God is so good to me. I have really been enjoying my time here in Jeffery’s Bay. It is so pretty and has gotten much warmer since we talked last. I finially got in the ocean yesterday and had a blast. We hung out with some South Africans we met that are here on vacation. It was fun. They then came with us to supper and our worship service. During the day I have been learning about Christian leadership from a special guest speaker. It’s been both fun and challenging. Tomorrow we are going to church in a nearby township. I am looking forward to it because worship is always so powerful in African churches.
I don’t really have much to report from JBay so I thought I would write about something that God has used in my life to teach me about his love for me.
When we went to Swaziland, our leader told us that once we get to know the Swazi people, they would give us a SiSwati name with a special meaning. Then, instead of going by our English name we could go by our SiSwati name which would be easier for the people to say. Her name means gift. The man who gave it to her said, “You gave yourself to God and he gave you to Swaziland.” I thought that was the sweetest thing so I was pretty excited about receiving a name of my own.
The first day we went out to ministry I was hanging out with some kids at a care point, a place were orphans can come to get food. This one girl sat beside me, put her arm around me, and never left. It was so cute. She was nine years old and didn’t know any English. She just wanted to sit and be loved. She would just look up at me with these big trusting eyes and follow me where ever I went. We were just sitting and chilling when one of the older girls came around with a sharpie and started to give all the Americans SiSwati names, writing them on their arms. I thought, that’s weird because I don’t know her at all but I guess it could be fun.” She started giving names like love, truth, and strong, depending on the person. When she came to me she simply asked the little girl next to me her name and wrote that on my arm. That’s where I got the name Ayanda. I felt honored to be named after such a sweet little kid but later I asked the translater what the name meant and she told me, “Too many children.” I thought, ok. I’ll just wait for someone I know to rename me something with a cool meaning.
Later I was praying and asking God what he wanted for me, from me, and of me. That’s when I felt him tell me, “You are Ayanda to me.” That’s when I realized all the traits that little girl showed with me, patience, love, and trust, are traits I should be showing with God. I need to be that little girl that just wants to be loved on by him. God is so good. He just wants faith and trust on our part and he will take the rest. Since then I have rested in the fact that he loves me and have strived to give him the childlike faith he desires.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. I love getting comments on my blog and told by my parents that people are praying. I know that it is the prayers of my faith family back home that is getting me through. I am really enjoying JBay, like I said, but I am looking forward to seeing everyone over Christmas. I love you all and am praying for you as well.
