To Africa!

Here we go! We made it to Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa!! We left Gainsville, Georgia Tuesday, September 12 and after three full days of back to back travel and lots of layovers we arrived. Let me tell you, I got to see God’s hands at work so much even through the chaos. On our longest flight, JFK New York Airport to the UAE Abu Dabi International Airport, we flew almost 13 hours and I got a little God wink as my seat was right next to a strongly devoted Jewish man my age. He had lots to say! I ate up every minute of it, there was so much about the Jewish faith that I never knew. Above all the spirit reminded me that the goal wasn’t to change him, it was to make him feel heard. Then, near the end of the flight my heart filled with joy as he told me that he was intrigued to learn more about Christianity. He wanted to learn more about the trinity. He didn’t quite understand how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was all one, but he was touched to see how much I wanted to hear from him, that it opened his mind to learn more about our faith. That was the Holy Spirit doing a work in not just his heart but mine. The spirit told me, “remember, be slow to speak and quick to listen!” As someone who is very extroverted and loves leading conversations I was humbled and so thankful that the Holy Spirit had me hold my tongue.

Throughout the trip, we continued to get tested. We had arrived to Johannasburg South Africa and according to the airport that was our final destination. Half of our team no longer had a plane ticket to get to our last flight as somehow during training camp half the tickets were canceled. As we prayed that the Lord would make a way, the team returned with new tickets for a different flight about an hour after the rest of ours. We were bummed that that would push back our whole schedule, but we accommodated. Another issue that we had thought was resolved was that one of the girls on the team received a ticket that was under the wrong name. It was under the name of a guy who had ended up dropping out of the World Race yet his ticket had remained. Well, once we arrived from Johannasburg to Port Elizabeth we found out that the girl’s luggage didn’t make it onto the flight since it was apparently still under the same name. Thank the Lord that we still had half the team at the Johannasburg airport to get the luggage onto their flight, allowing her luggage to arrive with the rest of the team.

The traveling was messy as expected, but we powered through it as a team, but the joy of the Lord kept my spirits high and unphased from the trials around me. Then, once we all arrived to the house, we were pleasantly surprised with dinner and memory foam beds! After sleeping on the ground for 10 days and two nights on a plane, the beds were the cherry on top to arriving. God didn’t have to provide us with such nice beds and such a spacious house, but He cares so much about us. He has taken care of us and I know He will continue to do so.

God Bless!

Anastacia