What time off

Who would have thought, yesterday afternoon was the first time I had some time off, and I really enjoyed it. I was able to catch part of a discussion in the women in ministry lounge, and then I was able to sit and watch Tim Keller speak about mega cities.

Today though we are heading out and about Cape Town, looking to see some new things and experience things. Last night we went out and had just some good times and great discussions. I met a wonderful women who understands the struggle of coming to be a female leader in a world where male leadership has been so predominantly historical. It was great to talk with her, and even though she is from Australia, it was great to find common ground and talk with someone who has much experience learning to find and use her voice and her gifts.

Things here at Cape Town have been good, not sure they were as dramatically changing as I thought they would be but we still have 4 days, God can do big things.

Please continue to pray for the Congress and the Team,
Much love to you all
Sarah

Tuesday

I am having a hard time keeping track of the days, it seems like they are going by so fast.

Cape Town 2010 is proving to be just an amazing experience. Last night I sat in on a plenary session in which Asia and the suffering church were the two things that were most discussed. I was enlightened and found myself disturbed by their stories. To see that we as humans are still so oppressive to people makes me mad.

I wonder why it is that some people can radically defy what would be considered moral living, if not Christianity. (Although I know that sounds like a very western statement)

The night before last I have the pleasure of meeting such a saintly woman I was blown away by her humility and grace. She is so beautiful inside and out. She is that leader that is talked about in Hebrews 13:7 who's life is one that you want to emulate.

There is so much going on today, please be praying for this congress, it seems that it is all the little things that are going wrong, but those little things leave a big mark. It is not necessarily with me (although I did start my anti-biotic yesterday because my head cold became a sinus infection) It is little things like trying to stabilize a network so that 6000 people can be using it.

You know all those little things. Continue to pray that I will leave a changed person. That this congress will show me things, teach me things and not leave me unchanged.

Until next time!
Blessings and love, from Cape Town

Saturday

Greetings from the IT department at Lausanne 2010. Yes you read that correctly, yours truly has been transferred to the IT department. Well at least I am on loan. I mean I am having a great time showing people how to connect to the wireless... when it is up anyway. I have also spent the day networking printers and computers. Who would have guessed that I would ever be on an IT team.

While here at the Congress I also have a few other jobs, I am what they call crowd flow control. That means I get to practice my shepherding, by ushering over 1,000 people in the correct direction. ( Don't you feel God is leading you that way... I do! LOL ) I am also what they call a multiplex room steward. Meaning that during the multiplexes I stand at the door and only allow certain people in at certain times. Then I must tell them they can no longer come in.

What an amazing time this is. I was able to see part of the opening ceremonies... wow. It was amazing and that was with over 700 empty tables I can't wait to see what it is like when all those4,600 people are sitting in them.

Since we have been here we have all met some really great people and been introduced to several others. What a great opportunity to meet some real mover and shakers in the Christian Community.

Since being here we have been working really hard but have all really enjoyed it. Can't wait to begin to find some time to process some great things.

Miss you all, would love to hear from you. E-mail is the best.

Friday Lausanne !

Greetings from the CTICC, the Cape Town International Conference Center! What an incredible day. The day first started with our devotions. What a convicting time that was. I must admit in my heart there was a little bit of grumbling, you see my accomodations are clean, but simple however I was a little complaining in my heart. Today during our devotions we were called out and reminded that we are here to serve, and it will be hard and long work.

Then I was told that my day off was no longer my day and I was going to work. I arrived at work and was placed on the accomodation team and spent the morning welcoming people to Cape Town 2010.

During supper hours we met up with our local contact 'Big Luke'. Luke spent the rest of the afternoon and evening walking with us all over cape town city, and I do mean all over cape town city. We ate at a local south African/ Indian food court, we walked to the Castle Cape Town, and up to the Parliament buildings and then over the Muslim community and on back to the convention center. Needless to say I have walked more in the last few days then I have in a very very long time.

Right now it is 11:00 pm and I am still at the desk and tomorrow I report back here at 6:00 am. However I am meeting some amazing people that I know I will see in Heaven some day.

What an amazing opportunity.

Till tomorrow.

Day Two and Day Three

I can't believe time is flying by so fast. Things here have been crazy busy but very fun. We have had a great mix of training and sight seeing. And today was no exception. We spent the morning sight-seeing and then this afternoon we spent some time in the townships. Townships were the neighborhoods in which the people moved into during the troubled years. Currently they are still living there and they are growing.

I have so much to process through. My western mind would say that there is no way these people could be happy living in these conditions, but ... as I spent the time with them I did this afternoon, and had a chance to talk with them .... they are content. Sure they would like to see things better but for now... they are proud of what they have accomplished.

More to come...

Sarah

Cape Town

Cape Town 2010

Day Two Bergkroon, Wellington

Tuesday October 13 – Team Building

5:30 am

Way to early for the alarm to be going off... I mean it feels like I just fell asleep. Yesterday we arrived here at The African Train Lodge. It is basic accommodation but lets just say it doesn’t match the pictures that are on the internet. I at first was quite disillusioned if I could confess that. You see it isn’t that I require above average hotel stuff, I just simply want a hot shower and a place to lay my head and that is what they offer that and a nice warm breakfast.

I am not sure how it happened but I have become the steward rep. at the train lodge. Myself and my new friend Dan, we have been put in charge of organizing all 200 stewards that are here getting them out the door and on their way.

Today we left the train lodge and had a morning of team building. Where we met Doug Birdsall, I was able to be introduced to him and his Jaimie, we also met others from the planning committee of Lausanne 2010.

We were spoken to during out morning devotions and they spoke on Ephesians 4:1 Being in worth of the calling you have received in Christ. They spoke of bringing our life up to that standard who we are called to elevate our actions to a place that speaks of being worthy of the life we were called to.

Team Building

The team from Rockland, a d camping ministry was there at Bergkroon to help us get to know one another. In the process we were playing a game where there were thirty maps of countries and we had to assemble them, by finding the other people in our country. Then we were required to research the country we have and find a creative way to present that information in three minutes flat.

Unity

One of the major themes of the Congress is Unity. Becoming the one body as is put forth by Paul in Ephesians. That we are called to one body, one spirit, on God. The hope is that as a result of Cape Town 2010, we will know what it is we as a church universally need to be focused on and aware of.

What a great experience this have been so far. I am sitting here at a cafe in the middle of Cape Town, with Heraclio (from the NY campus) and it seems so normal. In a country where I was certain I would feel lost and out of place, but I don't. Instead I feel comfortable and am really having a great time.

I have met some amazing people, who I hope by the time I will call friends. They are from South Africa, Norway, Brazil, and Argentina. What an amazing experience.

Day One on The Cape Town Trip

Greetings from almost Cape Town! Yesterday or maybe it was just today we left from JFK. 10 what many would call strangers, all bound by the simple fact that we have dedicated ourselves to ministry for the Lord, have been brought together to travel to the Lausanne Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. Two Team meetings and a 14 hour plane ride later, and it is safe to say that... we are no longer strangers bound by our faith but are quickly becoming friends and a some what dysfunctional family.

Our goal to honor the Lord and see what is happening in the Kingdom world wide, our purpose to serve, observe, witness and participate. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Some of us have left behind spouses, children, family, we all have left behind people who are faithfully committed to praying for not only us individually, but as a team, and for the Congress on the whole.

Will you join them in that? Speaking of prayer requests ...will you be praying for the people in China, over 200 delegates ready to leave for this event have been banned from traveling. Not only would their participation be a disappointment for them but, the rest of the world would be missing out on hearing from people representing one of the fastest growing Church bodies in the world. Pray that they would be allowed to join us.

Well I have friends waiting to check e-mail... it is good to share..at least that is what they taught me in Kindergarten and we learned all we needed to know there. (at least that is what they say)

Pray for us. Stay tuned more updates to come.

Wow where has the time gone

I can hardly believe that we are now in October. It has been a crazy start to this semester and in just a few days I will be leaving for Cape Town, South Africa. I feel as though there is so much going on that I am not sure where to begin this blog.

I have now been doing Jenny Craig for over a month and I love it. It has finally begun to make a real difference in my appearance. Although this, if I am being honest this is proving to be rather challenging and unsettling. WHich is catching me completely off guard. I would have thought that looking thinner would be the end all for me, but it so far is not proving to be true.

A friend said to me just the other day, 'Sarah it seems like you aren't comfortable in your own skin' and it is true. I looked in the mirror the other day and saw someone different, and I am just not sure what to do with that.

It is a good feeling, just different. I am beginning to see that it isn't for me about looking better, but about feeling better, which I do. Since I am feeling better I am learning to view myself in a healthier light.

Learning to make activity a part of my life has been a challenge but a good one. Now I really am looking forward to being active in each day.

School is going well, but I am looking towards the ever closing in date of my trip to South Africa. This should be an amazing trip. I am concern about staying on program I will be gone for over 15 days. It will be hard but I don't want to have to re-loose or make up for damage towards my goal on this trip.

Sorry for my ramblings tonight. As I am reading this, I am just in awe of what the Lord is doing through all of this. He has given me the chance to really go after somethings. TO make changes that will free me to be able to serve in a healthier and more effective manner for the kingdom. Right now I need to spend time focusing on dealing with these things so that in the future they will be smaller and not as intrusive.

Oh well just some random thoughts.