Adventures in Jo'burg!

Hello friends!

Well we have been in Jo'burg for 6 days now, and it has been utter chaos and quite a battle since we arrived. I think Satan has been scheming against us since we left the US. Besides almost missing our flight, there have been many trials, big and small, that have tested our faith and endurance.

Turns out our team mate Rachel that was sick in the States is too ill to come to Africa at all. She has hepatitis now, and is very weak and sick. Apparently the Lord had different plans for her this summer, and saw it fit for her to stay home. This was a blow to our team, and especially myself, because I was really excited to labor with her at Wits, but I cannot imagine what she is going through now. Please pray for her through this tough time and that she would trust in and rely on the Lord through this will for her summer.

Other things include that our house we're staying at is not completely finished, so electricity and hot water have been inconsistent at first. A couple people on our team have been sick. Our Toyota Quantums (kumbi) are too tall to fit through the gate at our house, so we cannot park them here, and have to park them at a COJ house a few minutes away. Also, the CO director of Wits and one of our key leaders, Tim, had his car stereo stolen the other night. And our other COJ leader, Beth - the clutch on her car went out...in the middle of a high-traffic street in Jo'burg...on a hill. We had to get out, push it up a ways up the hill, and into a parking spot, while crazy Jo'burg taxis are flying by on both sides. And those are just the big things, there have been many minor setbacks as well.

I'm convinced that we are in spiritual warfare right now. That Satan sees why we're here, and he doesn't like it. He is doing all he can to stop us from helping the Gospel go forth at Wits. But, we are clinging to the truth of Ephesians 6:10-20, the sweet promises of 2 Cor. 12:9-10 and 10:3-4. Satan doesn't stand a chance - Jesus has already won! And we know that these trials will produce endurance, and refuse to grow weary. (Romans 5:3-5)

Anyways, since we've been here, we have had some orientation for ministry at Wits and have been getting to know some of the CO students from Wits, too. We have learned alot about the vision here, and the method they use on campus: targeting 1st year students, because they will be there longer, and be able to have more impact on campus than older students would.

We started on campus on Monday. My ministry partner is now Jacqueline, a senior at Purdue. We've been getting to know each other and are becoming closer everyday. We are laboring in Jubilee Hall (Jubes), a girls dorm at Wits. There are about 80 1st years in Jubes. Jacq and I are on floors 7 through 11, and have been knocking on doors and meeting lots of girls all week. So far we've met 19 girls! Our goal for this week is to just meet a lot of 1st years and build friendships. We are also recruiting to a Braai that COJ is putting on on Friday night. Most of the girls we've met are planning on coming - Praise God!

Prayer requests would be....

favor with the girls in Jubes and good friendships to be built.

unity as a team and with Jacqueline as partners.

God would continue to give us trials to draw us to run to Him and rely on Him in every situation.

that my own heart would be softened to the Gospel everyday and I would rely on the Spirit to guide my words and direct my thoughts to Jesus.

that our team would be bold to tell people about Jesus! (Ephesians 6:19)

Thank you all for your prayers and support - I don't deserve it at all. This is an amazing privilege to be here, to have this opportunity. Thank you for helping it to be possible.

In the One who saves,

Kasey