Moments

Do you ever wish you could save a moment in time?

Sure we keep journals, take pictures, and try our best to save the memory. But a moment is so much more than that. In a moment, you feel. Some moments are filled with the thoughts of everyday life. What to wear. What to eat. What do people think of me? Other moments can be filled with such triumphant joy or quiet contentedness. And still there are the moments you experience something that changes your perspective on life, at least for a moment. Maybe you witness true suffering or poverty and swear you'll never be greedy or want more again. But then you are greedy. And you do want more. I have to wonder why that is? Why does such sincere conviction to be selfless and help those in need, fade away so quickly?

I've got a theory. It's because we can save a memory, but we really can't save a moment. You can remember seeing a family who lives in a house the size of your spacious walk-in-closet. But you too often forget the way it felt to put yourself in their shoes. Somehow the conviction to go out and help the poor and save the lost is gone. Because when the moment is over, so is the feeling, and your urgency to be the hands and feet of Jesus fades away to little nagging in the back of your mind.

Even here, surrounded by poverty and broken families. It's easy for me to forget. I get excited about the possibility of flying to Cape Town, or seeing Victoria Falls. I think about my plans for the weekend or how exhausted I am. And sometimes I put the kids' needs on the back burner of my mind. Because I'm human.

In this past month, I have been overwhelmed by moments of blessing. So many moments I am filled with joy by the people who have been put in my life.

On Fridays, an Afrikaans woman from the community comes to teach art to the kids. This week was a simple project so she gave me the materials to teach my grade 4s. We had worship music playing and the kids wanted me to play the same song over and over. The chorus goes, "I'm not longer a slave to sin, I am a child of God." Hearing the kids declaring these words over their own lives was so powerful. If I could, I would save that moment.

I have also experienced moments that I don't want to soon become numb to. I've seen children whose parents do not even look after them on the weekends. Parents who allow awful things to happen to their children.

In these moments I have a feeling of sorrow over their need for safety and love, but my own conviction and resolve to commit my life to helping the orphaned will soon pass. Only a conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit will never fade.

Join me in praying that our hearts will be burdened for the lost and vulnerable. Children especially. Pray with me that God will turn a moment of sorrow and empathy into a lifelong conviction to seek and save the lost.

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Nicole

In His Presence

Hello friends!

Three weeks in, and already time is flying. 

I've settled into a schedule of morning staff prayers, teaching, tea time, teaching, lunch, teaching, and playing with the kids after school. And of course grading and planning classes fits in there somewhere. It's safe to say that is my least favorite part of the job.

Now that the newness has worn off and I've settled into a schedule, some of that excitement from living halfway across the world has worn off as well. But what hasn't worn off and I pray I don't loose sight of is the excitement, peace, and fullness I feel in the presence of the Lord. And the African people sure know how to approach the Lord in prayer and worship. Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among you." I've learned so much about enjoying time communicating with God. Prayer isn't a chore. It has the power to knit your heart closer to God and closer to the people you are praying with.

Our grade 4 teacher, and my dad for the year as he tells people, flew home to Zambia a few weeks ago when his father was in the hospital. I was asked to take over his class, at least for the week while he was gone. I was so excited for the opportunity to do more and make an impact at the school, but boy did I not know what I was getting myself into! Teaching is hard. And draining. And sometimes just plain frustrating. The kids in my class are absolutely amazing. They each have so much personality and I have loved getting to know each one individually. But man are they a handful. I have learned so much more about kids and people in general and I now have endless amounts of respect for teachers. 

I've learned a lot about patience from these kids. In my own strength I can't love them the way they need to be loved. I have to pray for God to give me eyes to see them as He does. Kim and Elijah told me some of these kids' stories and when I heard what they have been through, God told me that I need to see how far they've come rather than letting myself get frustrated with their misbehaving.

I've also learned that yelling gets you nowhere. I had a grade 3 girl from the room next door tell me she kept hearing me yell "BOYS AND GIRLS, QUIET!" all day and I knew it was time to try a new strategy. The best way to keep a class quiet is to always have something to occupy them. Also sweets. These kids will do anything for sweets. 

Since Elijah has been home from Zambia, he's taken back Natural Science, Social Science, and Life Skills for the grade 4s. My schedule is still not set in stone, but for now I have been helping with English and Computer in the grade 1-5 classes, and have continued Math and English in the grade 4 classroom. 

My heart is so full being around these kids everyday. It's impossible to walk past the grade R (kindergarten) classroom without an army of little ones wrapping their arms around your legs. Money was raised for a Jungle Jim to be put in and it was just finished today. The excitement on their faces was priceless as they took turns on it. 

Weekends are my favorite here. Most Saturdays are just lazy. We do our laundry, watch movies, and hang out. Only a few kids stay so I have been able to make better relationships with them one on one. And on the weekends I can spend more time with my "parents for the year." Kim and Elijah are amazing examples of what it is to live every day with faith and dependence on God. And I love hearing Kim's stories of her adventures around the world before she settled at Dayspring. 

We drive about 45 minutes to get to church but it is so worth it. The people are genuine about their faith and their love for the Lord. And the worship is absolutely amazing. Most of the people at the church are Afrikaans, and I just love listening to their accents. 

The great thing about South Africa is that it is such a melting pot. Most of the kids at Dayspring speak Setswana or Zulu, but there are 11 official languages, including English, Afrikaans, and 9 tribal languages. People from all over Africa move to South Africa, because is has relatively more job opportunities. Elijah has started a bible study with a group of people from Malawi on Tuesday nights, where we are able to go and share the Word of God together.

I'm so thankful for friends and family who have been praying over my life and over Dayspring. I can feel the hand of God working everyday in my life as I never have before. And I truly believe it's because of your prayers.

Specifically I'd ask you to pray for the kids taking their exams next week. These exams determine whether the kids move on to the next grade, and the passing mark is about 30-40%. Many of the kids come from families that haven't spoken encouragement into their lives and we need to speak that power into their lives until they believe it themselves. 

God is so good and the work He is doing in these kids' lives is amazing. Hearing testimonies from the grade 9s about how the Lord has saved them from their past and given them a hope and a future is so encouraging for my own life. There is one girl in particular who came from an abusive family, and has now been able to bring the Word of God into her home, and her father has been open to talking about Jesus. God can indeed bring light out of darkness! 

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Nicole