Hey everyone.
Today I officially wrapped up my work in South Africa. Tomorrow at 3 am I begin my big adventure.
Here are my dates:
9 Apr - 21 Apr : Luanshya, Zambia (travelling through Zimbabwe by bus, then Botswana by Kombi on way back)
22 Apr - 24 Apr : South Africa (Busie's wedding)
25 Apr - 3 May : Dedza, Malawi (flying to Lusaka then busing to Dedza)
3 May : WILL & THOM ARRIVE IN LUSAKA!
4 May - 19 May : Likasi, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kristal, Will, and Thom)
19 May - 22 May : Travels back to South Africa via Zambia, Botswana
23 May - 31 May : Final Good-byes in South Africa
1 Jun - 16 Jun : Singapore/Cambodia
16 Jun - Arrive in Calgary, Canada
I've been looking forward to the start of this adventure for a long time, and now it's here! I leave in 4 hours and haven't started to sleep yet. That's unfortunate considering it's a 28 hr bus ride. But I made caramel popcorn for the bus ride so I'm sure that will give me a little kick and entertainment at some point.
Zambia is going to be fantastic! The Regional Celebration is happening, which normally is just a family gathering and celebration of the 3 countries represented in the region (Zambia, DRC, Malawi) but this time all the countries will be represented (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, DRC, Malawi, Nigeria). Most of these people I haven't seen since 2009. It's always such a powerful, beautiful time. Passionate and anointed people from all across Africa coming together to share in God's goodness from within the daily suffering and trials of the work with orphans and vulnerable children.
It's going to be amazing!
Not sure the best way to contact me during this all. Probably e-mail. And not facebook. kristalgadsby@gmail.com
I'll try to keep you all updated, especially with contact details.
Much love!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Sushi for Breakfast
I know, I know, it’s been a while and for that I am sorry. This last little while has been hectic, but how is that different than any other period of time in my African life. I’ve finally come to an understanding of why it’s so difficult for me to blog. How easy would it be for you to blog regularly about life in Canada? When a routine is set up, there doesn’t really feel like there’s anything new and eventful and worthy of reading updates on. So, that’s sort of how I feel. This has been my life for three years and it’s become so normal to me, it’s difficult to see anything interesting to write about.
Now that being said, this has been my life for three years, and soon it is coming to an end. Next week is my last official week of work (in relation to my responsibilities in South Africa). I leave on April 10th for Zambia and then Malawi until Will arrives at the beginning of May. Then we go to Congo and then head east to the Asian part of the world.
I was fortunate to have our Family Celebrations during my last weeks. It was a 3 day celebration of Hands in South Africa and Swaziland. We’ve been planning this sucker for months so it was exciting, enriching, beautiful and slightly stressful. And now that it’s over, I’m a bit relieved. We had 5 people from every community come, plus all of us at Hands, plus other outside friends and partners. In total, we had 121 people. It was a really big ordeal, but just so beautiful to see a giant tent full of people loving God, dancing, learning, sharing, interacting, growing. The theme was “Going Deeper in Christ” and we saw some incredible things happen! We felt so strongly that God wanted to bring people back to Him and there was a very powerful time when people gave their lives to Him! It was also nice because it was all the people I spent 3 years serving, so it was a nice way to end my time in South Africa.
It’s strange how at peace I feel about this transition, and honestly speaking this peace has only come in the last couple weeks. When you invest yourself for 3 years in something, how do you just leave it? How do you feel at peace with leaving with what was invested in you for 3 years? It’s tough, but I need to remember that this is God’s work and He is the one that has invested in me here. He hasn’t invested in me to just stay here, but He also has more out there for me. It’s all one big project. One big Kingdom project. It feels like my role here is naturally closing off, which is great. I’ve spent the last month investing in and teaching two incredible women (Lise and Elise – talk about confusing for the African people ... and then put them together in the same team.. disaster). Lise is a teacher from Edmonton and Elise is a dance teacher from Calgary. I met Lise at Missionsfest last February and instantly developed a crush on her. It’s been such a blast to just hang out with these ladies every day and I feel fully confident in the impact they will make. They are different and offer different things and the season for what I offer has ended. It’s their season now. Wow, that’s really neat.
Oh! I almost forgot! Last weekend I entered in a Trail Run. It was organized by an adventure place just near where I stay. It was 10km and of course being a flatlander, I had no idea what a trail run was. All our trails are flat. But soon I discovered it’s a hike, but running. I felt a bit adventurous so agreed. I’ve never entered any kind of race before in my life, except for Track & Field in Jr. High, but that doesn’t count. I do my usual weekly exercises, which include two days of some form of cardio, but I really wasn’t trained for it at all. And even if running is part of my cardio for that week, it’s usually around 30 minutes or 6 km. (It used to be 8, but after I visited Canada and was a big lazy bum, I had to start all over). Long story short, I ran and I won. Placed first. Seriously. I even won money! It’s something I think I’d like to continue doing. And Will likes to think I’m going to run for our living next year..
But, really, I need to find a job. Will and I are residing in Calgary starting September so if anyone knows of a job I’d be interested in, please let me know! Teaching, working with First Nations people, inner city ministries, coffee shop, comic book store, anything to that like. Just let me know if you think of anything.
Hope all is well with you! I miss you all dearly and I am truly so excited to be back in your lives, to journey with you on a daily basis and just love all over you.
Kristal
PS – The title. As part of preparing for this transition, to really focus on rooting myself, and in anticipation of something big during Celebrations, I decided to do a 5 day fast. I’m currently on Day 5 and get to break it in 1.4 hours. I am stoked. I’ve decided on Sushi. YYYYYUP.
Now that being said, this has been my life for three years, and soon it is coming to an end. Next week is my last official week of work (in relation to my responsibilities in South Africa). I leave on April 10th for Zambia and then Malawi until Will arrives at the beginning of May. Then we go to Congo and then head east to the Asian part of the world.
I was fortunate to have our Family Celebrations during my last weeks. It was a 3 day celebration of Hands in South Africa and Swaziland. We’ve been planning this sucker for months so it was exciting, enriching, beautiful and slightly stressful. And now that it’s over, I’m a bit relieved. We had 5 people from every community come, plus all of us at Hands, plus other outside friends and partners. In total, we had 121 people. It was a really big ordeal, but just so beautiful to see a giant tent full of people loving God, dancing, learning, sharing, interacting, growing. The theme was “Going Deeper in Christ” and we saw some incredible things happen! We felt so strongly that God wanted to bring people back to Him and there was a very powerful time when people gave their lives to Him! It was also nice because it was all the people I spent 3 years serving, so it was a nice way to end my time in South Africa.
It’s strange how at peace I feel about this transition, and honestly speaking this peace has only come in the last couple weeks. When you invest yourself for 3 years in something, how do you just leave it? How do you feel at peace with leaving with what was invested in you for 3 years? It’s tough, but I need to remember that this is God’s work and He is the one that has invested in me here. He hasn’t invested in me to just stay here, but He also has more out there for me. It’s all one big project. One big Kingdom project. It feels like my role here is naturally closing off, which is great. I’ve spent the last month investing in and teaching two incredible women (Lise and Elise – talk about confusing for the African people ... and then put them together in the same team.. disaster). Lise is a teacher from Edmonton and Elise is a dance teacher from Calgary. I met Lise at Missionsfest last February and instantly developed a crush on her. It’s been such a blast to just hang out with these ladies every day and I feel fully confident in the impact they will make. They are different and offer different things and the season for what I offer has ended. It’s their season now. Wow, that’s really neat.
Oh! I almost forgot! Last weekend I entered in a Trail Run. It was organized by an adventure place just near where I stay. It was 10km and of course being a flatlander, I had no idea what a trail run was. All our trails are flat. But soon I discovered it’s a hike, but running. I felt a bit adventurous so agreed. I’ve never entered any kind of race before in my life, except for Track & Field in Jr. High, but that doesn’t count. I do my usual weekly exercises, which include two days of some form of cardio, but I really wasn’t trained for it at all. And even if running is part of my cardio for that week, it’s usually around 30 minutes or 6 km. (It used to be 8, but after I visited Canada and was a big lazy bum, I had to start all over). Long story short, I ran and I won. Placed first. Seriously. I even won money! It’s something I think I’d like to continue doing. And Will likes to think I’m going to run for our living next year..
But, really, I need to find a job. Will and I are residing in Calgary starting September so if anyone knows of a job I’d be interested in, please let me know! Teaching, working with First Nations people, inner city ministries, coffee shop, comic book store, anything to that like. Just let me know if you think of anything.
Hope all is well with you! I miss you all dearly and I am truly so excited to be back in your lives, to journey with you on a daily basis and just love all over you.
Kristal
PS – The title. As part of preparing for this transition, to really focus on rooting myself, and in anticipation of something big during Celebrations, I decided to do a 5 day fast. I’m currently on Day 5 and get to break it in 1.4 hours. I am stoked. I’ve decided on Sushi. YYYYYUP.
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