SUCCESS!

A Taste of Africa was most definitely a success! Tehe.

Thanks to a group of incredible friends who helped me cook, the night included pap and chakalaka, curry and roti, melktert, roobios, and milo.

The night also included me sharing about how I got interested in Africa, my trip there senior year, how I ended up back there, and a tad about my time there.

About 30 people showed up, which was sweet! I had about 10 people sign up indicating that they were interested in the trip, and a few others who said they were interested but couldn't make it to the event.

After my little speel, a couple who were both born in Africa can up to me and were incredibly encouraging. They thanking me for spreading awareness and for following God's call to go. Wow! It was the exact encouragement that I needed to hear.

God is good. All the time. :)

A Taste of Africa

A Taste of Africa

When: September 28, 2009 at 7PM

Where: Gainey Conference Center

Who: YOU

What: A fun time to enjoy some authentic African cuisine, hear a beautiful testimony of an amazing CU woman who spent a semester in Africa, and learn how you can be involved in an upcoming trip to Africa this May.

Questions? Contact Sharon Stevens at Sharon_E_Stevens@cornstone.edu

Life in the States

Sawubona!

It's been a while, and my brain is fried due to homework overload, so pardon the randomness of this post as well it's shortness.

Stateside life is strange. I've been here almost three months here and am still not used to it (which is strange as I was only in SA for 6 months). As a friend of mine says, nothing has changed but everything has changed because my perspective has changed. I wish I could explain it, but there's just not words. Tehe. It's an adjustment.

Though I'm far from my SA family and babies, they are always close at heart and constantly on my mind. And my life is still consumed by SA stuff. Tehe.

A week from Monday will be our first meeting for the South Africa team from Cornerstone. Yeah excitement! Tehe. I'm going to be sharing a bit about my time in SA over this past few months, hopefully sharing some delicious SA food, tell our vision for the May trip, and hopefully start making a team. Oh I'm baie excited!

In other somewhat SA news, Cynergy USA is officially registered! Yeah do the dance of joy! Tehe. Just call me Miss (vice) president. Just kidding. It's super exciting though and I cannot wait for the program to get up and running.

In just three weeks, I shall be reunited with my long lost roomie, Laura (which is ironic as my current roomie is also Laura. Tehe. Oh I love them both!). I can't wait! It's crazy how close you get to people once you spend every single moment of your life with them for a few months. Tehe.

Cynergy is striving and thriving! God is so good! Since the time I've left, they've grown into a team of 10! Plus NexGen is running full force, adding dozens of volunteers. They've completely revamped their house, turning it into a training station. I'm told my noonies are excelling on their assessments, which brings joy to my heart. I'm so proud of them!

Cynergize your school supplies is still going (fairly) strong. We've already collected quite a few boxes of school stuff to bring over in May. :-) If you have any school supplies (see previous post for items needed, items can be old or new) that you'd be willing to donate, please contact me and let me know. You could change a life!

Unrelated to SA, a few weeks ago I was offered a leadership position at my school known as a "sherpa". CU offers a program to incoming students called Terra Firma, which means firm foundation in Latin. The program is incredible! Basically, it teaches how Christ is our firm foundation and everything we do (our character, the community we're a part of, and the culture that we impact) comes back to Him. The teaching is solid. My role in the program is to lead a group of 13 incoming students throughout the week and a half class/camp, then join them in a service project each week. Typically this position is filled by sophomore, but God is amazing and put me in the role. Long story short, I asked to host a missionary family and in turn was asked to be a sherpa. Initially, I said no, came up with a hundred reasons why I couldn't, and God defeated every one of them. My group is absolutely incredible! Constantly I'm suprised and encouraged by them. Constantly they reaffirm that this is the role that I'm supposed to be in.

Praise the LORD!:
~For His mercy, favor, and grace
~That Cynergy USA is up and running
~For incredible friends
~For my Terra Firma group
~For His patience with me
~For the incredible opportunities that He's given me
~For each new day
~For education
~For a full belly and a warm home
~For wisdom
~For sunshine

Please pray:
~As I continue to adjust to statelife. I really didn't expect it to be this difficult. Like I said, nothing's changed but everything has. It's hard to explain.
~For balance in my time. I'm struggling to fulfill all of my responsibilities
~That I learn to hunger and thirst after Him with all of my heart
~That He continues to shower me with His mercy, favor, and grace
~That He continues to bless Cynergy and provides all that they need. Pray particularly that God blesses them with finances. Pray for His protection over their program and all that it touches. Pray for favor with the NexGen program
~For my kiddos. Pray that God overwhelms them with His love and truth. Pray that He gives them minds like sponges that they may grow into who He's created them to be. Pray that they discover their God-given potential that they may reach their God-given destiny.
~That God leads and guides me for His name sake. Pray that He makes his plan for my life clear, that He directs my every step.
~Pray for wisdom
~For the Klaasen family as they adjust to having so many people in their house. Pray particularly for their children as they're struggling with this adjustment. Pray that Nikki and Reagan have wisdom in this situation.