c u soon america.

friends.

philippa

so today was a silly day. we're down to single digits until my return. it's strange.

highlights of the day were:

1. i was gifted a dolphin t-shirt by my friend Jose at the shelter it's a flippin' sweet shirt and i have complimented him on it several times and today he gave it to me, NO WORRIES friends, i gave him a "chi o you only choose once" shirt in return.
2. i gave manicures to 4 homeless women. rowdy times.
3. i cut a woman's hair, and sort of royally messed it up, but she was so grateful non-the-less. amen.
4. My girl Sharon, from the shelter, told me today that I had "crazy hair, crazier hair than any other colored person she has ever met.".. (she's homeless, that must be saying a lot)
5. my favorite little girl from holiday club, Philippa showed up at kid's club and brought me a scarf that her granny knit for me... angel.

the simple silly things that happen during my day are the things i'm going to miss the most. there is something so quaint and simple about everyone and everything here. i'm excited to come home to everyone, to the comfort, but the people i've invested and formed solid relationships with during the past 2 months are going to be hard to leave behind. they are my family, they are the ones i lean on when i'm having a hard day. they love me like my friends and family loves me at home. i never pictured my trip to be like this, i had so many different expectations, but God is good and has provided everything and more than i deserved.

i am the most anxious person alive, and these past 2 months have been a constant reminder of that. WHAT AM I MISSING AT HOME? WHAT AM I MISSING OUT ON? blah blah blee blee.

1 peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." it's the truth and living day to day here, in an unknown and dangerous place i have had to whole heartedly accept, trust and believe this truth.

it's just whatever. these experiences, these leaps of faith are what make up the stories of our life's. i often jip myself of experiences, because i'm scared of what other's will think, or what i'll be missing out on, but the truth is, taking these leaps are what makes our stories bigger and better. what's your story? what's tha' deal, YO?

what now?.. well i suppose i'm signing off, i'll be home in 5 days, america @ last. we'll go from there, eh?

He must become greater; i must become less. john 3:30

its been real-Carley

ayoba or not ayoba

ayoba or not ayoba (cool or not cool)

devotional

the pfled at kids club

everyone at our house is starting to leave, it's really saddio. but it sort of makes me really excited to come home and back to Amurica. i secretly have started to mentally 'check out' but then i have to remind myself i still have a few weeks left! can i first say that i'm really excited to eat mexican food, and be in hot weather!

i've been doing a lot of reflecting lately on what i've learned and what my purpose has been here. and what i've come up so far is this:

maturity is the ability and willingness to be led where you would rather not go.

it almost seems unfair because i feel like i have learned and soaked up more than i will leave with the people of south africa, but at the end of the day i know i've done something that i never thought i could do, and the only explanation for that is trust. nothing has really gone according to MY plan but somehow is has all worked out perfectly. it's too often easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life. and i have realized that allowing myself to listen and take action even if it isn't easy is all that we are ultimately

today, at the shelter i sat with a woman named, Sharon, she's a drug addict with a sleazy boyfriend, naturally we've become friends. after tea & morning devotional she approached me tears in her eyes, i immediately pulled her outside and began asking what was wrong? turns out Sharon's boyfriend got a little rough this weekend and had punched her in the jaw.

hmm well since i'm not really an expert with relationships let alone abusive ones.. i did the only thing i felt appropriate, i asked her if we could pray together? my heart breaks for these people and their stories. Sharon sat there telling me how she wants to get off the street, but doesn't know how and i sat there feeling so hopeless for her, not really sure what to tell her. i kept quiet and we both embraced my silence.

before lunch we had another devotional, and it was as if God had written it for Sharon, it was everything i should have said, but was too nervous. basically the message was Nothing is too big for God, & no one is too far gone for God to love. the more i think about it the more i realize that sometimes we are all just as lost and hopeless as Sharon, but the good news is we DO have something or someone to seek hope in..

Can't wait to be home. hugs from here.

Romans 8:31 "what, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

ps. we taught the kids about sexual abuse today, totally serious subject matter, but funny poster. "good touch, bad touch" skit was included, starring, yours truly.

my new boyfriend.

matthew.

Auntie Julie.

Matthew and i on the field trip!

dennis and william, my 2 other sweeties.

There is a boy here that has stolen my heart. When he smiles, I see Jesus. When he laughs, I laugh. When he holds my hand, I hold tighter. He is 5. Let me explain.

Matthew has FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome-his mom drank when she was preggo), or as I like to think it just means he is one of God’s special angels.

Last week we went on a field trip, and the kids had to bring back permission slips to be able to board the bus. Matthew comes running up to me holding his slip with the biggest smile on his face; you could tell he was so proud of bringing it back so he could come! So he hands it to me… and I open it expecting to see a signature. Oh wait, completely blank. I burst out into laughter, and he gazes up at me so confused so I explain that it had to be signed and because it isn’t that means he can’t join the fun. Come to find out Mattie’s mom is dying of cancer right now, and was too ill to sign.. I constantly forget that hidden behind these kids’ smiles and hugs are situations that I cannot even begin to fathom.

So a few days ago I had the amazing opportunity of getting to go see Matthew at his house in Ocean View, and meeting his mother! We got to pray over Matthew’s mother (Janet), which was quite a humbling experience. To lay hands on a woman I barely know, and just pray for God to heal her. So many people here are just so hungry for the Gospel, something to live for, and something to place hope in.

Carlota

ps. a homeless man tried to steal my backpack a few days ago. freaking crazies.

rollin' with the homies

mama and babies

cape point.

meet matthew, i'll be stealing him.

Another week has begun in the Africa of South. Just sitting downstairs with the housemates laughing about the days events. This week I started work at Living Hope’s homeless shelter, Living Grace. Homeless people and I mesh really well I think the reasoning behind this is because A. my hair (people can sometimes mistake it for a homeless person,) and B. because I’m crazy, and accept them as they are. Deal with it. Anywayz: so I work with 3 other of my housemates along with the couple who run the joint, Joan and John they are in their 70’s and super feisty. Joan marches around barking orders and John mans the front desk as “security” and by security I mean playing solitaire, sweet man.

We have devotional and breakfast in the morning where about 25 ‘homies’ attend, and then in the afternoons for lunch and devotional we have 50. The people rock and are so grateful. Haven’t had much of a chance to hear many testimonies, but I’ve got 3 weeks so I’ll keep ya posted.

In the afternoons I do kid’s club back in the O.V. woo woo. Being in this community has been so amazing, the kids are amazing but I think the best part are the leaders (the ones who lead holiday and kids clubs) Auntie Julie (my superior) is in charge of the OV community for living hope, and she is amazing. At first it was really hard to get close to many of the leaders because I am here for such a short amount of time, it’s hard for them to open up and let an outsider in, but these people have become my family. Auntie Julie and I have become especially close and she has been such an amazing picture of God’s faithfulness and love.

When Auntie Julie was 11 she was in a horrible accident and lost one of her legs, her father was a drug dealer, murderer and alcoholic and because of her accident her strong faith and positive attitude led her father to Christ. Through such tragic circumstance comes God’s perfect plan. It amazes me daily to see her profess this truth, this woman has devoted her life to the children of this community, and let me tell you, my past month here has been mental; I can't fathom years of this work, this woman has God on her side that’s for darn sure. Her attitude has been such an inspiration, and God seeps from her smile and presence. The closer it comes to my departure the more I realize what a family I have made here.

Cheers! -Carlisle

Ps. I saw killer whales this weekend. coolness.

Hebrews 4:12- 13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

the pox

the 4th, booyah

those eyes, this is Nadier

feet washin'

I have 3 weeks left. Don’t even get me started about it, I think Hannah and I may just stay here, hope that’s kewl with everyone? It has definitely turned into home, our room is a disaster as usual (mostly my side) and we are thinking about pushing out beds together… Whatever like ya’ll care.. Ha. So last Friday I was given the most amazing opportunity. Let me tell ya about it:
There’s this organization called, Samaritan’s Feet, sort of like Tom’s, but focused on spreading the Gospel while providing shoes rather than just meeting a kid’s physical needs. So Samaritan’s donated shoes to the shady O.V. and me and my family aka our team got to help distribute over 200 pairs of new shoes while sharing the Gospel to our kids at holiday clubs! Nuts.
When kids hear they are getting a new pair of shoes you’d think they had just been told them they were getting to go to Disney World, something as simple as a pair of shoes, is such a luxury to these kids here. Anyway, as apart of the program we share the Gospel with them, and then they move to the “foot-washing” station, and I got to wash my little pre-schoolers narsty, smelly little feet! It was quite an experience. Most of them are too young to recognize and fully comprehend the reason behind the symbolism of getting their feet washed. But being able to kneel at their feet and pray over them while cleaning their feet was the most humbling experience. I realize that most of them have no idea what I’m saying half the time when it comes to the Word, but if anything it’s planting a seed for the future.

These kids know nothing about my world back home, it’s completely irrelevant to them, and that has been a struggle to try and connect what I know and am used to from home and to mix it with their completely different culture. I have had to discover different ways to gain that trust and respect that eventually evolves into a solid relationship. (not sure if that makes any sense, but I think this will explain my realization a little betta')..

I was suddenly faced with my naked self, open for affirmations and rejections, hugs and punches, smiles and tears, all dependent simply on how I was perceived at the moment. In a way, it seemed as though I was starting my life all over again. Relationships, connections, reputations could no longer be counted on.
These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self—the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things—and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.

Love, carley

Ps. There has been an outbreak of chicken pox in my pre school hahaha. So typical.

the world will eat you

Okay, so back in high school me and my 4 best friends used to sponsor a kid through that organization Compassion, I remember how much we loved getting letters and updates on him (i don't remember his name, i'm the worst..) Anyway I remember this specific time it was around the holidays that we got our seasonal letter, it was Christmas themed and the little Kenyan boy just recounted how well his family was doing and how grateful he was for us wanting to help send him to school blah blah blee blee. At the end of the letter he signed it, and wrote "be careful don't let the world eat you". I remember this so vividly all 5 of us, laughing hysterically assuming it must be some translation for like "love you" or something silly.

My point of that story is that the other day that memory popped into my head and I started to think more about why on earth some child would tell me to not let the world eat me? And then it hit me, that this kid knew more about life and faith than I could have ever desired to know at the age of just 10. I literally overtime have been consumed by the world and have in many areas of my life listened to what the world says is "acceptable" and not what the Word says. Imma' mess, but messes can be good, because after all we are human. It just blows my mind that such a simple phrase that a child from Kenya wrote to me years ago is just now making sense to me. A little slow Carl..

-Not much from here, had a long, good day! The highlight of my day was probably teaching the entire Club (170 children) the song and dance to Spinnin' Around by Jump 5- middle/high school classic from youth group. No words can describe.. Just click the link..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB8Nb5iuIKo

1 John 4:4-6

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

A year

antony and kieren.

sarah and kieren.

market, eating grounds.

vineyard.

cattle (note shadows, i'm so artsy).

Hey ya'll. Hope everyone's weekend was swell! As you can see from the above Hans and I had a pretty enjoyable weekend with our new adopted family, the Princes. Friday night we went and watched the game with BAnt (Ben and Antony) at a place called Polana. It is a shabby sheek little joint that meets a Moroccan theme with windows that overlook the ocean, literally waves practically crashing into the restaurant. Breathtaking.

Saturday morning Sarah (our new mama) came and took us to a market called, The Old Biscuit Mill. The cutest place I've ever seen. It has everything, clothes, jewelry (yes I have many good gifts for you freaks back at home), flowers, yummy food and wine, vintage nick-nacks and such. Overall amazing atmosphere. It's a place the yuppies of Cape Town chill. I felt pretty kewl, not gonna lie. Casey (new daddio), Ben, Antony and Kieren came down to meet us for lunch, which was delish. The perfect morning. When all the boys walked in Antony had Kieren strapped to his back, with Ben in town with the diaper bag and Casey on his crutches carrying the camera. It was quite 3 men and a baby.

After lunch, we all wandered around until finally it was time for the kiddos to head off to wine tasting. We drove to Stellenbosch, and found this quaint winery where you could pet cheetahs it was . We found a field of cattle, which was quite mesmerizing. The weather was like Texas in the Fall it rocked. We got lost along the way, naturally thanks to Antony's lack of navigational skills but ended up back at the Prince's home to watch the US game be defeated.. shame. Hannah and I spent the night over at their house so we could come to church with them in the morning..

As I laid in bed last night I just kept thinking about how great the day was.. but what I really kept dwelling on was a conversation I had had with Sarah, less than a year ago. A little history I met Sarah at camp last year where she was a speaker, she talked about how her and her husband had felt the Lord call them to move to South Africa. Immediately while she was giving this testimony I knew I had to talk to her. AFRICA! I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO GO THERE. Well somehow we ended up sitting on the beach sometime the next day talking about the upcoming move. I confided in her that I had always wanted to go to Africa, but either my parents had discouraged the idea, or I just had never known where to start searching for a program. I will never forget how she responded, "Carley, if you want to go, GO! No one is stopping you. If it's God's will it will all unfold." I think back to that conversation and then realize where I am, I'm here! It really doesn't make sense. I never thought I would follow a call like this. I never thought I'd have enough strength/courage to do something like this. I like the comfort of home, and I love my friends, and if you know me well, I have the biggest fear of missing out. But for now, I'm learning to deal, it's faith in knowing that it's what is intended for my life and that it all has a purpose in serving something and someone so much bigger than we'll ever understand.

It's just crazy to think about the different people and circumstances that the Lord uses in our lives to carry out his plans...

1 Corinthians 2:9 - "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

true dat'- ceg