I Know The Plans I Have For You!

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me” Psalm 138:8

This week has been my last working week here in South Africa; it’s been good, a little harder than usual. I’ve been dreading writing this blog because I knew it’ll be my last one to add to my ‘South Africa’ collection and I knew I wouldn’t be writing another blog whilst being in South Africa which makes me really sad. But my mum has been encouraging me to carry on writing a blog when I get back to England so maybe I will, but I don’t think it will be anywhere near as exciting!

In the Links Office this week I have been preparing for a presentation I will be doing at Connections church on Sunday 29th. Although James (The Links project co-ordinator) gave me a subject which is I still didn’t know exactly what to write or say but he’s been helping me with it and I think I have it sorted. I’m a bit worried not about speaking in front of the church just that what I will be speaking about won’t make sense but later on I will be performing my presentation for James so hopefully we will see if things make sense or not.
I never thought I’d find myself enjoying being in an office this much, although I get a numb bum and my back aches sometimes it has been so worth it! I have learnt so much more than I thought I would. Granddad and James have been a big part in my learning, they have taught me a lot even from me just spending time with them and I hope they agree that it has been fun; we have had a lot of laughs. They are memories and lessons I will hopefully remember forever.

On Sunday I had the chance to go to a different church with Nan and Granddad. Granddad had spoke their on the Saturday at a conference that the church led and they invited me to tag along with them on the Sunday. The church is called Rock Covenant which is in Strand about an hour away and mostly Cape Coloureds go. When I got there I knew it was going to be good, everyone just had so much energy and there was a great atmosphere. Then the worship began and it was amazing, it sounded lovely, was energetic and they all started dancing, randomly where they were seated and then a group of ladies came to the front with their flowing skirts, tambourines and ribbons and performed a simple routine round in a circle which just looked so beautiful, it was fascinating! It brought me such joy! It was the best worship I’ve experienced for a few months, I just thought to myself that all churches should be like this, they should sing joyful energetic songs that make them happy because church should be a time to celebrate God and really let loose in his presence.

Then my last working week began and I realised I had 2 weeks till I was going back to England. Since Monday I’ve been thinking about it a lot, in the evenings or when I’ve been alone and it dawns on me even more and makes me feel low. Since a few years back I’ve found it really hard and challenging coming back from places, even just 2 week holidays I hate it, it makes me anxious and I absolutely dread it. It’s a horrible feeling, the last week before you’re going back to your home, you’re battling between loving being in a place you love that at the time is your home and then leaving the place you love and going back to your ‘so called’ home but to see family and friends that are missing you. It’s hard enjoying your LAST week somewhere that you love.

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27

I’ve also been thinking about my future, wondering what’s going to happen when I get back, if things will plan out how I think they will or what!? I’m planning on getting back, applying for Job Seekers Allowance and until I get a job I’m just going to be out everyday giving out CV’s, ringing and emailing people, hoping and praying that I will soon enough get a job. But it doesn’t sound very exciting does it!? I don’t think it so...
I was hoping while I was here I’d figure out what I want in my future, what I desire and what road God wants me to take, but I still don’t know. Some people love the thought of not knowing what their future holds, I’m quite laid back but for some reason that thought scares the life out of me!  

 A lot of the youth I have met here have great jobs in the areas they love and I’ve been struggling with thinking that I will never have a job I enjoy, I will never have a job as good as them. And then I realise that their jobs aren’t for me, they are for them. They are doing what they are good at, using their gifts and my gift is something different, my gift is for me, it’s something I enjoy and it’s what God has put in my heart and it takes me to Romans 12:6...

“Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing                                              ourselves with each other or trying to be something we aren’t”. 

I’ve prayed so much this week and spent so much time speaking to God about everything that is on my mind, I’m still struggling with these feelings a little but now and then I’m reminded that everything WILL be okay, that God has amazing plans for me, he has something so perfect that will satisfy my heart, that isn’t made for anyone else but just for me...

And I’m going back to home to an amazing family that are waiting for me...

How amazing is that!? What more could you want!?

“Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done, and won't need to compare himself with someone else.” Galatians 6:4

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I’ve also got an amazing week lined up, I’m going out tonight with some friends tonight for probably my last South African clubbing experience, sad times! Then on Monday I am going away for a few days with Nan and Granddad. We will be driving to the North East of South Africa to go on Safari and to a place called Montague Springs which I am really excited about!!!

Then I am having a Braai (which means Bbq) at my house, with some friends as a final Goodbye.

All work, No play?

I don't think so...This is what happens when you have too much time on your hands...

Yes! Camel riding is as fun as it looks!

Break my heart for what breaks yours!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 
John 16:33

It’s been a short but good week; Monday was a public holiday so we’ve all had a really long relaxing weekend which was lovely!

On Tuesday we got back in the office and back to work. I’ve been working on articles this week to add to our ‘Being A Volunteer’ series, it’s actually been hard as my last few haven’t been very good and I didn’t know exactly what to write. It’s a shame because they were my last ones but I’m still happy because I’ve learnt a lot from writing them. I’ve also been preparing for a presentation that I will be doing on my last Sunday at Connections church; it will be about serving and my experience volunteering for Links. It’s all very nerve racking but I’m actually looking forward to it. I get nervous speaking in front of people especially church’s but I do really enjoy it as the same time, I always feel really proud of myself after and feel as though I have achieved something.

This is my second from last blog post and I’ve thinking about my blogs a lot as I’ve really been hoping that my last few ones are really good, I think I’ve been thinking a little too much and blocking out what God wants to talk to me about but in the end it does always get through and I’ve found it really exciting waiting on God and blogging about what he wants me to say.

Today I got a little too excited about blogging and had so many things I wanted to write about and I started writing loads in my diary but I realised if I wrote everything  then it would be a bit of a mess.

When you have really close friendships/relationships do you ever find yourself feeling down when they’re down and rejoicing when they are?

I do. I find it particularly hard to be happy when I know my family or best friends aren’t. When I feel like this I know that’s when my heart is involved, when I’m emotionally attached and when I really care and love them.  Recently when I’ve read the bible or blogs, stories and articles about God or about what God is doing I’ve found myself getting very choked up. Especially when I’ve read stories about when God has been or felt heartbroken, I just can’t imagine how he feels.

“Show me how to love like You have loved me, Break my heart for what breaks Yours, Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause, As I walk from earth into eternity” 
(Hillsong United – Hosanna)

Have you ever cried over your best friends or sister’s hurt, pain and heartbreak? It’s like that.

Now I know that I really do truly care about God and that I don’t want to break his heart anymore. He’s my best friend, my sister, my everything. He has caught my heart and I’m now so attached.

I think it’s amazing that even though you can’t see God you can have a relationship with him that feels more real than anything earthly. Your missing out if you haven’t experienced it.

"Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent”
John 17:3

“Because you have seen me, you have believed...

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 John 20:29

I’ve had such a good week, I haven’t done anything majorly exciting but I’ve realised I’ve been feeling so peaceful. Over the past 2 months I’ve been praying for peace and It’s finally here and the timing is perfect. I’ll be leaving South Africa in 2 and a half weeks and I’ve been dreading it but all I feel now is peace, It’s wonderful!                                                                                                                            


As I was writing this blog this song came on – Celine Dion-Alive  
It’s a beautiful song, it gives me peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” 

John 14:27

A Kiss from God

This week I have been asked to write my blog early. I normally write it on Fridays but seeing as Friday is a public holiday, I needed to get started early.

There’s not much to say about work / volunteering as my week has only just began. Overall, though, it’s still going really well, I’m still enjoying serving Links, Connections and God.

I was in the Links office yesterday as Ham, the Connections church leader, didn’t need me at his office. I used the opportunity to pull all my website review results together and finished a further article in the ‘Being A Volunteer’ blog series http://www.linksinternationalsa.com/category/being-a-volunteer-resource
I was a bit worried about writing my blog today because I didn’t think I’d have much to write about as it’s only Tuesday.  So what I did was spend most of this morning thinking, praying, listening to my favourite Christian songs and… God spoke to me about a lot of things!

This week I’ve been spending a lot of personal time with God.  If you read my last blog post, you will know I was challenged by my older sister to spend more personal time with God. Taking her advice, I’ve been going for long walks along the beach recently.

When I went for a walk yesterday I pretended God was beside me, walking with me. But then I realised there was no need to pretend because he is always right there, walking beside me.                                How amazing!

I started wondering ‘How can people doubt you?’ but realised that I’ve spent most of my life doubting God up until now. As I’ve fallen more and more in love with God I’ve found myself doubting him less and less. I think it’s just like falling in love with any human, the more you fall in love with them the more you forget about the bad and you grow in hope and faith.

“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.                                    Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27

As a young woman, I desire to fall in love – just like most women do. I think falling in love with God is an important part of your relationship with Him, because it’s a desire God places in a women’s heart. He wants us to fall in love with him and He loves us falling in love with Him.

 Women admire beauty. As a result of God, who knows this, showing me His beauty I have fallen so in love with him. I love waking up to this wonderful country, surrounded by sunshine, sea, flowers and beautiful mountains and it was all created by Him. I am just in awe!

I’ve been reading a book since I have been here called Captivating – Unveiling the mystery of a Women’s Soul, which I would highly recommend! In one chapter Stasi – the author – spoke about a trip she and her husband went on and her husband snuck away for some time alone with God.  

 “… down to the beach where he walked and prayed and finally sat in the sand to watch the waves upon the sea. Then he saw it. A huge plume of water shot up into the sky, and a massive humpback whale appeared right before him, impossibly close to shore. No one else was near. The time of the whale’s annual migration had long passed. John knew immediately that this was a gift from God to his heart alone, a gift from the lover of his heart”. 

Stasi’s husband told her about what happened. She was happy for him but she wanted a kiss for herself. So when they went on another trip Stasi decided to take some time out to spend with God and she asked God for a whale as a gift.

“After a while, with no whale in sight, I got up and continued to walk. It was early spring, waves crashing, seagulls crying. The northern coast of California is rocky and as I picked my way through, I rounded a corner and came upon a starfish, a beautiful orange starfish. And I knew at once it was God’s gift to me, his kiss. He didn’t give me a whale; no, that was for John alone. For me, unique to me, he gave a stunning starfish. I thanked him for it, then rounded the next bend and came upon a sight I will never forget. There before me, behind me, surrounding me, were hundreds of starfish. Zillions of them. There were purple ones, orange ones and blue ones, all sizes. I burst into joyful laughter, my heart exploding inside me.”

While I was reading this I had tears running down my cheeks, just reading it and imagining it made me fall in love with God and like Stasi I wanted a kiss for myself. I didn’t know what it was going to be, or when I was going to get it but I knew I would eventually get one and I was prepared to wait.

My kiss came quite soon after I asked for one. Between the March 19th and 26th, we went on a ministry trip to Lower Gweru, Zimbabwe, to do some training with the local people. Lower Gweru isn’t in the bush but it is very close; it’s out of town, quiet and beautiful. One evening after I had brushed my teeth I decided to go outside quickly to see the dogs. I looked up at the sky and the stars were so bright they scared me. It took me a moment to realise what they were, I had never seen so many so brightly in my life. I'm telling you they were sososo amazing, I was in awe and so overwhelmed. I just kept giggling and like Stasi my heart just exploded and I knew that was my kiss from God to me!

 I was planning on going to bed but after that I was too restless (in a good way).

How could you not love such a beautiful God!?

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4: 9-10 

2 Months down 1 to go...

Last week was a lot different to my usual week here…

The Links International SA team took a Ministry trip to Zimbabwe Lower Gweru, to do some Business Development, Healthcare and Geographical training. Geographical training time is when you speak about a particular geographical subject in particular nations and the subject we were asked to speak on in Zimbabwe was ‘The Bride of Christ’.

 I spent the last week serving in Zimbabwe which meant I wasn’t able to write any blogs or updates. So I’ll be updating you on my last two weeks in one go.

We arrived at our host’s house in Lower Gweru, Zimbabwe, on Monday 19th at 6.30pm. It wasn’t quite in the bush but close; and it wasn’t too basic, either. We went there to do some training and meet with the local business development team, AGAPE.

We stayed with a couple who very good friends with my Nan and Granddad, Sam and Anna Ndlovu. Sam is the Zimbabwean Apostolic overseer of a network called New Covenant Ministries International and Anna is part of the AGAPE Business Development team Links International SA founded in 2011.

When we arrived we found out that Sam had changed around our programme a little so we didn’t quite know how things were going to work out. When I’ve been on Ministry/Mission trips before we never seem to have much of a structure but it’s all part of the fun. I didn’t have a clue what I was going to be doing apart from being the photographer but throughout the week I made myself available and was given a few different tasks.

Andy, the Links International UK director, and his wife Lina came along on the trip with us. He got me involved in a few dramas he used as demonstrations in his teachings.

On Sunday I was given a difficult task: I was asked to help out with the kids in Sunday school which I was very happy to do. I spoke to the Sunday school teacher and asked her what she wanted me to do and what she normally does with the kids, she just said ‘We take them outside and play’. So I was prepared to help out and play a few games but then on Sunday morning she told me I was taking the kids aged 6 and over on my own. I was a bit surprised and a little scared but because I have been involved in Sunday school before I knew a few bible stories I could teach so in the end everything went really well. I told them the story of the Prodigal Son and asked them to create their own drama. The kids seemed to love it and so did I! Another challenge overcome!

It was good being in Zimbabwe but I was so happy to be home. It’s a good experience; you really do appreciate what you have when you’ve spent some time living somewhere a lot more basic than you normally live. It’s hard because we often forget but we should always remind ourselves and give thanks to God for what we do have.

We arrived back home in South Africa on Monday 26th 3.45pm. We started our week on Tuesday as usual, working in the Links SA office. Since then I’ve written a report on our time in Zimbabwe, I’ve finished my website review and I have been getting together the stats from the results of the Survey Monkey questionnaire. I am now preparing to write a full summary of all the results. It’s been a tiring week, recovering from all the travelling but it’s been good getting back into the office.

2 months down, 1 month left and it seems like time is really starting to fly by.

This week I feel like God is telling me to stop worrying and just enjoy my time here with him. I’ve been told by 2 people that I need to stop worrying about other people, stop carrying other people’s burdens and enjoy the time I have left because after all this trip is about me and God. I didn’t realise how much I was worrying and how much it was affecting how I was feeling until they pointed this out to me. I feel like I could be enjoying myself a lot more than I already am and I want to make the most of my time and my experience and really get stuck in but worrying has become a barrier and a hindrance.  My sister spoke to me and she’s been encouraging me to find an activity or a private time where I can spend time with God.

She said ‘Its key to your relationship with God. When no-one else is there, he is, you have to get used to going to him and talking with him’.

 I realised I wasn’t spending as much personal  time with him as I could be and that I needed to because of how I was feeling.

He wants us to spend time with him.

It’s amazing that he is always with us and carries our burdens; we should really take advantage of it and spend as much time with him as possible!

‘The Lord said ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quite place and get some rest’. Mark 6v31

‘Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for you souls’. Matt 11v28-29

Yesterday it started raining a lot here and I love South African rain, it’s not cold, it’s amazing, I don’t know why but I love it. So I decided to take a long walk in the rain and ended up walking down to the sea front and taking a walk along the beach, even though it was raining it was still so beautiful! Most of the time I was walking I was chatting away to God about everything, asking for help, repenting, thanking and praising him. When I got home I felt so relieved and refreshed and I was proud of myself because I’m not good at praying and that was probably the longest time I’ve ever prayed and it made me excited to keep praying.

‘The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters and he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’ Psalm 23

Check out more photos on my Facebook (The Camels were so lovely)

In my spare time this week I have been sunbathing, watching films and on Thursday Nan and Granddad took me to Imhoff Farm to take a camel ride! I was so excited and it was so much fun – the camels were beautiful! The ride was only short which was a shame but it was lovely and a great experience, I’m definitely going to be doing it again one day! I’m also looking forward to the weekend, tonight I'm going with some friends to Club 31, which is a club in Cape Town SO EXCITED. I need to make the most of the next few weeks and I also need to top up my tan a bit more :P

Faith as small as a mustard seed

I now have just over 6 weeks left, time is going fast!

Volunteering and working this week has been good, it’s gone very fast, in a good way. I’ve been doing the usual, worked with Ham on Monday which was a short day because we didn’t have much to do so I helped in the kitchen again with making chocolates then for the rest of the day I looked after their son Zac.

On Tuesday I only had half a day in the office as I went to Happy Valley with my Nan (Beryl). It is a home where homeless people stay while they try and get back on their feet and look for jobs. A few people from church go there every few months to talk, encourage and pray with the ladies and normally bring them food. This time it was Nanny’s turn so I tagged along just to see what it was like and it was heartbreaking. We went into one of the ladies dorms, where it had about 10 beds in one room, it was dirty and smelly. Most of the ladies I saw looked down and out, it was like as you walked in you could feel it. I was surprised though that some of the ladies had their bibles ready, it still amazes how people who don’t have a home or job and are really down still have their bibles and still have some faith in God, I’d like to think I would be the same. At the end they seemed so pleased and Thankful, it was heart warming. (You can see pictures on Facebook)

‘The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit’ Psalm 34: 17-18

I’ve also finally started to review the Links International website which I have been preparing for awhile now. I thought it was going to be hard but it’s been fine so far and I’m nearly finished.

Me, Nan and Granddad are also preparing for our trip to Zimbabwe, we leave on Monday VERY early in the morning and I’m really excited! We’re going to Lower Gweru to stay with a family who are friends of Connections church leader Ham. It will be out of the town nearer the bush and apparently they have a lot of animals like goats, chickens and rabbits, I love those sorts of environments! It’ll be a lot different to Nan and Granddads house but I don’t mind, I’ve been out in the bush in Uganda and it was a great experience so I’m sure this will be too. Nan and Granddad are going to be doing some teaching and we don’t know yet what I will do, hopefully there will be something but I’m laid back, I said I can just play with the kids and be the photographer.

I’ve never felt God so powerful before, I’m still so overwhelmed and this week God has put the broken hearted on my heart. There’s so much hurt and pain in the world we live in and a lot of the time people say ‘Where was God!?’ and then they lose faith. I’ve been praying for them that God will show himself to them the way he has been showing himself to me.

I have been in the same situation and I ended up being angry with God asking him why he let me get in the situation. In the end I realised a lot of it was my own fault. It’s easy to blame God, push him away and to forget about him in our troubles, I made matters worse by doing so.

The truth is God is always there, he never leaves us because he is a loyal and faithful God.

‘When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand’ Psalm 73: 21-23

I wrote a blog a few weeks ago called ‘Sow in tears, Reap in joy’, it relates a lot to this blog. Sow in tears for me means; working for God and praying to God in our pain and hurt. Reap in joy for me means; we will succeed and grow in joy.

I’ve sown in tears and in the end I reaped in joy. God always pulls through if you let him and ask him to. He is the most POWERFUL, loyal, LOVING thing living and anything is possible through God!

‘For I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move from here to there and it will move! Nothing will be impossible for you!’ Matthew 17:20

(I cannot wait for the day when)          

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelations 21:3-4

The Sound Of Heaven Touching Earth!

I cant explain how much i'm loving this song right now...

It is such a simple song, with not a lot of lyrics but it's so powerful! I've listened to it about 10 times over the past day and half thanks to my sister Nicola sending it to me and I just can't get enough!

It gives me goose bumps, it makes me feel happy, free, loved and it makes me cry every time, it makes me so excited to worship and praise, it's making me crave a mad worship session
So many different feelings!

I really do feel the Holy Spirit every time I listen to, its like a glimpse of heaven...

I'd encourage you to listen to if you haven't, put it on loud in your room on your own and just sit and listen to it, you'll feel how powerful it is straight away...

Spirit break out, break our walls down. 

Spirit break out, Heaven come down. (x2) 

Our Father, all of Heaven roars Your name. 

Sing louder, let this place erupt with praise. 

Can you hear it? The sound of Heaven touching earth. 

The sound of Heaven touching earth. (x2) 

And Jesus, would You shine and let the Father's glory fill this land of mine. Blaze, Spirit, blaze. And set our hearts on fire 'til we roar your praise. And flow, river flow now. Let the Spirit break out to break our walls down. And Heaven come down, Heaven come down, Heaven come down. Spirit break out. 

Spirit break out, break our walls down. 

Spirit break out, Heaven come down. 

King Jesus, You're the name we're lifting high. 

Your glory shaking up the earth and skies. 

Revival - we want to see Your kingdom here. 

We want to see Your kingdom here. 

Spirit break out, break our walls down. 

Spirit break out, Heaven come down.

My favourite line is 'The sound of heaven touching earth' !!!

Unconditional Love

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”                         Jeremiah 31:3 

This week has been so exciting! I’m starting to feel so comfortable in South Africa, I wake up every morning like being here is normal, like it’s been part of my life for a long time. I feel so at home!

Volunteering this week has been good! I had my 3rd day with Ham the leader of Connections Church and it was even better than last week. I was worried because my 1st day didn’t go well and I didn’t know whether it was going to improve but it definitely is. I helped out with sorting the tithes and offerings, then I didn’t have any other work to do so I helped out in the kitchen with Ham’s wife Jane, making chocolates for the ladies seminar invites, we had a good time!

I’ve also been in the Links office with James and Mike (granddad) as usual, working on articles and social media. I had my first formal job review with James on Tuesday, which I was worried about but it was fine and we got some good stuff out of it. We are going to be having a formal job review at the end of every month just to make sure things are going to plan and that I am getting what I want out of my experience. So after our job review James asked me to write an article on the purpose and benefits of a formal job review which you can read. This article was a bit harder to write compared to some of the others and it wasn’t as good as the others that I have wrote but I’m still learning and still improving. 

In my job review we spoke about the benefits of my work. So far it has really brought our numbers up on the Facebook page and we have a lot more hits on our website, it’s really exciting to look at the difference and see how far we have come. It’s been a great encouragement to the team and me.

Over the past week I have been learning a lot and mostly through my work. In my job review James encouraged me to engage God in my work and just to embrace it because it’s what God has for me at the moment. I’ve been working on that by asking God to talk me, encourage me and use me through my work especially my blogs because it’s a great opportunity to teach and show people what God is doing in my life. Sometimes it’s hard writing blogs and trying to put into words what I’m experiencing but by asking God what he wants me to say and how, it becomes easier and more enjoyable. It’s exciting and a great chance to really engage God and not forget about him because after all he is the reason I am here. 

This week I have felt so loved by my family and friends, we’ve spoke quite a lot and I was on Skype to my mum the other day and she randomly said ‘I love you soooo much’, it felt so nice to hear her say it even though we say it every time we speak but it felt really special and I knew she really meant it. Knowing your loved is such an amazing feeling! 

This there has been a few times over the past month when my parents have been brought in up conversation. Every time my mum is mentioned Nan and Granddad say how amazing and beautiful she is and every time they say it I feel so blessed and proud because she is MY MUM! My granddad even told me that my uncle Graham said that my mum and dad are the best parents he has ever met!

 I am just so blessed, my family is just amazing and by being away from them I’m starting to appreciate and love them so much more! In the past I’ve felt as though I have taken my family for granted and not appreciated them as much as I should have. It was down to a few reasons and one was that at the time I was going through a faze were my relationship with God wasn’t good at all, I was denying Gods love so it affected my relationships because I didn’t know how to show or except love anymore and I felt as though I didn’t deserve it. 

Things are different now though, God really knocked down my walls, I accepted his love again and now I think I’m pretty good at showing my love. My love for my family and God is unconditional and this week God has been teaching me that he’s the reason why I know how to except and give love.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”                            1 John 4: 7-8 

God is the one who teaches us how to love and if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t know how to love or how to except love. By knowing God we know love. God’s love is unconditional.

I’ve enjoyed my spare time so much this week. I seem to have found another thing I am passionate about because on Saturday James and I went surfing with 2 families from church. James promised to give me my 2nd surfing lesson and even though it was only my 2nd I seemed to have made progress. James was teaching me how to push myself up so I could eventually get onto my feet and I was pushing myself up but didn’t try to get up on to my feet because I was a little scared. I was getting tired so I said to James I’m going in and he said I had to catch a wave in so I did and I actually got up on to my feet!!! Although my knees were a little bent and I didn’t stay up for long but my adrenaline was pumping and I loved it!!! I’ve had good feedback from a few people too which is a good for my 2nd time. 

Apart from surfing I’ve been sunbathing as usual and also went out for dinner with Nan and Granddad to a Chinese restaurant. Worst Chinese I’ve ever tasted but it was a funny night, we laughed so much! 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                                                            Romans 8: 38-39

Feeling Blessed!!!

I’ve now been in South Africa for a WHOLE MONTH! I feel like it’s gone so quickly, it needs to slow down! It’s obviously because I’m having such a great time and this week has possibly been the best week so far!

On Monday I had my second day of working with Ham, the leader of Connections Church. Last week was challenging and I didn’t enjoy it but this week was very different. It was less challenging and I really enjoyed it, so things are improving!

This week my main work has been creating another article to add to my series ‘Being a Volunteer...’  I enjoyed writing it despite it being a little stressful as it didn’t save properly. This meant I had to write some of it again and I didn’t exactly enjoy that but I got it done. I’ve been told that my writing has improved and I’m now really starting to enjoy writing articles!

I am also preparing for my main project work which is to review our website www.linksinternationalsa.com, I’m getting nervous because I think it is going to be challenging for me as I have never done a website review before.

We are thinking about creating a video for Links International SA to help advertise the website.  Hopefully it will help increase our facebook page and website hits. I have been doing some research on viral videos and getting some ideas as to what to put in the video. I’m really excited about it as I really enjoy filming and being creative.

On Wednesday I had a pretty amazing day! We went to CVC which stands for Christian Vision Corporation. It is a UK-based international charity which has two complementary strategies:

Touch a Billion – includes the use of media formats such as radio, TV, internet, mobile phones and social media

Impact a Nation – projects are generally aimed at significantly impacting local communities and include the following activities: education, healthcare, skills training, church development and humanitarian projects

My grandfather Mike, Links International SA director, has been involved with CVC for some time now recording teaching for radio. He was asked by some of the radio crew members if I was willing to come along for an interview. It was pretty weird and very exciting as I have never been to a radio station or spoken on the radio before.

I look so minging sorry haha

I was interviewed by Thula who is a radio presenter & producer. We spoke about why I am here in South Africa and what I’m doing, my journey with God and I was asked if I had anything to say to Africa which was a bit scary but I just gave some encouragement.
Overall, Wednesday was pretty amazing, I loved it!

This week I have felt so blessed and feel so lucky to be here, experiencing and doing all these different things. It’s amazing coming from the cold UK weather and then to South Africa where nearly every morning I wake up to beautiful sunshine and all the beautiful plants and animals around. It is amazing to me how creative God is and how he can make two countries so beautiful in such different ways. I am falling more and more in love with him through what he is showing and teaching me.

God is such a beautiful God!

On Sunday we had a guest speaker at church called Mike Hanchett who is a prophetic speaker. He came and preached after which he prophesied over some couples in the church and what he said was spot on. I just sat there with tears in my eyes feeling so overwhelmed by God, how he uses people like Mike to speak through them and how he gives people gifts to show his glory and it’s great because Mike loves what he does and loves using his gift for God. It was amazing to see and made me realise I am still learning so much about how incredible, creative and powerful God is!

The last weekend was pretty good: I went to a friend’s gig on Saturday which was fun; we had a little dance and cheered them on all night.On Sunday some of us went out for Sushi after church which was a first for me. I enjoyed it at first but then it started to make me feel a little sick. I didn’t eat a lot – people say it takes some time to get used to!? I’m sure I’ll try it again one day.We didn’t go surfing but I will be going tomorrow and James will hopefully give me a little lesson which I’m looking forward to and I’m also going to be singing with the worship band on Sunday for the 2nd time. It’s going to be good!

“You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises. You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple” Psalms 84:4-5

Hannah's Photography

So since I’ve been here my camera hasn’t been very active and I’m very sorry about that! I’m trying to take more pictures so here’s a few but these are just from my spare time :P 


Will add some more ASAP 

#LOVING LIFE

Sow In Tears, Reap In Joy

3 weeks and 2 days into my trip to South Africa, and it's going really well! I don’t know whether it’s what I expected as I didn’t really know what to expect, but it’s definitely not a disappointment.
This week has been a quite a challenging week!  
                                                                                          
On Monday I started volunteering for Connections Church, Fish Hoek, which I attend. I will be working with the church leader Ham and the pastor Ndaba. I am going to be in charge of some of the admin work. It was a hard day as I wasn’t feeling very confident in the work that I was given to do, but in the end I did get everything done and I got some good feedback. I’m hoping next week will be better and I believe that things will improve.

Then on Tuesday I was back in the Links office. I was asked to do another article to add to the Being A Volunteer blog series. So this week I have been working on the new articled with the theme being Project Briefs. It was very challenging as I have only recently started learning about project briefs, but as James just now said to me “This is a brilliant article Hannah!” which I am very happy to hear! Seems like all this challenging work is definitely starting to pay off!

One of my routine responsibilities & tasks while I am with Links International SA is to maintain the social media presence. As a result of my efforts through facebook and Twitter, we have seen increased activity on our Links International SA facebook page and our website. This has been a real encouragement to the team.

God has been stirring things in me this week. This relates to some of the things I mentioned in my last blog entitled Changes. I’ve been quite challenged recently because in the past when I was going through troubles, I found it very hard to praise and talk to God. I would normally only talk to him or praise him when I was happy. This week has been quite hard. As a result of hearing about changes that are going on back at home, I got very upset and I didn’t know what to do. I just kept saying ‘I don’t know what to do!’, feeling hopeless and getting angry with myself. People kept saying to me that the only thing I could do is pray and I got fed up of hearing it! Then I spoke to my mum one day and she said to me to ‘pray through sorrows’ and she also sent me a bible verse to look up

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy, he who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

So this time I decided to take some time to pray and just sit and wait on God, I gave all my burdens to God and I felt a great relief. I found it surprisingly easy and I now wonder why I’ve never done it before!

Even though I’ve had a pretty challenging week, I’ve also been having a lot of fun! I’ve been out with friends for food. We had a pizza with Avocado on it which I find very unusual but it tasted so good! I’ve also been to the beach again with one of the families from church and James, I went out on the body board to practice for surfing, it didn’t go well though! I got caught in two waves which tumbled me over about 10 times, was pretty scary so after the second I got out of the water. I hope I’ll have better luck next time as I’m organising a surfing lesson with some of the girls from church and James, so excited. I’m really hoping that by the end of my trip I’ll be able to stand up on a board! I don’t know if that’s wishful thinking though!

 On Thursday my Gran Beryl and I went to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. You can walk around and take pictures and you can also swim but we didn’t. The penguins were cute, I loved it! I’ve also got a quite busy weekend lined up with friends from church, so glad I’m finally starting to make some close friends!

I’ve also got a quite busy weekend lined up with friends from church, so glad I’m finally starting to make some close friends!

“You will be proud of what you've done, When at the close of day; 

You look back on your battles won, Content, you came this way!” 

Change

"A change I believe in, that change is, our real chance to grow”

I have now been in South African for over 2 weeks and it actually feels longer, in a good way of course and I’m very happy that I still have quite a long time left. I’ve really enjoyed it so far, I didn’t think I would enjoy it this much so soon and I didn’t think I would settle in so easily! I really think that God has been a big part in helping me settle in as that was one of my worries before I came.

This week volunteering for Links has been great. I’ve been challenged a bit which at times I haven’t liked so much but afterwards I definitely felt like I had gained.

My main projects for this week have been creating a new blog series called Being A Volunteer which we hope to develop into a general resource for others considering volunteering. It will offer insights, advice and lessons I have learned. I wrote my first article called ‘The Importance of Vision, Goals & Expectations’. I generally enjoyed writing my article but there were a few things which I found hard, as I am still developing my writing skills.

I have also been developing a framework for a formal website review I am doing of www.linksinternationalsa.com. I found it hard to create a structure for my article and the framework for the web review questionnaire I am working on.

But the helpful thing is to have people in the team who are good at this sort of stuff. For my article James explained to me the importance and meaning of themes, titles and headers and how using those step by step throughout the article will help you get to where you want to be. He explained how to create a framework, as before I had no idea how to create one, without James help I don’t think I would have been able to do it.

So the first thing I have learnt this week is to how to create frameworks and strategies. I feel as though I’m making huge steps towards my goal of gaining more work experience/skills. I didn’t think I would ever enjoy learning English/computers skills but it’s honestly great and that’s also one thing I’ve learnt about myself!

I have been experiencing a lot of change in myself since I have been here and I’m surprised! I didn’t think I would really see / feel myself change, I just thought that I would change but when I’d get back home people would tell me how I have. Before I came here, at my last church meeting the congregation prayed for me and I had a few prophecies;

“Your fragrance will change”

“You will come back a women and friend of God”

I already feel as though my fragrance has changed. I feel that through what I have been learning and experiencing from being here I’m starting to become the person who God wants me to be and I’m feeling very proud of who I am. God has been doing a lot of healing in me over the past year and I found it very hard to be proud of myself but that is definitely starting to change!

I also feel as though I’m becoming a women and friend of God. I was a friend of God before, but now that friendship is really starting to grow so much stronger.

I feel so so so blessed to be here, I never ever thought that coming here would change, show and teach me so much about God and myself. I think everyone should experience this! It’s amazing!

Do you ever feel as though things seem to change so much when you’re away? And because you’re not there it feels worse?

Things are changing all the time and I think because I’m here changing in different ways hearing about the changes going on back home is hard. It’s been making me think about when I will have to go back home to UK and every time I think about it it brings tears to my eyes! I never look forward to going back home where ever I have been, the last 2 times I have been to Uganda I cried because I didn’t want to go home and my holiday to France in September I did the same. I think this time it’s going to be even harder. I’m so glad I still have more than 2 months left, but I’m just praying that God will help me when the time comes.

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The importance of Vision & Goals

 ‘Being a Volunteer…’

My Vision Statement

“After the next three months I want to have become a blessing to Connections and Links. Become a friend and women in God, to feel the joy and excitement Jesus offers and to be able to share that with other’s (Christian and non Christian).”

Before you do any sort of volunteering and mission work I think it is a good idea to create a vision statement.

“How can you establish success if you don’t know what it looks like?”

Having a vision statement shows you have the ability to plan; it’s a way to measure your success, a great way to engage with God on your journey and it’s a way of keeping track of your goals and expectations.

 “Without guidance from God law and order disappear, But God blesses everyone who obeys his law.” 

Proverbs 29:18

The purpose of volunteering for me is to serve God by helping others; it is a good way to grow in wisdom by seeing how others live and to grow in you as a person. My list of goals and expectations comes out of my vision statement and they help establish what I can give and what I would like to achieve.

1)      That I have grown in God

a.       Feel closer to God

b.      To have an idea of what he wants me to do

c.       Better understanding of him

d.      Feeling stronger in my relationship with God, so I feel stronger in myself

e.      To feel more comfortable speaking about God (to non Christians)

f.        To encourage and help others from what I have learnt

2)      That I have grown in maturity/confidence

a.       More comfortable in unknown/challenging environments

b.      More comfortable talking to people I don’t know

c.       More responsible

d.      Not having to rely on others as much

e.      Coping with being out of my comfort zone

f.        Coping with being away from family

3)      That I have gained more work experience/skills

a.       More experienced in a office environment

b.      Better understanding of how charities work

c.       Better understanding of how a business works

d.      Gained more skills on a computer

e.      Know how a website works

f.        know how to edit/review websites

The reason why I want to achieve these goals is because they will help me positively in my future, I can use all of these skills to help others and by growing in God I will become more like him which is definitely a positive gain.

I have only been here for 2 weeks and I am already starting to gain more skills on computers having worked on the Links International facebook page, having created a Twitter page and having been asked to review the organisation’s website.

There is importance in planning and structuring work, I think that if you have planned your work then you will produce a much better result and you should achieve all your goals. So producing a framework is a good way of structuring your work. I have produced some framework for reviewing the Links website and I am hoping it will help me achieve my goals.

I am getting a better understanding as to how a business and a charity work. I have also been introduced to and have spoken to a lot of people I don’t know so I am already making good progress towards achieving some of my goals.

At the moment serving others has been quite enjoyable for me. I am serving the Links team by helping out and doing things that they don’t have enough time for, I am in charge of all the social media side of the work and so far it has been good and it isn’t boring at all! Serving others is such a big gain.

As a volunteer I think it is important to have the right attitude. It is important to treat your volunteering experience as a real job and act like you are a full team member. I believe that if you don’t have the right attitude then you won’t enjoy your experience.

God’s truth in all of it – serving others is a big part of being a Christian, we do it for God because we love him, we do it to show people that they are loved by him and this helps improve not only our own lives but their lives too. Volunteering can be an expression of that loving service for others. 

What a feeling!!!

It has been a week and 3 days since I arrived in South Africa. Last Friday was my introduction to Links where James and I spoke about what I will be doing during my internship. Monday was my first proper day volunteering in the office with James and Granddad and so far it has been really good! On Tuesday I even got so focused and into what I was working on I worked overtime and didn’t realise. James came in a told me I could stop but I still carried on, I think that shows how much I’m enjoying it!

On Monday James also spoke to me about my first project for Links, which is to review the Links International SA website. So I have been creating a framework for that. I am also going to be in charge of all the social media for Links International SA: I have already created a twitter page and have also been updating the Links Facebook page.

The main aim for my work is to get Links SA known by more people and to get more viewers for the Facebook page and website. My work helps serve others because by spreading the word about Links international SA, Links will hopefully get more people interested, for example, in the trips to Zimbabwe or Cameroon where they can serve communities and help prevent poverty which is a very big benefit.

On Tuesday I went to my life group which is when a group of people meet and talk about what God has done in their week, talk about life and challenges. It is a time for Christians to share with each other and encourage other Christians. It was quite different to the groups I have been to back home but it was good! I went there in a very unsociable mood so when I was there I sat back and listened most of the time, James said to me that if you get more stuck in I will probably get more out of it so next time I am planning to get more involved.

I came to South Africa hoping that God would really speak to me about what I should do in the future and just by listening to the guys at life group I felt inspired, God is really starting to stir some stuff in me (In a good way) – it’s a great feeling!

I feel as though I’m starting to get a better understanding of what kingdom means just through what I have been doing and seeing how people live for God in their daily lives. I’m also feeling quite challenged through trying to make friends here, It’s a quite hard situation to be in, it can be quite intimidating at times but I’m willing to try my hardest and I’m sure God wants me to make friends so he will help me through it! I also went to my first Connections church meeting on Sunday too. It felt quite familiar as it has a similar vibe to my church back home which was nice, it was also good to meet a lot of Nan and Granddads friends that they have told me about. Looking forward to next week!

As it has only been my second week I have still had quite a bit of free time on my hands, next week should be busier though which I don’t mind! So in my spare I have been doing the usual, chilling out, sun bathing, swimming, picnicking and Indian dining with Nan and Granddad. It’s been such a great week!

It’s Friday so tonight is the next youth meeting which I will be going too, looking forward to it as I enjoyed it last week and feeling a bit more sociable today J and tomorrow I’m staying around someone’s house as Nan and Granddad are away, I’m looking forward to it because it will be a good opportunity for me to make some closer friends! 

Peace out

Sometimes I pretend to be normal, but it gets boring so I go back to being me...

Pointless Post..

I saw this picture on Google and just loved it! Its a lil cheesy but I think its a good example of me and a lot of my friends! I've posted a picture of me 
(Being a lil weird) but I'm pretty proud of the picture tbh!!!

Taterssssssssssss