I actually like animals

Week three recap, safari photos, and week four preview

Recap – Week three

• We started the week with worship and prayer on Monday morning. That afternoon, we drove from Durban to an orphanage in a very rural area. At the children’s home, a beautiful woman named Aunty Eunice takes care of 60 kids almost singlehandedly. The afternoon was a very humbling experience.

• Every Tuesday, we spend the entire day at a rehab center with men and women have admitted themselves voluntarily to recover from addictions (primarily drugs and alcohol). Thanks to a few extra visits during our first full week in South Africa, we have already invested 30 hours developing friendships. Whenever we go, it feels like a family reunion! I deeply admire the residents’ vulnerability and courage. This week, I was honored to share my life story and the good news of Jesus with the whole group (pictured below). It was one of the highlights of my entire trip so far.

• On Wednesday, we headed to the beach to pass out sandwiches to men and women living on the streets. My group ended up in several meaningful conversations, including one with a man named Renni (pictured below). As I stood up to leave, he told me he had an “American t-shirt” in his duffel bag. Much to my surprise, he pulled out a Michigan State shirt! This fun surprise was God’s gift to me. I felt so seen, and I believe Renni did as well!

• Thursday mornings begin with an extended time of prayer. This Thursday, we rounded out the day with a few hours of manual labor in the afternoon. Working on-site at the base where we are staying is our opportunity to bless the local YWAM team very tangibly. I was in a group of six who worked on the conversion of an old chicken coop into a prayer room. We varnished wood beams and cleaned and primed the walls. Despite the rain and dirt involved, we had a blast!

• In preparation for our upcoming trip, we met with a local pastor named Dave on Friday morning. He founded and operates a nonprofit that is connected to pastors in remote parts of Lesotho. During the first week of February, Dave and his team will escort us to two or three villages to encourage the local churches and communities. I can’t wait for this trip! After meeting with Dave, we ate lunch and hit the road. Keep reading to hear about and see photos from our safari!

(1) Sharing at the rehab center on Tuesday; (2) My new friend Renni; (3) Evidence that even grunt work is fun with friends

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Camera roll – Saturday safari

Each member of our team had the chance to opt into a safari, and all 14 of us responded with a resounding yes. An African safari had never been on my bucket list (not that I have one), but I could hardly contain my excitement yesterday. My friends starting calling me a meerkat because of how I perched in the front row with my head on a swivel surveying the stunning landscape for wildlife. I had forgotten how much I love seeing animals in the wild!¹ God’s creativity was on full display. Incredible!

We didn't see any cats, but we saw SO many types of animals. Highlights included (in no particular order) impala everywhere we turned, the most magical roadside elephant sighting, many giraffe, several white rhino, my personal favorite wildebeest, herds of zebra, a few cape buffalo, and even a handful of crazy friends!

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Preview – Week four

Tomorrow marks the start of week four (of eight) in Durban. Time is flying! The YWAM base where we are staying officially reopens tomorrow, so all the staff who have been away for the holidays will return to a house full of strangers (that's us). The schedule changes frequently, but I believe this week will involve the rehab center, serving the homeless downtown, sharing about Jesus in a local neighborhood, and potentially more children’s ministry at a different orphanage. I am certain of two things: (1) the schedule will change, and (2) it will be a great week!

1. Still not into pets. Don’t get any ideas.