Hey all! I have some exciting news to report. Sometime in mid July I will be moving! I will be going to another city in South Africa called Rustenburg. It is a much bigger place than Hartswater, my current location. I will be working more along side my IMB supervisor and doing more church planting work. There are a couple reasons for the move. The work in the schools, while good, was limited and I honestly didn't feel like that is where I was supposed to be. I also have been craving more learning experiences. I am kind of down here just on my own, trying to figure out what to do. I am excited that I will get to work with career missionaries on a more regular basis, and get a more hands on approach to church planting. The great thing about this whole move, is that you can see God working it all out. He was working on me as well as my supervisors, both in Rustenburg and here in Hartswater. I'm excited to see how God is working and will use me to be part of His work in Rustenburg.
My time in Hartswater was great! It was by no means an easy thing for me to live here, but I feel I learned a great deal from my time here. I was kind of forced into a take charge role here. Most of you that know me, know that is not really my personality and I prefer the, give me a job and let me do it type role. However, being forced to basically create my own work was really good for me. I just went into these schools and was like, "hey I want to teach here, what can we do?" Kind of scary at first, since I knew how none of this worked. But that led to understanding how schools work here, and learning a little of their culture as well. I see how this led to more boldness in my life as well, you just have to get out there and do it! It was also a great experience to live COMPLETELY by myself. Being the only American in a town is kind of weird. God showed me, and helped me to make it here a year w/o having fellow Americans always around. So often we look to those like us for comfort over God. God is the sustainer of our lives, and being here has reinforced that point very clearly in my life. I have often relied on family or friendships to keep me going, but that is not the best, God is the only one who can truly sustain! I am very thankful for my time in the schools here and the relationships I have made. I have been blessed to be around some great African people who love the Lord and are daily trying to bring Christ to the towns in this area. And getting the chance to work with them and support their work is something I will always remember.
I will be helping with a week long camp the first week of July, here in hartswater. A team of 32 is coming to put on camps in 3 different locations. 20 of these volunteers are from the states as well. It should be a great week, of bringing Christ to the little ones. I ask that when you pray, to remember this camp, and pray that it goes well. After the camp I will begin packing up and saying some goodbyes, I ask that you pray that my transition to my new location will go well, and that my saying goodbye here will be a fruitful and meaningful time. I also am going to see my family at the end of June. Pray that my travel and time with them is great, should be a fun time!!
Thank you for all the prayers and support!!!
Paul
