On to Outreach!

I can't believe it's already been three months. Three months away from home, three months in Australia, three months living in this new family. The time seems so short, but looking back, I see how enriched my time has been and so when I look forward to the next two months in South Africa, it seems like an eternity.

This transition is bitter-sweet. The other two outreach teams have already left, and the house is terribly empty. The April DTS school started today, we are moved out of our rooms and no longer have responsibilities in the kitchen. It's a time for change-- needed, anticipated and slightly reluctant change. Our goodbye's to the Fiji and Iraq team was emotional, even though we'll see each other again in June. I guess we've all grown so accustomed to being just the next bunk or room over whenever we needed each other. We are best friends and family, we fight and love each other, but most of all we've been here to watch and experience this time in each other's lives of significant growth and discovery. I had to fight back tears when I hugged my close friend and fellow kitchenworker, Kim, goodbye. Kim will not return after outreach, for she will be flying home to walk in her high school graduation. She has been one of the most important people in my life during this season, and now I don't know when--if ever-- I will see her again. But I know she, like I, will be great. :) Greatness is upon the shoulders of those who will accept it.

My heart is on the verge of breaking. I think it's been at this tipping point for a long time, and I have a feeling that some experience in South Africa will finally push me over the edge. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for my heart to be softened.

A note for my prayer warriors back home!
1.) I love you heaps! I know I am protected, encouraged and energized because of your prayers. The thought of what could have, or could NOT have happened without your prayers scare me-- so keep going! If there's one thing I've learned here, it's the importance and power of intercession; I am blessed to have you fighting on my behalf daily.

So here are some prayer requests~
- health and safety
- safe, unstressful travels from location to location
- that God's favor and hand rests on us, and we are constantly used by the Holy Spirit to do the unimaginable!
- Every member of my team wears a bracelet with 6 beads on it, each representing something we will pray into for our team and time in S.A. daily. These are:
- Persistance
- The children in the vineyard schools in SA
- UNITY
- Healings/miracles
- Compassion
- Love/ seeing through God's eyes
- Also pray that God will speak to me, and CONFIRM some of my thoughts and feelings about what I should do next fall after I return home from DTS. Outreach is an awesome time to discovery the next step in my journey.