Swing batter batter, SWING!!

That's right! I am getting into a full swing here in Cape Town! This week at the Warehouse has been crazy! I have been here in a meeting and here in another one and then turning around and it is time to go to Manenberg or time for a session with my girls or I am writing up reports.. You name it! It's been crazy but I do have to say that it is better than just sitting here with nothing to do. God has been doing great things in Manenberg and it's so great to see! We are seeing girls desiring to change their lifestyles from drug addictions and gangs to relationships with God and better parenting. It's really cool to see because there is no other explanation but God!  My goal each week as far as my clients go will be to meet with 2 different girls once a week for about an hour. It's not a lot of time but other engagements and requirement for school take up alot of time. So most likely I will be meeting with them on Tuesday and Friday and also co-leading a girls group on Tuesday evenings. So, if you could be praying specifically for those days, it would be great!! I have begun to realize that 3 months is really a very short amount of time to be here and really be able to do anything. Therefore, God has given me a clear picture that more than anything, these girls just need to be loved and cared for. That is my plan! Pray that God would allow his love to pour out of me. These girls have never had someone just sit and listen to them talk. They have never had any consistency in their lives. They have never seen what a healthy relationship looks like. They have never had the luxury of being loved and told that they are beautiful just the way they are. Here in Manenberg, females are seen as objects. They are taken advantage of. They are expected to do whatever they are told. Even from their parents- they see no love and compassion. It is heart-breaking to know this but at the same time, how GREAT it is to know that God has given me the opportunity to show these girls that life is not supposed to be this way. That there is a God that loves them no matter what and that they have a purpose- and it's not to just sell drugs and give sex- but it is much more glorious and much more abundant! Pray for these girls! Pray for restoration and redemption in their lives. Many of them have never see love in the way that it is supposed to be. They see love and giving whatever is asked- they see love as giving themselves away- they see love as smoking drugs with their parents- they have never seen love in any other format- it is time that that chain is broken and GOD's LOVE is shown! We MUST stand up for the sake of the Kingdom and stand up against Satan and his lies! WE MUST!!! Pray that these girls feel more loved than they can even imagine! Pray that they understand the power of God's love and the abundance of it! It's never ending!! It's satisfying! I was talking to a girl the other day and she said, "Drugs are only satisfying for just a moment and then you are down in the dumps again, so you have to smoke again to get any pleasure at all."- it's just a cycle for them. Pray that God would reveal to them that His love NEVER FAILS!!!

Ok Ok! I know this post is really random and full of all kinds of stuff but there ya go! You see my heart!

"...if you pour youself out for the hungry..."

Isaiah 58:10-11
     "...if you poor youself out for the hungry and satisy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisy your desire in scorched places and makr your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

What an incredible promise we have from the Lord! If we pour ouselves out for those who are afflicted and oppressed, at-risk, hurting, desperate and tired- HE will bless you!

Last night I attended my first group meeting with the girls from Manenberg. I had the blessing of seeing the fruit of those who have gone before me and poured out everything that have into these girls. I was able to see the light rising amongst the darkness of this township. 2 of the girls who have been active in this group for a while have recently given their hearts to the Lord and have remained clean from crystal meth and heroin for several months now. I saw joy on their faces like I have never seen before as we talked about their past week and what had been going on! It was a beautiful thing!  My prayer and I ask yo to join me is that these two girls would be lights in the midst of the darkness there. Pray with me that the Lord would be so evident and the transformation in these girls lives would spread like wild fire! Pray that the friends of these two girls would understand the change and desire to experience it as well! I will be working closely with one of these girls and another one who is addicted to crystal meth. Pray for wisdom, love, compassion, and boldness!

I also ask that you would pray for our one-on-one times with these girls! I will be meeting with both of these girls individually once a week! Pray that the Lord would give me clarity about what to teach them and what they need! Alot of the stuff I will be working with them about will be related to life skills, the way they see themselves, the way others see them, and how God sees us and desires for us to see ourselves! Pray for easy communication and that they would be willing to be honest! 

We had a very good introduction these girls but I am sure when it comes down to the personal deep things, it will be much more difficult for them to share, so pray that a quick trust will be established and that it will be a time where they feel safe to share anything they need to share and that I will be reminded what God says to us in John about giving us the words to say in that hour! Pray that I will know when to speak and when to just listen!

Thank you all again for your encouraging words and prayers!! Let's continue to ask the Lord to move amongst us! Ask God to speak to your heart today! May you be blessed by being obedient and serving the Lord in the way He desires for you!

Abide in me, and I in you...

God has already began to work here in Cape Town!! It’s such a blessing to be surrounded by amazing people who love the Lord and believe that He is at work! We were given some info about the girls that Michele and I would be working with over the next several weeks! Can I just say that these girls are in some tough places in life! Girls struggling from the affects of rape, abuse, neglect, drugs, alcohol, poverty.. You name it! These girls have very little support of anything positive. Many of them seek out support and the only place to find it for them is gangs! Our girls have been in gangs, dated guys who were in gangs, have parents who have gang participation. As we sat and learned of some of the details of these girls, my heart began to break! I can’t imagine living a life, everyday not knowing what will happen. Will I get beaten today? Will I get raped? It’s sad! These girls are to the point that this is life and they say these things do not phase them! My heart breaks for them! I ask that you began to pray for them! Pray that God would use us for His kingdom! I was thinking in prayer meeting the other day, “God what do I have to offer them?” What can I do for them? He quickly reminded me that I have nothing to offer them of myself! If I go in my strength, I have nothing!! There is no way that I can help them, but IN HIM is when I have something to offer!  Jesus says in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus goes on to say later than when we abide in Him, ask whatever we wish and it will be done for you. God has so reminded me through this whole chapter that when I am abiding in Him that nothing is too big! He can take the biggest of all and simply do what He wants with it! Pray that God would use me in these girls’ lives! Pray that I would be open to His spirit and that He would lead me in the way of His desire!  I have nothing to offer these girls but the gift of restoration and reconciliation through one and only Redeemer, Jesus Christ!

I also ask you to pray that I would consistently be filling myself with God’s word and spirit! Pray that I would not get distracted or lazy! Pray for strength and courage as I begin to work with them!

On Monday or Tuesday, I will be meeting this girls for the first time! Pray that hearts would be open and receptive! Pray that we would have good and easy connections with these girls! That they would be open to meeting us! Pray for excitement! Pray that they would know we are there because we love them, not to acknowledge, once again, that they are in hard places in life, but that they would be excited for what we may bring to them.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!

So long for now from the broken city that God wants to restore!!

Getting there....

It's been a great couple of days here at the Warehouse! Lots and lots of new information and training! We have had many hours of cross-culture training over the last two days! It's so much to take in and process but it's such good information! Pray that I, along with my the others, that we would be able to process and truly apply all the good knowledge that is being poured into us! This staff here has been incredible! They have poured their knowledge and wisdom into us! I am so bless to be in the midst of about 20-25 people who absolutely love the Lord and his commands! Their desire and passion to see the local church become the body of Christ that they should be is so encouraging!! Each and everyone of them have a specific purpose here and they see to it that it is done in a way that honors the Lord! It's such a blessing to be able to serve with and along side of these wonderful people!! It has been a great day today! We have learned alot about the history of Cape Town and South Africa itself! Praise God that some of what was lost has begun to be restored and reconciled! Continue to pray for the people of South Africa and the restoration of their hearts with those of different colors!

Marvelous works of our Loving Lord!!

               The "Lion's Head" of Table Mountain- and yes, we are driving on the left hand side of the road!  :)

                                                                             Beautiful beach that was took a walk on before dinner! This is the Atlantic Ocean- which was ice cold!!

I'm in South Africa

I made it!! It was quite a long trip, but I have arrived!  :) We have had a couple days of just trying to adjust. We are getting there. It's all new and we feel soo unprepared, but asking God for a smooth transition. Thanks for all the prayers and ask that you continue! I will update more later.

Prayer Requests

TOMORROW!!!! is the big day!!!

I can't really explain all the emotions at the moment! I am soo excited but the reality is finally hitting me that I am about to leave the country and all my friends and family for 3 months!  I am more than excited for the opportunity that God has set before me!! Thank you all for your support and encouragement and I pray that you will continue them! 

I do have a few specific things I would love to have your prayers for:
1.) Me, Michelle, Sarah & Erin- names of the 4 going
2.) Safe and uneventful travel for the 4 of us going-  Pensacola>ATL>Amsterdam>Cape Town (Sunday)
3.) My family & friends back home
4.) Easy recovery from jetlag
5.) Our first week of orientation- that we will become easily aware of how things work and adjust quickly
6.) Unity amongst pairs of roomates for the 3 months
7.) Personally, I see potential for the first 2-3 weeks being tough and not having the availiablity to talk to people back home when things are tough. Pray that I would find peace and comfort in my 3 amazing friends going with me, that I would share my heart and be open with them.
8.) That God would use me in remarkable ways!! For HIS glory ALONE!

Thank you again to all who have encouraged and are excited for me!! I love you all!!
Tasha