At Peace - October Update

Beautiful Campus we stayed at in Guelph

This week I have been out in Guelph, Ontario doing a cross-cultural training in preparation to head to South Africa. It has been a really great week meeting and getting to know others who are heading out to different parts of the world with various organizations.  It is really wonderful how God can bring together so many different people from unique backgrounds who have one thing in common, the love of God. We have all connected really well, all in the process of stepping out in faith and asking God to provide as we walk in obedience. 

 

The one thing we keep coming back to, is the heart of what we are doing, worship. For me it has been a good reminder to make sure I check my motivations and my heart behind what I am going to do. I think because I have been out to South Africa and have the relationships with the kids, knowing they have been asking when I am coming back, it is easy for me to get caught up in going back as soon as possible, but also a bit selfishly. I miss my kids.  But why am I really going to Lily of the Valley? To be a part of the kids’ lives by showing and sharing the love of Christ with them.

Nomail and I

One of the girls I am really looking forward to seeing actually isn’t living at Lily anymore, but we have been close for 3 years now.  She, Nomali, graduated grade 12 and has been living out on her own working as a firefighter for 2 years. Being able to mentor and be a friend to her has been a growing experience for me. We laugh so much together, but we also have really hard conversations where I get to challenge her on deep life issues.  She know what I believe and that it affects every part of the way I choose to live. In this she has challenged me in asking the hard questions. I continue to pray for Nomali that one day she will make the decision to follow Jesus whole-heartedly and not worry what others will think of her.

Boys looking at the animals across the valley at Lily

Update on departure:As some of you may remember, my goal was to be leaving at the end of October for South Africa from Toronto with my visa. Currently because of where I stand financially with my monthly support, I cannot go. I am still here in Guelph for another week, learning, growing and listening to God. After I will be going back to Toronto to apply for my visa, and finally back to Calgary to finish support-raising. My new goal is to be leaving November 25^th. Please pray with me for God’s provision for others to partner monthly. I am currently at 57%.

Beautiful Sunset at Lily

prayer items

- Education at Lily currently and future plans

- God to work in people’s hearts to partner with me in finances to get to 100%

- My visa application meeting on October 29th

- Thanks for continued peace from God

His Timing Is Perfect - September Update

My last three months have been busy. I have been working taking care of this sweet little girl. During my extra time and in her nap times I have been organising and meeting with people to invite them to partner with me as I get ready to head back to South Africa. 

This time has been stretching as I have set goals but can’t always reach them. I have been learning that God’s timing is perfect, even if it is not what I wanted. I believe I have been doing what I can to contact people and share my heart for the kids at Lily of the Valley; where I will be going back to serve for the next 3 years. However, praying and asking people to partner with me is all I can do; the rest is in God’s hands. I have been learning to wait, wait on the Lord. He is the one who will work in people’s hearts to partner with me in prayer and financial ways. Thank you to those who have been willing to partner with me in prayer and financially; this is so special.

View of Lily and the outside play area

I want to give an update on where I am at for financial support. So far God has provided 56.33% of my monthly support, along with many one-time donations to cover costs which need to be covered before I leave! God is good! My goal is to be at 100% monthly support and have all my one-time costs covered by October 1^st. If you are not yet partnering with me and want to help me get to this mark, the link below would help you get to the SIM giving website. 

https://www.sim.ca/missionaries/Davies   - Canadian Link

https://www.simusa.org/give?id=047821-001&name=Davies&dsg=support - USA Link

There are so many things I am looking forward to as I get ready to go back to Lily. One of the things I am most looking forward to about being back with the kids is tutoring. I thoroughly enjoyed the tutoring times with the grade 8 boys. Monday to Thursday the boys would come for an hour giving them a quiet space where they come to do homework. Myself or another volunteer or staff would be there to help if they had questions about any assignments they had. Even if I sometimes had to use YouTube videos to help explain or even refresh my own memory of how something worked; it was always a way to connect with these boys. 

The education the kids at Lily receive is not ideal. They have been attending public schools in the community; as it is what is close by and what is affordable. They often have over 80 students in one class with one teacher trying to get them to settle down and listen. We strive to help each student pass their grade, but not just pass but to have them actually understand the concepts of what they are learning. This happens through tutoring, reading and opportunities for hands on learning.

Prayer Items 

-Education at Lily currently and future plans

- God to work in people’s hearts to partner with me in finances to get to 100%
- Thanks for the people and the finances he has already provided