Hello all, I am soooooo sorry it has been so long...the biggest problem is the internet connection here...I get a blog written and then the computer freezes so I have one from Thursday I will add to now...

We usually have base worship on Thursday nights from 7:30pm until I don't know when I guess it is a big deal we go to a local church and we all get to sing and dance and worship...this week it was cancelled as there was a tragedy at the base. A young man I guess in his early to mid 20's named FoFo from brazil had returned to the base just a few days earlier and then he was also just 3 days ago diagnoses with epilepsy. In our class Thursday morning about 11am we were starting to practice intercession prayer with small groups and then we got news FoFo had fallen off the roof and was non-responsive and we changed our prayers towards him. We were gathered in the dining hall about 45mins later and a Muizenberg base elder informed us FoFo had tragically fell backwards off the ledge on the roof and died on impact, they attempted to save him but the injuries were too great...DEEP BREATH!

The rest of the day was filled with shock, tears and a deepening of the unity in our community we had trauma counselors come to the base and debrief with all of us. Some of use wept, some of us were still, some of us were un-effected.

To say the least this first week has been a HUGE roller coaster. I am learning to live in community and learning to give up my will and to truly seek god for his will be done in my life.

I have been going to sleep around 10pm and waking up around 5-6 am and then going for a run/walk with up to 8 girls. Morning quiet time is supposed to be from 7:30-8:30am when we pray or read the bible or journal. This is a wonderful time to reflect and to still our minds before they day begins. 

 
On Wednesday  we had worship in the DTS (Discipleship Training School-my school)  we have 28 students so it was quite good a lot of us cried and then there were prayer requests and I was dying for a smoke and realized that when I am emotional I often numb my emotions with nicotine so I spoke up and then 28 people laid hands on me and prayed for my addiction to be broken. I sobbed… it was crazy and this was just our first worship session as our dts group!

I have been dealing with being older and trying to balance knowing and being wise with being vulnerable and letting myself process but think at this worship session I was able to break through it. I have two friends Dick and Rachama from Holland who are married and are 22 but are VERY mature like at least my age I think we will become good friends and confidants Dick is a newer christian 2 years so he likes to talk to me about  the difference from EVERYONE else who was raised in a christian home so it is good they are also holding me accountable from taking on too much.

I am realizing all that YWAM has to offer the courses etc and I am really excited what the future holds and where. We may be going to Thailand for our outreach mid December for two months and I may then choose to help staff a DTS and then take a course in the fall called laceType>SchoollaceType> of laceName>Biblical StudieslaceName> which takes 9 months to go through the bible? I just don't know...what I do know is that preparation for being a missionary is a must and I feel I have access to that here and now...I need to continue to rely on sponsorship and it is tough to keep asking but please do keep your donations coming in and ask your friends and family if they wish to support a missionary as well!

I will try to update more often and may go to the internet cafe to upload some photos this weekend.

Be bless and make sure to hug your loved ones… you never know when they may be gone!

Kisses,J