As I’ve said, I arrived in Cape Town without much of a clue of what I will be doing. God knows what He is doing and has provided for me to stay with the best family possible for figuring out where I can work to gain more experience working to support families as well as orphans and vulnerable children.

I knew that I would be working with a social care project run from Khanyisa that works with orphans and vulnerable children, doing support groups, discipleship and home visiting, but it turns out that won’t really fill all of my time, and as for my placement time I need to be doing full time work, at least for those 6 weeks. So Jo (the mum of the family I am staying with) in her wisdom has suggested volunteering with an Anglican project called ‘The Warehouse’ that runs many schemes working vulnerable people and the poor, one of which is similar to the social care project at Khanyisa but just bigger. There are apparently loads of volunteers there as the warehouse works with a lot of the local churches. I think it is really close to where I am staying too. So we are going to go and check that out next week and see about the possibilities of doing some work there, sort of splitting my time between the 2. That is really exciting, and it will also be great in helping me get to know more people and maybe building links for the future.
I have been here for around a week now, and haven’t really done much. I went to church on Sunday which was really great. It is amazing how even worshipping in a foreign language and not having much of an idea what you are singing (apart from knowing it is glorifying God!) doesn’t stop God from really moving...SO encouraging!
And on Tuesday I went to a staff meeting, just really to do introductions to all the people on the church team. There seems to be so much running out of the church into the community, it is really encouraging, and has spurred me on to see similar things in Leeds!
Other than that I have been slogging away at all the essays I have yet to finish (4 in total!!) but I have nearly finished 2 of them. So this spare time has been a real provision from God, which I keep reminding myself when I begin to feel frustrated that I haven’t really ‘done anything’ since I have been here....the essays are a bit of a priority I’m thankful for the time to do them!!

a little mistake that could have had MASSIVE consequenses!

Well I have finally made it to Cape Town...it was touch and go for a while!
It was a mistake on my part really. Forgetting to get a visa sorted before you fly is never a great plan!haha!

I was in Dubai checking into my flight to CT when the man at the desk said "where is your visa?...your tickets for 4 months and you are only allowed 3 upon entry! You may well be deported upon your arrival." Oh! OOPS!!! then he gets up and walks somewhere and is gone for 5 mins, which felt like about 5 hours to me, who was standing there with a horrible fear creeping over me...thinking I have come this far...this CAN'T be happening! then he comes back and says I might be OK, if not I will have to either pay to change my ticket at border control or fly home!! So then I had 3hours in the departure lounge and a 9hour flight to worry about it! Thankfully God is a God of peace, so regardless of the outcome I could trust in him and that is was got me through those scary 12 hours! that and alot of wine on the flight!haha!!
But at border control,knees trembling, trying not to look suspicious with my stomach doing flips I got through no hassles!

I know it was my mistake, but God in His unlimited graciousness heard my pleas and rescued me from a potentially very sticky and expensive situation. If anything it has confirmed to me that this IS where I am supposed to be for the next little while.
This whole trip seems like it has been mapped out for me by God and that He has made the way since before I even thought of coming out here this year!

I have no idea what to expect in this time. To be honest that's a little unnerving and I feel a little overwhelmed. BUT, I can just cling to the knowledge that God has planned the exact times and places where we should live and at this time this is the place He wants me. And that my friends is VERY exciting and extremely comforting. SO I will run with perseverance the path marked out for me knowing that even if I can't see more than one step in front of me, He has marked out my path and if I lean on HIM than He will guide me!