Humility and Grace

By Kenda

As I am reading through these reflections, two words keep welling up inside me:

Humility.

Grace.

The people whose testimonies you are reading--people God is already using to tip the scales in favor of mercy and grace--fill me with humility and shower me with grace every single day.  I want you to know that.  There are no words that I can attach to the privilege of working with these young pastors as part of my daily life.  These people are your friends, your sons and daughters, your spouses and brothers and sisters and roommates and dads (I don't think we have any moms on this trip!).  These are people who will give you hope just by being in the same room with them.  And I get to do that, every day.

For the next couple weeks that room will be smaller than usual:  I will be elbow-to-elbow with these hope-givers, these God-lovers, these leaders who refuse to settle for a mediocre church or a cheesy Jesus.  These seminarians are taking huge risks--financial, emotional, interpersonal--by going on this trip.  I hope their courage rubs off on me.

I have been to South Africa several times, twice with my husband and children.  Each time, South Africa devastates me.  Its beauty leaves me breathless.  Its poverty and illness empty my soul.  Its history reminds me of the U.S.--things I would rather not be reminded of.  And its people, many of them Christians-- who insisted on justice and who simply would not give up or go away throughout the long nightmare of apartheid--remind me that God does not give up on us, which is the best definition of amazing grace I know.

That is what I'm looking forward to most:  the people of South Africa.  Some of them--people we have invited to speak to our group--will tell us truths we might not want to hear.  But Africans' arms are wider and hearts are larger than in any place I know.  The children will treat us like heroes.  Their families will treat us like long lost relatives, home for the holidays.  Their churches will fling open their doors and show us ministry like we've never seen it done before.  They'll show us hope.

This is why we are going.

Oh God of grace and mercy and hope, thank you...

...for these pastors I get to learn with

...for the people we are about to meet on the other side of the world

...for the young people we will encounter whose lives are so different from ours.

I am praying boldly here:

When we land, Lord,

Take the scales off our eyes so we see what you want us to see.  

Take the fear from our hearts so we can be who you want us to be.  

Make us your envoys of humility and grace.  

Here we are, Lord.  

Send us.

Amen.

Before Our Journey Begins

by Ashley 

"For I am about to do something new. See I have already begun! Do you not see it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the dry wilderness." -Isaiah 43:19 

It is January 1, 2011 and though we are a team that continues to grow closer to one another, I imagine all of us going to South Africa find ourselves in different places the day before our journey begins.  Maybe some of us find ourselves where the streams of abundance flow, ready to be agents of God's goodness and pour out that water to those we will meet.  Maybe some of us find ourselves in the desert place, thirsty for the streams God is filling in others, and hoping at some point in the next two weeks to find ourselves under a cloud pouring His healing rain.  And perhaps a few of us find ourselves both walking somewhere in the wilderness but remembering today the streams of abundance which lie deep within us, remembering ALWAYS that all on this earth are the ones God has created for His glory to be a blessing to others.  No matter where each of us finds our self today, filled or thirsty, one thing is for certain: whether or not we feel equipped, God will use us in the next two weeks to be a blessing to others... and He'll use others to be a blessing to us.  May we keep our eyes and hearts opened wide so as not to miss the things God does in and through us on this journey. 

So Lord, rain on us-- Your goodness, Your traveling mercies, Your love, and Your strength-- that we may use that rain to fill our streams and wash Your blessings over others these next two weeks and in the good new year to come.

And be with our families. Amen.

--Ashley--

And we're off...

By Emma

Although I am certain the entire class is experiencing some anxiety about traveling such a long distance and encountering such big adventures, my journey begins a little differently and with a different kind of nerves. As most of the class is traveling together to Pretoria, I set out on my own tomorrow afternoon. I will be flying by myself, getting to the conference by myself, and spending something like 12 hours by myself in Pretoria before everyone else arrives. I've been abroad before, but never on my own. I've flown by myself, but only ever from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and back, and let's be honest, that doesn't really count. I need my family for pretty much everything, as it is. My life is safe in it's bubble that stretches from Princeton to my home in Pittsburgh. I'm not sure if the bubble can reach Cape Town.

In these final moments at home, while I am trying to work out my disaster of a packing situation, I think I should be more anxious. South Africa is really, really far from any where I have ever been. It will be absolutely nothing like anything I have ever experienced. That kind of uncertainty is giving me something far more powerful than fear and nerves. It has given me unbelievable excitement and hope. On the cusp of this great trip, and ironically at the start of a brand new year, I am realizing more and more that I am growing up. I am setting out on my own. The bubble that is my life is bursting, and that breath of fresh air is absolutely remarkable. Don't get me wrong, I am still a little nervous and I will miss my family and friends like no other, but I am increasingly convinced that God is leading me to wonderful and exciting places. I pray that I will continue to be open to what God is teaching me as I continue this bubble-bursting, growing up process. I know that the brothers and sisters we encounter in South Africa will have enormous things to share with all of us, and I thank God for this amazing opportunity. The adventure isn't really beginning, it is just continuing. We are being called further up and further in. Away we go!

Emma

One More Sleep!

By Kate 

In my family we count down trips by how many more “sleeps” we have until we leave.  As of today we have one more sleep until we leave for our two week South Africa journey.  I am franticly running around trying to pack and get everything taken care of.  But, in the midst of my hustle and bustle, I find myself day dreaming of what will manifest over the course of our two week class abroad.  I try to picture the unknown faces of people I will encounter.  What stories will I hear?  What images will I not be able to shake from my memory?  What smells will I smell?  And what tastes will I taste.  There are so many unknown and for this reason I am beyond excited and am eagerly anticipatory of the adventures that are on the horizon. 

Sitting on the brink of adventure, I am flooded with prayers and thoughts about this impending journey.  As a seminary student seeking ordination after graduation, I am aware of the potential impact this adventure has on my future ministry experiences.  I pray for an open mind and a clairvoyant awareness.   May relationships be developed between myself and the South Africans I get the pleasure to meet.   As well as a deepening of the already established relationships I have with fellow classmates.  Additionally I pray for safety though out this adventure.  I am thankful for the opportunities that sit in front of us.  And selfishly I am extremely thankful for the summer weather that South Africa is currently experiencing. 

I invite all of you who read this blog, to follow along with us as we share our experiences and daily happenings.  I hope our pictures and stories help to give you a glimpse into the rich beauty of the country of South Africa.  I cannot wait!

-- Kate --

Getting Ready

by Todd

I can't believe that the trip is almost here. For so long it has seemed like this trip was so far away. I am really excited, and a little nervous! I am most excited to get to meet the youth pastor and interview the teenager. I am really curious to see whether the young people believe that reconciliation has happened or continues to happen. I was recently rereading Almost Christian where Kenda talks about youth being a window into the life of the church at large. That really got me excited to know that we will be talking with youth and hopefully learning a lot not just about youth ministry, but about the whole church in South Africa and beyond. I hope that I will be able to take what I learn in South Africa and apply it to not only my work with youth, but to my work with the whole church!

I am most nervous about leaving my family behind. It really hit me at breakfast this morning when I was telling my eldest daughter about all the animals we would see, and then my youngest daughter (20 months) got all excited thinking we were going to the zoo. It made me realize how much I wish I could share these experiences first hand with my family. Unfortunately, pictures and story will have to suffice.

In less than 48 hrs we will be on our way! Can't Wait!

-- Todd --