The Lord Gives and the Lord Takes Away

The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Yesterday, I definitely got a new perspective on the cycle of life and death.

I ended up going to the funeral of a well-known pastor in the area. He was only in his late-forties, and although he had been sick for a few months, his death was still unexpected. It was quite a large funeral - I would guess it to be around 1000 people - and it ended up being quite a long one too, as person after person gave tributes about him. He was a very giving man, gave everything he had and then some, full of joy, and it was also mentioned how he had been a bit of a rascal in his younger years, but God had transformed him. And then his son gave the last tribute. And I couldn't help but shed a tear. My heart broke for this young man who is also going into ministry. But he said that his father wouldn't have wanted any tears at his funeral, because he was a man of laughter. Over and over it was emphasized how good God is, and what a day of rejoicing it was.

On the way home from the funeral, Dave received a phone call. A good friend of his needed a ride to the hospital because his wife was about to have triplets (his wife had already been in the hospital for a week or two on bed rest). Later that evening she had two girls and one boy. New life had come into the world the same day another one was being ushered out.

And then, at a bible study last night, we were told of a young lady who was new to the church whose brother committed suicide. Later I heard more of the story, and I wanted to weep. To put it simply, it's not the first tragedy the family has suffered. Tonight I had the opportunity to pray with her, but I still don't know what to say to her. I want to wrap her in my arms and tell her that God loves her, but it seems like such a pat answer, so trite, too simple. But what else do you say?

It's not right. It doesn't seem right. And yet, I think of those three little babies, and I have to remember there is still life. There is still hope. In fact, hope came into the world in the form of a baby 2000 years ago. And when He returns, there won't be any more pain or sorrow or death anymore.

The song "There Will be a Day" by Jeremy Camp has been running through my head today. It goes:

I try to hold on to this wold with everything I have

But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab

The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,

That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings

That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears

No more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place

Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we'll hold on to You always

I know the journey seems so long

You feel you're walking on your own

But there has never been a step

Where you've walked out all alone

Troubled soul don't lose your heart

Cause joy and peace He brings

And the beauty that's in store

Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I can't wait until that day where the very one

I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow I've faced

To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery

This is why this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears

No more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place

Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day He will wipe away the tears

He will wipe away the tears

He will wipe away the tears

There will be a day

I don't know why this pastor died in the prime of the ministry he was involved in. I don't know why this young man took his own life. I don't understand it. But I have to trust that God is in control. And until Jesus comes again, all I can say is:

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

In Durban, at last!

Yesterday, I finally arrived in Durban - my home for the next two years. It is very green, and very hilly - just a slight change from the prairies I grew up on. It's also extremely hot and muggy - another small change from Southern Alberta. There is currently a cricket game playing in the background - something I'm not even trying to understand right now. Apparently a game can last up to five days. I'll be honest - the crickets I'm used to are little black insects that like to chirp all day long.
I'll admit - the last week has been a tad bit overwhelming. Lots of information coming at me that I'm pretty sure I won't remember in another month. Actually, I KNOW that I won't remember it in another month because I've already forgotten most of it.
However, I think the hardest thing that I've experienced so far is my loss of independence. I've always been a fairly independent person, and all of a sudden, I have to depend on others for things like getting around, a place to live, and, most importantly, their knowledge. I'm having to ask questions about things I thought I knew about, like budgeting, how to find a cell phone plan, getting a driver's license, how to drive - things I took for granted that I knew, and all of a sudden, it's completely different. Yesterday, I had to ask Dave how to plug the light in that's in my room! (In my defense, so that you don't all think that I'm an idiot, there are at least two different kinds of plug-ins here in South Africa, and the lamp did not fit into the outlet that was near it.)
It's very humbling to realize that you don't know something and you need others to help you. At the same time, that is part of what living in a Christian community is all about. It's understanding that we cannot do it on our own - we need each other to encourage us, pray for us, help us, and sometimes simply to inform us. I am quickly realizing how blessed I am to have people that are willing to help me and answer my questions. I have been reassured so many times that if I need anything, big or small, to let them know and they will help me to the best of their abilities. Hopefully they don't regret telling me that!

First Thoughts from South Africa

I've been in Cape Town for a couple days now, and it still feels so unreal. After all those months of praying, waiting, preparing, and waiting some more, it's hard to believe that I'm actually in South Africa.
The last time I was on this continent, I was in South Sudan. And in a tiny part of the back of my mind, I think I was expecting South Africa to be like Sudan. Newsflash - it's not. I was told yesterday that I have now been to the two extremes of Africa. I think that has been the biggest "culture shock" for me. I was expecting it to be so different, and yet it's not. If I didn't know better, I would think that I had just plopped myself down in a much warmer part of Canada. It's hard to remember that although it may look, smell, and even sound (except for the accent) like Canada, it's a completely different culture, and people are probably interpreting what I say and do very differently than they would in Canada.

I went to the beach yesterday afternoon for orientation (the couple that is orientating me was shocked I hadn't been there yet, and decided I needed a proper orientation, aka the beach and ice cream). It's funny - I've been to the ocean before, but it had never seemed so powerful before. All I could sense was the wind in my face, the saltiness of the air, the roar of the ocean, and an overpowering feeling that God is present. Hopefully the rest of orientation is as fun and relaxing!

Speaking of which, I'll be in Cape Town for a few more days doing more orientation (and catching up on sleep - this whole jet lag thing is harder than I thought!). Cathy, the woman I will be working under and staying with for the first little bit in Durban, came to Cape Town yesterday, and I will be leaving with her on Wednesday for Durban. Once again, it's hard to believe it's actually happening. Four short days, and I will be there! So excited! 

Halfway There!

So I am currently hanging out in the London Heathrow Airport. Which means that I am almost halfway to Cape Town! Crazy!

I'm pretty sure that I just had the best flight ever (and I didn't even watch a single movie). After saying good-bye to my family in Calgary, I boarded the plane to London and settled into my seat. The man next to me asked where my final destination was, and I told him Cape Town, and that I was going to South Africa to do missions. He then revealed that he is also a missionary, and was headed to Ireland. Since the missions world seems to be very small, I asked him if he knew the Carlaws, two families that serve in Ireland that used to live in Bow Island several years ago. To my great surprise, it turns out that I was sitting next to Bryce Carlaw (I'll admit, I was slightly embarrassed that I hadn't recognized him...oh well). 

I don't know if he could tell that I was a little nervous about leaving, but he calmed my nerves and distracted me from my thoughts on leaving by the conversations that we had. I even managed to sleep for about half of the flight (which I wasn't sure I would be able to).

It was a miracle in the first place that I even had a seat on that plane. It is even more of a miracle that out of any of the 250 people I could have been sitting next to, it was Bryce. 

It's kind of interesting - I was originally scheduled to leave January 29, but due to some visa complications was delayed until yesterday/today (I'm not quite sure what day it is anymore...), and I was trying to find some reason for it. I don't know if this was the reason I was delayed, but I am so glad that I was in the seat I was in on the flight that I was on. 

Once again, God showed me that He is in control. He knew long ago which flights I would be on, and who I would be sitting next to. What can I say? God is amazing, and I can't help marveling at how He continually shows that He is taking care of me.