20 days, I am ready. Here am I Lord, send me.
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