Understanding The Bible/Term 1 ends!

Monday was the first day of our class called Understanding the Bible. This is by far my favorite classes. We began with a Bible trivia game that was quite difficult! Once we discovered we know less of the Bible than we thought we did, we talked about how important it is to understand the Bible, and understand it in the way it was meant to be understood. After lunch I had time to study and relax. I also had a mini-dance party with my roomies. It was tons of fun and I they bring me so much joy. Now after dinner, Ntsako and I realized that we need to bring awareness to dolphin violence. Did you know that dolphins kill people? Also they have bigger brains than humans. So we began a journey of bringing awareness to this situation. Later, Kerry and Minx and I went to Crawdaddy's for flock time. I had the best milkshake I've ever had. Words can not even describe how amazing it was.

Tuesday class was very good and we had homework! We had to read the book of Philemon and really "look" at it and write out things we noticed. In the afternoon we had fitness and we played Netball. This is basically a mix between basketball and football. It was so much fun!! My team had a lot of fun and we did really well! Later I got to talk to Christy which was so nice. She is doing great things at UTD and I can't wait to see what else God has planned for her future!!

Wednesday we continued talking about Philemon in class. After class I went to Waterglen with Chloe, she is awesome! Then after dinner we had house time! We watched a movie called Mom's Night Out, it was a cute movie. We also had ice cream....and a DANCE PARTY! It was a lot of fun!!

Thursday was the last day of class! Then we had chapel. During Chapel, the school presented YOYL with a gift! Last year they celebrated 25 years and so the school promised us a gift, which is a beautiful painting representing the 25 years of YOYL. After chapel we had community lunch and it was a beautiful day outside! Then everyone had to get ready for Stories of Hope. It was an event held by the YOYL full-year students. It was very cool! They performed some of the routines they do on outreach and shared testimonies of how outreach went. I really enjoyed it!! I also *finally* received a letter from my mom and sister!

Friday the holiday began! First we did plotties in the morning then I packed up my stuff and chilled. Later I walked to the Noviskies, they are being so kind to let me stay with them for the two week holiday!! I am so very thankful for them! We went to their friend's house for a braii. Their friends were missionaries in Yemen and Jordan for 11 years! It was amazing to meet these people and make new connections.

Saturday I slept in and had some time to chill. I also found out that I have been accepted to A&M...again. I am actually excited but still praying about whether or not this is the next step for me. I am almost fully convinced that it is but don't be surprised if it's not! Then I went with Chandra to help shop for groceries and then we got ready for dinner. I also got to call my mom and dad and while I was on the phone with them Jonathan called! So I was talking to my parents in Texas, and my brother in Asia! It was interesting and very cool, I am incredibly thankful for technology!! Then we had some delicious burgers and watched a movie.

Sunday I again got to sleep in and yes, I skipped church. But I caught up on some rest and it was nice and quiet, which there is not a lot of that in the community houses. I also got to watch the Cowboys game from last week!  I am so thankful that I will get to spend this holiday with the Noviskie family! They are so awesome!!

--sea'sadventures--

Hearing God's Voice

This week we started a class about hearing God's voice!

Monday was the first lesson and Auntie Pam taught us first. Then Ester taught another lesson. They both involved looking at pictures and waiting and listening to what God wants to tell us through the picture. We got a chance to pick a picture for ourselves and write what the Lord told us and then we picked a picture for someone else and wrote something from the Lord for them. It was very cool to get the chance to minister and be ministered to in class. Then I went to Waterglen with Minx and Nonto the two mid-year girls. Later I got most of my stuff ready to move back into Potters house!

Tuesday Ester and Auntie Pam taught us again. We learned about lecto divino and then inward, outward, and community disciplines. These we probably my favorite teachings. Then on the way home it started raining! I had to run home because my clothes were outside on the line! And of course, as soon as I get half my clothes off, it stops raining. It was a nice five minute rain so I got to leave the rest of my clothes outside. After lunch I officially moved all my stuff back into Potters and we cleaned the house so when the outreach teams got home it would be nice. We had silent evening so, after announcements we had to be completely silent until class the next day. It was very very nice. I had extra time (and quiet time) to do my devotions. 

Wednesday a few different people spoke to us in class about how God speaks to them in different ways. The outreach teams came home in the afternoon!! It was so awesome to have them back and I missed them so much! I got to hear a lot of their stories until the soaking session at church which was very good. 

Thursday during class we exercised how five senses and the point was that God can speak to us through every sense! After class we had time to relax before chapel. Later in the afternoon we had fitness and we played baseball which was a lot of fun! Then a lot of us went to a concert at the church. It was one of the church member's orchestra. We had fun even though it was more of a rehearsal performance. 

Friday we did plotties! Then for community project we weeded the vegetable garden. It was nice and sunny and hot outside. Later I got to chat with my dear friend Christy! 

Saturday was very chill. I slept in and then relaxed until a group of us went to Menlyn Mall. We had fun walking around and we ate at a place called Parrots. When I got home I got to call my Mom and Joely and Mati. It is always so nice to talk with them! 

Sunday morning Stuart Bell preached again and it was a very encouraging message! After the service I came home and got to chat with my Dad. Then I had a lot of free time until the evening service. The evening service was very powerful! We talked about sonship vs. slavery and then being heirs. It was incredible and I can't believe how much I am absorbing here! 

It's been a fantastic week!

--sea'sadventures--

Work Week

Monday was off! I got to sleep in and relax the entire day! We chilled until after dinner, and for flock we went to Cappuccino's. It was just me, Nonto, Minx, and Kerry and we had a very good time. While we were eating we saw a mouse!! In more or less words, we basically freaked out and everyone else was so chill. The manager came up to explain that due to construction on one part of the mall, there have been mice. Isn't that comforting? Ha! Well we had fun with it anyway and ended the night by stopping at the candy store for sweets.

Tuesday was the first day of work week! This is so we have the opportunity to apply what we learned in LTS. We worked with the venues/hospitality department at the church. The first day was very easy. We helped clean up after a funeral and we did some inventory. After lunch we met up with Mieka to learn about how our personality tests turned out. It was a color based test. And most of our team is green! This means we are laid back and chill, which perfectly describes most of us. My scores were nearly even across the board, so I was green, blue, red, and yellow. It was very fun to learn about how each of us respond to things based on our personality.

Wednesday we shadowed people who work in the department. I shadowed Mamma Macy and we cleaned the bathrooms on the training center floor and then we washed tons of dishes! After lunch we did more of the same cleaning. We were free in the afternoon until the "soaking/seeking" session at church. Each week these services get better and better! I am excited to see and hear about what God has in store for this next season for Hatfield.

May this forever embarrass me now that it's on the internet

Thursday we switched the people we shadowed and I worked with Elizabeth. Everyone washed windows in different areas of the church. I helped Elizabeth wash the windows of the mother's rooms and the bathrooms. We also had to take down the curtains to have them washed. We got those windows nice and clean! After we finished that, the team met back up with Auntie Nini. She took us to get yellow fabric to wrap the trees for the spring celebration on Sunday. After we found the perfect fabric she bought us hertzoggies. A traditional South African dessert. They were amazing and it was the first time any of us had had them! Then she took us to get t-shirts to match our color personality. After we found t-shirts there was a storm coming in, so Auntie Nini took us to her house (she had to look for something there anyway). We weathered the storm there and she made us ice cream coffee! It was a very good time and I loved hanging out with her! She even told me she would take care of me while I am here. She took us back to the church and we got home before it started raining more.

Friday was the last day of work week! We had to take the yellow fabric and wrap the trees. We became the "tree yellowing" team. We had tons of fun even though it was chilly outside. After that we had lunch to celebrate the end of work week and to honor Kerry because it was her birthday! We got to chat and end the week with fellowship.

After "yellowing" the trees

Before we "yellowed" the trees

Saturday I had every intention of going out and hanging out with some people but it was cold and rainy. So it made the perfect day to stay in and watch movies with everyone!

Clouds over Emmanuel house

Sunday was the spring celebration at the church! Stuart Bell from Lincoln, UK came to preach and it was a very good message! After the service everyone got ice cream! Due to the weather over the weekend, everything was moved inside. So Hatfield's Got Talent took place in the main auditorium. Kerry was one of the three finalist and she crushed her performance! It was very fun to see her up on stage and cheer for her. After that, I went home to chill before the evening service. During the evening service we talked about Forever Father, which has been the theme for the term. It made me really miss my dad but I got to chat with him after the service which was very nice!! Also after the service there was a jazz/soul night. Many talented people came and sang and the band was killing it! It was a wonderful was to end the spring celebration and kick off this new week!

I am keeping all my friends and family back home in my prayers and if there is anything specific you need prayer about feel free to message me!! I've got tons of prayer warriors around me that will jump in and agree with y'all in prayer about what you need!

Also huge shout out to everyone who has been praying for me! I am looking forward to sharing all my experiences with y'all when I get home!!

--sea'sadventures--