Have I been asleep?

Have I been asleep?

Its about time… yes… its about time that I give an update and a little news flash. I feel the news has not adequately expressed what’s happening in South Africa and I have as well had full intension to catch you up on my life here over seas… the things that I am over whelmed with, the situations I am daily faced with… and because of these things I have put off blogging and communication in general. Not knowing how to start does not give me permission not to start at all… It’s a crappy reason to not stay in touch so I want to thank those of you that have not given up on me and, at this very moment are reading with a smile from cheek to cheek because you feel a joy just knowing that I am alive and kicking.

I titled this blog “have I been asleep” and that is not in regards to lack of blogging for the last four months… but more to do with the way my heart has come alive over the last month like never before. I am studying the prophets and just finished Hosea this last week. I had never read Hosea to be perfectly honest until this SBS and I have found the faithful love of the Lord resounding throughout its pages. Some of you might remember a cretin book series that I was “for lack of a better word” obsessed over before SBS and yes just days before I left I was absorbed. Well I read the second book again and the revelation of GOD’s love for us poured off the pages with new intensity then ever before. I feel like a lovesick teenage girl who can’t get enough of her high school sweetheart… but for me its Jesus. In Hosea, the Israelites “God’s chosen people” are described as a whoring people who prostitute themselves to other god’s and religions… selling themselves to the highest bidder. They deserve judgment and yet they receive God’s mercy and grace. There are consequences to their sin but that is subdued by the intensity of the Fathers love. God steadfast love, His pursuit to his people as a jealous lover who deserves a prater/ a nation that is loyal and true to his every breath, but he loves her… he loves Israel and where He could have anyone, he chooses her with all of her flaws and imperfections.
I am awake and I don’t know how long I have been asleep…

I went to coffee today with some friends from the base who have moved out working and are working as journalist in South Africa for the next two months. This little coffee spot has organic muffins (chocolate or banana) and really great coffee. They have inspired me to get back to my blog and continue to update/ journal what has been happening… they have a blog on blogspot as well and I encourage you guy to give it a peek. They really are amazing friends and have a lot to share! And yes I happen to me mentioned in some of their hair brain stories… the blog is called “thanks a double latte. Blogspot.com”.

Stuff happening in South Africa and prayer points…

2010 Soccer World Cup is coming to South Africa for those of you who have been living under a rock or those who just don’t have any interest in soccer… the estimated amount of human trafficking that will take place during the games is staggering... something like 100,00 women and children will be trafficked and that alone is beyond disturbing. So the focus on bringing awareness has been ampted up to new levels in hopes that this information will bring ignorance to a responsive light.

Zimbabwe is slowly seeing improvements within day to day living… this information was given straight from a classmate who’s family has to make a trip to the border of South Africa form Zim every month to stock up food… there is HOPE…

The South African elections take place on Wednesday! Please pray!

Thank you to those who have asked what they can pray for in regards to my life here in SA…

I am praying about finances at the moment… I still owe about 2000 Rand for school fees that are due at the end of this month which comes out to just over 200 USD. So if you would please pray for the Lords provision… it would be greatly appreciated… God has provided so much for me to be here that I know he will provide this as well, but it would mean the world to me to know that I had friends and family praying for me as well.


Side note the pictures are of some friend and I out doing a little wine tasting on a our week off right before Easter break... it was a lot of fun... hanging with two German's who had never been wine tasting, a Zimbabwean who was a pro... and yes my Aussie girlly who got the short straw and played designated driver for the girls trip out...

LOVE you all! and there is many more stories to update you with so this will not be the Last time you hear from me.

Christmas and New Year!

Hi... there stranger!

so I am back and in action. I am very sorry that I have not been able to keep you updated over the last three weeks due to the Internet at the school being inoperable. Yesterday was my first day back to school and they do not waist anytime swarming us with work. I am studying two books at the moment... Psalms and Revelations. 

Break was great but a little overwhelming. I moved off base and down the street to my friend Mish's place. there were four of us in the house and so it became the communal location. The door was always open to friends and fellow students. We must have had at least one person staying on the couch every night. I did enough baking in those two weeks to last me a lifetime. Thank you mom for the foam gingerbread house we were inspired to make a real one. It was not as cool as the one Tricia, Leah and I made a few years back but for my first attempt I believe it turned out quite nice. We had a Christmas movie marathon a couple days before the 25th and strung popcorn for the tree... Everyone that entered the house was required to cut out a snowflake which we proceeded to hang from the doorways, arches, and ceiling of the house. (Tricia I thought of you and at Len's, "good times... good times")

Before the break we had a picnic/good bye party with the class at a local park. They say that the most common time for YWAMers to get hurt occurs on their days off... well it was definitely a day to remember... Everything started off great... I made an apple dish for dinner for that night, but had to start preparing it about 6ish in the morning because of the picnic that was planed for the rest of the day (as you all know I love to over book myself... thinking I am superwomen and can do it all) anyway this was a day like that. I had so many blisters on my hands from pealing over 200 apples that I couldn't flex the joints of my fingers. It was extremal funny being a finger cripple the whole day. We got to the beach and ate a wonderful meal that the staff had prepared. There is a game that Tricia, Whits and I play while we are waiting in line at Disneyland to pass the time. We have one person take pictures of the other two, but as whoever is about to take the picture they shout out an action or person that the other two must imitate, it becomes quite entertaining for us and those is watching in line. Well, while I was at the park I mentioned this game to some friends. Micky is taking the pictures, Steven "from England" is on the left and Jeher "from Canada" is on the right. Micky yells out "your pregnant" for one of the shots and then "you have just won a million dollars" for the other shot. I had no idea what she said on the "you won a million dollar's shot", but it still looks funny. The park has a dam reservoir in a perfect location within the park and the weather was great so most of us brought our bathing suits to take a swim. A group of guys jumped in after lunch while some of us girls tanned by the edge of the water. When the guys were getting out Jeremiah stepped on something sharp "which we later find out, must have been an old bottle or can", the water was so cold, he did not realize how bad he was hurt. The picture above is of the nurse stitching his left two toes back on. They were almost severed completely off. 

On the way to walking to the car to then get Jeremiah to the hospital we watched two of our students and one of our staff racing each other "oh boy's" across the reservoir. The three of them were going hard out as fast as they could and in the process one of the boy's started to panic and go under. As he was screaming for help "which no one took serious at first, thinking he was joking" one of the other guys racing realized just in time and swam over to help. Henzel was in panic mode and was taking Steven under with him. I have to say that things like this happen so quickly but it truly felt like a life time while watching it. Steven was eventually able to get Henzel to float on his back while James "the staff" pulled him to shore.  

We just had enough cars to get everyone to the picnic location so the car going to the hospital need to be full. Myself, my roommate Micky, Derrik, Micheal "the leader", and Jeremiah loaded into the car and sped off to the hospital. The first location we went to was not able to treat him because the cut was so deep, so we headed off to the second location "an emergency hospital" where we waited to see a doctor for over four hours. IT WAS CRAZY in there... that's all i am going to say about that. There were some other things that transpired that day that I will have to tell you when I get back home because I am still trying to process all of it... but good news is that everyone is alive and kicking. Needless to say I was ready for a little R & R. 

The Break was really nice and I am emptied to get back to work. I will write again before the start of

next week to tell you all about Cape Point and this first week of second semester!

I love and miss all of you,

Lauren-Jean

P.S.

-Thank you mom for my great Christmas gifts I used all of it and was able to share with many more!

-Thank you Dad and Carolyn for my great backpack any many goodies inside it all went to great use!

-Leah you are an angel... Thanx much and I cant wait to read the books!

-My Mandy... I was so sad that I would not be able to see you this Christmas :0( but you were in my thoughts

and prayers through out the holiday as always.. anytime I used anything that had a NZ logo on it I thought of you!

-To all that have said they have sent something and it has not arrived yet... I thank you in advance... and

apologize for the crappy slow mail system they have here!

I know it is late but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!