My cup overflows...

One of the first weeks I was in SA, I was giving Siya a bath.  He put my hands together, cupped like a bowl, and took a toy flower waterer he has, filled it with water and poured it into my hands until it was overflowing.  When it started overflowing he would look at me with a BIG smile and laugh.  I put my hands down and he said, ‘No, No’ and put them back together, filled up his waterer and did it again.  He did it over and over.  Whenever the water in my hands would get low or run out he would pour more water in until it was overflowing.  The thing that struck me is how much he enjoyed filling my hands with water.  It was a delight to him. 

            As I was sitting there watching him, God showed me that this is the picture of what God delights to do for me.  He puts me in a position to receive, and then He overflows my life; He blesses me over and over satisfying the deepest desires and needs of my heart, providing me with EVERY physical need, loving me unconditionally with a reckless abandonment I can’t conceive.  And He does it with such delight.  He showed me how much joy He gets from filling me…I don’t have to fear or feel guilty to receiving…I can just receive and enjoy.     

            I’m humbled and grateful to experience this fulfillment and delight on a regular basis; it seems to be the theme of my life lately.  It’s only appropriate to leave you with this…

            

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.  Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.  For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.  He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded and it stood firm.”  (psalm 33:1-9)

“Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire but you.   My heart and flesh fail, but God is the strength of my life and my portion forever.” (psalm 73: 25-26) 

            

Playing with kids at Sukasambe, a physically and mentally disabled children's home.  

Praise God for all his provisions!  He is and has been and continues to be abundantly faithful to me.

I have been bouncing around quite a bit this month.  I thought I would only be in Vanderbijlpark, but after Siyabonga got sick with pneumonia and a lung infection that landed him in the hospital I went to Klerksdorp for a week to help Kjelsi and Uli with the kids.  Kjelsi and I both ended up getting sick as well that week…lets just say it was a really long week, I’m thankful I could be here to help out, and everyone is doing well and back to health.  Praise God!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for a car…not only did I find a car to buy, but God decided to bless me with it for FREE!!!!!!  An incredible friend gave the car I was going to buy to Siyabonga.  Since he is two, and a few years from driving, my sister and Uli are letting me drive it while I’m here.  Yes, God is faithful and provides every need!!  Don’t be jealous but it’s a 1986 BMW…it’s a sweet ride. J

The guy who owned the car has been living in Cape Town and moved from the country, so I HAD to go to Cape Town to get the car.  Because Zach and Dan came back early from Mozambique the three of us flew down to Cape Town, spent the week down there and road tripped across South Africa with another friend to bring the car back.  I’m not going to tell you a lot about Cape Town, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves and suffice it to say, Cape Town stands as my second favorite place on the earth (that I’ve been to)…incredibly beautiful, lively, diverse and fun.

LCF received a very large donation with the idea that LCF would be able to channel the resources to charities and be able to build relationship with them in order to help them function better.  I will be one of two or three people in LCF primarily responsible for building relationship with these different charities to: a) determine how well they are currently functioning; b) make sure the money and/or resources they receive are being used properly; and c) help determine weak areas in their organization and help them grow in order to function better.   I’m really excited about this opportunity.  I have a lot of learning to do, but am grateful to be able to work with different organizations in this capacity.  I feel very inadequate, but I also am confident that the Lord is walking me thru this and will give me the wisdom, discernment and compassion I need. 

PRAYER REQUESTS…. Praise God for providing my family, friends and myself with health; for providing me with a car; and for His grace that allows us to be apart of His family.  Pray that my time will be protected.; it seems to escape me before I had it to spend.  Pray that the Lord’s vision and desires would be made clear to me.

And you?...What can I be praying about for you?  Please let me know, I would really love to be praying for you.

I really am doing well..  I finally feel somewhat settled and even established here.  I am happy to be and grateful for that. 

I love you guys,

Linds

My new car!!! Complete with sunroof.  Yes we already drove it 14 hours across South Africa...runs like a champ!

Dan and Zach hidden in a sea of children at the promise center in Mozambique...It's almost like Where's Waldo? but WAY easier

Both the boys usually become a human jungle gym as soon as we are with any kids...exhibit A... 

Killing giant spiders that try and take over your house in Moz...don't mess

Zach and Mamma Tootell on their way to Inhaca Island, Moz

Getting to the actual island requires carrying your luggage and wading thru the sea 

SNORKELING!!!

South African sunset

The GIANT waterfall we hiked to after being reunited in South Africa....Shuuuurrraaaa!!

Leaving for Cape Town...Lindsay's luggage (on bottom) vs. 2 BOYS' luggage (on top)....WINNER!!!!!

First trip to McDonalds in 2 whole months...true happiness!

One of the many beautiful views in Cape Town...no words required

Scorpion we saw on one of our hikes

Zach, Dan and our friend Adam loving life

Open Happiness....

Zach and Dan's favorite pastime no matter where we are

Winery we biked thru in Stellenbauch

Cheers!

Thanksgiving = surfing

Enjoying Ethiopian Thanksgiving dinner with our Cape Town friends

Jealousy? 

JEALOUSY? 

"Dan, I want to punch that face off of you." -Zach-

Best milkshake EVER!!!!!

End of our Cape Town trip!

PICTURES!!!!! and Happy Thanksgiving

We know all you really want from us is to see our pictures ;)  so here's a couple, there will be more coming soon from Dan and Zach's time in Mozambique.

What we like to do in our pastime...blow candy into the air and see who can keep it in the air the longest...I know we have talents

Kiajah visiting my new place

Hanging out with the other American, Adam Burke (one of my brother's best friends), who lives in Cape Town (for a little longer) and was passing thru after climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro 

Just precious...

First day in the hospital with Siyabonga.  He had pneumonia and an infection in his lungs which landed him 2 nights in the hospital. Not fun, but we try and make the best of it.  Thankfully he is recovered and back home.  

My mom, Zach and Dan enjoying an incredible sunset in Mozambique.  They spend their last weekend in Moz on an island with my parents.  This is how they roughed it...

Meanwhile, I was in Klerksdorp playing with Kiajah while Siya was in the hospital.  At least this is what we were doing....

Creation sings the praises of God everyday...don't miss it.  

Reunited with two of my favorites.  I had them over for dinner, then made them cook...I helped...a little. :)

Then we went on a 56 km hike to this beautiful waterfall...maybe it wasn't quite that long 

We just ended our day today helping out at a kids event for 8-13 year olds.  Zach and Dan both took charge of organizing the teams and leading them in a Wii tournament.  

That's all for now friends.  We are off to Cape Town tomorrow to see Adam, do some site seeing/vacationing on the beach and then drive my new car back, which means we get to road trip across South Africa!!!!  Yes, it's going to be incredible and we will have more great pictures to put up next week. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  A friend has recently reminded me that even though I miss you all, I am grateful that I have you to miss.  We are blessed in so many ways.  Thank you for being a light in my life.

Much Love,

Lindsay, Dan and Zach