I’m going back to South Africa! Last year, my apprenticeship with NieuCommunities was an amazing journey of discovering how God has uniquely gifted me and exploring my calling and future ministry. Since returning home, I have taken time to discern what might be next, and God has reaffirmed that NieuCommunities South Africa is what he would have me pursue for the next season of my life. I’ve been invited to join NCSA staff, and there are still details to be settled, but I’m moving forward in faith!
NieuCommunities is part of Church Resource Ministries, which develops leaders to strengthen the church worldwide, in fulfillment of their mission: “To make God’s name renowned among the nations.” NieuCommunities develops young leaders through a ten-month program, inviting apprentices to come alongside staff to learn and do life & mission together.
Last year, in my learning with NC and the ministries I pursued, God began to call my attention to two threads that had been woven into my life for some time. The first thread—my gifting in shepherding—emerged as I saw how God has enabled me to disciple others in friendships, small groups, and ministry relationships. As I built friendships with the women in “Granny’s family,” I began to better identify this gift in myself and see my heart for helping others grow closer to God. The second thread—my interest in the arts—emerged from a writing project with fellow apprentice Sarah, telling the stories of women we befriended in Soshanguve and downtown Pretoria. It was this that helped me respond to God’s call to integrate my interests and passions with my ministry.
Understanding that God can—and desires to—use my gifts, abilities, and my interests resonated in my heart. Toward the end of the year, I wrote a vision statement that has come to encapsulate the dreams God has given me for my future life and ministry. I feel God calling me to grow in shepherding, and to pursue a new vision in ministry: of drawing people into a deeper relationship with Him through their experience of the arts. As I explored this calling—what it might look like, and where I could best live it out—God drew me back to NieuCommunities, and my heart to South Africa. In April, I will return to Pretoria for at least two years: growing in mentoring apprentices, and pursuing a new ministry vision of arts-based discussion groups designed to connect people with God through fiction & film.
I am planning to return to South Africa on April 15—just two months from now! I hope to reach 100% of my support goal by March 31 (my birthday!). This goal breaks down into two categories:
• $2000 for transitional expenses (visa expenses, airfare, getting settled in Pretoria)
• $2200 monthly to cover my living and ministry expenses
May I encourage you to begin praying about your level of involvement? I am praying God will provide 12 people to give $100 per month, 10 to give $50 per month, 14 to give $25 per month, and 15 to give $10 per month. If you would like to contribute, please visit this link and search for me by last name.
Thank you for being part of my journey to seek God’s calling on my life and follow His leading into cross-cultural ministry. It is a blessing to have your faithful support, both financially and in prayer. I would love to talk more with you soon about your part in supporting me on this new journey!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Exciting news
If you just want the exciting news up front, here it is: I'm going back to South Africa!! If you want the details, you can read on. =)
The past few months since I've been back from South Africa have been quite a journey. They have also been full of journeys--to places as near as Visalia, California and as far as Glasgow, Scotland. I've been reuniting with friends new and old, as well as seeking out ministry opportunities and taking time to discern what might be next for me.
At the end of December, I traveled to Wales for my Welsh little sister's wedding! Jude and I became good friends during several summer mission trips to Wales, when her family was my host family. It was a beautiful wedding and though it was a busy and rushed reunion with her, her family, and dear friends at Gilgal Baptist Church, it was so good to be there. Following the wedding, I traveled with a friend to Oxford, Glasgow, and London--visiting various friends along the way. I connected with several people in London, exploring ministry opportunities there and taking time to discern if it might be the place God was leading me to. My time in London very much affirmed my own ministry vision, but it was also a time of seeing closed doors. There are a lot of exciting things that are building and growing there, but I know it's not the place for me right now.
In the month since I've been back from the UK, I've taken time to pray about and imagine what God might be leading me towards. I've come full circle back to NieuCommunities and feel like this is the place God is calling me for the next season of my life. As I explored a couple of options within NC, it became clear that my heart wants to be back in South Africa. The NCSA team and I have talked back and forth over email and over the phone, and both sides feel God's leading in this. So, I'm excited to report that as of Wednesday, January 30th, I have been invited to join the NieuCommunities staff in South Africa!! My role with them will continue to be clarified over the next few weeks and months, but I'm excited for the opportunity to be part of mentoring others through the apprenticeship program, exploring my own ministry vision in the broader community in Pretoria North, and continuing with my writing project (especially as my fellow writer Sarah is also returning to staff in SA).
The week following my invitation to join NCSA, I was able to just barely make it into New Staff Orientation with CRM (NieuCommunities' parent organization). So the past two weeks have been quite a whirlwind. I am now working through the administrative details with CRM (getting me all official), putting together a financial and prayer support team, and taking care of the many details that have to be settled in order to move to another continent and hemisphere! Things will continue to happen quickly, as I have been asked to aim for returning to Pretoria in mid-April.
I would like to keep you updated on my process as well as invite you to continue supporting me, both in prayer and financially. I will be sending support letters soon, and would love to include you on that list. Toward that end, I would greatly appreciate you sending me your addresses! Feel free to email me using the link in the sidebar. More to come soon. =)
The past few months since I've been back from South Africa have been quite a journey. They have also been full of journeys--to places as near as Visalia, California and as far as Glasgow, Scotland. I've been reuniting with friends new and old, as well as seeking out ministry opportunities and taking time to discern what might be next for me.
At the end of December, I traveled to Wales for my Welsh little sister's wedding! Jude and I became good friends during several summer mission trips to Wales, when her family was my host family. It was a beautiful wedding and though it was a busy and rushed reunion with her, her family, and dear friends at Gilgal Baptist Church, it was so good to be there. Following the wedding, I traveled with a friend to Oxford, Glasgow, and London--visiting various friends along the way. I connected with several people in London, exploring ministry opportunities there and taking time to discern if it might be the place God was leading me to. My time in London very much affirmed my own ministry vision, but it was also a time of seeing closed doors. There are a lot of exciting things that are building and growing there, but I know it's not the place for me right now.
In the month since I've been back from the UK, I've taken time to pray about and imagine what God might be leading me towards. I've come full circle back to NieuCommunities and feel like this is the place God is calling me for the next season of my life. As I explored a couple of options within NC, it became clear that my heart wants to be back in South Africa. The NCSA team and I have talked back and forth over email and over the phone, and both sides feel God's leading in this. So, I'm excited to report that as of Wednesday, January 30th, I have been invited to join the NieuCommunities staff in South Africa!! My role with them will continue to be clarified over the next few weeks and months, but I'm excited for the opportunity to be part of mentoring others through the apprenticeship program, exploring my own ministry vision in the broader community in Pretoria North, and continuing with my writing project (especially as my fellow writer Sarah is also returning to staff in SA).
The week following my invitation to join NCSA, I was able to just barely make it into New Staff Orientation with CRM (NieuCommunities' parent organization). So the past two weeks have been quite a whirlwind. I am now working through the administrative details with CRM (getting me all official), putting together a financial and prayer support team, and taking care of the many details that have to be settled in order to move to another continent and hemisphere! Things will continue to happen quickly, as I have been asked to aim for returning to Pretoria in mid-April.
I would like to keep you updated on my process as well as invite you to continue supporting me, both in prayer and financially. I will be sending support letters soon, and would love to include you on that list. Toward that end, I would greatly appreciate you sending me your addresses! Feel free to email me using the link in the sidebar. More to come soon. =)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Last update...
I write this from Southern California, aware of the irony that it's warmer here in the almost-winter than it was in Pretoria in the almost-summer. I arrived safely back in California this past Saturday, and have been spending my time catching up on sleep, good food, and seeing family and friends. While it's good to be back for all of those reasons, I'm also very much missing South Africa and friends there. (As well as friends who were there and are now in various stages of transitioning back to the U.S.)
The whole NCSA group at our farewell dinner the night before I left
Time is stretching out for me in strange ways. The past month, so full of experiences, and so full of bittersweet goodbyes, feels like it's a world away. We had our year-end celebration on November 4th, at the top of a mountain overlooking Pretoria. We invited the friends and ministry partners who have been part of our lives over this year and shared a meal, before taking time to worship together and pray over the city of Pretoria and the Tshwane metropolitan area. It was an amazing time of celebrating together and saying goodbyes. A week later, I was back in California, celebrating a dear friend's wedding.
Praying over the city from the walls of the fort atop the mountain
The time since my last update has been full of celebrations. Gatherings for birthdays, baby showers, and goodbyes--many goodbyes--have filled my weeks. Goodbyes at Potter's House, a farewell party given by Granny's family--goodbyes said in many different ways and in many different languages. We've spent our "conversations" discussing releasing and re-entry, and looking back on what God has done in our midst and in our hearts over the year. It's been an amazing year filled with friendship, growth, and a deeper awareness of God's work--both in me and in the world around me.
The table arranged for the farewell party at Granny's
The next steps for me are still coming together. There are a couple of things within CRM that I'm thinking and praying about and will be exploring further in the coming months. Be in prayer for me during this process, as I seek God's leading and discern where He might have me be during the next season of my life. I do know that I will likely be heading away from California--beyond that, the details are still sketchy.
On the writing project front, Sarah and I are (still) working. As our time in South Africa came to a close, we had to keep revisiting and revising our goals for the year, and we realized that we wouldn't be able to finish our writing and editing while we were there. So I'm attempting to be disciplined about diving into that writing now that I'm back and am looking forward to seeing what takes shape. There are some amazing stories to tell and we look forward to sharing them with you. I'll keep you posted.
If you'd like to look back on my year in South Africa (as I have been doing!), you can revisit pictures here and you can also peruse our community blog here.
And with that, I'll be on my way...
The whole NCSA group at our farewell dinner the night before I left
Time is stretching out for me in strange ways. The past month, so full of experiences, and so full of bittersweet goodbyes, feels like it's a world away. We had our year-end celebration on November 4th, at the top of a mountain overlooking Pretoria. We invited the friends and ministry partners who have been part of our lives over this year and shared a meal, before taking time to worship together and pray over the city of Pretoria and the Tshwane metropolitan area. It was an amazing time of celebrating together and saying goodbyes. A week later, I was back in California, celebrating a dear friend's wedding.
Praying over the city from the walls of the fort atop the mountain
The time since my last update has been full of celebrations. Gatherings for birthdays, baby showers, and goodbyes--many goodbyes--have filled my weeks. Goodbyes at Potter's House, a farewell party given by Granny's family--goodbyes said in many different ways and in many different languages. We've spent our "conversations" discussing releasing and re-entry, and looking back on what God has done in our midst and in our hearts over the year. It's been an amazing year filled with friendship, growth, and a deeper awareness of God's work--both in me and in the world around me.
The table arranged for the farewell party at Granny's
The next steps for me are still coming together. There are a couple of things within CRM that I'm thinking and praying about and will be exploring further in the coming months. Be in prayer for me during this process, as I seek God's leading and discern where He might have me be during the next season of my life. I do know that I will likely be heading away from California--beyond that, the details are still sketchy.
On the writing project front, Sarah and I are (still) working. As our time in South Africa came to a close, we had to keep revisiting and revising our goals for the year, and we realized that we wouldn't be able to finish our writing and editing while we were there. So I'm attempting to be disciplined about diving into that writing now that I'm back and am looking forward to seeing what takes shape. There are some amazing stories to tell and we look forward to sharing them with you. I'll keep you posted.
If you'd like to look back on my year in South Africa (as I have been doing!), you can revisit pictures here and you can also peruse our community blog here.
And with that, I'll be on my way...
Monday, October 29, 2007
The cultural experiences keep on coming
Sarah and I went to Potter's House tonight for the last time. Well, Sarah will probably take her parents to visit there in a few weeks, but I'm headed back to California in a little under 2 weeks. Anyway. It was quite a night.
We were running late because on the way, we stopped at the store to buy dessert. We were a little worried we'd miss dinner--it's usually around 6:30, and we didn't get there until 7:00. No need for worry--we hadn't even come close to missing dinner. We got there just in time for a meeting on obtaining housing. The meeting went till 8:30. THEN they served dinner. We were asked to go ahead and dish up the milk tart we'd brought for dessert--on the plates with the rest of dinner. They said we should put the milk tart on top of the pap, so it wouldn't get in the gravy. Ok. It was a bit strange, but it worked.
Once the milk tart was dished up, we waited for the rest of dinner to be served. Sarah was in the middle of a conversation and didn't immediately notice what was being spooned onto the plates. I watched closely for her reaction. I was rewarded by witnessing her doing a very obvious double-take. Because, well...here's a visual aid:
They're also known as "runaways," but yes, that's a chicken foot. Mmmmm.
After dinner, we made the rounds, saying goodbyes and giving out contact info. The evening concluded with one woman asking for our mailing addresses in America because she wanted to send us a package. Actually, her exact words were: "I will send you the Vanity Fair bras." She went on to ask for our bra sizes. Aaaaaand, then we went home.
We were running late because on the way, we stopped at the store to buy dessert. We were a little worried we'd miss dinner--it's usually around 6:30, and we didn't get there until 7:00. No need for worry--we hadn't even come close to missing dinner. We got there just in time for a meeting on obtaining housing. The meeting went till 8:30. THEN they served dinner. We were asked to go ahead and dish up the milk tart we'd brought for dessert--on the plates with the rest of dinner. They said we should put the milk tart on top of the pap, so it wouldn't get in the gravy. Ok. It was a bit strange, but it worked.
Once the milk tart was dished up, we waited for the rest of dinner to be served. Sarah was in the middle of a conversation and didn't immediately notice what was being spooned onto the plates. I watched closely for her reaction. I was rewarded by witnessing her doing a very obvious double-take. Because, well...here's a visual aid:
They're also known as "runaways," but yes, that's a chicken foot. Mmmmm.
After dinner, we made the rounds, saying goodbyes and giving out contact info. The evening concluded with one woman asking for our mailing addresses in America because she wanted to send us a package. Actually, her exact words were: "I will send you the Vanity Fair bras." She went on to ask for our bra sizes. Aaaaaand, then we went home.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Rain and Reunions
It's spring here in Pretoria. It's rainy and cold, and the jacarandas are blooming everywhere. Their branches loom overhead, loaded with purple blossoms that fall and carpet every inch of Pangani's garden. I'd been missing cold rain, and I've gotten my wish these past few weeks.
Jacarandas at sunrise along a nearby street
The past month has been full of so many things (but maybe that's just the way things go here). My friends Anne and Karen came to visit in mid-September. They joined the five apprentices and the Stewart family for a weekend away to the Drakensbergs, a range of mountains in a province southeast of Pretoria. The scenery was beautiful, we went on a couple of hikes, and spent plenty of time just hanging out and relaxing at the cottages where we stayed. After our return to Pretoria, I spent a week juggling my responsibilities with showing Anne and Karen around the area. One of the highlights of the week was getting caught a little closer than we would have liked to a rather angry elephant at a local game park. I thought it was awesome; Anne was a little less enthusiastic.
Hiking in the Draks with Anne and Karen
Most prominent in my mind right now is a crazy and amazing trip I went on this past weekend. Last Friday night, Doug and I took Granny, three of her daughters, her son-in-law Solomon, and their cousin Andries on a road trip to the Durban area. On this journey, we were hoping to reunite Granny with her daughter Dumazile, who was kidnapped when she was seven years old. 37 years have now passed, and recently Granny was able to get information about Dumazile's whereabouts.
The house where Dumazile grew up
The journey was quite an experience--driving through the night in the rain, followed by a 2-hour drive on muddy, slightly perilous mountain roads. We kept passing incredible views, looking out over valleys and mountains beyond. At one point, I turned to Granny and exclaimed how beautiful it was. She responded by shaking her head, saying, "Oh, Barbara..." and covering her head with a blanket so she wouldn't see the dropoff to the side of the van! When we reached the home where Dumazile was raised, in a remote village in the mountains, there were several animated conversations in Zulu between Granny's family and the woman who raised Dumazile. We were finally able to drive to Dumazile's home and bring her back to be reunited with her mother and her sisters.
Granny with her daughters
The sisters...including the "white sister," as they called me!
When we saw our first glimpse of the daughter who had been missing from Granny's family for so long, Annah looked at me with joy in her face and said: "We have found our sister." All I could think was that Dumazile looked exactly like she belonged. She looks like Granny, she looks like her sisters Betty and Annah, and she looks like her niece Champagne. Dumazile was so happy to finally know her mother and sisters, to finally know that her mother did want her and had been searching for her. It was amazing to be part of the reunion and to hear the family exclaiming what a miracle it was to find Dumazile. As we were leaving, Granny walked with me on the way to the car. She kept saying: "I am so blessed, Barbara, so blessed by God..." We all felt that way as we began the long journey home.
I've felt so blessed to be here this past year, to see and be part of the amazing things God is doing. As my time in South Africa comes to a close, I'm excited about what God has in store for the future (though those details are still getting figured out). Even so, it will be hard to leave this community and these people who've come to mean so much to me. All of the apprentices are balancing thoughts of what's next with finishing well here. It's a delicate balance, to be sure...
Prayer:
-For my roommate Carissa’s continued recovery following her third surgery on her elbow (and at the same time, immense praise for how well she’s doing and how much movement she’s regained in just the past week!)
-For wisdom and perseverance as Sarah and I finish our writing project and figure out how much to do here and how much to put off till we get back to the US
-That my time here would finish well—in bringing things to a close in ministry and in saying goodbyes to everyone
-For continued guidance as I settle the next steps leading into next year
Jacarandas at sunrise along a nearby street
The past month has been full of so many things (but maybe that's just the way things go here). My friends Anne and Karen came to visit in mid-September. They joined the five apprentices and the Stewart family for a weekend away to the Drakensbergs, a range of mountains in a province southeast of Pretoria. The scenery was beautiful, we went on a couple of hikes, and spent plenty of time just hanging out and relaxing at the cottages where we stayed. After our return to Pretoria, I spent a week juggling my responsibilities with showing Anne and Karen around the area. One of the highlights of the week was getting caught a little closer than we would have liked to a rather angry elephant at a local game park. I thought it was awesome; Anne was a little less enthusiastic.
Hiking in the Draks with Anne and Karen
Most prominent in my mind right now is a crazy and amazing trip I went on this past weekend. Last Friday night, Doug and I took Granny, three of her daughters, her son-in-law Solomon, and their cousin Andries on a road trip to the Durban area. On this journey, we were hoping to reunite Granny with her daughter Dumazile, who was kidnapped when she was seven years old. 37 years have now passed, and recently Granny was able to get information about Dumazile's whereabouts.
The house where Dumazile grew up
The journey was quite an experience--driving through the night in the rain, followed by a 2-hour drive on muddy, slightly perilous mountain roads. We kept passing incredible views, looking out over valleys and mountains beyond. At one point, I turned to Granny and exclaimed how beautiful it was. She responded by shaking her head, saying, "Oh, Barbara..." and covering her head with a blanket so she wouldn't see the dropoff to the side of the van! When we reached the home where Dumazile was raised, in a remote village in the mountains, there were several animated conversations in Zulu between Granny's family and the woman who raised Dumazile. We were finally able to drive to Dumazile's home and bring her back to be reunited with her mother and her sisters.
Granny with her daughters
The sisters...including the "white sister," as they called me!
When we saw our first glimpse of the daughter who had been missing from Granny's family for so long, Annah looked at me with joy in her face and said: "We have found our sister." All I could think was that Dumazile looked exactly like she belonged. She looks like Granny, she looks like her sisters Betty and Annah, and she looks like her niece Champagne. Dumazile was so happy to finally know her mother and sisters, to finally know that her mother did want her and had been searching for her. It was amazing to be part of the reunion and to hear the family exclaiming what a miracle it was to find Dumazile. As we were leaving, Granny walked with me on the way to the car. She kept saying: "I am so blessed, Barbara, so blessed by God..." We all felt that way as we began the long journey home.
I've felt so blessed to be here this past year, to see and be part of the amazing things God is doing. As my time in South Africa comes to a close, I'm excited about what God has in store for the future (though those details are still getting figured out). Even so, it will be hard to leave this community and these people who've come to mean so much to me. All of the apprentices are balancing thoughts of what's next with finishing well here. It's a delicate balance, to be sure...
Prayer:
-For my roommate Carissa’s continued recovery following her third surgery on her elbow (and at the same time, immense praise for how well she’s doing and how much movement she’s regained in just the past week!)
-For wisdom and perseverance as Sarah and I finish our writing project and figure out how much to do here and how much to put off till we get back to the US
-That my time here would finish well—in bringing things to a close in ministry and in saying goodbyes to everyone
-For continued guidance as I settle the next steps leading into next year
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