Luke 10:2 and Sarah Jane

As an AIM class, we were able to spend a week or so in Mexico City, learning the ropes from seasoned pros. Our team was blessed to spend the majority of our time being led by James and Erin Henderson. They were both a huge encouragement to me and I was able to pick up a few things that I have tried to implement here in South Africa. We spent one afternoon on the university campus in Mexico City. Our aim was to spend the afternoon praying over the campus and it's students, etc. Before we split up to pray, James shared with us something he and his teammates were doing as well as the AIMers he was working with. James encouraged us to daily pray to the Lord of the harvest ( Luke 10:2 ) to raise up workers for His fields in that specific place, then Mexico City, now Port Elizabeth. I have not forgotten this advice and have tried to be faithful in praying that prayer here. Despite my short comings in prayer, God is raising up workers in South Africa and Port Elizabeth specifically!
I have spoken of my good friend Sarah-Jane before, but I want to take a minute and share a little bit of how God is working through her today. Sarah Jane is my closest friend in Port Elizabeth. We met through a mutual friend and haven't looked back. She is also Jess' best friend from school and still is today. Sarah Jane is a brand new Christian, not even a year old yet. She was most influenced spritually through her friendship with Jess. Now, when Jess left for school, it really challenged Sarah Jane to take her spiritual life in a new direction. God is doing amazing things! What I want to brag on now is somthing that I think is just so cool. Two weeks ago while I was in Cape Town, Sarah Jane initiated and led her first small group and taught her first lesson! I can not tell you how proud and excited I am for her. She has begun a girl's small group with the university students of the Port Elizabeth Chruch of Christ. Her vision is to create an environment that they will share with one another in community and grow in their love and knowldge of Christ. I am absolutely gutted that I wasn't here for it, but I have a feeling, God used that time for her to be brave and give this teaching thing a shot! When I spoke to her afterward, she told me that she felt so special, so honoured to be doing what she was. Although she was incredibly excited, I believe humbled is the best way to describe her. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Sarah Jane's life and the lives she will touch along the way. Please pray for her continued growth and zeal for the lost. She is being transformed right before our eyes and it is such a priviledge to witness. God IS raising up workers for His harvest.

Jess is 21

Well, turning 21 in South Africa is a big deal. My good friend Jess Trollip turned 21 yesterday and I was blessed to be apart of it. She is studying in Cape Town, so the celebrating took place here. A true South African 21st consists of a party with a theme, speeches, food and a lot of fun. It is in short a rite of passage celebration. Along with being invited, I was also asked to speak. I am incredibly honoured, but still not sure I am deserving. Jess' party was held in Darling which is a small farming town outside of Cape Town. It was heaven for me. Darling is the hometown of her boyfriend, Hanco and was the perfect place for her party. She chose not to have a formal scene but rather one with hay bales for seating and finger foods. Jess isn't the "formal" type which is one reason we get a long so well! I went as Superman complete with a cape and all. This came about because I lovingly call Jess "Superman". She is an incredible inspiration to me and I am so thankful to have her in my life. We have become great friends in a short amount of time. We will actually only spend a little over three months in the same town together my entire field time due to her studying in Cape Town. That to me is a little bit crazy, that while we don't have daily time together, we are as close as we are. We are just very similar in several ways which makes it easy. Part of my speech included the fact that Jess is the friend that I prayed for before coming to South Africa. She is someone who is a sister in Christ and who pushes me to be better. God has blessed me through Jess in unimaginable ways. I could go on for pages about this friend and sister who I cherish so much, but don't worry.. I will wrap it up. I just wanted to quickly write and share with you a bit of South African culture in the form of birthdays and ask that you keep Jess in your thoughts as she embarks a new chapter in her life as an adult. Please pray that she is able to continue to serve God whole hearted and grows in her love for Him daily.