All I can seem to read these days is Psalm 143. This is not because within this chapter is Hands' 2009 Watchword, but because within this chapter lies my heart. I feel like these words are my own words and these cries are my own cries.
O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Welcome back.
I'm back in South Africa and so far it's been great. The plane ride was perfect. I honestly slept the entire time and if I struggled with sleep, a glass of wine helped that.
As soon as I turned my phone on when the plane stopped, I was greeted by two texts: a "please call" from Elvis and one from Fortunate asking if I had sent away her residence application. Welcome home, Kristal.
There was so much work to do at the start of this year with Elvis, Fortunate, and Gugu going to University; Patricia and Nokuzola going to Zigna; and Mduduzi getting into Agriculture College. I am SO glad to have people like Brooke and Jed taking it on until I got home. But now I'm home and there is lots of work to do. And as much stress comes with finding funding and sorting details, it all seems worth it when I get a text from Mduduzi saying, "Hi make kristal. I ope u hv a gr8dy. so i m good, i wat 2 inform u that class wil start on monday. anyway i m excited 2 study.Gudnyte."
Make = mother in siSwati.
This year I'll be playing a role supporting Busi as South Africa country rep. We went out to Bushbuckridge a couple days ago with Simon. There are many CBOs in the area and we will be starting a Service Center there to help support the CBOs. Simon will be at the Service Center so we went with him to check up on the CBOs.
A CBO is a Community-based organization. I guess it's like Masoyi but much simpler. Masoyi has many programs and is quite large. These other CBOs are very small and really only have a Home-based Care and some have Care Centers for the children.
It was a good day. Not only did I see the beautiful faces of the care workers and children, but I saw a turtle, a chameleon, and a dung beetle! Dung beetles are quite fascinating. Simon said in their culture they don't call anyone clever because nothing is as clever as a dung beetle.
Today I'm off to visit the students and am SO excited. It's been too long.
Remember, Arrive Alive.
As soon as I turned my phone on when the plane stopped, I was greeted by two texts: a "please call" from Elvis and one from Fortunate asking if I had sent away her residence application. Welcome home, Kristal.
There was so much work to do at the start of this year with Elvis, Fortunate, and Gugu going to University; Patricia and Nokuzola going to Zigna; and Mduduzi getting into Agriculture College. I am SO glad to have people like Brooke and Jed taking it on until I got home. But now I'm home and there is lots of work to do. And as much stress comes with finding funding and sorting details, it all seems worth it when I get a text from Mduduzi saying, "Hi make kristal. I ope u hv a gr8dy. so i m good, i wat 2 inform u that class wil start on monday. anyway i m excited 2 study.Gudnyte."
Make = mother in siSwati.
This year I'll be playing a role supporting Busi as South Africa country rep. We went out to Bushbuckridge a couple days ago with Simon. There are many CBOs in the area and we will be starting a Service Center there to help support the CBOs. Simon will be at the Service Center so we went with him to check up on the CBOs.
A CBO is a Community-based organization. I guess it's like Masoyi but much simpler. Masoyi has many programs and is quite large. These other CBOs are very small and really only have a Home-based Care and some have Care Centers for the children.
It was a good day. Not only did I see the beautiful faces of the care workers and children, but I saw a turtle, a chameleon, and a dung beetle! Dung beetles are quite fascinating. Simon said in their culture they don't call anyone clever because nothing is as clever as a dung beetle.
Today I'm off to visit the students and am SO excited. It's been too long.
Remember, Arrive Alive.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Corazon
I've been in Canada for 25 days. WOW - 25 days. How is that even possible? I spent two weeks doing the Christmas thing with my family. I also spent some time during then visiting family in Fort Pitt and family in Goodsoil. I spent the next week in Saskatoon and now I'm currently partying in Calgary. The three weeks prior to this time were COLD and am enjoying the chinook Calgary has to offer.
It's been great visiting friends and relatives but as much as I wanted to really tell all my stories, I found it only possible to connect with a few people.
"How was Africa?"
"Good."
"That's good."
And then onto Nickelback and the deteriorating economy.
The one thing I found unbelievable during my time home is my lack of participation in snow-related activities. A couple days ago I realized I did not snowboard, sled, skate, make a snowball, a snow angel, a snow fort... NOTHING. I think the main reason for this is the freezing cold weather I've been blessed with since I've been home. But today I and the chinook changed that. My friend Brett and I (along with JL who assisted our noses with her disgusting scent) created a snow-woman. We built her head on his steps and then created a body laying along the steps. She's quite hot. She has witch-like stringy hair, delicious bubble gum lips, dark Oreo eyes that make me feel hungry, and a polka-dot bikini. She has chiseled abs like a Greek God and a lack of breasts because she's a body builder. We think she lost her arm in a shark attack because she now has a limp noodle arm. Her name is Corazon, which is Spanish for "heart". Brett and I both took Spanish classes so we try to do the language thing once in a while. Anyway, she's beautiful and we're trying to set her up with Tyler, who only seems to be attracted to white girls. Well, she's as white as can be.
I'll try to post a picture later.
**Blog inspired by Brooke**
PS - Hi Jon.
It's been great visiting friends and relatives but as much as I wanted to really tell all my stories, I found it only possible to connect with a few people.
"How was Africa?"
"Good."
"That's good."
And then onto Nickelback and the deteriorating economy.
The one thing I found unbelievable during my time home is my lack of participation in snow-related activities. A couple days ago I realized I did not snowboard, sled, skate, make a snowball, a snow angel, a snow fort... NOTHING. I think the main reason for this is the freezing cold weather I've been blessed with since I've been home. But today I and the chinook changed that. My friend Brett and I (along with JL who assisted our noses with her disgusting scent) created a snow-woman. We built her head on his steps and then created a body laying along the steps. She's quite hot. She has witch-like stringy hair, delicious bubble gum lips, dark Oreo eyes that make me feel hungry, and a polka-dot bikini. She has chiseled abs like a Greek God and a lack of breasts because she's a body builder. We think she lost her arm in a shark attack because she now has a limp noodle arm. Her name is Corazon, which is Spanish for "heart". Brett and I both took Spanish classes so we try to do the language thing once in a while. Anyway, she's beautiful and we're trying to set her up with Tyler, who only seems to be attracted to white girls. Well, she's as white as can be.
I'll try to post a picture later.
**Blog inspired by Brooke**
PS - Hi Jon.
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