Life has changed quite a bit since the last time I’ve written, time for an update!
At the beginning of last month my pastor here moved me to Bellville, a suburb about thirty minutes away. It’s still technically Cape Town (the city HUGE, the size of the entire peninsula) and is a bigger urban center than Athlone, where I’ve been living. Haven’t gotten a chance to explore much quite yet, but I have discovered the fantastic chicken place down the street which is enough for now. He has asked me to volunteer now for the Bellville Lutheran Youth Center to help with their program development. It’s fun work that I love doing, I get to organize community outreach, help plan events, and help develop the internal workings of the organization to make it more efficient.
Moving is never easy, and it was very sad leaving my family behind. In some ways it felt like starting all over again because it took a couple weeks before figuring out how to get around without getting lost. I am staying at the center’s youth hostel which is currently being used as student housing. In some ways it feels like being back in college but having people to hang out with all the time has been fun.
A few days a week I also go in to a women’s center nearby to volunteer. They’re a really neat organization and work to empower women in many ways, but primarily economically. Many skills-based and business classes are offered along with educational outreach about parenting and domestic violence. They also host afterschool programs for girls in the local community. The ladies are a feisty, dedicated bunch and it’s been fun spending time with them and hearing their stories.
Throughout all of the big changes I’ve been trying to focus on an outlook of gratitude rather than being overwhelmed by circumstances. Yes, I’m in a new place, starting over, and away from the families I’ve come to love but at the same time I’ve gained an opportunity to learn and connect with a new place. I’m grateful so far for the new friendships, opportunity to witness life at the women’s center, and to walk with the Bellville community for a little while.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed with life when things go out of our control, but living in gratitude reminds us just how fortunate we are no matter our circumstances. It’s a lesson I’m still learning and with grace trying to walk in more each day.
And while I’m sharing in gratitude, let me take a moment to say thank you to each of you following this blog. Thank you for listening, for your support, and for being part of the bigger story spreading God’s love in the world. Sometimes just simply listening is the biggest gift we can give.
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