Sighhh

Im sitting in the sun on one of the first hot Muizenberg afternoons...should probably apply some screen but then think why not get a little pink just to say I can?

So in take a look at Hosea 6 with me,
``Come, let us return to the Lord, For he has torn un, that he may heal us; He has struck us down, and he will bind us up...he will revive us...he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord: his going out is sure as the dawn;he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth``.

Very personally, this is what He`s doing in my heart. As he`s brought me to this place where everything is new, where very little is what I expected, any last legs of self preservation, strength, confidence in my abilities or experiences have run out of speed. Im at his mercy. And its scary. My pride, guilt, self-condemation and judgement of 1000 people a day is so alive and well and ugly.    And his grace is way too good for me. You know when all you want to do is get away from yourself, but the thing is you keep following you around, no matter now fast you run. 
So never mind am only I stuck with me, but Christ is stuck with me...and he`s been whispering to me that he wouldnt have it any other way.

He`s telling me to trust him, that he wants to grow my faith and there`s no short cut. No matter how I feel about myself, He knows my heart better than I do, (``For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything``(1John 3:20) and has a plan to make me the  `` crown of beauty in his hand``(Is 62:3) that he has had in mind for me before he started ``knitting me intricately together in my mom`s womb (Ps 139:13).``

Yesterday I met  a beautiful sunshiny director of a women's shelter who started our meeting with taking a page from the American thanksgiving holiday and led out in giving thanks for a million things in her life. She beams the gentle, humble light of Christ as she does this. Then, during her presentation she mentions the death of her sister last week, like LAST WEEK. Ive met several folks like this since being here, though outwardly their stories are horrific, there is the sweetest Spirit of hope in things unseen pouring out from the inside, as they have leant to trust in the love of Christ, especially in circumstances when it makes the least sense. Though miraculous healings or instant answers to prayer are incredible, this daily resolve to give genuine thanks in all circumstances is the most beautiful, indisputable work of God that I`ve ever seen in process. There is nothing logical about this, but ``but for the joy set before him, He endured``.(12:2).
Despite every inch of inadequacy I see in me, I have a hunch this is the deeply rooted path of rich faith Christ is leading me, leading you, towards.
How his hopes can be this big for us is beyond me.
Praise Him who is Faithful when we are faithless.

Sorry for these less then fluffy and fun last few reports...if you`ve stuck with me til now, you truly are walking in this with me and I deeply thank-you.
Love, Char

Wkd shots and thoughts

Living the Dream

My avocado that is bursting open after only 1 month...versus 9 months of waiting on my plant at home to show a crack

Looking down on the view of my stomping grounds from the heights of Muizenberg Mtn

A Couple Six in the AM thoughts...

So there’s few questions that keep coming to mind this week, as our ministries’ construction zone keeps breaking up more ground.  It feels like things are starting from scratch in a lot of areas and we are wondering in which direction God is taking us on often at days end.

First question, as only God knows when this whole transition period will actually transition, and the pestering thought of “what meaningful work did I actually achieve today” keeps daily pestering, this quiet voice also said yesterday, “what if I brought you all the way to South Africa to accomplish nothing more than to receive my love?” 

“WHAT whoa Jesus do tell how could I measure that on the successful missionary scale to my supporters? I mean getting to know who You are and how You work are great and all but IVE GOT STUFF TO DO…LIKE NO I KNOW HOW THIS MUST SOUND BUT REALLY, JESUS IVE GOT A SERIOUS AGENDA TO ATTEND TO HERE…”

 I’ve been on this journey of God challenging me to consider what “success” really is. How much do I really equate my worth in my eyes, others eyes and Gods eyes according to whether I feel like I have worked hard enough, and accomplished something significant. I’m hitting the old wall of being challenged to accept a new, undeserved grace in this present situation. The thing is I will be no more loved or significant in his eyes no matter what I do or do not accomplish.

He loves me because that’s who He is and what I was created to know, receive and express back to him. So my pride needs to take a hit one more time and realize whom his love rests on has nothing to do with any of our actions.  I could have the most successful ministry here, but if my heart is not operating first out of the love Christ has for me, I might as well come home for a merry Christmas. And of course this is true where or in whatever we put our hands to, with or without a fancy missionary title.

So then, second question, how does one go about receiving the love of Jesus Christ? Its going to be the work of his Holy Spirit in each of us individually, drawing us deeper into his heart as we seek him out, wholeheartedly with our body, mind and spirit. “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it,” quotes the Psalmist of 81. Are our mouths and eyes eagerly open to taste and see Him anywhere, are we daily going to the word, asking Him for an appetite for his love to satisfy us above all other relationships or substances this world offers us?

My friends, together let us pursue his love until “it is better than life,” (Ps 63:3) the ultimate achievement.

A new reality

My family,
What is a new reality for me, is not so for many of our Nigerian brother and sisters here. A wonderful pastor couple (Jacob and Juliet) and their two young sons whom are very supportive of us personally in prayer and encouragment and for the S-cape ministry, have just recieved some horrific news. The persecution of Christians in a primarily Muslim area in Nigeria where they are from, has been heightened severely in the last year with many dying by bullets or bombs. Many Christians are terrified and are not going to church sunday mornings as it is common for cars, with a bomb attached, to be run into the side of church buildings while sunday services are being conducted.
This weekend Jacob's brother, a successful engineer and faithful follower of Christ, was shot in the head as he was followed coming home from work. His wife and two children need to leave as flee as quickly as they can as things are especially not safe for them now.

Pray especially for our family in these ways:
-That Christ would comfort deeply in this time of darkness and pain
-That the wife and children could escape to a safe place
-Due to unavailable funds, Jacob and Juliet have no choice but to stay here and grieve apart from their family, so pray too that the light of Christ would feed their they souls with hope

1 Peter 4:19
Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

It is a privilege to share these burdens from one family to another. Thank you.
Char

Shnetja and South Africa Picnic Well Together

Picnic posing...Dont fret, Claudia, my beautiful encourager and Malawian queen will capture those surfing pics that have been under huge demand shortly

Yep thats right, shnetja (spell?) (moms best menno buscuit) on the beach where it belongs!

Heres to Missionary Surfing

My friends!

Yes you read correctly, Ive been dreaming and schemeing of finding a way to get my feet as close to walking on water as possible and at long last...with a few additional bruises, a few blows to the pride cause wow did I fall, Im officially living the Surfer dream! Of course only after I had paddled my arms off and heart out and had reached the 'perfect zone' my instructor comments how impressed he is that Im not afraid to come out today as there were two sharks sightings an hour previous! My aching body must have overridden any rational thoughts of fear at that time as I thought "Heck Ive made it this far, surfs up dude!" Sorry mom if thats a bit much for you? I would say I was standing on my board for a total of 10 seconds in 2 hours...gotta start somewhere right?! Really Ive been grinning away out there just to be splashing around in all these ways God made for fun and beauty and enjoyment with Him.
So then, back to 'real missionary buisness' its been a bit tough as the house that we have been setting out sights on to purchase was just this week sold out from under us, so back to square one of looking for a new location. Pray for our leaders as I think its harder on them then they let on, to continually pray with joyful expectation when things just seem to continuously coming to a halt. Pray that our whole team can trust in God's better, bigger, wiser plan then just filling our short term vision as I really do think alot of very necessary ground work can be done in this time inbetween to really have a healthy long-term ministry. Pray for a growing unification in vision and in relationship.
We are also having a meeting with a local market tommorow to establish potential conections there to sell the produce from the greenhouse project that is still in the works...so thats exciting! I dont know if ill become a farmer till after christmas, so dont send your pitchforks via post just yet.
It is so clear, despite the initial chaotic scenario here, through all the growing peace inside of me that Christ is answering your prayers. I'm finding indeed that "In him is life, and the life is the light of men" (john 1:4). 
I appreciate every last comment shared as you are so very much involved in undertaking this new journey alongside of me. Courage on your own journey's towards the Light of Life.
Love, Char