i am not who i was when i took my first step...

I am home! It is so nice to be back, but I am missing Africa a little. I am sure that it is going to take some time to adjust to life back in the states and process through the last 5 months. I feel like i belong in both places... It's all a bit confusing, but I do know this: I am not the same person I was when I got on that plane to South Africa in January. Now I get to walk with God to figure out how that change is relevant to life here!

To all of you who supported me, prayed for me, and sent me letters during my time in South Africa, you have my sincerest gratitude! There were days when all that kept me going were those prayers and words of encouragement... Thank you! I look forward to catching up with all of you! Let me know if you want to have a coffee date :)

For those of you that I have not yet updated, I will be interning again this summer at SEBC... I am really excited about it! You can be praying for me as i make my transition - we head out for camp on Sunday :)

I will start Nursing school at the University of Utah this fall... 2 years to go!

Until my next big adventure,

Jarah

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. -Isaiah 9:2

an exquisite pain...

Happy monday, dear friends! It's among the most bittersweet of days - we only have one week left here in Johannesburg before we set out to debrief. I am so looking forward to being able to see everyone back at home, but the thought of leaving is hard for me to swallow.

This morning in our last team meeting, Phyllis described the sacrifice of a missionary as an "exquisite pain." No matter how humbly we may have to live or how many comforts we have to give up, the greatest sacrifice comes each time we board a plane. It is never easy to leave those you love. My departure from the States was difficult, but I knew that I was going to return. As I am preparing to leave South Africa, my heart has grown so heavy knowing it is highly possible I will never see these people again.

The pain of leaving can be described as "exquisite" because it's accompanied by a certain beauty - knowing that somehow you will never be the same because of the people you came to love and the lessons you learned in the most unexpected of places. Leaving is definitely going to be difficult, but not devoid of joy or blessing.

Please continue to pray for us as we say our goodbyes... Pray that we will be able to have good closure, pointing others to the God who lives in us. Pray that we will be able to remember that we are one link, just one small piece, in God's plans for the lives of the people here - ask God to help us to trust him to continue to grow them and keep them strong long after our departure.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Jarah

oh, how I'm going to miss these endless games of peek-a-boo

...a new set of stars...

Hey everybody! We got back from our 3-day holiday to Pilanesberg late last night. We had an amazing trip... it was so great to be able to escape the noise and busyness of Johannesburg for a couple of days. Pilanesberg is absolutely gorgeous - it's very mountainous but still has the african plain feel. I cannot justly describe how beautiful this place was. The night sky was one of my favorite scenes - the milky way is so brilliant and the constellations are all new to my eyes. Every night from about 6 p.m. on, my gaze was fixed on the sky.

We were able to see a wide variety of wildlife: zebras, giraffes, lions, elephants, kudu, impala, warthog, hartebeest, waterbuck, rhinos, wildebeest, hippos, baboons and monkeys (I'm sure I'm forgetting something...). I left feeling so blessed to have had that experience! We had an amazing trip - thank you for your prayers!

from an awed heart,

Jarah

you never said it would be easy, you only said i'd never go alone...

Happy Monday! We had another very full week... it's been difficult emotionally as we are trying to balance intentionality and boldness in our relationships with good closure. There have definitely been days where my heart has been very heavy, but God is good and has been covering me with His grace.I am short on time but here are some quick highlights from the past week:

• One of the security guards from our apartment complex came to church with us on Sunday night... we have had a great time getting to know him. You can pray for us as we continue to reach out to him (His name is Matthew).
  
• We were able to visit Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton
  
• One of our older youth, Iswamo, led the Sunday morning Bible study time. It was awesome to see his excitement for learning how to facilitate and teach a Bible study. He taught on Moses and did a great job. I am so proud of him!
• The kiddos at the orphanage singing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Rise & Shine."
• I had some great one-on-one time with some of the girls in our youth group... I cannot tell you how much I enjoy mentoring them!
• Melodie's goodbye party
• Sushi with Stacie and the Greenstone girls (Nikki & Amanda)

Here are some pictures... we were finally able to bring our cameras to the orphanage, so I included a few shots of their sweet faces.

Amanda, Melodie & myself at Nelson Mandela Square

Brandon

Tiny

Nompele (I want to take her home with me!)

We only have 3 weeks left at Lyndhurst before we head out to debrief. Please continue to pray that we will finish well and continue to keep our eyes fixed upon Christ. I will probably not be able to write next week... a group of us are taking a 3 day trip to Pilansburg (a game park a few hours away).

Wishing you the happiest of weeks,

Jarah

p.s. Happy Birthday, Kaitlyn & Josh... Happy Mother's Day, sweet momma

Hebrews 12:1-2

Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith...

how to speak like a south african...

Ag Man! ..... Oh man!
Aikona! ….. No way!
Bakkie ….. Pick-up truck
Biltong ….. Dried mean/Jerky
Biscuit ….. Cookie
Boerewors ….. Spicy sausage
Bokkie ….. Sweetheart
Bonnet ….. Hood of a car
Boot ….. Trunk of a car
Braai ….. Barbecue
Cherry ….. Girlfriend
Cozzie ….. Swimsuit
Doff ….. Stupid
Dorp ….. Small town
Fundi ….. An expert
Hash key ….. Pound key
Hooting ….. Honking
Howzit? ….. How are you?
Izzit? ….. Really?
Jersey ….. Sweater/Sweatshirt
Jolling ….. Having Fun
Just now ….. Sometime soon
Lekker ….. Great
Miggie ….. Little flying bug
Mozzie ….. Mosquito
Muti ….. Medicine
My bru ….. My brother
My China ….. My mate (boyfriend/girlfriend)
Now now ….. Very soon
Robot ….. Traffic Light
Sammie ….. Sandwich
Serviette ….. Napkin
SMS ….. Text Message
Tekkies ….. Sneakers
Tsotsi ….. Thief
Yebo ….. Yes

Hey all! It's been a good week... i don't have much to update you on so i thought I would just write a fun post. Things went fairly well with the elections this week... there were a few isolated cases of violence, but overall, things went down peacefully!

sending my love,

Jarah

John 4:34 - "Then Jesus explained: 'My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.'"

I got accepted...

...to the University of Utah's nursing program! I am so excited! God is GOOD!

Psalm 115:1 - "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness!"

for in Him we live and move and exist

Sanibona! Hey everyone! I am sitting in the business lounge at the conference center where I've spent the last 5 days. We have been in meetings all week long for the IMB's Annual Mission Team Meeting (AMTM). It has definitely been an interesting week - I have learned a lot about this organization and the restructuring that's currently going on. So much of the financial and logistical information is over my head. It has definitely opened my eyes to the reality of being a full-time missionary; it's not as romantic as one might think. I truly have been so blessed and encouraged to be able to spend some quality time with the other missionaries serving in southern Africa. It has been incredible to be able to hear their stories; both their struggles and victories are a beautiful testament to God's provision and faithfulness. I have been blessed by their humility and the strength of their faith.

It's also really been beautiful to see the sense of family that is evident among the missionaries here. It seems as if I have had a small glimpse into what Christ was talking about in Mark 10:29-31 when he says, "Yes, I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, property - along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be greatest then."

Overall, it has been such an awesome week! We have been able to catch up with our Hands-on friends that we met at orientation. It has been great to hear about what God has done in their time in Botswana and Pietermaritzburg. Sometimes the stories that we hear from the mission field can become commonplace, but I have found myself overwhelmed with the goodness of the Lord and what he's doing on this continent. I truly stand amazed!!!

My time here is so very short... I only have 6 weeks left! That does not at all seem possible! Please continue to pray for us in these remaining weeks - we definitely have some tough things ahead. Pray that we will continue to walk in the Spirit and look to the Lord in all things!

Sizobonana!

Jarah

p.s. The elections are being held in South Africa this Wednesday. Our safety should not be a huge concern, but please pray for a peaceful and calm election day!!!

i love you all.