South Africa - week 1 update

My faithful brothers and sisters,

I am pleased to inform you all that our team made it safely to South Africa! We had quite a trip though - our flight from Indy to DC was delayed, which put us in DC at 5:40 pm.....and our flight for Jo'burg was supposed to depart from DC at 5:40 pm. So, we were on the plane waiting, thinking we would have to stay overnight in DC and try to get on the next flight to Jo'burg as soon as we could. We were trying to cling to God's sovereignty, and remembering that this is His plan. Turns out, the flight people contacted the Jo'burg flight and told them to wait, they announced that all passengers on the plane that were going to Jo'burg to get off the plane first, and they told us to run! The plane waited for us, and 15 of us college students RAN through the DC terminal to get on our flight!! Apparently God wanted us on that flight, and we made it! Crazy.

After a 16-hour flight, we arrived in Jo'burg at 7 pm on Tuesday night (their time). I have so much to tell you all, but for the sake of time I will only hit on the highlights. We've been staying at COJ's (Campus Outreach-Johannesburg) retreat center called Ebenezer Farms. It's outside of the city, and you drive through a township to get there. The last 3 days our team has been working in this township called Delmas, along with other CO people and church leaders in the area building houses for 2 families. It has been hard labor and tough work, lots of lifting and shoveling and getting dirty, but it's been such a privilege to serve these people. We've been able to meet many South Africans, and many of them are Christians. God has provided some sweet fellowship with these brothers and sisters. One girl, Makhotso (Mak-G for short) is staying with us at Ebenezer too. She attends Wits, is involved with CO and has been a believer for about 2 years. I am loving this chance to get to know her - her walk and her testimony is really encouraging, and I'm excited for our friendship for this summer.

All in all, this experience has been ridiculously eye opening and transforming. I've seen the differences in our cultures to a great extent, from the food, to the way they work and interact, to how they worship. The food is amazing (there's no preservatives here, and they eat lots of meat), they are very hardworking and disciplined, and just kind and gentle in how they treat each other. I love it here more and more everyday. I cannot believe how much I've seen and all that's happened so far, and it has not even been a week. The more time I spend here, the more convinced I am that God is moving in my heart to consider something like this for my life.

This summer our team is studying the Upper Room Discourse in John 13 - 17 and reading Francis Chan's book called Crazy Love. We began John 13 this week, and have been learning a lot about what it means to serve. In the context of working and building in the township, the true meaning of Christlike service is being revealed to us more and more. Please pray that we would continue to learn to die to ourselves, to consider others more significant than ourselves.

Also, my ministry partner on the team, Rachel, is still in the States - she has been very sick with mono, and was unable to make the trip. She's is getting medicine and treatment, but it will be at least a week and a half until she can come. She is still planning on coming, but please pray for her health and her trip that she'll be making alone.

I wish I could express all that I've experienced so far in such a way that would give you insight to this country, but my time is very limited. All I can say is that it has been amazing, I've experienced God and His glory in new ways, and my eyes have been opened to just how broken this world is, and how great the need is for laborers.

Personal prayer requests would be that I would continue to learn how to truly serve the way Jesus did, that God would show me and my team His glory everyday, and that we would die to our comforts everyday. And also for safety and protection - we are heading out to Kruger Park tomorrow for 3 nights of real camping (in tents).

Thank you for sending me to Africa, and for helping make it possible for me to experience the gospel, God's glory, and the world in new ways. (and don't worry, I'm taking tons of pictures!)

Until all hear,
Kasey