Protected: Cape Town – Pics from 1st week…

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i heart my church!!!

If you think that my frequency of trips to Starbucks n’ the shops are aplenty, then you’ll probably think that the amount of time that I spend in church is crazy! Haha…

I LOVE my church, which has been my ‘home’ now for the past decade, where I’ve had the pleasure of building great relationships and where I’ve been challenged to grow in every way. (So many mindsets broken by the Word of God!)  It has also been the place where I’ve been able to give of myself in service with my talents n’ giftings… To know that my contribution, together with the sacrifices of so many others, is bigger COLLECTIVELY and more able to bless MULTITUDES MORE than I could ever dream of really makes me feel like I’m a part of something BIGGER n’ MORE AMAZING than my self, my life and my wants.

I have so much more to say about this but I’m gonna get ready to go back to my fav place now

21 days n’ (not counting)…

Can’t remember if I’ve ever said this here… but I find that during a time of transition, everything seems more ‘meaningful.’ It’s as if your senses become heightened. Sunsets and sunrises appear more beautiful… Greens look greener, blues look bluer… And the presence of your friends?… SO precious!!!

Tonight I had the privilege of having dinner with a bunch of amazing people that I serve in church with (actually my last Connect *sob*). We had a feast (totally should do this more often!!!) and then a time when everyone just said the loveliest things to me. Everyone encouraged my heart and many spoke words that God knew I needed to hear.

I have to admit I was a little ‘nervous’ going into my first ‘farewell’ as I was sure I’d be a soppy ‘wreck!’ But ha! thanks to my crazy counterparts, there were many laughs all through the night! From the crazy game we, a competitive bunch of “only-winner-wannabes” played… to someone’s description of me being ‘multiple!!!’ (It was s’posed to be ‘mouldable’), it was just madness all around.

So I just need to say this… I am SO THANKFUL for all the VERY AMAZING people that God has put in my life thus far. I have been blessed with the FINEST friends and leaders all around and I am truly honoured to be able to do life with all of you. YOU! have totally helped me become who I am today because of your love, care, wisdom, guidance, prayers and JUST BECAUSE we are a team… and teams sharpen each other!

I am glad that I am ‘not leaving’… but just ‘extending the family!’ It’s heart-warming to know that my family now spans three continents *Yaay!*

Jess’ Birthday Nite-Out

I’d the joy n’ honour of celebrating Jess’ birthday on May 23! A night out in the city @ the Rocks… dining @ this yummy pizza place (where we did our crazy dares last year pretending that we were a girl band!)… then having gelato n’ strolling along the harbour before taking some crazy ‘traditional’ pics… Such great times!!! I know that I’m gonna look back at times like these when I’m faraway and just MISS YOU ALL LIKE CRAZY!!!

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Jess’ favourite picture of the night!

This is our infamous photo spot…

We love shoes.

That’s us celebrating Jess’ friendship!

Here’s a toast to my friends!

When we honestly ask which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness… makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other is what really matters. – Henri J.M Nouwen.

Cheer-me-up pressies from my dear friends, Jess n’ Claire… (I had Mickey & Tweety at my door tonight!!!)

You totally made my day my beautiful friends! You, along with others who have emailed, SMS’d, called and prayed for me have made me feel loved in this yuk time of being in bed for way too long!!!

It’s always in times like these that I think about who my truest friends are… the ones that notice when I’m a bit “off” or just a bit sad… the ones that really care and not just ask if I’m okay… the ones that celebrate my wins and make them a bigger deal than they seem to be… the ones that put kindness before inconveniences.. these are the ones that just stand out head and shoulders above the rest!

It’s also during such a time that I think about how easy it is to allow apathy and busy-ness to rob us of compassion… how stress can cause us to treat each other rashly (I am guilty!)… and how ugly humanity can become when we become ROBOTS in the doing of life.

I am learning to be a better friend as I am surrounded by some of the most encouraging and selfless people I know in all the world!

I love you heaps my friends!!!