South Africa!

A quick health update: I have fully recovered from my sicknesses and am taking nightly runs to get ready for my senior volleyball season that starts in 3 months! Thanks to all of you for your prayers!

While my trip with my dad to South Africa was over a month ago, I believe it deserves a blog update! I am confident that every step of my trip to South Africa was truly in the hands of God.

After a night with good friends in Kigali, I set out to the airport for my Kigali-Johannesburg flight. However, upon arrival at the airport, I was informed (along with 2 other patient passengers) that we had bought tickets to a flight that no longer existed because of damage to the airplane, inconveniently inflicted two weeks earlier. Of course, I had bought my ticket 10 days before, making this the airline's problem. The point man for RwandAir informed the three of us that they would have to re-route us via Nairobi, Kenya, and then to Johannesburg, but that there was no space on the flight to Kenya.

All of a sudden, one of the women waiting for the same flight busted out pictures on her camera of her and Rwanda’s president, Kagame, the day before at an interview. It turns out that this woman was the wife of a former minister in the Nelson Mandela government of South Africa and had been personally invited by President Kagame for an interview. She was a great woman, and throughout our travels together, I learned about her work and South Africa and also got to meet the current Finance Minister of South Africa who happened to be on the same flight.

So right after she flashed these pictures to the RwandAir representative, he promptly told her he would do what he could and wrote down her name on a piece of paper. Then he asked her my name. I have to be honest, I had been flirting with him a little bit. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes! It worked didn’t it? After waiting 4 hours, we then got on the flight to Nairobi. This short flight to Nairobi presented me with another great opportunity: to speak with the Africa Great Lakes Regional director for my organization, Food for the Hungry. He said, “I think this is God telling you this is your opportunity to tell me about what’s going on in the Congo.” Another touch of God’s sovereignty.

Another 5 or so hours in Nairobi, I finally took off on the flight to Johannesburg, arriving around midnight with no baggage! Somehow I had a feeling this was going to happen. After a good hour of baggage drama, the customs officers left for the night, and my dad nearly had a heart attack. I finally emerged from the airport, and drove with my dad through the night until 4am, both of us staying awake only because of the chocolate my mom had packed for me! Shoutout: Thanks mom!

Over the next few days, my dad and I had great times of fellowship. We played with baby lions (who surprisingly bite quite hard) and went on safari in Pilannesburg park with an excellent guide, who by his unassuming pastor exterior might have never be known as the best safari guide in Joburg! Tim is the regional director for the WCG in southern Africa and was incredible in facilitating our first trip to South Africa! On our safari, I was literally 10 feet from a wild elephant; no fences, nothing. I was scared out of my mind. Apparently not too scared to take pictures! It really was exhilarating!

We were able to stay with Candida, an old friend, and her family on Saturday, which was a huge blessing to us. And on Sunday, we were able to visit two church communities in Pretoria and Johannesburg. I was so blessed to see and worship with these believers, and my dad gave me the opportunity to share my heart on my experiences in the DRC.

My flight back was an overnight stay in Nairobi, and I met an incredible Rwandan woman who was a believer and shared with me a miraculous story of healing in her family. Her 21-year-old daughter suffered from brain cancer for 5 years, and as a single mother, she worked hard to send her to India for the best treatment. After medical treatment failed, she fell down before Jesus and committed her daughter to Him. Since that time two years ago, Jesus has been healing her and she can now function almost fully on her own. She has ambitions to go to school and become a nurse! I was so encouraged when I saw the pictures and heard the story of redemption.

Since coming back to the DRC, I have reflected back over my time in South Africa and in transit to and from. I was truly able to rest in the beauty of God’s creation while I was in South Africa. It was a time, however short, of renewal and growth. Thanks to all those who made it so memorable. I can’t wait to go back!