Thursday was our last day of ministry this week.  We finished up mid-semester debrief today.  We were all talking about the most uplifting parts of the trip and the biggest struggles we are dealing with.  For me the most amazing thing is that the Lord works differently through the thirty-five of us that are here.  It is truly a blessing to be living in Christian community with a group of this size and all are on fire for the Lord.  When living here I see the potential of my old campus.  I wonder what Nabor House would be like if everyone acted as the hands and feet of Jesus.  Definitely something I'll be praying about.  The biggest struggle I have had so far is patiently listening to the Lord.  I am eager to hear His voice and am hungry for the direction he shall have me go in.  After debrief we went to our ministry locations.  It was an amazing day with the children in the Cresh.  They went through another session of children's ministry.  It went really well until they mentioned that there would be a party for them afterwards.  Some of the women in the Momelodi group put together a party for the kids.  They made balloon animals, did face painting, had a dancing & volleyball, and had coloring & bubbles.  It was really quite amazing.  I took a thirty-minute video tape, and of course the kids took the spotlight (even though I didn't do a bad job as the narrator).  We went back to our friend Sam's house and said our good byes to him.  We will truly miss him and his family.  If you would pray for him please remember to lift him and his family up in prayer.  He sells drinks and other supplies for a living, but does not enjoy selling beer.  Unfortunately though, this is where the majority of his profit comes from.  Pray that the Lord gives him a new job to provide for his family.  Ask God's blessing in his life and I thank you for your support in this matter.  We visited Esther again, and Tylo shared Galatians 4:1 with her.  Saying good-bye to Sam wasn't easy because we have spent the last few weeks visiting him everyday.  It is awfully hard to tell a new friend that you may never see him again.

            Today is the day the official list comes out on which people are going to Kenya and which one's are going to Swaziland.  I am on the Swaziland list, and really I have known that this is where I was going to be spending the second semester of this mission trip.  I am sad to say that my close friend JB is going to Kenya, but I also rejoice in the Lord's faithfulness.  I know that he will use JB in incredible ways.  Then there is Luke & Michael.  I get up every morning at 6am with Luke to pray intercession over my team, family, friends, and leaders, and I work out with Michael on most days.  I look forward to keeping in touch with them as we part ways.  It is funny because most of the women I'm closest too are going to Kenya.  It will be awesome to spend the second semester getting to know the rest of my team.  The Lord really knows what he is doing too.  I can already tell you, there are some of the most amazing women I've ever met on this team.  They are going to leave a dent for Jesus in Kenya.  I'm sure the Lord will keep us in contact with them as well.

            Some lessons the Lord has really been teaching is selflessness, and giving everything to him.  First, when I sit back and just look at all the amazing things the Lord is doing in others, it helps to forget about me me me.  When I was in the states my faith was more like a competition with others.  I practiced comparison quite frequently.  Friends, this just feeds our pride.  Why would we dare compete with others about their relationship with the Lord?  It is unbelievable to sit back and praise Him for what He is doing, instead of comparing all the time.  When I came to South Africa I wanted to see big things.  I'm talking healing, raising the dead, and all the other amazing truth's of the bible.  Friends I tell you the biggest miracle I've seen yet is what the Lord is doing in my heart.  How unworthy am I to even serve the Lord.  He is teaching me about his heart of compassions for the nations.  I love this place more than words can express.  I should be waking up every morning and the first words off my lips should be praises to Him.  For the Lord to work the physical miracles, I must not be concerned by them.  Through God's grace, He has shown me that if my ministry here is solely for glorifying our Lord Jesus and spreading his gospel message of true authority then that is when the Lord will show me the book of Acts in front of my face.  Praise Him for what he has shown me!  I will continue praying for your growth and that you seek His love & grace everyday.  I will pray for persecution in your lives so you can truly rejoice and understand the sacrifice that God gave for you.  Look to Calvary and repent at the Cross.  May the Lord Bless you today.  Your brother in Christ,