I live on the ocean

A few days ago I was driving back home from a weekend away with my loved ones. I had a sleeping baby in the back and my husband was driving behind me (we always pack way too much - new parents), when suddenly something inside my spirit said slow down. As I slowed down I noticed a man slumped over on the side of the road with his hands to his head and the yellow bicycle laying beside him. Had something happened, or was he drunk? These were my very first thoughts.

I could have driven passed him quite easily, and on any other day I may have but this evening I felt something jerk in my spirit and my foot pumped the break peddle. I opened my window and asked if the man was ok? 

An older gentleman looked at me with blood stained on his face and bewildered eyes. I pulled over and jumped out of my car to wave my husband down so we could both assess the situation.

We helped him onto the other side of the road and onto some grass while checking if he had some serious neck or head trauma. He had fallen off his bike when a car had driven too close to him, he did not own a helmet. 

Cue my amazing husband who managed to strap the bike to his roof racks and made a space for the man to sit and we headed home... to do what we did not know? 

While I took care of a slightly grumpy baby and unpacked the car, my husband managed to clean the wounds up, phone the ambulance (which informed him they would be over an hour), and made the man who I will call Jim (I wouldn’t share his real name) a cup of sweet tea. I walked into the lounge where Jim was sitting and it smelt like savlon. The gentleman looked so helpless and scared but thankful that these young strangers had helped him. We still were not sure what to do with him... but we knew that having chosen to stop and help him we had in a way made him our responsibility. 

We didn’t want to drive him home, because it was dark and we were unfamiliar with the township the man lived in. We were also aware that if he had sustained a concussion, he would need someone to monitor him through the night and no one was at his home. We looked at each other and sighed - ok Lord and now? 

Just then Ryan decided to try and contact his employer, it was a stretch but maybe the guy knew him and could assist us further - we couldn’t make out everything he was saying.

We rang the boss and a man answered it, we were not sure what to expect but we hoped for the best. It was so refreshing to hear the mans voice turn to compassion and concern for this Jim who had worked for him for over 20 years. The employee drover over and picked Jim up and took him to a local hospital and paid for him to have appropriate care. Both Ryan and I’s hearts jumped with gratitude! We were not alone in loving this gentleman - instead of feeling the pressure and weight of stopping for this hurting human we felt the joy of a community of people coming around a neighbour who needed help. There was so much life in it!

We were so grateful for a man who honoured his employee and who with love had come to his aid - I don’t have to say this is pretty rare unfortunately. 

Suddenly my imagination was racing - imagine we were all like this all the time! Imagine if we treated one another with the love, care and value we all deserve because we are children of God! What if we took what the Bible says and actually did it! Imagine with me for a second if we took what Jesus says in Matthew 25:35-40 and put it into action - wouldn’t we see each individual with greater affection and value? 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I hope to see Jesus in you all! 

Remembering what brings me life.

We can get so caught up in what we believe is doing good that we forget what is best for us.

I hit a hard place about a year ago, where everything that used to bring me life suddenly was as dark as a bedroom with drawn curtains. I found it difficult to enjoy things and made anxiety a close friend. 

I was giving myself to everyone around me, I was a missionary so that’s my job right? Flung myself into South Africa’s problems and made them mine. I wore my heart on my sleeve and let everyone take what they needed and I was left kinda high and dry to speak. 

But burn-out isn’t a joke and it demands you notice what is happening in you. 

It has been a journey back for me. Back to the things that make my heart leap and my blood flow with joy to be alive. 

This is one precious thing I have been so blessed to be apart of, Walking on Waves is a NGO pioneered by William Kumu Leadbetter. The Walking on Waves vision goes something like this; “Changing the world one wave, one smile, one soul at a time with love through surf therapy and fun sessions.”

I have always loved surfing, since my first wave as an 11 year old and I have experienced it’s beauty in forging friendships, healing hearts and building confidence. Now seeing these kids who stand on the peripheral of society as challenged individuals flash their smiles wild and free cruising the waves is indescribable. 

I have only helped with two surf therapy sessions but it has brought my heart such clarity, hope and joy. Sometimes we loose hope in humanity and that crushes our soul but then it begins to stir a fresh perspective and hope breathes again. I love standing in the water along side others who are volunteering their time, resources and hope to see another individual see life through new lenses. 

Surfing is more than a selfish sport, it’s a bond that washes us into a unique unity. Legs float, arms hold, water rushes over all of us. Today two boys who suffer the fait of polio were given this wonderful experience - an equaling.

I watched a boy with slight autism last week fall in love with his new friend the ocean. He couldn’t get enough. He was shivering with cold but not even that discomfort could pull him from his new found friend. I watched him laugh, throw his arms up in delight and fall silent in awe. There is something about life in those moments that brings you back to hope. 

I am finding things I love and remembering the things that bring me life. Combine surfing and sharing that experience with others - it’s epic.

Thanks to Irina Mink for the photographs and the awesome dog pictured; Leila. 

What a wonderful age to live in.

Apparently it’s the age when truth no longer exists, we love authentic movies, lyrics and art but we love escaping into the fantasy of hollywood more than ever or rather we source our facts from media platform such a Facebook or twitter. 

Is it no wonder we have lost the true north and question absolutely everything. We hate getting advice but we love thinking we know it all. We say we are humble but we really just self-haters who can't take compliments or we are the ones who think we are the absolute best and we give the finger to everyone else whose different or not exactly like us. Barbie is no where to be seen in the media but guess who our kids are wanting to dress up like - its not peter pan or tinker bell - it’s these fake wanna be celebrities who we follow, like, comment on and idolise and then turn around and judge them for shaving their heads, making out with other girls, or going nude in a music video --- hey but it’s a good way to escape our own boring lives right - because if we don't have truth in our hearts or anywhere for that fact we tend to swing in and out of others lives believing its ours. 

Our lives. Mine. Mine.

Instagram can’t make it better. No man or woman can be my centre.

This is the age where everything goes. It’s all neutral. 

Scentless, tasteless, bland, pitch black, fuzzy, unfocused, genderless.

Beauty has been lost. True beauty. We all pintrest to be creative, or to test that our tastes are in fashion. It’s really odd. We rate, we repin, we ----we -we -we -we

ME.

In a world where neutral has become the popular thing, we have lost the me.

My flavour. my uniqueness. ME.

What are your own opinions? You don’t trust them because what if...

You need a centre. You need truth to guide your wondering heart that’s lost true beauty. True beauty has truth! 

Not a scientific truth. Not a I feel it’s right truth - like a universal forming truth that escapes your own comprehension. Like a truth we can't really explain away or into existence. A truth that is engraved on our hearts and without recognising it it has been there all along.  truth we cannot control, form or swirl.

We need true beauty. We need truth. We need the one true God who is not the man-made god this world worships but the one who has been from the beginning and will be forever. The one that marks every heart with the desire to create, to love beauty, to live in awe of His love and grace, to be in His image. 

We are not made to settle.

I am not neutral.

I am saved. I am a me. 

Documenting a friends 21st Birthday surprise with my Minolta x700 Film Camera.

Hey dear ones

These last two months I have experienced such grace and love from my community and loved ones which has so inspired my passions again. Thank you for those who have been praying and sharing your encouragement with me. It's really not easy to be out on the mission field - it can be a lonely place without the love and support of people from all over...so thank you!

I wanted to share a little about DIGNITY and why I do not share very many photographs of the children I work with on the streets.

This has been a journey for me - the ethics of being a missionary. What's ok to share and whats not? How do I realistically share testimonies with you all and keep the persons dignity in tact? What photographs are appropriate and which ones will fuel the stereotypes around South Africa, the poor, the needy or the broken?

You see I am tired of STEREOTYPES... they harm our DIGNITY and the Bible calls me to love my brother and sister as I love myself... I cannot then take advantage of someone by feeding a stereotype. For far too long have the classic missionaries been posting pictures of themselves with the 'poor black' child, only emphasising their amazing saviour behaviour. I cannot in good conscious continue to pour into this defilement of human dignity. Each person has a say in their personal boundaries. Each child has rights and many of these rights are to protect them from people who will take advantage of their naive and pure state of being.

I am letting you know this because as much as I have felt the pressure to share with you the photographs of my 'missionary' life --- I have to tell you honestly - I will not be posting pictures of children's faces let alone people who i minister too. Just as doctors cannot divulge their patience information, I have begun to hear Gods voice in how we need to protect the dignity and rights of others.

That's not to say you will never receive any photographs - but I am really wanting to work in honour so I will only post pictures i have received permission from both parent and child. And I will probably never use real names unless I have permission from the person. As I go on from here and figure it out I will let you know more.

In other NEWS I teach next week on Celebrating Children at the Children at Risk School here at YWAM MUIZENBERG. Keep me in prayer please - need some serious covering and energy! Five days with five hours of teaching each - its like CHURCH FOR A WEEK haha - I am so excited!

Ministry with the street boys has been super amazing and interesting, rolled up with complications, laws and harsh security guards. But I can see God just sweeping us all up in his arms and saying - chill out, your not the saviour! Just LOVE! Our soccer ball was broken last week but thanks to a wonderful friend who spontaneously donated some cash we were able to buy a new one. TA!:)

“To burn with a zeal for life, love and all the messy sticks that add fuel to the warmth and pleasure.” 

We can survive so much more than we imagine. I prayed for a wonderful girl yesterday, Abby, aged 12 who has spinal bifida and has been wheelchair bound all her life. She has just had a major surgery and has been recovering one the last 25 days and yet she had such a courage in her smile. 

We must be determined to gather all our messy sticks and add them to the fire of life so we can life in BRIGHT brilliance - fully alive and open to all of its beauty, even in the pain. Because Jesus has promised us that “He has overcome this world.” 

THE LA TEAM (IMPACT DTS) were here for 3 weeks and here’ s one of the testimonies from their time here in Cape Town, South Africa.

by: AC Hechanova

‘This past month I've had life changing experiences volunteering at different ministries. One of my favourite places to go was a school in Khaylitsha. On our first day, from the first moment I walked into the class, my heart soared. The little kids with their big curious eyes and smiles that could solve world hunger, looked up at me with so much excitement. We did not need to prepare anything because we were there to work alongside the teachers to support them. Sure enough the kids circled up and started singing their traditional songs. One fearless little boy in particular took the lead with so much confidence. It reminded me that this nation already knows what they're doing, they just need encouragement, people to cheer them on.

We also helped at an after school program helping kids with homework. We were able to teach them worship songs, perform a few skits and teach them about who they are in Christ. At the same facility we spent time at an elderly home. We got to sing for them and hear their stories. Other times we helped with housekeeping, cooking and laundry.

Evangelism is something my team and I are quite passionate about. Unfortunately, it was difficult to evangelize in Nepal because of the language barrier but here there were many opportunities to evangelize. The most significant day to me, three things happened. One, there was a man walking past and God asked me to stop him. I asked if I could pray for him but he didn't ask for anything specific, so I had to rely on the Holy Spirit to give me the words. I sensed that he was just lonely and that he felt unnoticed. He began crying when we said our goodbyes and I cried also because I felt God's love for him. Two, we walked behind a house and there were four tough intimidating looking guys sitting in a circle drinking and smoking. But there was also an older looking man sitting with them playing guitar. We talked with them for a while and as time went on they began tucking the alcohol away and putting out their cigarettes. We held hands and prayed and even sang a few worship songs while the older gentleman played guitar. Three, there were little kids playing outside their house so we decided to go pray for them. We ended up following them into their house and prayed for their parents also. When we finished a man on crutches came out of a room and slowly made his way to the centre of the living room. When I first saw him standing in the doorway I thought "Jesus! Are we going to heal this man?" And before I could even ask if we could pray for him, here he was, in the centre, ready to receive healing. We prayed for a bit before God asked me to wash his feet, as I washed his feet I began worshipping Jesus and welcoming the Holy Spirit. I put his socks back on, he stood up and started walking across the living room.