I have been in South Africa for the last 6 weeks.... and today I leave for the long, extensive, border-controlling journey to Zambia. It will take 3 days. It's like driving across the states from Atlanta to Las Vegas, except there are cities on the freeway. There are mostly only villages here. (If you can even call some of what you see a village, maybe a lone hut.) It is truly Africa. I will be travelling with Coen, Suria, their daughters, and Anita, a German girl who works for OM. It should be a good drive with lots of reading time and maybe even a herd of elephants or something. There is one thing that I have learned about life in order to make the future better... and that is reflection. As I leave places, parts of life, or even events I consider what could have been better, what was learned, and how I would do things differently in the future so I thought I would share a few of those with you...
1. God made it very clear to me that teaching at Mack in Las Vegas is where He wants me now. There is no need to "worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow has enough worries of its' own." This past year of teaching brought a lot of new things in me and a lot of those things I didn't like but I learned so much. There were so many kids who drove me crazy but I had some huge, defining moments and huge strides that I have not seen for the last 4 years. I'm excited to jump into this next year. With that comes graduations from my first year of students and a new class that has never been taught before but God has chosen me for this (sometimes I wonder why) and I think the new year will bring about more hope than I could ever imagine.
2. Life is not to be lived alone. After living by myself for the last year, I really began to wonder if I could even function living with other people because I have in some ways become entirely selfish. Thank the Lord that He knows me so much better than I know myself. He allowed me to travel to Kimberley and experience real community and a new sense of belonging and he has allowed me to live with very Godly, wise people over the last 6 weeks who have challenged my thoughts and passions and have encouraged me that Godliness is worth striving for. Esmarie, who has been my roommate, has showed me time and time again that life is about giving and thinking of others. She consistently puts others before herself and Jesus shines through her in every moment of it. Anneretha, who I met a couple of summers ago, has just reminded me that it is okay to go through tough times, as well as question what God is doing in my life. He wants to tell me but sometimes I have to ask and listen. AND even though I am so introverted, it's ridiculous, I need people to be around and others to live life with.
3. Give, give and give some more. Week after week, on garbage pickup day, I saw Coen and Suria's family running around in order to give to someone who just needed some food and was digging through their "rubbish" in the front. It wasn't like it was second thought. It was bottom line. That's just what you do and I love that. There are also so many "beggars" here who stand at traffic lights... Esmarie kept snacks in her car to give them so she didn't have to think about whether she had money or not, or whether she should give that or not. It's just what you do. I want to be more like that.
4. Crossing the Jordan. I think I have mentioned this before because I have thought so much about it. Coen gives the picture of particular young people who God gives the opportunity to cross the Jordan River with Him and so many stand at the edge peering in. How I long to be a person who crosses, trusting Jesus at every moment.
May you think of what you have learned and change things in your life so that you reflect Godliness, wisdom, and humility. That's what I've seen here. That's what I want.
"Attraversiamo"-- let's cross over. -Melissa
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Dreams and Plans.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have spent quite a bit of time thinking and dreaming about what I would like to see happen within my lifetime. I think that God has been sovereign in giving me things to process and things to think about at the same time. I have found myself dreaming about what my dreams are... maybe it's the malaria medicine. :) Who knows? Anywho, there are so many dreams and desires I have for life and more than anything, I so desire to make God the center of it all and really more than that, that he would be the center of me so that every decision I make is what He wants for me. I'm not worried or stressed about this... I just want him to be at the center of it all. Psalm 119:37 says, "Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways." (Holman Standard)... another version or paraphrase I've read says, "Turn me away from wanting anything but you." ....sigh.... anything but you.... anything. That is my prayer, as I pursue dreams, desires, wants and loves for my life.
May Christ be the center of You. May He be seen and pursued by You... Him above all else. Just a thought. ;)
-Melis
May Christ be the center of You. May He be seen and pursued by You... Him above all else. Just a thought. ;)
-Melis
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
To Belong...
Maybe my next few blogs will be titled "To (something)" because I just feel like it! For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis, you know well that I enjoy lists maybe too much... I had almost forgotten (I know you're wondering how I could forget!) and then I journaled the other day and I was so excited to make a list about what was going on in my life... I know that I'm completely OCD and out of control, two of my favorite characteristics about myself (if I can say that without being arrogant). I'm also maybe too okay with both of those things... however, I'll carry on with my blog, for your sake of course :)
This past weekend, I traveled to Kimberley, South Africa to visit Wagener and Jane and just hang out with them for the weekend. I had no idea I would meet so many other wonderful people as well! I'll give you a very brief history of how I know he two of them! I met Wagener three years ago in Zambia at the pastor's conference (the first time I came to Africa and before I realized how much my heart would love it!)... he was at the conference again last summer and so we have just kept in touch since. Jane and Wagener are co-workers and are both architects. Wagener's dad had written a Bible study that we began in the fall having kind of a cross-cultural/cross-planet cell group (online) and Jane was also a part of it (as well as Vanessa--aka my BFF in Vegas) so we just talked quite a bit and I hadn't actually met Jane until this past weekend, but she is completely wonderful and it was great to spend time with her.
I took a 7 hour bus trip to Kimberley, which ended up being more like 9, but either way... it was late. Thank you African transportation for that. When I got to Kimberley, I felt like I had been ran over by the bus as well, but that is beside the point. Wagener and Jane picked me up at the stop and took me back to the house to have some tea (if you are American, you have no idea how valuable this time is to them... and I'm being completely serious) and then we went to Jane's house for dinner with her family. I met her parents, both of her brothers, enjoyed a fabulous dinner, and had some great conversation with her family. I really felt like they had invited a close friend over... it was so great and her family was more than kind. On Saturday, we went to see "The Big Hole," the main tourist attraction of Kimberley. It began as a diamond mining town and so the big hole is the place where they literally made a giant hole (completely by hand) to search for diamonds. It was pretty cool, I have to admit... I was impressed with the enormity of this thing! Crazy! Frances, one of their friends, also joined us and we just took some fun pictures and chatted... what a complete sweetheart she was as well! We had lunch, talked, looked through the mall and just had a relaxing afternoon, which was really nice! Later that night, Wagener hosted a braii (South African barbeque or cookout) and had some friends over to play games and eat dinner. Sunday was full of meeting more of their friends and also seeing some of the places where they do minstry there in Kimberley. It was so good for me to meet these people earlier in the weekend and then see them in action in the things they love... they fed a group of homeless guys breakfast and coffee and shared the gospel and then I also got to see a church that has begun (mostly for kids) in an "informal settlement" right outside of Kimberley. They also have some initiatives and dreams and visions that have not started yet but they are all dreams simply because they trust Jesus and I just loved that!
All of that to say this.... to belong in a place and to feel that you belong is incredibly important. There were very, very few moments this past weekend when I felt out of place (and it was normally because I overanalyzed something or I was being ridiculous!). Otherwise, it was like I was a friend that they had known for a while and cared about. I think that this group of people represents an incredible picture of the church and of what community is about. Whether I was from Kimberley, or even from South Africa for that matter, seemed to make no difference to any of these people... it was the fact that we all had one thing in common... Jesus being the center of our lives and what we do. At the core of every conversation, every tea break, everything was Jesus. It didn't mean that they stood at the corner and preached a message everywhere or wore Jesus t-shirts... they just live out what they believe and they do it together, in a place where people can belong.
My question for myself was... where do I live this out? or rather, do I live this out at all? If people joined in with my group of friends, would they see that? Do people see that community in your life? This past weekend had some big moments for me and they were all centered around what God wants for me... that is the very best. I pray that you find your place "to belong" and may you be completely surrounded with people that love you and more importantly love Jesus with their entire being! Have a great week! -Melis
This past weekend, I traveled to Kimberley, South Africa to visit Wagener and Jane and just hang out with them for the weekend. I had no idea I would meet so many other wonderful people as well! I'll give you a very brief history of how I know he two of them! I met Wagener three years ago in Zambia at the pastor's conference (the first time I came to Africa and before I realized how much my heart would love it!)... he was at the conference again last summer and so we have just kept in touch since. Jane and Wagener are co-workers and are both architects. Wagener's dad had written a Bible study that we began in the fall having kind of a cross-cultural/cross-planet cell group (online) and Jane was also a part of it (as well as Vanessa--aka my BFF in Vegas) so we just talked quite a bit and I hadn't actually met Jane until this past weekend, but she is completely wonderful and it was great to spend time with her.
I took a 7 hour bus trip to Kimberley, which ended up being more like 9, but either way... it was late. Thank you African transportation for that. When I got to Kimberley, I felt like I had been ran over by the bus as well, but that is beside the point. Wagener and Jane picked me up at the stop and took me back to the house to have some tea (if you are American, you have no idea how valuable this time is to them... and I'm being completely serious) and then we went to Jane's house for dinner with her family. I met her parents, both of her brothers, enjoyed a fabulous dinner, and had some great conversation with her family. I really felt like they had invited a close friend over... it was so great and her family was more than kind. On Saturday, we went to see "The Big Hole," the main tourist attraction of Kimberley. It began as a diamond mining town and so the big hole is the place where they literally made a giant hole (completely by hand) to search for diamonds. It was pretty cool, I have to admit... I was impressed with the enormity of this thing! Crazy! Frances, one of their friends, also joined us and we just took some fun pictures and chatted... what a complete sweetheart she was as well! We had lunch, talked, looked through the mall and just had a relaxing afternoon, which was really nice! Later that night, Wagener hosted a braii (South African barbeque or cookout) and had some friends over to play games and eat dinner. Sunday was full of meeting more of their friends and also seeing some of the places where they do minstry there in Kimberley. It was so good for me to meet these people earlier in the weekend and then see them in action in the things they love... they fed a group of homeless guys breakfast and coffee and shared the gospel and then I also got to see a church that has begun (mostly for kids) in an "informal settlement" right outside of Kimberley. They also have some initiatives and dreams and visions that have not started yet but they are all dreams simply because they trust Jesus and I just loved that!
All of that to say this.... to belong in a place and to feel that you belong is incredibly important. There were very, very few moments this past weekend when I felt out of place (and it was normally because I overanalyzed something or I was being ridiculous!). Otherwise, it was like I was a friend that they had known for a while and cared about. I think that this group of people represents an incredible picture of the church and of what community is about. Whether I was from Kimberley, or even from South Africa for that matter, seemed to make no difference to any of these people... it was the fact that we all had one thing in common... Jesus being the center of our lives and what we do. At the core of every conversation, every tea break, everything was Jesus. It didn't mean that they stood at the corner and preached a message everywhere or wore Jesus t-shirts... they just live out what they believe and they do it together, in a place where people can belong.
My question for myself was... where do I live this out? or rather, do I live this out at all? If people joined in with my group of friends, would they see that? Do people see that community in your life? This past weekend had some big moments for me and they were all centered around what God wants for me... that is the very best. I pray that you find your place "to belong" and may you be completely surrounded with people that love you and more importantly love Jesus with their entire being! Have a great week! -Melis
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Confident?
"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." -Proverbs 3:25-26
Last night, I was tired and then I wasn't tired... I felt amazing, I felt horrible... it was just one of those things that just happens to me often. I am pretty easy-going (most of the time) and am not usually high maintenance (again, most of the time)... or maybe I say "most of the time" because I know who I am in front of people and how easy it is to pretend to be someone else that I'm actually not. (That was just a sidenote.) Anyways... when I have moments like this... I think a little too much about EVERYTHING. As in... I overanalyze EVERYTHING... so I was thinking about what I'm doing this weekend and what I know and what I don't know and I just think it to pieces... oh yeah... and I forgot to mention that Bank of America decided to deactivate my debit card.. that made me freak out a little... and I could go on and on of things that I overthink but I won't bore you to death (maybe just partially). So I'm laying there, freezing FYI, its a million below zero here at night, or it feels like it.... thinking and thinking and God just said to me, "How about you act a little more ridiculous and overdramatic?" And then, I thought, "Thanks for the invitation! At least I know we're on the same page! :) " (That smiley face is there to indicate that I smiled at God when I thought that, just so you know.) But really, I just told myself... stop being so crazy and actually open your Bible and read there.... a much better place to start than typing smiley faces at God, right?
I'm reading through the Old Testament and am just beginning 2 Kings and am continually shocked at the things that happened to people in the Old Testament... boys are walking down the road, they mock and make fun of a prophet and he calls down a curse and bears come out of the forest and maul them... really? Just catches you a little off guard, even if you've read it before! So that obviously made me pray against wild animals and their attacks but it didn't really speak to the matter of my heart... except it did remind me that God is so in control of all things! What a wild story to remind me of that, right? I have had Psalm 67 on my heart this week so I read that and 66 as well... that's good stuff and then just kept feeling like I needed to read Proverbs 4... I know that I need to guard my heart and I just need to read it again to remind myself. I read that and then went backwards (I know that absolutely makes no sense... but then again, a lot of my thought processes don't.). I read Proverbs 3 and just stopped at the verses that I've printed above. God will be confidence? My security? My protector and shield? That's the promise I read there! I am insecure, sometimes so much so, that I am literally falling apart at the seams and I have hope! God will be my confidence! I don't have to worry about all of these small things because God loves the details of my life and is in control. I don't have to worry about the big things because God is taking care of and loving all the people on the planet and He still takes time to speak clearly to me! This was good news... a God of hope, love, and peace. I needed that. Maybe you need that?
May you rest in the fact that God is so in control... He loves the small and big things in your life... and He loves you enough to be your confidence and security. May you sleep well in that, may you walk well in that, and really, may you love well in that. Praying for the way that God is speaking to you!
"Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them. They'll keep your soul alive and well... No need to panic over life's alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound." -Proverbs 3:21, 25-26 (The Message paraphrase)
Confident that He is it! -Melis
Last night, I was tired and then I wasn't tired... I felt amazing, I felt horrible... it was just one of those things that just happens to me often. I am pretty easy-going (most of the time) and am not usually high maintenance (again, most of the time)... or maybe I say "most of the time" because I know who I am in front of people and how easy it is to pretend to be someone else that I'm actually not. (That was just a sidenote.) Anyways... when I have moments like this... I think a little too much about EVERYTHING. As in... I overanalyze EVERYTHING... so I was thinking about what I'm doing this weekend and what I know and what I don't know and I just think it to pieces... oh yeah... and I forgot to mention that Bank of America decided to deactivate my debit card.. that made me freak out a little... and I could go on and on of things that I overthink but I won't bore you to death (maybe just partially). So I'm laying there, freezing FYI, its a million below zero here at night, or it feels like it.... thinking and thinking and God just said to me, "How about you act a little more ridiculous and overdramatic?" And then, I thought, "Thanks for the invitation! At least I know we're on the same page! :) " (That smiley face is there to indicate that I smiled at God when I thought that, just so you know.) But really, I just told myself... stop being so crazy and actually open your Bible and read there.... a much better place to start than typing smiley faces at God, right?
I'm reading through the Old Testament and am just beginning 2 Kings and am continually shocked at the things that happened to people in the Old Testament... boys are walking down the road, they mock and make fun of a prophet and he calls down a curse and bears come out of the forest and maul them... really? Just catches you a little off guard, even if you've read it before! So that obviously made me pray against wild animals and their attacks but it didn't really speak to the matter of my heart... except it did remind me that God is so in control of all things! What a wild story to remind me of that, right? I have had Psalm 67 on my heart this week so I read that and 66 as well... that's good stuff and then just kept feeling like I needed to read Proverbs 4... I know that I need to guard my heart and I just need to read it again to remind myself. I read that and then went backwards (I know that absolutely makes no sense... but then again, a lot of my thought processes don't.). I read Proverbs 3 and just stopped at the verses that I've printed above. God will be confidence? My security? My protector and shield? That's the promise I read there! I am insecure, sometimes so much so, that I am literally falling apart at the seams and I have hope! God will be my confidence! I don't have to worry about all of these small things because God loves the details of my life and is in control. I don't have to worry about the big things because God is taking care of and loving all the people on the planet and He still takes time to speak clearly to me! This was good news... a God of hope, love, and peace. I needed that. Maybe you need that?
May you rest in the fact that God is so in control... He loves the small and big things in your life... and He loves you enough to be your confidence and security. May you sleep well in that, may you walk well in that, and really, may you love well in that. Praying for the way that God is speaking to you!
"Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them. They'll keep your soul alive and well... No need to panic over life's alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound." -Proverbs 3:21, 25-26 (The Message paraphrase)
Confident that He is it! -Melis
Friday, July 1, 2011
To Being Domestic... (and maintaining my American identity at the same time)
(apologies for the long title... I just became a little crazy with it)
Today, I had the simple pleasure of going to the mall all by myself. I went to the grocery store with Suria to get some groceries and then she graciously took them back to the flat and dropped me off at the mall. I have to admit that at first I was like oh great, crazy American girl by herself in another country and then, of course, I came to my senses and realized that it was fine... I'm in South Africa for Heaven's sake, not the middle of a desert where there's a random mall being guarded by people wearing little clothing and holding guns. I'm fine... right in the middle of quite Western civilization in Pretoria. So anyways... I went to the mall, hoping to find a few small pieces of clothing to realize that when things are made in their own country and are not imported, they do cost a bit more and I just thought about my $4 shirts on clearance at Old Navy or Target and I couldn't even talk myself into buying a $32 jacket (this is awful, I know-- because most of my clothes are imported and I'm just hoping that there is some secret fair trade law that the people that made my cheap clothing really do make fair wages and work decent hours a day).
I went into several stores and mindlessly converted rand into US dollars and thought about how much I would spend... clothes just seemed expensive here. Needless to say, I didn't buy any. I bought food. Unfortunately, they don't have all of these easy, frozen meals that I normally buy for $2 in the states so I have to actually make things while I'm here if I have any hope of eating anything besides cereal, fruit, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. (I'm talking about supper/dinner here... Suria cooks lunch and I eat with them which is SO fantastic.) I would like to say I'm becoming domestic. My friend, Wagener, who lives here in South Africa was telling me the other day that I am a "modern woman" because I don't cook very much and I'm not usually that great at it! I just eat ready-made meals and cereal... it's kind of ridiculous I know. So all that to say that Suria told me about this place at the end of the mall that is a large fruit and vegetable store... she didn't tell me how many other things they had! She also didn't tell me that the name of the place is "Food Lover's Market." Umm...hello. She has no idea how much I love food. If you look at this place from the inside of the mall, you think that it is only a fruit and vegetable store until you start to look for the cash register... then you have to walk through flowers, wines, the bakery, a gelato place, a market fresh lunch place, sushi trays, and so much more... I was a little overwhelmed to say the least! They had giant cookies... thank you Jesus and all these cupcakes and yes, I do plan on going back there! Oh yeah... I did buy some fruits and vegetables so that I can actually cook in the next couple of weeks. Ha. Forgot to mention that... and THEY were super cheap which I'm a fan of. And I bought two cookies that I'm savoring every bite of, even though they're a little hard.... and I bought a coke (thank you for sugar and caffeine that is not tea or coffee).... and last, but not least, I ended my rendevous of a morning by once again, remembering my American identity and stopping at Seattle's Best Coffee (I thought it was weird too) and having an iced chai. Yes, and amen.
And that my friends, is what I call an American domestic at her best :) Have a good day! -Melis
Today, I had the simple pleasure of going to the mall all by myself. I went to the grocery store with Suria to get some groceries and then she graciously took them back to the flat and dropped me off at the mall. I have to admit that at first I was like oh great, crazy American girl by herself in another country and then, of course, I came to my senses and realized that it was fine... I'm in South Africa for Heaven's sake, not the middle of a desert where there's a random mall being guarded by people wearing little clothing and holding guns. I'm fine... right in the middle of quite Western civilization in Pretoria. So anyways... I went to the mall, hoping to find a few small pieces of clothing to realize that when things are made in their own country and are not imported, they do cost a bit more and I just thought about my $4 shirts on clearance at Old Navy or Target and I couldn't even talk myself into buying a $32 jacket (this is awful, I know-- because most of my clothes are imported and I'm just hoping that there is some secret fair trade law that the people that made my cheap clothing really do make fair wages and work decent hours a day).
I went into several stores and mindlessly converted rand into US dollars and thought about how much I would spend... clothes just seemed expensive here. Needless to say, I didn't buy any. I bought food. Unfortunately, they don't have all of these easy, frozen meals that I normally buy for $2 in the states so I have to actually make things while I'm here if I have any hope of eating anything besides cereal, fruit, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. (I'm talking about supper/dinner here... Suria cooks lunch and I eat with them which is SO fantastic.) I would like to say I'm becoming domestic. My friend, Wagener, who lives here in South Africa was telling me the other day that I am a "modern woman" because I don't cook very much and I'm not usually that great at it! I just eat ready-made meals and cereal... it's kind of ridiculous I know. So all that to say that Suria told me about this place at the end of the mall that is a large fruit and vegetable store... she didn't tell me how many other things they had! She also didn't tell me that the name of the place is "Food Lover's Market." Umm...hello. She has no idea how much I love food. If you look at this place from the inside of the mall, you think that it is only a fruit and vegetable store until you start to look for the cash register... then you have to walk through flowers, wines, the bakery, a gelato place, a market fresh lunch place, sushi trays, and so much more... I was a little overwhelmed to say the least! They had giant cookies... thank you Jesus and all these cupcakes and yes, I do plan on going back there! Oh yeah... I did buy some fruits and vegetables so that I can actually cook in the next couple of weeks. Ha. Forgot to mention that... and THEY were super cheap which I'm a fan of. And I bought two cookies that I'm savoring every bite of, even though they're a little hard.... and I bought a coke (thank you for sugar and caffeine that is not tea or coffee).... and last, but not least, I ended my rendevous of a morning by once again, remembering my American identity and stopping at Seattle's Best Coffee (I thought it was weird too) and having an iced chai. Yes, and amen.
And that my friends, is what I call an American domestic at her best :) Have a good day! -Melis
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