Sarah Goodpasture First Year Missionary -

Lesotho and other things

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Lessons Learned

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One of the things GOD has been teaching me here in Africa is how to dance for HIS name. I have never danced well, but I enjoy it. I'm very self-conscious about my dancing, but when you are dancing for the LORD you have to get over that, especially when they call you out in church to dance in front of everyone. There is a boy at Ithemba who I love to watch dance. On Sunday mornings he copies everything that the adults do and adds his own flavour. When I watch him dance I have to praise GOD. Why is it that kids understand better than adults what it looks like to praise GOD? David knew how to praise GOD with dancing and singing and whatever good things he could come up with. So just dance. Pray with movement. Let go of your comforts and praise the LORD with all of you. HE deserves nothing less.

Psalm 150
¹ Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

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.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Outreach and other stuff

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This blog message is supposed to be about us leaving for Lesotho tomorrow, but due to some difficulties out of our hands our trip had to be postponed. Praise GOD our problem was fixed, but the new schedule still stands. For Easter we are going to Alice, South Africa. The former pastor of the church I attend here moved to Alice in January to pastor a church there. We are going to spend Easter with Pastor Gundo and his church in Alice. We leave Saturday, March 22nd and return Monday, March 24th. We are not sure exactly what we will be doing there other than celebrating the resurrection of our LORD. In every church I have been in in Africa the people dance as a form of worship. I am looking forward to dancing in celebration this Easter.

Tavern Update

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Please keep praying for the tavern!!!

Yesterday Amber and Jenny walked into the tavern to visit with Joel and his mother was there. She asked Amber if she still wanted to buy it. Amber replied yes. The owner named a high price then lowered it when Amber did not respond. She then invited Amber into her home to speak about it. She shared with Amber that she does not like all the drunkenness and violence that occurs in her establishment and wants to see it change. She desires for it to be a store where she can sell clothes or purses or something like that. So once again we are back to praying for vision for the tavern.

I serve an amazing GOD. HE never fails me and HE always shows HIS presence to me when I start to think HE is so far away. Last week Cassie asked Joel to stop smoking and he swore to Amber that he has including symptoms that go with withdrawal. I just love how GOD is working in the lives of people. HE is working in my life as well. What an awesome GOD.

Bambelela

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have been reading Revelation 7:9-12 a lot lately in thinking about all the people from all the nations I am around every day and how amazing worshiping our GOD is. In church Sunday morning this became a beautiful reality for me. I attend a church called Ithemba which means "hope". It is a Xhosa speaking church, but most of the service is in English. The worship leader is from Zimbabwe. On Sunday there was a guest guitarist from Argentina. I know a woman who attends who is from Swaziland. My friends and I make up the American portion. So many languages and cultures in one place all worshipping GOD together. Sunday morning I was so overwhelmed by this all I could do was praise GOD from the back of the church while singing and dancing to HIS rhythm in my life.

There is a song I learned when I came to South Africa called Bambelela. It is simply translated "hold on". I have learned this song in four languages and sung it in two countries, not counting when I had it stuck in my head when I was in America for the holidays. We sang this song in worship Sunday morning and I heard GOD tell me to hold on. Around the world in all things hold on to HIM for comfort and peace and everything I need.

Xhosa: Bambelela, bambelela, bambelela, bambelela ... Jesu bambelela ...

English: Hold on to Jesus, hold on to Jesus...

Afrikaans: Hou vas aan Jesus, hou vas aan Jesus...

Tavern Prayers

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Noma Update

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I just wanted to add a quick note about Noma since people are asking about her. She is very well. She has gained eight kilograms and looks more beautiful than ever. She runs multiple businesses out of her house whether selling frozen juice on a hot day, cut fish or discarded bottles for money to support her family and an extra sewing machine for her husband since they both enjoy sewing. When I visit her we read scripture and she talks about the hope she has in her from GOD. Encouraging her to share this love and hope with others is an enjoyable task. Thank you for all of your prayers for my friend.

Good to be home

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

The GOD of all nations

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Before Packing

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Happy Birthday to me!

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Thursday was my 25th birthday. I've been struggling with turning 25 since my best friend turned 25 over the summer. I even grief-journaled the loss of my childhood and early 20s while at training camp. (If you don't know about grief-journaling, just ask and I will try to explain it some day.) So my team (a.k.a. my J-Bay family) has known about this fear of thinking of myself as old since the first week. This past week was especially hard in realising that the days were not going to slow and I would have to be 25 sooner than I would like. I was never sure how to answer when people would ask me if I were excited about my birthday because the truth was, I wasn't. However, their excitement helped me start to be okay with my ancient age. Because I didn't want my birthday to occur this year I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so I was comforted when I found out that they were planning a surprise for me.

As I was falling asleep the night before my birthday, GOD and I had a conversation that went a little like this:

Me- GOD I don't want to be 25 tomorrow

GOD- How old do you want to be?

Me- I don't really know, just not 25

GOD- You have a choice. You can be 25 or you can not be in Africa tomorrow.

Me- I choose Africa.

My birthday turned out fabulous. It wasn't anything too out of the ordinary. I did my usual Thursday ministry, which included moving lots of dirt. The cooking team made very tasty lasagna for dinner. Friends from town came over to hang out. Marco brought me a koeksuster and milk tart. After dark we stopped for coffee, then went down to Super Tubes beach and watched the stars and waves. I love that I can see Orion here in Africa and in the States. I learned that phosphorous in the water makes the waves look like they contain a green light at night. My team wrote me birthday messages on paper stars that are now taped to the wall above my bed. I feel so blessed to have spent this birthday with friends that have become family in this country that I love. I miss home often, but I know GOD brought me here for a reason. I have never seen HIS love and promises more clearly and that is the best birthday gift I have ever had.

Sharing Culture

Tue, 6 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday night our family had a Falloween Festival at our house. This concept was quite fun to play with since they do not celebrate Halloween in South Africa and it is not Fall here it is Spring. We invited friends from around town telling them to wear a costume when they come. We learned another lesson through this, in South Africa a costume is a bathingsuit. Through all of our faux-pas the party was a success. I had the opportunity to share with people here why we dress up for Halloween (or at least why we think we do). Some new friends shared with me occasions for which they would dress up. Most of what surprises me here is the similarities in people. Kids and young people are the same all over the world minus small cultural differences. Our friends here were game to dive into games like bobbing for apples, egg toss, and Chubby Bunny, which they had never played before. My favourite costume was worn by my friend Schalk. He dressed as an old lady with walker and knitting bag to complete the ensemble. Who knew ministry could be so much fun!

Africa!!!

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I'm sorry this is super short, but I just wanted to say I am in Africa!!!! GOD is moving in amazing ways here and I am super excited to find out what else HE wants to share. I spent 3 days this week working at Refilwe moving dirt to make bricks or build terraces. I am excited about the ministry they do there and glad I could be a part of it for a few days. We head to Swaziland tomorrow. Tonight we host teenagers at Alabanza to share with them about identity in Christ. GB.

with friends

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The past few weeks have been very stressful on me. In all the exciting thoughts of adventuring on a mission trip I neglected to realise all of the things you have to do in preparation, specifically all the things requiring money. Ive been working as a nanny for the last year making less than I should be with my experience and education, and much less than I could in an office job. While I love my job and have learned more than I thought possible, the monetary benefits barely keep me afloat in everyday living. This has made it hard to pay out of pocket for the necessary trip things like insurance, passport, shots, and surprisingly paper, envelopes, and stamps to send out support letters, etc. While I know I will be reimbursed once my funding is in, most places want their payment before rendering services. Paying for the future without right now cash isnt easy.

Through all of this I have learned that I shouldnt keep things to myself. There is a Swedish proverb you all know that says, shared joy is double joy and shared sorrow is half sorrow. (I thought it was in the Bible, but I cant find it right now so if anyone knows it please let me know.) Once I started talking about all the trouble I was having things seemed to get a little better. My mom asked me what GOD told me to do to get all of my stuff taken care when he called me into this. My only answer was that HE said it would be taken care of and I trust that. Two weeks ago I was starting to think that trusting fully on GOD was not worth it because it was too hard. Now I realise that HIS burden is light because it is meant to be shared. I had forgotten how many people are out there praying for me, which has given me wings the last few months. My Tallahassee family and my family at Temple Terrace United Methodist Church are doubling my joy and smashing my sorrow to smithereens.

Last Sunday at church we had a hymn sing. I have attended 5th Sunday hymn sings my whole life, but this one was different. At one point a man sitting in front of me got up and walked out. The next time I saw him he had grabbed the hands of some friends and they were all standing with held, raised hands at the front of the sanctuary facing the cross. This prompted many of us to grasp hands and raise them up to HIM in unison. This is my reminder that not only is GOD holding my hand in this walk, but HE has placed friends beside me to help too.

Thanks to each of you. GB.

perspective

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

My favourite song of the moment is Forever and Ever, etc by David Crowder Band. I know that it is my favourite because I have heard it over 25 times in the last two weeks and I am not tired of it yet. Mostly from the kids I take care of playing the music video repeatedly. Since the older kids play it so often, Brenden (he's two) has the song memorized. Playing with his toys or walking down the street, he sang this song all day. Mostly he would sing the line "never gonna go". If I started singing other parts of the song he would join me and keep repeating those. It hit me how cool it is to spend your whole day praising GOD with a song so simple and so powerful. Brenden may not know what he's singing, but I do and the lines he chose made me think. GOD will never let me go. HIS love is so incredible that sometimes it takes a happy two-year-old to remind us of the simplicity of HIM. Today I praise GOD that I can worship HIM through song. Also, I thank HIM for reminding me to have the faith and live with the simplicity of children. You can find the link to the video and song lyrics below.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CNFuEngQCWA

Love so incredible to know
It's never gonna go
Never gonna go

Love too impossible and true
For anyone but You
For anyone but You

I think I'm on the brink of something large
Maybe like the breaking of a dawn
Or maybe like a match being lit
Or the sinking of a ship
Letting go gives a better grip

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be
I am Yours

Love so indelible to know
You're never gonna go
You're never gonna go

Love too unthinkable and true
For anyone but You
For anyone but You

Maybe like a match being lit
Or the sinking of a ship
Letting go gives a better grip

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be

I am Yours forever...

Forever and ever and ever and ever
And ever and ever and ever and ever... (repeat)

fearful excitement

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Training camp is 3 months (92 days) from today. I am too excited and terrified for words. So much to do. There is not much room left on my dry erase board that has my packing and to do lists on it.

I'm having trouble believing that I will get the money raised. I'm also having trouble being assertive in asking for help. My mom told me tonight that she was at a party where many people said they were planning to donate soon, so I feel better. This is one of the few times I am grateful for having pushy parents. GOD continues to bless me moment to moment. I've felt the devil try to dissuade me lately, so I started reading "Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, which always makes me rethink the Enemy's hold on me. Simply the Mighty One has amazing plans set for me I just need to be patient.

summer trials

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Does anyone have any ideas what to do with three kids during the day this summer for very little cost? The kids are a 12 year old boy, a 9 (almost 10) year old girl, and a 2 year old boy. I'm running out of things I can do with all three. Playing games with the older ones is great, except the 2 year old doesn't understand. Learning games are great to keep the older ones in shape for school. The older two don't want to spend all their time playing kiddie games and watching Barney with their baby brother. It's been 2 weeks, and we are doing okay, but it's going to be a long summer unless something changes.

I've been trying to update my blog more often. I get all these great ideas during the day while at work with the kids where I don't have time to write even ideas down. By the time I get home I've forgotten everything. So hopefully I'll have more to say soon. I pray everyone is wonderfully fabulous. GB.

How'd I get here?

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I guess the best way to start off my first blog is by answering the question "how'd I get here?" While I have had many opportunities to write blogs I have never wanted to because I have a hard time deciding on an audience when I write so I just write for myself and to GOD. This sometimes makes my writing more personal than I want to place on the internet, but that is about to change with this posting. I am starting to realise that this trip is not about me it's about GOD and what a few people in a generation backed by the prayers and finances of all generations can do in this world. So I'm jumping in

In February, I attended a Fusion conference with Right Now. Part of what this organization does is encourage young adults to step out of ourselves and reach the world any way we can. I started feeling called to do something different with my life. Mission work has never been something I ever thought I would do. I am perfectly happy doing what little I can to influence the young lives I work with professionally and at church. But that was the point right? For almost two years I have been planning to go to New Zealand this next year with no real plans on how that was going to work. GOD had other plans by leading me to AIM and Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa. I like to say I have a passion for GOD and compassion for people, but what am I doing to live that. So here I am jumping in.