Breakfast at Silver Palms

I have found a new favorite breakfast cereal. My appetite hasn't been very good lately and I find myself hardly every hungry but I wake up excited each morning to have a bowl of this. It is so YUMMY!

Discipling 101

I really love living with my house mates.  The are a blessing and we are having a lot of fun together.  The first week my Swiss friend baked her family bread and I sat and watched her do it.  Then she told me that next time she would help me make it. We had a lot of fun doing it.

 

Cornelia showing me how to braid the bread!

I needed a little help!

I had a great teacher!

The finished product and oh so YUMMY!

After making the bread she told me she was done discipling me and that next time I will bake it by myself. I hope it comes out this good!

Fun at the Beach

My new German friend (and housemate) and I took our kids to the beach this past weekend.  It was a perfect day to play in the sand!

The kids trying to make a sand castle!

Davis playing with a boy from Masi!

Anette and I. She makes me laugh every time I am around her!  She is already blessing my life!

Shark Food

At every beach in Cape Town you will find a flag with a shark on it with a certain color background.  Each colored flag has a meaning that has to do with whether or not a shark has been spotted.  In my mind I really do not care about what the colors mean. It could say a shark hasn't been spotted for years and I wouldn't be caught dead swimming in the water.  NO THANK YOU!

This flag means that a shark has been spotted in the last few hours. 

What is wrong with this picture? A shark has been spotted a few hours ago and they are willing to be lunch! :) 

What is Wrong with this Picture?

At every beach in Cape Town you will find a flag with a shark on it with a certain color background.  Each colored flag has a meaning that has to do with whether or not a shark has been spotted.  In my mind I really do not care about what the colors mean. It could say a shark hasn't been spotted for years and I wouldn't be caught dead swimming in the water.  NO THANK YOU!

This flag means that a shark has been spotted in the last few hours. 

What is wrong with this picture? A shark has been spotted a few hours ago and they are willing to be lunch! :) 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Living in Community

It is not always easy or fun living in community. You have to play your part if you want things to run smoothly. Since CPx started I have cleaned many toilets, dishes, pots and pans, swept, mopped, and stacked chairs.

I am very happy to be a part of the All Nation community and I know this is one price I have to pay to be here. God is definitely shaping me in many ways!

Happy Valentine's Day

I can't believe that Noah and I have spent 13 Valentine's Days together! I have to say that I am more in love with him today then 13 years ago and I was pretty head over heels for this boy.  For Valentine's Day we usually just do cards and dinner.  Today I came into our room and found two red roses from my two favorite boys and a piece of chocolate.  It was so sweet!!!  Tomorrow we are going to do something special as a family.  Tomorrow is a day of love, so I wouldn't want to spend it any other way then with my two loves!

When I think about Valentine's Day and the people that I love I can't get away from the most important person that I love and that loves me.  He Loved me so much that He died for me! So tomorrow when you are passing out Valentine's to all the people you love, remember the one who loves you the most.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Leaving at Silver Palms

Davis totally hates taking a shower at the guest house we are living in. It changes from hot to cold very quickly and this makes him cry the whole time. At week 3 I had to do something so this is what I came up with.

He is Davis' new bathtub! It is really used for bathing dogs but it works for 4 year old boys too!

Along with the 10 YWAMERs, we are also living with two other families. One family from Switzerland with two kids and a German family with three kids. Unfortunately Davis can't understand what they are saying but it doesn't stop him from playing with them. They are having a blast running around and playing with each others things.

Tonight I caught them all in one of the kid's room watching a show. It was so cute to see them all together. They are going to be great friends!!!

Don't Invest in People For a Return

Life is a journey of learning lessons and healing from past mistakes.  God has been doing a work in me for a while now, but at times it never seems done.  At times, I have struggled with having unrealistic expectations on people.  For instance, when I care for someone or their family, I do so deeply.  I makes sure I am available to serve in anyway I can.  If a person I care about has kids I will embrace them with deep love.  I enjoy serving and being hospitable to people. 

 
That said, I think oftentimes, I am doing it for the wrong reasons.  I am investing in them expecting them to return the same caring spirit.  So in essence I am expecting them to be me, when I should be giving without needing anything in return.  This concept is so hard for me because I too have feelings and want people to reach back, but that is not Christ-like.  Jesus spent His days pouring into people and at the end of his life He had no one.  If that wasn’t bad enough, He was nailed to a cross for his love.

 
Noah and I went to breakfast the other day with friends that we met in the states that were moving to Cape Town a month before us.  I was sharing some of my story and hurts and the husband (Dave) looked at me and said I have a word for you: 

 
“God does not want you to invest yourself in anyone because investors except profit on their investments.  This results in emotional drain when we don’t get it.  He wants you to spend yourself on others with no expectation of return.”

 This word has messed with Noah and my head since we heard it.  He is so right and if I truly love loving people, then I need to let go of my expectations.  Why has it taken me so long to get here?  I am thanking God everyday for bringing people into my life that are helping me change and grow to be more like Jesus and less like Tricia.

What a Blessing

This couple has really blessed us since the moment we got to South Africa.  Sometimes it takes awhile to know if you are going to click with someone, but this couple stole our heart from HELLO! They have excepted us into their home (many times already), family, and most importantly their hearts. We have connected so well to them as a couple and Noah and Richard have hit it off and I to Bernice.  I feel so comfortable around her; like we have always know each other.  God knew exactly what we needed and had it ready when we arrived.

This morning I was feeling a bit homesick and wanted to talk to either of my moms, but of course they were busy with their beauty sleep (7 hour time difference) and as I was wishing that, I got a text from Bernice.  She was checking in (from China)  and seeing how I was doing and sending her love.  Again God knew what I needed and he made it happen.  

"Thank you Richard and Bernice for opening your lives and heart to us and thank you God for paving the way!"