Its October, that means November traditionally come next…
Nifty!
Nifty Non-Mov November please my brothers for the sake of the
pretty wedding photos?
Now where were we…
For those of you whom graced us with your presence this
August at our Canadian engagement party, sheer gratitude for you, stunning day!
Amid set up in full fledge thunderstorms leaving me a touch, ok fully frenzied
for a moment, the celebration air as guest after guest arrived was so full of
joy and life! 100% humidity, 100% saturation of the my most favorite people and
beyond blessings!
We photoed, we lawn bowled, we ate waffles til’ the belts
breaking point, we hymn sang to make grandma proud. We reminisced and dreamt of
our future full of excitement with each one who came. We laughed, my mom and I
cried….thats what we do! Old friends since knee high, new special someones and tiny
babies to honor us with their appearance. Dear ones coming from near and far in
the middle of harvest season couldn’t have shown us more support.
Honestly, our prayer was for our Father to host each one with
such welcomeness, peace, and
And as the last left over crepe had to be rolled and the white
sauce crock pot soaked dry, our hearts and luggage were marked oversized and
heavily loved from Winnipeg to Capetown… touchdown.
Its been a whirlwind since, Mawande working over time at
Hope Africa, marriage counseling on the double, my schedule full of ministry
and wedding preparation before I turn the weekly page over it seems.
Concerning specifically the counseling, it has brought out
deep issues in our relationship that have taken more work than we bargained. We
have allowed ourselves to take a long look square on in the mirror without
quickly flinching away when it’s gotten uncomfortable. It has forced us to ask
Jesus for a whole new level of receiving and giving grace, for both ourselves
and each other that we are pretty sure most couples in their first few years
seem to require. Real life stuff that
has left us no choice but to fall at Christ’s feet for help, as no one can
truly heal hearts and lives and minds but Him. Our counselors have been working
over time for us, and I am so incredibly proud of both Mawande and I for
staying on the same team and fighting for us when things have gotten pretty
dark. I’m proud of us for remaining in a
humble position of need and prayer, when one just doesn’t know the way forward,
without opting for short cuts to pretend for a while for the sake of pride.
We really believe that if God chooses to put two such
different lives together and make it beautiful in all its imperfection, he can
tie back together just about anything and any relationship. He’s an expert in
this fixing the seemingly impossible thing, He really can do anything.
A wedding present we received from one of our supporters in
Canada was a clay mug, one of the first ones she had hand crafted. She told us
she was embarrassed to give it to us because it was so imperfect, but felt God
told her she still should. So on the day we were leaving, she showed back up at
our door, handed us this humble gift of mud and water and waved goodbye. Little did she know, this gift has been a
daily
reminder of how God is not actually looking for perfection from us. This
cup has spoken significantly into our relationship and how to view ourselves
the way He views us. He is looking for our love. He is not expecting what we
cannot be and then blaming us for our down falls. He wants to take all of our
humble begins and warm them in his hands and shape them using his power, his
love, messaging all the fearful bumps out in the gentlest process. We are then truly
the work of his hands, his efforts, his grace. None of our own, the pressure is
off. Imperfection is so in!!!!! Its where his beauty is most magnified! All he
asks is that we let the artist do His best work, with great joy he goes about
you for that matter!
What a relief he alone is “the One who is able to keep you
from falling and to make you stand joyful and faultless in his glorious
presence (Jude 1:24).”
So thankyou to those who have been supporting in prayer
knowingly and unknowingly of our struggles, we are overcoming, we are getting
stronger. We will celebrate a great victory on November 28th, but
for the grace of God. Ohhhh joy shall have her dance that day loud and every so
much lovelier than we could have understood. It will be a sight to behold what God has done
and is doing.
Our God reigns.
And so the first of my beautiful family arrives in ten days
to get the dance going!!! Plans for auntie sleepovers in our new little
apartment are in high order! Did I
mention our new apartment what?!! Yes we share a yard with a stunning older
couple, married for 40 years! They are beautiful and generous and hospitable
and kind! They were praying for just the right people to come share their property,
and we were praying for a simple quiet space where we could safely build our
first little nest together. In everyway and more were both prayers answered!
This area is only a seven minute drive away from where I was staying, but away
from near the sandy windy beach means green and parks and trees and life! It’s
a very safe and family friendly area, as we it explore it, Mawande and I keep exclaiming
amazingly, “hey this is where we live!!!” What an incredible gift this place of
peace will be for us to begin.
So the tea is on, all I ask is that you come again! I shall
check back in once the wedding hooplaaas have come and the honey moon stars
have gone or at least aren’t as shiny?!
Oh my God, you can do anything.
Oh my God, nothing is too hard for you.
Love,
Charlene Fast…for the last time!
