Blog Post 8

July – September

The world seems to be moving so fast, to think that God keeps time in His hand is beyond my understanding. For what is a day, a week , a month, a year, in light of eternity past. This is something the Lord has been teaching me of late, that is, that time belongs to Him. A concept yet to be understood by man, in all it's complexity, there is but One who understands and knows it so well.

When I get discouraged because I have not managed to accomplish all I had expected to, when my hopes remain dreams because of expectations not yet met, when another unexpected situation has presented it's self and has left me just wanting more. I am reminded again that time is not my own, it's on loan. It is so easy to loose sight of this truth in a world where everything is run by time. We live in a culture where a persons achievements and stature are regarded as valuable and important to the people around us. I find myself tempted to measure my worth by the things I am or am not accomplishing in life rather than finding my worth in Christ. Pray with me, that I might not be deceived by such thinking but rather that I would focus on what is true, what is noble and what is right.

In my last letter I mentioned that I was awaiting my first year final SANC exam results. Praise the Lord, for by His grace, I was able to pass. At the start of this year I asked for prayer regarding support and with a few peoples generosity and help I was able to put down a deposit for second year.Thank you for all your prayers and for all the financial support that has helped me to get this far.

Nedcare Education has also since offered me a gratuity, which is somewhat like a bursary. I am obligated to work back or pay back the tuition fees once my training is completed. This was a very tough decision for me to make and I struggled greatly in accepting the offer, but I made the decision to take the gratuity, trusting that if it is the Lord's will, He will provide the finances for me to be able to pay them back when I need to.

Some updates on events over the past months:

Grace Community Church LA sent a STM team to Grace Sasolburg to minister among us for a week. The team consisted of Steve, Holly, Harry, Kyle, Kathryn, Joyce, Luis and Perla. We hosted a young adults teaching and fellowship day at Grace Sasolburg.The team served us and they ministered to us, they taught the children at the kids Holiday club, and the teenagers at the children’s home, Kyle led the young adults Bible study, Steve preached at the service on Sunday, each member of the team contributed greatly to the ministry here and it was a great joy to share our lives with them. I had the privilege of hosting three of the girls in the house where I am living, a few people in our church were ill at the time and it was really cold, almost the entire team got ill while they were over here. Yet the Lord sustained them as they ministered to us, when their time was up, they travelled down to Durban so that they could continue their ministry at Hillcrest Baptist.

A group of us from Midrand Chapel planned a road trip to Durban so we could attended the Hillcrest Baptist Young Adults camp, it was a great time of teaching and fellowship. It was a very special time of fellowship for me, even though many of us were ill, we were able to be encouraged and edified by our unity in Christ. We had morning devotions, enjoyed the beauty of the creation around us, shared some testemony of what God has done and is still doing in us.

After the holiday break it was time to return to nursing college. I was ill for a while but the Lord strengthened me and I was quickly on the mend. I was able to also attend the Rez2011 conference, where we were taught by Paul Tripp and Rick Holland. It was so good to be reminded again of some very important truths that one so easily forgets.

Who would have imagined that I am nearing the middle of the 2^nd year already. I have eight clinical procedures to do, one CPCA and a SANC mid year paper to write. This means allot of self discipline and hard work from my side. I have also been very slack with getting my Theology subjects completed and the dead line is nearing soon, so please pray that I would not get distracted and that I would finish what I have started.

I am somewhat more settled than I was last year, perhaps I have surrendered to the fact that I am where I am for a reason. Although not knowing that reason, I have peace with the fact that I don't really have a home. Living in two towns and attending two churches is not comfortable, but as I have also come to learn, understand, embrace and accept, living in uncomfortable grace is God's means of preparing me and if that is what is necessary, I will like Paul, learn to be content in whatever situation I find myself in.

The Lord has graciously helped me to grow in the area of trust and obedience over the past few months, realising some things we desire, no matter how good they are, they are best left in His hands. The Lord has helped me to see that He will continue the work He has started in me, and what an encouragement that is to me when I am overwhelmed with the realities of this life. He has been there when I have felt there is no way out, He has been my stronghold in the storms of life. He has been my friend when I have felt there are none. He has led me into all truth and He has been my guide when I have felt that I have lost my way. When the path seems so long and I grow weary and been tempted to give up. He has uplifted me with His word, given me courage to fight and upheld me by His strong and mighty hand. What an awesome God we serve !