a donkey???

Welcome to Cape Town! After many many hours on an airplane, four movies, some sleep, and lots of reused air, we arrived in Cape Town at 9:00 pm Cape Town time, or 3:00 pm Birmingham time. The flight was overall painless, no problems with baggage, seats, or people (Thank you Lord for that!) and we had hardly no waiting to do at any of our arrivals. Melanie picked us up along with Kendra and Allysha. As soon as I saw Melanie I cried.. shocker :)

We had our first South African snack at Mugg & Bean-- in Melanie's words, "The closest you'll ever get to Panera". Lemon poppyseed muffin and sprite welcomed us to Cape Town. We took the Living Hope van back to the Team House--which is nicer than a hotel. It's beautiful here. The city is huge (Kendra estimated it's roughly the size of Chicago if that gives you a better idea). And the mountain view even at night was breathtaking. All the lights.. I can't wait for the morning view!

Tomorrow will be a tour of Cape Town and some sort of orientation to give us a better understanding of the area and what we'll be doing while we are here. I love it already and I've only been here a few hours :) God has already be so faithful in bringing us here safely and I know this month is about to bring so many surprises and adventures. Thank you for everyone's prayers and love and support!

last American weekend for a while.

we leave the day after tomorrow...... that is soon.
today my mom took the day off and we got to spend the day just getting everything I could ever need for the next month in Africa, and a few extra prizes for Melanie too.


I spent most of the night packing... sort of... with a few distractions here and there. BUT: I think I am completely packed! This is very impressive for me, because I think in my history of life trips, I have never once been packed OVER 24 hours in advance. must be growing up or something... or maybe it's just because I've never had to pack to be away so long without a Walmart nearby. either way... My suitcase, carry on AND purse are packed. 


Now it's just the last minute things to worry about, but hopefully those will be minimal and tomorrow can be a good day.


I'm going to try and put some general updates on here while we're gone, but the best way to reach me is probably email: Rachael894@gmail.com


thank you to any and everyone for all the prayers, encouragement and support that has come with this trip. I know God has some pretty awesome things in store!

preparation

How many times must I be reminded to let go?

That letting go is not giving up... not quitting... not losing hope.

Letting go is about relinquishing control over something you really can't take care of on your own.

Surrender.

Giving up your ideas for the better one He has.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. ²⁶What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

-Matthew 16:24-27

tiger fever

Today was the beginning of the SEC Tournament that Hoover hosts each year. Little interesting fact about me: I LOVE baseball. Favorite sport, even more than football. Especially LSU baseball. Which me and dad went to watch tonight. There was surprisingly a really great LSU crowd, and we beat Florida 10-6 for the first game. 

Second little interesting fact: If you stick around after the game, you can meet the players. This is not the interesting fact.. the fact is that I am a huge fan of Mikie Mahtook, our right fielder. Well, Mikie and me got a photo op tonight ;)

Geaux Tigers :)


We play again tomorrow at 8:00 against the winner of the Vandy vs. Arkansas game tonight. If you'd like to meet Mikie too, I'm sure he'll be available tomorrow night....

Five days and counting...

Sunday is almost here, which means Africa is closer than ever.


Things I'm anxious about:
1. The 24 hour flight... that's a long time sitting in the air!
2. The jet lag to come from a 7 hour time difference.
3. The work I still am not quite sure that I'll be doing... But I'm still excited to see how God can use me wherever the staff at Living Hope needs me.
4. Being in another country for a month, it's the longest trip I've ever been on. Wow!


Prayer could be used for:
1. The community in Capricorn where I'll be working. The kids are on holiday break which is so convenient for opportunities to invest in their lives.
2. For the Holiday Programs that Living Hope will be putting on. Since the kids are out of school this could be an incredible opportunity to involve those kids that may not come during the regular time of year.
3. The people I come in contact with and get to have conversation with. I'm just praying that the Lord would go ahead and soften the hearts of the people in Capricorn, before I even arrive. I cannot wait to see how the Lord works in not only my life, but the lives of the people I meet. I cannot wait to be a part of what God is already doing there!

home again home again...

I finished up with school, packed my car to the brim.. literally there was NO more room... and drove home on Tuesday. Yesterday Ethan turned TWENTY and we celebrated with a night of prizes and strawberry cake. I leave for Africa in TEN DAYS. It's so crazy how soon I will be in a completely different environment, a new way of life, for 30 days.


I think I'm most looking forward to this trip for two reasons: one, because I have not had the chance to do any sort of missions in college. Shades is so mission minded that it's almost easy and comfortable to be going somewhere. I'm grateful that I've had to use my time in Jackson to find ways to minister where I am, but I must admit I've missed the missions focus that I was so used to at home. The other reason is because I've had South Africa on my heart for almost two years now, and I just know God is going to use this trip to do some incredible things. I was telling a woman my mom works with about my trip and I think she described exactly what I've been thinking: she said, "This will be one of those times in your life where from now on you'll say 'My life before Africa' and 'My life after Africa'". I think that God has got some big plans in store for this trip. Not because it's Africa, or because of me.. Just because I've already seen God at work in every detail, every aspect of the planning and I trust that will continue even beyond July 2nd.


I can't wait! But for now, I am LOVING being home again. It's such a nice change to go from the fast pace, busy all the time mentality of school then just to be home, have familiarity, family, friends, and just love where I am. Life is great.

formal fun & friday

Formal 2010 meant Ethan, dancing to ANDY DAVIS, and plenty of time locked away in the bathroom while the tornadoes came through. It was kind of a crazy weekend but such a fun memory. 

My hot date for the evening

Andy Davis playing at formal

Our first generational formal

Lauren Conrad came to formal too...

This past week was one where things feel so busy but at the end you don't feel like you got much accomplished. This weekend is just time to rest and be lazy. Tomorrow's the 5K for Make-A-Wish so we can grant a wish for a child. Just hoping the rain stays away and 7:45 doesn't come too soon...

crazy life..

You know that the end of the semester is near when you go from feeling like it will never end, to feeling panicked that you can get everything in before it's over. The switch has happened and in less than three weeks I will be half way finished with college.


The other exciting part of this means I am even closer to going to South Africa. In 27 short days I will spend 24 hours on an airplane, 32 days in Cape Town, and then 24 more hours to return to Atlanta. How crazy is that! I am so anxious to see all the ways the Lord is going to prepare my heart, work in my life, and use me through my time in South Africa. I know that there is so much in store for me to learn, ways to grow up and things to be challenged by. God is a big God so I won't even predict what He has in store but rather just take it one day at a time until I come back. 


Life here is about to get crazy! The Social Work department.. and Union in general.. loves to give all tests and paper deadlines on the same two days in life. Which makes for an interesting end of the semester. So life should be kinda crazy the next two weeks! And then finals.. and we're through! Praise HIM.