Can you believe that I have been in the United States for almost 3 months already?? no, neither can I. It has been a whirlwind. So much has happened in life in the past few months, I don’t even know where to start.
there are two times in my life where I can say I’ve felt frozen in shyness. the first was when I was merely a kid, and asked to go the bathroom in swaziland when 300 schoolkids -who had never seen a white boy- enthusiastically mobbed me and took me to a long drop.(needless to say, I got there and told them 'I don't need the bathroom anymore'. the second time was the day I arrived at springhill. No joke. I was overwhelmed by everything. I always saw myself as pretty wild and energetically crazy, but these people were 500 times crazier. I walked into the Dining hall and I felt like a kid in the movies on his first day at school. totally small and lost and overwhelmed. 3 food stations with different hot food options, a salad bar, a sandwich bar, and a couple of desert options. not to mention chocolate milk, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and fruit juice all "on-tap". Completely freaked out by this new world, I sat at a table and quietly ate a small sandwich. not because I wasn’t hungry, but because I my body was in shock mode.
Now I sit at the end of the summer with friendships that I believe will last for years. I feel like that dining hall is my home and I attack that foodline with intent. I’ve stood on stage dressed like a pirate with a South African flag and proudly danced to ‘waka waka’ by Shakira. I’ve lead kids to the Lord, and had some incredible conversations with young men about life and their struggles. So what has happened from that first day of camp training to today?
I don’t really know. Yes, the 'making friends' part isn’t so difficult when you have a really cool South African accent, but that isn’t it. all I know is that I have been used by God, and God has used others in my life. I feel such a connection to this camp, the people here, and the work that is going on.
I guess I have really learned what it means to rely on God. To fit in to a new environment, for strength, and to trust him for what I need. Lets be honest, 22 hours a day, 5 days a week in a new country with frustrating pre-teens isn’t easy! I’ve relied a lot on God, and the people around me to get me through those tough times.
A few weeks ago, I got a skype call that one of my close friends from South Africa was killed. I thought I was done. there was no way I could put up with kids for a whole week with no personal space to break down and wrestle with God. And not only did God comfort me through that pain, he gave me the joy of being an area director that very week,! an incredible week in a new position at camp. Along with that was hanging out with some awesome people who really helped me out and prayed for and with me. I’ve just realized how God provides what we need at those critical moments. and I am so blessed.
Sometimes relying on God for what you need is difficult to grasp, but it's the only way. I feel like coming to the states and following that call has been so rewarding. I don’t know what the rest of my america journey’s will hold, and heading to Nashville NEXT WEEK (!!!!!!!!) for college is incredibly scary. I feel like starting there will be somewhat similar to starting here at camp, but I’m looking forward to it, because following God has been incredibly rewarding so far.In my last post, I spoke about being used by God, and expecting to be used by Him. He succeeded in that. I learnt a LOT. If I summed up phase 2 of my journey in one sentence... When things in your life get completely changed up, cling to God, and he will provide. What more could I ask for in a summer?
I miss you all!
and Mike, I love and miss you bru. so much.
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