We serve an amazing GOD who changes plans even at the very last second from something we thought was good to something even better.  Our house has had to deal with some interesting changes over the last month.  My sisters Raelynn and Cassie left to go home to the States due to illnesses and family issues, which has been hard to adjust to not having them around.  Then due to visa trouble we had to change our Lesotho and Spring Break plans.  Spring Break was lots of fun hanging out here in the house with only Chelsea for company.  Friday night I was packed and had talked myself into believing I would enjoy Lesotho, when we had a family meeting.  Our leaders felt the Spirit telling them that we were not supposed to go to Lesotho and through prayer and discussion we all agreed. 

Therefore, I am still here in beautiful Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.  Some of our official internships do not start again until next week since the kids are out of school, so we are taking the opportunity this week to be very intentional with our ministries and spend time with the LORD.  Please help us as we continue to pray for Lesotho and the ministry of Pastor James there.  As part of our not-going-to-Lesotho plans we eating only the food we bought to go to Lesotho with us which are a lot or rice, some vegetables, and a few snacks. 

We started our week with Lesotho in mind by having a Lesotho themed family night on Saturday by wearing the colours of their flag and cutting off the power in the house.  Since we would not have electricity in Lesotho, while we ate dinner and played games by flashlight.  Today we were supposed to go climb a mountain, but due to vehicle problems getting to the mountain, we ended up on the rocks on Cape St. Francis.  Cape St Francis is one of the most beautiful places I have seen since coming to Africa.  We climbed all over the rocks until we each found a spot for some quiet time.  Those who know me know that number one on my dream list is to learn to surf.  I'm not sure why I haven't yet learned since I have lived in one of the top surf spots in the world for the last six months.  It has been cold and windy here the last few days making the waves amazing.  I have seen some of the sickest waves of my life in the last two days.  Today it was cold and windy which made sitting on rocks at the ocean an adventure.  I spent most of my time sitting on a rock leaning against another rock close enough to the water to look at the waves, but far enough away to not get wet.  As I sat there, I read a Psalm aloud that a girl had told me the night before that GOD told her to tell me to read.  When I got to the specific verse she had given me I was hit with the biggest wave I have seen all day soaking all my stuff and me.  I know that GOD wants to bless us.  Not little misty droplets, but huge waves of soaking blessings. 

I am sorry for my horrible grammar at the moment, it is late and we have another attempt at the mountain tomorrow so I must sleep.  Please pray for our team as we go through this week.  On Wednesday, we are holding a 24 hour prayer room.  I have been praying to be effective in ministry for months and though I often feel I am, I want to ask for your help as we spend our last 40 days here in Jeffreys Bay.  I pray that GOD continues to do amazing things here and in us. 

Enkosi,  GB.

    ² Praise him for his acts of power;
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.

    ³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
       praise him with the harp and lyre,

    ⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing,
       praise him with the strings and flute,

    ⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
       praise him with resounding cymbals.

Today was an amazing day. I love Wednesdays anyway, but today was especially good. I go on house visits with Cassie and Amber on Wednesdays. Usually I go see Noma on Wednesdays, but she was not home today so we spent time at Martha's house. To go to Martha's house (pronounced Marta) we have to walk past a large tavern. In October, I heard a story about two girls who walked past a tavern everyday last year and prayed against it. One day they walked past and saw that it closed. I shared this story with Amber and Cassie. We started praying against the tavern aloud every time we passed it. Soon we felt GOD calling us to do more against the tavern. Once, Tag suggested we drive the vans into it or buy it. We feel GOD calling us to take bigger steps against this place as a hazard in the community. Since then, we having been praying for a vision for what GOD wants us to do in regard to it. Today was finally our day. We decided that today we would go into the tavern for anything. For a couple of hours it felt like the devil was doing anything in his power to keep us from going in there including Chris and Christina's car battery literally exploding since Christina was supposed to come with us. We decided that we were going in anyway. We learned that the owner's son runs it and his name is Joel. We talked to him for a few minutes telling him a little about ourselves and learning a little about him. Cassie told him that we wanted to buy his tavern, but he refused to sell it. It was just encouraging for me to finally take steps to a small part of where we feel GOD is leading us in this community.

For those of you who are praying for this, thank you. For those of you reading this message, please join us in prayer for continued vision of HIS plans in this endeavor. We desire prayer partners as we try to walk GOD's path for this place. Thank you.

    I'M BACK!!!  It is so good to be back here in Jeffreys Bay.  While at home for break, I enjoyed talking to people who have been to various parts of Africa mostly for mission work.  At some point in almost all of these conversations, we talked about how much we miss Africa.  Some of these people have not been to Africa in more than twenty years, but it has stayed with them.  All of those I spoke with wished they could go back soon.  A few expressed the sentiment of wishing they could go back "home" with me.  I have heard Africa referred to the motherland, but I never thought that concept could apply to me.  Over break, I enjoyed my time, minus a few bumps in the road, but I couldn't figure out why I felt anxious to get back here.  After the super long, boring, uncomfortable flight to return to South Africa, I finally felt at peace.  I realised that I can't feel comfortable in America right now because I have nothing holding me there.  I love my family, friends, and church family, but due to modern technology, I can still keep in contact with them from here.  But I can only be here now.  GOD brought me to this place to be here with HIM and HIS people now, today.  The reason America is not home is that is not where I am supposed to be right now.  I love the people here and I have a family I live with and support me.  I miss all of my family and friends in America, but I wish for them to know that I am called here and GOD is doing amazing things in me. 

I serve an amazing GOD! I love how HE reaches us across time and space to wherever we are for HIS use. I have been home for only a few days and I miss Jeffreys Bay already. The week before I left, I was very ready to be at home in America surrounded by family, friends and my favourite foods. As I was saying goodbye to people in the community, I did not want to leave. I visit a woman named Noma as often as possible. She is a special and beautiful woman who I am so thankful GOD put her in my life. Noma tries to teach me Xhosa on our visits and I try to encourage her as much as possible. A few weeks ago, our team was talking about the foundations of Christianity, one foundation being faith and stepping out boldly in that faith. As I was praying about what having bold faith means and looks like in my life, I heard GOD say that HE wanted me to pray more boldly for Noma. I asked GOD if would heal Noma from her AIDS if I prayed for it and HE said that's not for me to know. As I walked to Noma's house that day with Cassie, I told her what I had heard. We both became excited when she replied that she had heard the same thing. That day we prayed differently for Noma and though she was a little surprised it totally changed how she accepted us into her life. She has become more open with us and often shares how GOD is moving in her life. She also can't wait for us to pray with her before we leave each time we visit her.

Noma's name is etched forever on my heart. She has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. The fact Noma has AIDS breaks my heart. She is a tall, beautiful African woman, but due to AIDS Noma has a hard time gaining weight so she is sadly skinny. I think about her often and love to talk about her (if you can't tell by this post) so it wasn't that surprising to wake up a couple of days ago thinking about her. The odd thing was not being able to stop thinking about her. I spent my day wandering around the mall near my parents' house and running various errands. I couldn't stop praying for her. I kept asking GOD to look after her and for healing for her. I guess this was GOD's way of reaching me across all of the miles because I received a message from Jenny today that Noma is in the hospital. HE is such an amazing GOD. Who else could make me feel enjoy my time in America by keeping me connected to people that hold my heart halfway around the world.

Sorry this has to be quick.  I have learned so much in the last month I have had a hard time trying to pick what to blog about.  Our team leaves for debrief in 12 hours, where we will talk about everything from the last 3 months.  After debrief we have just a few days before we will be back in the States on the 15th!  I will blog about more then.  I can't wait to see so many of you.  If you would like to join me for a Dr Pepper I would love to share what GOD is doing here with me.  Thanks for all of your support and prayers.  GOD bless. 

If anyone can tell me how I know the name Ben Messner from before this last week, I would love to hear it. 

:)