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  

Let's be Real

Once upon a time I made plans in my life… and sometimes they happened.  The more I walked along this road called life, the more I noticed the reoccurring pattern that most of my plans got changed right before they were supposed to happen because my best friend God knew a little better.  SO….I got REAL smart, and kept making plans J…once again what I thought I was going to be doing is not the case.  Yes, mom, I am exaggerating, but only a little.  My plans to go to Mozambique and work for a few months are not exactly going to work out.  The job is still happening, but once again it has been delayed until January; however, I’m committed to start working full time with LCF in January so… this is me bummed about not getting to do a sweet job….

 BUT…

Doing just fine because I trust God to use this time for His purposes and KNOWING His plan is best anyway…

 What does that mean for me, Zach and Dan?  Great question…We are in the process of figuring that out.  Most likely, I we will all stay where we are for the month of November.  I did finally hear from the guys.  They sound like they are doing wonderful and God is growing them like crazy.  I still can’t give much more detail about them (sorry), but will give a full report ASAP.  There has been a lot going on for me.  I mostly have been helping other people with different church events, admin work and setting up for events or meetings.. 

In the last two weeks I have gone to a couple different orphanages/children’s homes; one in the city and one in the township.  There is opportunity to get involved with either place, mostly doing leadership development type discipleship/mentoring.  It is overwhelming because a lot of these kids don’t need leadership training (at least how I think of leadership training), they need someone to spend time with them so they really believe they are valuable.  Almost all the kids in both places are there because of court orders which usually means they were pulled out of horribly situations often involving some kind of abuse.  When your innocence, purity and dignity are stolen from you “leadership development” looks slightly different than with an average high school/college student in the states.  The other huge obstacle is the culture and language differences.  I’m not exactly walking into a high school with a pretty good idea of the mindsets and environments these kids grew up in…the thinking is totally different and it takes time and is challenging to learn and understand their perspectives.  I will probably spend a handful of time at these places before January and then really evaluate my time and ability to invest into these places. 

I also met with a lady who is the director of a non-profit that channels money, resources and mentors 72 different charities/non-profits.  She is very knowledgeable and experienced.  The goal is to possibly be able to partner with her organization and mutually benefit one another with some projects we are hoping to be involved with next year.  I can’t say a whole lot about what these projects are yet as they are still in the “discussion” stage, but I’m excited about the possibility and how I may get to be involved. 

To be totally honest with you, I was really looking forward to the Mozambique job, so it is pretty disappointing to not get to do it.  Life has been, and continues to be, very uncertain.  I often ask the Lord what I’m really doing here.  I have lots of questions, some out of my general impatience, but some rooted out of really wanting to know and walk in God’s will.  I can’t tell you how strong and for how long I have felt the Lord put big dreams in me; most of which at this point, are broad ideas (hence me in Africa), but the specifics haven’t actually been revealed yet.  As I continue to ask the Lord all my questions, I know that more than anything I don’t want to miss the life God destined me to have.  One of my biggest fears right now is that I will try and take control of my life and miss out on what God really wanted to do with it.  I know whatever it is, is not the conventional life; it’s probably not the safe route; and it most definitely requires a lot of faith. I have to say, I have a lot of faith in God –in His power and ability; but, I have realized I REALLY struggle to have faith in God’s power in me.  So, while I pray for God’s will, I think the Lord is first bringing me to have faith in Him and His power and ability IN ME...

”I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know […] his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…” (Eph 1:18-20). 

We have an Incredible God who has fought and won for us!  In whatever is going on, in your life know that for those who believe your solid ground is:

“him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph 3:20-21) 

Here are the pictures of my apartment I never got up before.  Still working on the decorating...

This is why dieting in this country doesn't work...typical Braii (aka BBQ)