soaking it all in

This place is indescribable. Every day, it gets more and more comfortable in this foreign place. The realization that we are here for the next 3 months has set in and I am more than okay with it. I honestly can say that I am happy to be out of the "honeymoon" stage. It gives me the opportunity to see things from a native's perspective. It has sunk in that there are many different races and cultures here within Africa, yet they are all proud of who they are and where they come from. Being different is embraced here and it is refreshing. You can talk about people and say, "Oh they are black, or she is a colored" and there is nothing wrong with it. I love that.

I have already seen God working. New relationships and bonds have been in the process already and it amazes me how he does it. He has already crossed individuals in my path and I know there is no accident by it happening. Before coming here, I knew I didn't have it "all together." I had left some relationships back home that were great and stronger than ever, and other relationships that were left broken and unsettled in a sense. Leaving in an unbalanced state like that left me more weak than I had ever imagined. I have had the opportunity already since being here, to not dwell in what has been "left behind" but turn my past into something that can make me stronger in my faith and as a woman of God. I am in the process of healing, forgiving, and looking forward to all the new things headed my way. But I just thought I'd share with you all that God has been working already since I've been here. I am really just trying to listen and have him be in full control. Something I have noticed in order to grow within yourself, with others, and with God is that you need to be vulnerable. As scary as that can be, being vulnerable opens up so many doors and opportunities. That is what I have learned already... and it opened up an area of healing for me.

While being here, I have been really been trying to journal a lot. Today, I journaled on top of the waterfall on our campus and really soaked up everything in my surroundings. I soaked up the trees, the cloudy sky, the sun on my face, the bugs that were attacking me and my blanket (haha), and where I was sitting. I was sitting on top of a waterfall! That was surreal to me and I really just am thanking God for the opportunity to be in this beautiful place. I took a video of where I was sitting so I hope you all can watch it!!

School has been very intense since being here. Yesterday I had class from 8am to 8pm. OOfta! That was rough. But I keep just telling myself that we only have 5 weeks of this and then lots of mission work. And my classes are actually very interesting.

Like I said earlier, I feel like a few of us here are starting to stray away from the "honeymoon" stage... at least from the food aspect of it all. haha It is so funny because it gets to the point where we all guess what the type of meat it will be for that day and how many times it will be reused and re-cycled in to future meals. Many of us have become skeptical of the meat after we find out later that what we thought we were eating is not what it really was! So every meal a few of us talk about the food we cannot wait to eat when we get back to the States. My friend, Becca, and I decided already that as soon as we arrive in the LAX airport we are driving straight to an IN n' OUT or a Chipotle! haha : ) I am looking forward to that already.

The chalet that we are staying in is named "Mojalefa" and a bunch of us girls are starting this event that we call, "mojo-time." It is where we all hang out and play games and it is soo fun! Lately, playing the card game, "Egyptian Rat slap" and "Catch-phrase" has been a favorite game of ours to play. We usually play games like that to wind up the night and laugh off our very stressful school days.

This weekend we are headed to an Indian Community in Durban along the Indian Ocean. I am so excited to go and hang out with all the wonderful 53 people that are here and do some african style cooking!! I hope it is sunny weather : ) We will be living and observing their way of life. I am anxious to once again be vulnerable and uncomfortable. (I say that now...haha)

Prayer Requests: Good weather and safety for the weekend, concentration in our studies, making more friendships this weekend!