Outreach Phase Begins

SUIS Camp – Em’seni (Dec. 1-19th)

Hello everyone!

No I’m not dead yet. Just kidding.  I have just started my lecture phase of my YWAM DTS training.  For the past 16 days I have been working on a camp in the Drakensburg called Em’seni near Winterton (not that that means anything to my American readers) BUT it has been an amazing, amazing, AMAZING experience!

I’m sorry I am not able to put pictures up quite yet, because I still have 3 more days until we will be going back to our base in Kloof and then we will be heading off shortly after to Assagay to be celebrating our Christmas week going on a hike and just chilling with some people from a rehabilitation center.  Then in even shorter period of time after that we will be going to Lesotho for a month and then Swaziland for a month. So in other words, I have been quite busy and will be busier.

BUT for the camp, I want to just say a few things about my experience here. When we got here we spent the first two days going through leadership training to prepare us for the next 7 days on camp (Dec 1-2). The way they have the camp set up is that Xavier our camp main overseer/manager is in charge of the camp and is the “permanent legal adult” you could say, but all the “leaders” that I was working with were freshly out of high school or just a few years into college. So the camp is actually run and coordinated by a bunch of college kids! It has been such a coolest thing to be a part of!

One big part of the camp is worship. I was so excited to see what they were doing, because it was always something I had wanted to try but never did! They took the stage and minimized it to be as simplistic as possible; then they placed it in the center of the room. After that they place projectors on either walls so no one has to look one way so that they band is really just part of the whole group rather than being the main focus or eye source. But they went even further! We then set up around in different corners of the room different ways to worship (because worship is not just singing songs). There were places where people could self-reflect, where people could pray for their country, community, or loved ones, and where they could praise God by writing love letters to Him or looking at pictures and facts of galaxies just to get an image of how big he is.

It is cool they got that image from Exodus 32 when the Israelites took the gold that God had given them as a reminder of how amazing He is and what He had done for them (rescued them from Egypt), but instead they turned and worshiped the gift rather than the giver. And it’s crazy that we do that too with worship. We worship worship sometimes. Unless we get something out of “worship time”, then we feel dissatisfied, but worship should be taking place all the time and it doesn't matter what we get out of it, but what we give through it.

So there was worship and then there is the “Rap Groups” which I have been a leader for. The rap groups are just split up groups that we do devotions in and have a more focused time of teaching/discussion and openness that you wouldn’t get maybe in just a lecture.

The first week I co-led with a guy called Mash. It was awesome! It would make us laugh every time because we were really unified in our thinking you could say. He would start talking about something and I would open up the scripture he was thinking about before he got there or had mentioned it yet, and it was just really fun! Our group was also super cool! We had six 11^th and 12^th graders and all 6 of them were amazing, and I love them all to death! This week for our second camp, I have been leading with a guy named Robbie who is aspiring to be a comedian. Definitely an amazing dude! He carries his Bible EVERYWHERE! It is the coolest thing and our group is just as cool! We went from having 6 campers (2 guys and 4 girls) to having 11 campers (8 guys and 3 girls). It’s crazy! But we have had sooooooo much fun!

The camp’s theme has been “The Lord is my Shepherd”. And of course the scripture we have been using has been Psalm 23. It really is so true that God’s Word is living and active, because after reading this scripture one billion and fifty three times, I have gotten so many new things from it just in a few days (not including the 2 weeks total)! But specifically the fact that if God is my Shepherd and if He is leading me in right paths, then I do not need to be afraid of the future that He has for me, because He is preparing the way for me. So with that in mind, God has given me a peace about my plans for after YWAM even though I don’t know what He has planned in those plans (if that makes sense).

So we still have a few more days in this camp, but I am so excited to see what else God is going to do in this time for the campers, my team, and me.

Thank you everyone for putting up with my lengthy blogs :D

Love you guys!

Shannon ( or after this camp also known as Cray Cray, Craynon, Flo Rida, etc!)

Weekend Get Aways

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to let you know what we are planning to do and what I've been up to the past couple weeks:D I'm so incredibly sorry how long this is! Please forgive me for taking forever to update you guys on my where abouts, but I have been really busy! And I apologize for my writing style. I like to write with smiley faces (those are the sideways semi colons and parenthesis for those who don't understand - you can look side ways if it help) because that is just how I feel. ANY WAY, please enjoy. (might wanna get a coffee first) :)

Friday: (nov. 2)

We got an update on what we will be doing for outreach!

We will be working at a camp from Dec. 1-19 near the Drakensburg. We will be working with teenagers from 7th grade to 12th grade that are from the higher economic population. But as my leader let us know, "the gospel is not just for the poor or the rich; it's for everyone!". We will be working with small groups, and I am hoping to be apart of either the games or worship team :D But we shall see! :)

Here is a video of what it is: http://www.suis.co.za/?camping

I think I'll have fun! But it will be hard, because we will be working straight for almost all two weeks and maybe...MAYBE a break on the weekend :)
Then January 2nd we will be spending two months in Lesotho and Swaziland.

Friday night we went to Westville Presby for the young adults service and had a good time of worship, teaching, and fellowship.

Saturday:

Woke up around early packed Jacques' brother's car (his brother let us borrow it for the weekend very kind of him!) and left for Newcastle.

After driving for a really long time we finally got there! We went to his friend's house  where we had lunch. He actually calls his friends Mom and Dad because they are pretty much like his adopted parents to him, and they were a very cool family! So his dad took us absailing or as we Americans like to say rappelling off a cliff on his farm! He owns about 1200 acres about! and including his two brother-in- laws its about 5000 acres!!! pretty big property!

But it was really an incredible time! Just for bragging rights! First one down first one back up :) pretty proud of myself! We rappelled 15 meters ( about 50 ft.) then we climbed back up and then did it again but this time we rapelled 80 meteres ( about 263 ft.)!!! AMAZING!!! So incredibly blessed! :)

Later that night, after dinner, his dad took us for a night drive around his property :) we were hunting for coyotes and a small rabbit thing that has a really long tail :) idk what he called it because it was in Afrikaans. But we didnt shoot anything but we did enjoy a very nice night drive :D and I got to drive stick shift on the right hand side of the car!!!! late at night, on a dirt road, for 15 min, then on the freeway for another 5mins!!!! WHAT?!?!  and I only stalled it 2x!!! :) idk I'm pretty impressed :D

Sunday:

Next day we went to church and then to Jacques' real family's home and had a lunch at his neighbor's house. Lots of good food! :)

Monday:

We started Holy Spirit week. And our teacher, Paul Bevan, really enjoys practicals. So we would learn something and then practice it. Pretty neat stuff!

Tuesday:

We had a team come from Pretoria to live with us for a few days. They were going to a Todd White conference so Tuesday night we went to that at a church near here. Pretty cool stuff. Not to use to all the charsmatic stuff yet, but he used a lot of Scripture in context and really encouraged people to read their's.

Wednesday:

Paul Bevan spoke at the church and had just a time with the Holy Spirit. Definitely more charismatic than I am used to but I think God is really growing me in a lot of ways through this :)

Thursday:

Paul Bevan spoke again that night, but I was asked to bring my guitar. Really had a cool time allowing the Lord to use me through music :) Definitely my happy place :)

Friday:

Last day of Holy Spirit week, David our team member was baptized!!! :) super cool! Then after class we headed off to the Drakensburg. Our team consisted of Ash, David, Jacques, and I plus our two leaders Ben and his wife, Kirsten. We drove in our base leaders truck (or bakke as they call it here :D ).spent the night in the YWAM Drakensburg base.

Saturday:

We headed off to the Drakensburg near Lesotho for our fitness accessment (they don't call it that but it DEFINITELY is that). We climbed 10km (approx. 6 miles) up a mountain w/ backpacks that weighed about as much as a child! Jacques' had the biggest one and we figured it weighed as much as me! I know it doesn't sound too bad but man it was killer! :) Sadly David hurt his back really badly in the first few ks so Kirsten and him went back down to go stay at the YWAM base. But when we got to the top and we found our home sweet cave :)

 

Then we went down to water fall in the nearest valley and washed up :) It was extremely beautiful and peaceful! We really had a good time as a team growing in unity. Lots of fun experiences and memories made :) But as you know what happens in the Drakensburg STAYS in the Drakensburg sooooo I won't tell too much :)

That night there was stars on our left and lightning on the right. God is great!!!! :D
 

Sunday:

We walked down and this time I was in love with gravity :) Instead of the 5 hrs that it took us to get up the mountain it took us less than 3 hours to get back down :) Very enjoyable!!! :) Got back down and Kirsten was not there yet which is unusual.

Finds out the bakke broke down and we had to get a towe from a friend who lives in the Drakensburg. While waiting for him to get there we went swimming in the river :) Very cold but very refreshing :D

 

Our friend came and picked us up (Hilton). He took us to his very large dairy farm/ house. Very nice family! Poor David had no idea what was going on because he was at the YWAM base in the Drakensburg and we were unable to contact him.

 

We spent the night at their farm house. Really enjoyed it!

 

Monday:

Next morning Hilton and his wife, Jen, sponsored us to go horse back riding in the nearest game reserve!!!! ( no cats so it was safe :D )

Best feeling of my life. I took pictures of the giraffes, but I took only a few and definitely could never capture how many giraffes we were surrounded by, how close we were to the pack of zebras, and how intimidating it was to be next to a rhino! :D

Plus my horses name was Aladdin! WHAT!? :D Totally singing "A Whole New World" as I was riding :)

Yep! Sadly though a warthog came out and spooked David's horse and threw him off and he hurt his back....again. So he went back, but we were able to continue (Kirsten, Ash, Jacques, and I -  Ben has an irrational fear of horses so he did not come :D ).

We are all experienced riders so after we got through all the giraffes and zebras, etc. we were able to trot, canter, and gallop even a little bit through the reservation! Best feeling EVER!!!!!!!! :D It felt so amazing to be back on a horse! Special shout out to Coach Sophie for teaching me in Equestrian class at SMA! You are amazing! Thank you :)

 

Afterwards, Hilton lent us their car to get back to Durban. Nicest couple ever! They blessed us way to much!!! I don't think I'll ever be able to thank them enough! :)

 

Tuesday:

We started class and it was on relationships. But not just "relationships" like we think of; it was God to God relationship (which is our example of how our relationships should be like), God to creation, mankind to creation, God to Mankind (this one determines our other relationships), Mankind to mankind, Mankind to self.

 

Friday: (Nov. 9)

I felt really really sick. I had developed a really bad headache over the week which eventually got to the point on Friday that I felt like throwing up or blackin out. Not fun. So for Friday's youth outreach instead of going I was told to stay home which I did and I got to sleep for like 4 hours (stunning!), worship, and got a skype call from good friends which all combined really made me feel MUCH better! :)

 

Saturday:

First time we have had good weather in I don't know how long! There is actually sun so I didn't know what to do with myself! There area we are staying in (Kloof) has been having a bad habit of being gloomy, rainy, foggy, and cold. Not cool! :)

Went out to breakfast as a team. Went to the mall afterwards and went to the book store and read for a while :) crazy thing we met a guy from a popular movie here called Spud. He played Gecko. Pretty cool.

 

Sunday:

Went to Westville Presby FINALLY after 2 weeks of deprivation :) Then after walked 5k or so to a country club/ community center with Ash. Got lunch together, went in the pool, went on a walk, and just tanned on the grass while reading my Bible :) Pretty good date I'd say ;D

 

So I'm sorry that this has been sooooooo incredibly long and congratulations if you read all of that because I don't even know if I would have! Thank you again for your prayers! Love you! And I promise to try and update more often so it's not as long!

God bless you guys!

What is Love?

Now I'm not talking about the song, but what is love, really? The topic of love over my very short week has repeatedly popped up in big ways. From coming up in my morning devotions to heated arguments in class, it's a reoccuring topic. And I just wanted to share a little bit of one of the discussions from Tuesday's lesson. We were actually talking about Unity as a team and a HUGE part of that is love. we can't be unified with out it. So to understand love we looked at some verses.

John 15:12

“This is my COMMANDMENT: Love each other in the same way I have loved you,”

Romans 12:9

“Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them... Love each other with GENUINE affection and take delight in honoring each other.”

 

1 Corinthians 8:1
“ It is LOVE that STRENGTHENS the church.” “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Love is actions

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

 

Romans 13:10

“Love does NO WRONG to others, so LOVE FULFILLS the requirements of God's law.”

So we learned that God COMMANDS us, as Christians, to love people (not a suggestion). Then He tells us how to love one another with a real, GENUINE love (not a surface deep or hypocritical love, but deeper than feelings and emotions, because we love really isn't a feeling. If it were, we would be very fical because we always dont feel like loving people). Love is meant to strengthen and build up people. And love has to be active lifestyle (We can't just say that we love. We have to live it out and be patient, kind, not easily angered, etc.). And crazy thing is that if we all loved like this though there would be no requirement for laws, because we would all be looking to the interest of others before our selves. But sadly that's not the case.

The love which as Christians we are meant to have is the Biblical sense of the word. Not lust, emotion, or based on what we get out of it, no, we are talking about unconditional love that does not change.

Almost makes me think of the Prodical Son (Luke 15:11-32) that after how much he messed up and had wasted his father's money and his inheritance, his father was waiting for him to return to him and loved him even though his son had been the worst possible son EVER! God is waiting for us to turn and accept His love which is free. And in turn we can love others they way He loved us, unconditionally. Inspite of us, how bad we were and are, no matter if we choose to love Him or not, God loved us first and continues to love. “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

So since we are called to love the way Christ does, who is capable of this love? Are those who know God, who is love (1John 4:8) and have a relationship with Him, the only ones who know true love? Or are all humans capable of being loving, Christian or non-Christian?

Yes, all people are capable of loving one another in one way or another. We were made to be social and together (Gen 2:18 “It is not good for the man to be alone.”) But would you love someone who murdered your best friend or closest family member? Would you die for that murderer? It is easy to love those who love you, but is it possible to love your enemies? That is what God is calling us to do. Have unconditional love. No matter what they have done.

The best example of unconditional love is found in God. God the Father and Jesus are the perfect Father- Son relationship and they most definitely love one another because they are the same person! But because God loved us sooo much He was willing to sacrifice His Son for us, and Jesus was willing to lay down His life for us. Jesus didn't just die though for those who were good to Him and loved Him; He died for the people who turned their backs to Him and spat in His face. (The Bible says “no one is righteous not even one” Romans 3:10-12; “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23) As humans, we are His murders and every human being is accountable for His death, because He loved us soo much that he chose to die so that He could save us from our sins and make us right with God. But now that He has done that is He going to force us to accept it? No! But like the good father, He waits for us to return so that He can accept us and love us despite of what we have done to Him.

As Christians we are called to love as He loved and that is our highest goal (1 Cor. 14:1 “Let love be your highest goal!”) God loved us despite of our sin, and Jesus laid down His life for his executioners. We need to love our friends and enemies and do good to those who hate us. (Matthew 5:44 “love your enemies! Pray for those who perescute you!”... “If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even nonbelievers do that.”)


Really in the end those who know God know what love is. Because how else can we know what love is until we know the one who is Love and has showed us the ultimate example of love. And when He lives in us and give us His strength to love others. He wouldn't tell us to do something that we couldn't do and not help us! Does not mean it will be easy, but God will help us love one another.

So in the end, Love is unconditional and eternal and we need to accept God's love and we need God to love. Guess the Beetles had it right....All you need is Love.

Next Step...

Hello Church, Friends, and Family!

Thank you everyone for your support and for your prayers! I have been so encouraged by your support for me and what I am doing! I am sorry that my blogs have been a bit all over the place. I hope you will forgive me :D But we have been pretty crazy busy, and this is my first Saturday of relaxing since I got here :D Funny thing is I almost prefer crazy weekends. :D

Did want to let you give you an update about the past few days. On Thursday, we went to the reading club that we have in Burlington, Queensburgh which is a few minutes from here, but it a squatter village that has 'improved' and now has become a township. It is definitely one of the nicer townships, but it doesn't mean they don't have difficulties. While reading to the kids, one very little girl who could not speak any English, came and sat in my lap. I continued reading to the other children and helping them, but it was not until one little girl started poking the girl in my lap's face that I realized she was asleep! Pretty much adorable!!!

One of our team members was doing a presentation on his nation, Zambia, hence the soccer jersey :)
I am hoping to do mine closer to November so I can talk about Turkey Month :D

On the way home from Burlington, our leader's car broke down on the freeway :) Definitely a new experience of being stuck on the side of the road in a foreign country! But her husband was very kind and towed us home. (He has a land rover and she has a small VW -  we all piled in his car...just for clarification he was not pulling us in the VW) :D

Friday was the last day for Wilson our lecturer, but it has been a very impactful week to say the least.
He ended the discussion of the Lordship of Christ by having us write everything that has precedence in our lives (friends, homes, futures, family, feelings, and rights- Ex: the right to comfort, health, life, etc. - pretty much everything!). The idea of laying everything on the line was VERY daunting, but once we had we physically laid them at the cross in the room just as a representation that we were giving it to Jesus. But the real change was when we did that in our hearts. It was VERY relieving! We then burned the papers we had written everything on. Definitely the fun part :D

That night we were suppose to go to an Indian youth group in Chatsworth, but for some reason they had to cancel. Which meant we got to go to Westville Presby's youth group, crossfire. It was funny because it was the one night that they had a LOT of visitors for some reason. It was definitely a good time of fellowship and teaching. We made videos for a project on thanksgiving. My team performed a rap. (AKA one of my YWAM friends wrote lyrics while 2 of my friends laid the beat and I bobbed back and forth with what little swag I have :D ) At the end of the video, one kid may have broken a door doing a back flip, but who knows, it my have already been broken :) Now it is Saturday my one free day.

Since actually coming, I haven't actually put out anything specific for you guys to pray for me. I am very blessed and thankful because I know that many of you are in fact praying for me, but I also want to throw out there a special request about my next step. Where to go after YWAM? What I should do? Those questions have been popping up a lot. Even though, I am not fearful of the future, because in God's Word it says,

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' Phil 4:6

But I still do want to know what God has planned for me. I am considering many different options right now, but if you could I would really appreciate prayer for guidance and wisdom.

Thank you everyone for keeping up with my blogs and a special thanks for those who read it all the way to the bottom. ;D Love you guys!

Westville Presby Camp and Lordship study Oct. 14-7

October 14 & 15

This weekend I had the privilege of going to the camp with my church here in South Africa! Whoo!

I really enjoyed the weekend and it was really cool to see how we effected people's lives!

Ash and I worked as the children's workers, and we had 5 very special young ladies in our class :D They were all a handful, but each one of them was wonderful and really a pleasure to be with!

When we did have breaks, Ash and I were able to bond with the church body. It was really nice especially for me to remake some friendships from last year and start new ones. Probably besides doing a water games with the girls I really enjoyed a scavenger hunt that we did as a church. Everyone was on a different team based on their family and age groups. Funny thing was that there were only 3 or 4 on my team who were not considerably older or younger; so us for 4 did a LOT of running to get each target. It was really great getting to talk to the people on my team who I wouldn't normally have ever talked to, and it was cool to have that competive edge! My team did come in 3^rd place, but we would have come in 2^nd had we not gotten there only a few seconds late :(.

 

Later that night since there was no children's session got to go to the night time session, bonfire, and worship :D super awesome. Later played signs with some of my youth pastor's friends then later that night played mafia with the youth group. :D Good times!

Had fun teaching the girls about wanting more of God while the main service was learning almost the same thing :) It was definitely hard; had to stretch my knowledge to entertain all the kids for long periods of time, and It was very tiring, but it was TOTALLY worth it!

October 16 & 17

Classes started, but we have a new speaker, Wilson Goeda, who was the founder of YWAM Durban and handed it over to our base leader back in 2010. He is soooo enthusiastic! I don't know how I would be able to track him if I didn't have a laptop and could type! He just gets sooo excited about what we are learning that he begins speaking a million miles an hour!

This week we are discussing the Lordship of Christ. It is a really hard topic. In years past, Wilson mentioned that sometimes students have walked out because it is sooo hard to hear. It's all about giving God EVERYTHING and leaving no leaf unturned for Him. I was really convicted to put EVERYTHING on the table/alter for God to take or give. To some it might seem scary, but I actually find comfort in it that I am not in control, but God is! We keep mentioning how scary it must be for non-believers. I have no idea how they live life putting everything on their shoulders and carrying all that weight around! It's crazy how God is real and He wants to be incharge of our lives and our worries so we don't have to worry or be afraid! I really am enjoying this week's teaching!

Oct. 5 - Oct. 11

Hello Everyone!
WHooo Quite a week!
Well just the update.

Friday:
Went to Highway Christian Community Church (HCC). There were speakers from California. Pretty cool. Very very very charismatic church :) Lots of fun!

Saturday:
Went to Tala Reservation. No cats but lots of other animals :D Had picnic on the reserve almost got trampled by a rhino. No big deal :D Had fun getting out of the house! Really enjoy nature here!

Sunday:
Went to my beautiful Westville Presby with my friend Ashleigh :) Saw my friends new born baby girl for the first time! Most beautiful thing ever! The church is having a camp this coming weekend at a retreat place. Won't be able to go, because we have a special meet and greet at the church we are staying at, but two of the people had to drop out and there are now two fully paid places available..... REally WISH I COULD GO! Later that night had tea with some friends I met from last year :D saw their new house! My friends want me and my friend Ash to work in the kids ministry this weekend :( REALLY WANT TO GO NOW!

Monday:

Asked Geoff we could go to the camp this weekend instead of the thing for our host church :/ what's the worst he could say? no.
Got new speakers! Dan and Amy. Adorable couple from Wisconsin!  Crazy story: right before Dan was going to his DTS a while back he was using a wood cutter and he cut half of his pointer finger off! The option was to get it back on have 3 months of healing, 3 months of therapy, and it would never be the same...OR just leave it off, stitch it up, fine in 6 weeks. So he chose to leave it off so he could better serve at the DTS! :O Intense! Any who they are teaching Inductive Bible study and this week we are inductively learning the book of Ephesians. (Inductive studying 4 steps - pray, observe, interpret, apply). Now it's intense because first we pray to ask God to reveal things to us, then observing takes the longest because you have to analyze EVERYTHING, BUT not apply anything or interpret ANYTHING! then it's Interpreting which is seeing who was the writer, the original audience, the culture (not applying it to us but seeing how it applied to the people of the time). Lots of history, but we looked first in the Bible and other books in the Bible, then Bible dictionary and other resources. Very cool! and then we apply it to our lives ( How does this affect my life and how I will live it?) One thing Dan said was that "the Bible was written for us not to us". Gotta be careful!
But it was really funny they are both early 20s and they look like teenagers! Love it! (Funny fact totally guessed they were AWANA kids. So right :D )

Tuesday:
GEOFF SAID YES! Totally did not think he would but we are going to the Westville Presby camp this weekend to help with childcare!!!
Also are planning to go to the Drakensburg in a few weekends from now to get used to living in a "camper" style. 5 hr. hike to a cave, cook over fire, lack of showers, puff adders, and mambas (which my mother wants me to get me on the prayer chain and make sure I have a gun, a sword, a rambo knife....love you mum!) and just the other usual camping in Africa fun things :)

Wednesday:
Found out we are not just helping. We ae the kids youth camp directors. WHOA! Have to create our own teachings, plans, programs, games, crafts for an entire weekend! Total new appreciation for my Dad's job as a children's pastor ( not saying I had no idea he had a crazy job, but doing it myself now and having to come up with creative teachings...whoo what a job :D ). Totally thanking God I had Junior High Charges, also, to look towards! Thinking of doing the Living Waters year (2007??? maybe) think it is. Trying to remember everything....NOT THAT EASY! :) If any one has notes for that year please send them to me! Thanks!

Thursday:
Good day being really diligent working on projects for DTS and creating a program for the weekend and trying to get the supply list in before Friday :)
Working on the living waters idea how God is the whole "well that never runs dry" and just as we were getting ready to go to bed.... the faucet on the sink decides to break! Even though it was completely turned off it was coming out faster than the drain could get rid of it! We have been in this crazy hustle for 30 min. I had called our base leader Geoff who called the pastor of the church who came over and wow! It was really funny when he started talking about God being Living Water etc. and Ashleigh and I just looked at each other and laughed :) Clothes soaked, haven't showered, water still dripping not as bad :), and all other water shut off (toilet included!) I'm tired and ready for bed.

Sry it probably is really noticeable that I totally don't spell check or go back and grammar check my work. Sorry I'm either really busy or really tired to be honest. Which I feel bad about but u are getting my travel journal so :) no hating!
Thank you everyone for your prayers,

Sept. 30 - Oct. 4

Sunday:

Went to Westville Presby ( the church I went to last year). ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT :) I'm such a dork, but I really did love being back there and I am able to make it my home church until I go to outreach :)

Monday&Tuesday:

Started lectures taught by our very own base leader. This week's teachings were on Grace. Spent the first two days (Monday and Tuesday) talking about the law and sin. Our goal was to pretend we were Israelites under the law and we talked about how we would have to make sacrifices CONSTANTLY and over and over and over again! Just trying to atone for our sin.

Monday though my friend and I were gifted with a large amount of bubble wrap :) we had quite the party! Also found out that my friend could get us into Passion Concet for a fraction of the cost :D

Tuesday Night:

Went to Passion Concert :D totally excited, BUT got there and found out that we did not have tickets as thought we would. We (as in my friends not me;) )actually went around to people in line asking to buy their extra tickets! Totally did not think it would work, but God provided all the tickets we needed (7) plus an extra!....here's the cool part....FOR FREE! :D People just gave my friends their tickets and we got in! It was an incredible time of worship and teaching. Extremely focused on God not earning money for this or that or trying to sell the latest cd :) It was amazing! This is something Loui showed us that we saw on the big screen and we watched him make pretty cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZWm4 Check it out :) Mind blown! If you don't believe it at least check out his other videos first before calling him a liar. “How Great is our God” (if the world was the size of a golf ball) or other ones :)

Wednesday:

Finally started talking about grace! :) It was important though to find out what we had to be saved from. The fact that we are not judged by our standdards but God's is a huge struggle! So when we discussed the fact that Jesus came to be our one sacrifice for all time really did make me feel relieved to know that I don't have to keep offering sacrifices and be afraid of breaking the law and having God's wrath turned on me :)

Thursday:

Today we had more lectures on Grace pretty awesome, but then at 3pm we went to a township ( a squatter village that has turned into a little town- houses are usually wood or tin but there are a few concrete ones now because of the government.) We were at a specific one called Burlington working at a reading club that one of our leaders and his wife runs. When we got there, there were no kids so my leader Ben and I went to walk around. Totally joined a game of jump rope and did pretty good :) talked to a lot people and kids in the street. One Gogo (an elderly woman) had a bag of maize on her head and she asked us to pick up her bags on the ground, but we ended up offering to take her home. She swore she knew me which was really funny because she thought she had seen me from the creche she works at (a day care) playing guitar last year! Which I did visit a creche last summer and play guitar there, but it was at a different township. She invited us for tea next Thursday :) Pretty excited!

We went to a school warehouse looking thing and found a bunch of kids dancing in there. It was like Step Up or something it was awesome! Totally wanted to join them :) but knowing me I can't bust a move did not want to make a fool of myself! :) Reading club when we got back about 14 kids showed up and we made cards for kids in Scotland (where Ben's wife, Kirsten, is from). Also found out that Ben and Kirsten will be going with us to our outreach in Lesotho!!! YAY!!! 2 months of hard core camping!!! I'm excited! :D

9-30-12

9/24/12 to 9/30/12

We started Hearing God's Voice, Prayer, and Intercession week! WHOO! Lots of fun. Uncle Lysias (last week's speaker)...his wife (Momma T) was the speaker for the week. She is a very joyous, vibrant, and outgoing woman. (ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE of her husband). Her style of teaching was VERY different too! Once she started speaking there was no stopping and she didn't have a powerpoint so at some points she would say “point #1 is …..” then she would talk and talk and then before I knew she would say “and finally point #4” and I would freak out and scrabble to find points 2 and 3 :) But she is A LOT of fun and she was a really great teacher/speaker.

This friday night we went to youth group at the same place I had the water balloon fight at, but this week was themed “pitch black”. Over the past 3 days they created a maze made out of cardboard boxes and we had to army crawl through it in the dark ( no cellphones, lights, or anything.) Very scary! But it was fun. ( not suggesting that I will ever do that again in my life though!) :D well maybe...

Today we went surfing and spent a “family day”. Everything was perfect. I even caught a few good waves! :D

This week I wish I could say it was a good as today (Saturday), but it was far from it wonderful. I have a hard time explaining with out telling to much, because it is not all my story. But there was a lot of spiritual warfare that has been happening since the night of the water balloon fight. Now we are suffering the effects. When I know how the story ends, I will make sure I tell you because “God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose”. Please pray for us as a team, and if you would like you can ask God HOW to pray for us (something we learned this week) please definitely go for it! :) Thank you everyone for you support and prayers :) LOVE YOU GUYS :D

9/24/12

9/24/12

Thursday:

One of the leader's brother-in-laws, Matthew Willman, a famous photographer, came in and gave us a story of his work and his different views of South Africa. It was incredible and really cool to see it through photography. He has taken many pictures of Nelson Mandela, and his first photo of Mandela was a picture of his hand. It was the only one he was allowed to take when he first met him, but obviously it made Mandela inter. Here is website. http://www.matthewwillman.co.za/

Friend I met last year came to visit the base. (Youth pastor at Westville Presby). Had a really nice time talking, and started missing my youth pastor :(....haha but yah it was really cool. Probably going to that church next Sunday night and I'm hoping to make that my home church while I'm here. The church body just makes me feel at home. (Also cause it's so similar to Calvary hehe :D )

Friday:

Friday Night we went to the youth group that I did the water balloon fight with (the church we're staying at). Monday is a national holiday so we didn't have a lot of students, but there was a maybe 20. Crazy thing was that they were all a lot of older guys who were in their 20's and it was a hang out. I was the leader for the night and I had to plan a game and give my testimony. The game I chose was the “trash can” game or for them “the rubbish bin” game. Everyone holds hands in a circle and tries to get the person next to them to touch the trash can in the middle of the circle. It can be quite dangerous, but it is super fun! The youth group was made up of mostly guys in their 20s so they seemed to enjoy that. Also I gave my testimony about being in middle school because I thought, “ Oh yah, a youth group! Mostly middle school girls and guys I'll talk about being a white 'washed tomb' in middle school.” Terrible idea because they were definitely NOT in that age group! But I was able to apply it to their age group so it worked really well. :)

Saturday:

Went to the farmers market early morning. Great time! Got some really good food and had fun looking around! Also got to meet Geoff's wife, Michelle, who distinctly reminds me of another Michelle, my 7^th grade teacher *cough cough... ;D She has 130 cats! Shhhh Geoff doesn't know how many because she just counted them the other day, but last time he checked it was only 100! I'm probably going to get into some kind of trouble if he reads this haha :D Later us girls learned how to catch a cab to the Pavilion, “the mall”. No worries I sat behind the driver and was ready to slit his throat if he decided to be a scary evil guy :D. Any way had lunch and just had a good time. Got the same cab on the way back. Very nice guy actually, but he over charged us terribly so we probably won't be calling him again :/

New guy came and he is a chef! SCORE!!!

Sunday:

Went to church today where Geoff, our baseleader, goes. Very charsmatic, but it was really cool to experience different things than I'm used to. Went to the Pavilion ….AGAIN :) not very good clothes I'm afraid even though their prices are really cheap compared to America... Oh well. Had a head ache most of the day, came home napped, woke up for church and went to the church here. Oh yah David, the new guy, totally just made us the most delicious burger I'v had yet! Tastes like meatloaf, has an egg on top with bacon, cheese, sauteed onions, tomatoe, and deliciousness! All places gently in a fresh warm roll! :) I'm stuffed, I'm fluffed, and I'm ready for bed ! Goodnight!

Note: first time today that I talked to my family on Skype!!! WHOO!

Tuesday 9-18 and Wednesday 9-19

Tuesday 9/18/12

Classes today were really good. The main questions were “What is the purpose of the Gospel?” and “Do we really need a God?”. “Why?”. Then we looked at secularistic, animistic, and theistic views of God. Like A.W. Tozer says that our view of God defines us. The results of our studies lead to a huge realization that with out a solid foundation of beliefs the value structure will fail and then the actions will be negative producing bad character. It was like a tree where the beliefs were the roots, the values are the trunk, the actions are the branches, and the character is the fruit. So your beliefs essentially make your character. And by studying the different world views it is shows that only in Christ there is value in life, because if our beliefs are not solidly founded what use are good values? This led to a discussion on abortion and euthanization that really allowed us to challenge even some members of our teams beliefs and gave me a new perspective on how to talk to to people about it in love and in kindness rather condemning and judgemental which is sometimes something I know I can forget.

Wednesday 9/19/12

Hello! Yah so today we had classes today and it went really well. It was more focusing on learning what is the character and nature of God. How to define it and what is the difference. We separated into groups and then had a section of Scripture (Gen:1:1-26) and we had to (based on that passage) create a list of attributes of God and define them as either His nature or His character. It was hard than expected, but it was really good. Then we had to define it which my groups ideas were very different from the other groups but we were both right essentially. Really deep stuff that just makes my head hurt :) Tomorrow we have a new student coming named David. Pretty excited :D

First Day of School

9/18/12

Weekend:

This weekend was a bit of a strange one. There was definitely A LOT of spiritual warfare going on Friday night after my awesome water balloon fight and saturday morning. But God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. Then Saturday night we had a movie night at one of the leaders house which was tons of fun! We played an intense came of charades or sha-rods (w/e. Silly English leader). It's harder to describe Abraham Lincoln to an Africaans guy and a Swedish girl than you may think :) Then we watched Invictus for like my 3^rd time. Good movie!

Sunday we went to a Zulu church which was incredible! It was a methodist church that is connected to the methodist church that we are currently staying at and the pastors occasionally circulate churches. So with the pastor from this church (Pastor John -prounouced in French) to there. The only music they had was the worship leader ( a guy with a mic), the choir (the church), a drummer (actually a pillow like pad that one of the younger guys slaps really loud), and the bell ( a tin cup looking thing on a tin stick that a girl beats with a metal stick). It had to be one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard! Soon I was dancing and swaying right along with them! May have to talk to Sean about that when I get back :) Just kidding I have no rhythm :), but yah that was tons of fun! Later that night we went to the young adults church here in Kloof. My friend gave her testimony and a small teaching, and it was really impactful, because she is an American who moved to South Africa not even intending to move here, but God has used her mightly even though it's not what she expect. After we all connected with a lot of the people after at “Burger King like” place called Spur.

Monday:

First day of school...duh duh duh ….DUUH! It was actually really cool. To be honest I was running a minute late to the class which is on the same property :/ long story, but our lecturer is from Zimbabwe and he is really cool. We have to call him Uncle Lysias, because it is a sign of respect in his culture, and we call his wife Momma Tanya or Momma T. This weeks topic is the Character and Nature of God. He really challenged us to look deeper and to think really hard for the questions he asked. I really enjoyed his style of teaching and the way he asked hard questions, but gave us time to think and then answer with out telling us the answer before we could think of it ourselves. I am excited to see what the rest of the week will be like :D

First Week of School

9/11/12

First day of school :D Everything went really well. I have 3 others in my class. Ashley (18 from Perth, Australia), Jaques (21- Pretoria, South Africa), Brittany (23 – Georgia, USA :D ). Our leader Tshpeng (South Africa- group leader), Geoff Kingsford (Australia - base leader), Ben (England- teacher) and Johanna (Sweden -  elder). Today was chill and was more of a getting to know eachother day and just chillin.

9/12/12

Today was orientation. Had classes in the youth room. Toured Kloof (the county i'm in). Made dinner (curry) with Brittany and Ashley.

9/13/12

It's super busy here. Woke up this morning had classes at 9. before we have breakfast at 7am-7:30am. Then til 8am is personal devotions and then we have work duties of cleaning til 9am. Finished orientation. Went shopping for craft supplies to design our creative journals for the school. Pretty chill day. Raining, lightning, thundering, and haling :)INTENSE!!! sounds like a war zone lols.

9/14/12

YAY! Free day :) today we are suppose to go tour Durban to get a feel of the surrounding area and I'm excited, but it looks like rain once again so we might just go to the Pavilion (the mall).

But it has been a pretty busy week! We all have work duties that we switch every week and it's mostly cleaning and cooking (being a janitor in my last few jobs has not been a bad practice). Most Africans that we would consider middle class are used to not working because having a domestic helpers (maids, gardeners, etc.). Having two American girls and an Australian girl in the DTS is kind of funny to the two african guys because we actually know how to work hard. Everyone here is fairly tidy so far so it's not that much work either.

One big culture difference though is the “white” africans ( People are known as black and white, because they are all African so it doesn't help calling them anything else, and they don't really care.) Any way, white africans will talk and talk, but as one of the American leaders here put it, it takes forever to get to the point!. Americans can be very frank. We speak our point and then stop (most of the time compared to africans :D ). But having patience for that is something God is growing me in right now :D This Friday and Saturday are free days so I'll have a bit of time to write :)

9/15/12

BEST DAY EVER!!!! So today started out pretty just okay. It was rainy and SUPER cold, and we decided to go out :/ why? Idk :) but we went to get some coffee but we went to the beach first. It was really cold and wet; then we got coffee then went to the mall. Ended up getting slippers because ITS COLD! Came back to base and our idea was to chill out and decorate our journals make dinner (pizza) and relax. BUT there is an American girl here named Chloe (26- Buffalo, New York). She actually works with the church youth group not YWAM. Here in SA all youth groups are on Friday night so there is a bit of competition. The presbyterian church I'm staying at has full out war against this anglican church's youth group. Now the anglican church was supposed to come and attack the presby church but NOOOO! They dont stand for that nonsence :D hehe. So the youth pastor, Brad, bought every single water balloon in the area (literally he went to every place that sold them and bought their stocks). Everyone had a bucket of water baloons! So in the very, very cold damp night we all hid in the gardens, trees, rooftops, bushes, you name it! I was with Chloe and this other girl named Dan. Chloe and I were running on straight adrenline! It took forever for the youth group to actually get there and they kept driving past because they were sissies and did not want to face us! But when they did get there OH BOY. Let me just say.....AMERICA!!!!! WHOOO we kicked their butts! Chloe was like a mad woman throwing balloons kicking the gate open and rushing them I was the archer in the back with balloons hitting them. We drove them back and we used so many ballons WE RAN OUT! So I grabbed the hose and filled the buckets and together Chloe and I rushed to the front lines. Like good Americans we stood back to back I had the hose and she had her bucket of water. Anytime someone came in reach was SMOOTHERED!!!!!!!!!!! MUHAHAHAHA!!!! Very cold though. I could see my breath and couldnt feel my feet :D IT WAS AWESOME!!!! Don't worry I took a hot shower had a warm cup of tea and got in my comfy pjs and new slippers :) I'm very toasty you might say, and completely satisfied that the other youth group ran home with their tail between their legs :D

 

Thank you all for your prayers I will try my best to keep you updated. I'm sorry this one is soo long :( Goodnight! :D

The Journey

9/9/12

Hello Everyone,

I'm here in Durban, South Africa, finally! It was a long hard road, but I'm still alive.

New York:

The flight to New York went well, but trying to get to the right terminal I was yelling at myself for not getting the guitar case with the backpack,but I made and I still like my case :)

Got to the gate and waited and waited until they finally called us in, but instead of everyone getting up when their row was called EVERYONE just got up and went into a large crowd and just stood by the gate. I tried to wait it out, but it was hopeless so I went to the back of crowd and I met a girl who lived was coming back to her home town (Durban) to see her father, a minister over here. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband who was the son of missionaries to Durban, South Africa...PRETTY CRAZY COOL! so it nice to have someone to semi-travel with.

Johannesburg:

The flight to Johannesburg seemed to be a lifetime and I had forgotten how much I hate flying :) 3 +15 we have 18 hrs. of travel not including lay overs. But Jo- berg did not work too well for me :P Not the exact times but this is kinda who it went. I got off the plane went through customs which took forever and I finally got out of that at 9:10a.m. And my flight was in 30 mins. I ran to the baggage claim which took until 9:25 to find my bags and guitar. Ran to the check-in and there were only 2 people working and those were for the special flights not mine and then the other lady came over and helped 9:35. Finally ran to the security (this entire time I'm running like a chicken w/ it's head cut off asking for directions only for them to yell at me from be,”the other way!”). Two guys tried scamming me by making me pay for directions I only gave them less than $2 worth of rand to get rid of them even though they kept begging me for the equivalent of $20 in rand }:P) Got to security, and it said flight left 15min ago :O.....then they let me pass the line. I ran through the halls got to my gate and they guy was kinda tiffed that I got there just after he closed his boarding program, but w/ his help I made it on the plane in time! Whoo!

Durban:

Oh yah, I got to Durban with everything except my guitar ....NOOOO!!!! it was stuck in Jo-burg but they promised to send it ( got it later today :D) ...but walked out met my old friends from last summer (who were picking me up to stay with for the first few nights) and the YWAM people who were sent to pick me, as well! I'm sure there was just a miss communication, because I'm pretty sure I remember sending an email explaining that I did not need to be picked up, but oh well. It's a good thing that happened, because they moved the base! Yep. I would have gone to the wrong base otherwise! Going to visit the church at YWAM tonight :D

YWAM INTRO:

Went to the new YWAM base in Kloof , Durban. A really nice base looks like a little home. Really cute little church (similar to Calvary style). Fun stuff :)

Welcome to Pray4Shae

Hello Everyone!
Just wanted to say thank you for visiting my blog. Not sure if it's working yet :\ BUT I'm headed off for a 6month missions training trip (Sept. 8 - Mar.4) to Durban, South Africa. Just wanted to say thank you everyone for their support and prayers especially Calvary Chapel Sarasota (church & school) for preparing me and providing for me! Thank you! I will do my best to keep everyone updated on my experiences and adventures from South Africa.

I'm super excited to leave this Saturday morning. My flight is at 6ish a.m. at Tampa International. It's probably the only part of this entire trip that scares me so I would really appreciate your prayers, but I know the Lord will be there with me through it all!  The couple I stayed with last time will be picking me up from the Durban airport on Sunday, and they will take me to the YWAM campus on Tuesday.

Thank you again for just looking at my blog, and I will do my best to update it once a week. Thanks again!!!

Love, Shannon