The past few months we’ve been rotating between going to a local church and watching Francis Chan podcasts on Sunday mornings (we worship as a Thrive family on Thursday nights too).

On Sunday, we watched a message by Francis (Marc’s man crush–so we’re on a first name basis), Reflecting God’s Faithfulness. He went through some of the ways God has been faithful to their church throughout the years. Even though we’re not a part of the Cornerstone Church community, it was encouraging to hear how He has provided.

It got me thinking about all of the ways God has been faithful. Not only over the past 18 months living in South Africa, but throughout my life. It’s so easy to get discouraged by circumstances, but by looking at the ways He consistently shows up, I’m overwhelmed by His faithfulness, by His love and His provision.

God is good. All the time.

When I bought my first new car in college I consulted the family car expert, my Grandpa, he was insistent on me getting something with no “extras”. He said it was just something else to go wrong.

I listened. I bought a brand spanking new car, with no power-windows, locks or cruise control. My friends made fun of me, but it was cheaper and he was right, less to go wrong.

So, now, living on the side of a mountain, I have a 9 year old Land Rover. This week I learned my grandpa’s lesson the hard way. I have a remote to unlock my SUV and the remote broke. I didn’t know this, but apparently, I have an intense security system that locks the ignition if you don’t open the door with the remote. AND if you leave it unlocked, after a few minutes it automatically locks the ignition.

This is the only way around the security system:

It is possible to disarm the Immobiliser (ignition lock) by using the EKA (Emergency Key Access) Code. The EKA Code consists of a 4 digit numerical sequence. To use an EKA code to disarm a vehicle, perform the following sequence:

1. Insert the key into the drivers door lock and turn to the unlock position.

2. Wait for 6 minutes (yeah…).

3. Turn the key to the unlock position the number of times indicated by the first digit of the EKA code.

4. Turn the key to the lock position the number of times indicated by the second digit of the EKA code.

5. Turn the key to the unlock position the number of times indicated by the third digit of the EKA code.

6. Turn the key to the lock position the number of times indicated by the fourth digit of the EKA code.

7. Turn the key to the unlock position.

If the EKA code is entered correctly, the Alarm LED will stop flashing, and the engine will start.

If you make an error while entering the EKA code, open and close the driver’s door before going back to the start of the sequence. If the EKA code is entered unsuccessfully 3 times, the system will ignore any further attempts for the next 30 minutes (this did happen to me…).

Luckily, my remote is now fixed. After nearly 2 weeks of using it, my EKA code is permanently ingrained in my memory…

Lesson learned.

Last Saturday Marc & I went to Lesotho for the day [a country landlocked within South Africa]. We drove around, took a lot of photos and visited a cave/cultural center that was used as a hospital and residence of a former king of Lesotho. Most of the people we work with at Thrive are Basotho [the people group originated in Lesotho], so it was fun to learn more about the culture and get another passport stamp.

Here are a few photos:

There are more pictures in Marc’s photo gallery here.

This week the weather makes me fall in love with South Africa all over again.

There’s a breeze, but I’ve been able to wear skirts/dresses all week [definitely a change from 2 pairs of pants a month ago...].

And, yesterday, driving to Qwa Qwa, the areas that have burned by fires [some intentional for fire breaks, some wild...] are starting to turn green. It still seems funny saying it in September [I might have issues if I move back to the Northern Hemisphere at some point]…but it’s starting to feel like Summer.

While I’m slacking on personal blogging these days…you can find me somewhere else. I post, edit and sometimes write for the ministry blog.

I have no excuse for the infrequent blog posts as of late. Or for my serious communication issues–I think my mother thinks I fell off the face of the earth sometimes (Sorry Ma!).

Here’s a bulleted list of my highlights of the past couple (three?) weeks:

• We spent a few days in Richards Bay (north of Durban) earlier this month. A family Marc knew from Michigan has a ministy there–so we hung out with them for a few days. It was an added benefit they were a few miles from the beach!
• Outreach season ended. It’s our busiest season of year…over 200 people came on mission trips so far this year.
• 24 summer interns left to go back to America. They nearly doubled our Thrive family, so it was a little weird adjusting to them not being around.

Every month when I go to pay my bills I’m amazed by God’s provision. There are definitely times where I wonder where the money will come from. I had to put a new clutch and power steering in my car (after they told me it was a new clutch when I bought it–I’m thinking used car salesmen might be similar all over the world…) last month–it was a pretty big financial blow, but God totally provided.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts as I’ve been a little MIA this summer. It’s constant encouragement knowing people are standing with us in prayer!

I was working with Thrive Trip for most of July (a missions trip for students from North America). It definitely didn’t disappoint.

I’m just starting to get back in the swing of things. I took an extra-long weekend off to visit some people (friend of friend’s–figured that’d take too long to explain) near Richard’s Bay and got back last night. It was fab (also the location of previously mentioned monkey sighting…).

Anyway…click here to see some pictures from Thrive Trip. Enjoy!

We were in Durban this morning and Tom (my trusty GPS), led us a little astray on the way to church. Our detour took us through neighborhoods with some amazing houses. But, that’s beside the point.

Last week, we were visiting friends north of Durban and we were all at the beach…they all saw monkeys in the trees near the parking lot, we didn’t.

So, we were uber excited when one was sitting in the middle of the road today in the above mentioned neighborhood.

[It's been a crazy 3 weeks...I have some good stories I'll tell in the coming days. Most do not involve monkeys].

So, I think people think I’m exaggerating sometimes when I talk about the cold.

I’m not. Okay, maybe sometimes I’m a little bit of a wimp (I did live in Florida for a few years…I swear blood thins in warm climates!)

Anyway, here’s some proof from last week…

This week has been a little crazy, but here’s a brief synopsis of my week, in photos.

Enjoy!!