“While doing house checks, I saw incredible faith especially given the hard circumstances people were living in, and that was encouraging to see God’s hand in their lives.” – Caden
Our time here in South Africa is coming to a close, but I know the many experiences we’ve had here will leave a lasting impact. As we’ve been reflecting on the past month I’ve realized how evident God has been throughout this trip. From the big moments to the little things, I’ve learned to pay closer attention to the Lord’s hand in it all.
Coming to South Africa I quickly realized how important it is to the people here to share their stories with others. There’s so much beauty in the openness of people I’ve met here and I hope to carry that home with me. I learned so much from listening to others, hearing how God has worked in their lives, which caused me to reflect on His presence in my life.
I now have many stories to share of the past month. My team had the privilege of working with Living Hope for the entirety of the trip. We served in a variety of ways, from maintenance work to participating in at home healthcare checks to praying in the local communities.
A highlight of my trip was helping with the kids after school program in Masiphumelele. I remember being there as the kids worshipped and being brought to tears because of how they sang their hearts out. They had so much joy and it was beautiful to see. I know that the opportunities we had to get to know these precious kids was such a blessing to me and those on my team.
I also learned to pay more attention to how the Lord works in the things that seem mundane. On our last project day my team helped sort excess donations for a pop-up shop Living Hope is hosting in the coming weeks. We pulled nearly half a shipping container’s worth of stuff out and at first I was really overwhelmed and didn’t think I could do the job. We later took the time to pray over the items that were set out and I realized in that moment that sorting the donations was just as important as the other jobs we’d done. I realized that God had blessed Living Hope not just with what they needed, but with an abundance that they were stewarding well to further their ministry. I was blessed to not only participate in the pop-up shop setup and serve in that way, but for the perspective shift that I will hopefully carry with me throughout the rest of the semester.
I know that God has taught me a lot and moved powerfully during International Immersion. We not only heard, but also experienced so many stories that will hold a special place in my memories for a long time. International Immersion far exceeded any expectations I had and has definitely been a life changing experience.
Skylar Hickman
Class XIX Fellow