Adventures of the last few days

Wednesday
• Stayed at The Strand for one night before transferring to another hotel. The view on the 14th floor was spectacular! I could see Table Mountain and Lions Head from my window, absolutely amazing!
• All the stores and banks close around 5pm…sad times. Dinner was nuts I bought at NYC
Thursday
• To get Internet you have to buy MB or GB…which is different and at first a little frustrating. Most coffee shops don’t have free access as in the US. This makes it difficult to post pics, but I will be able to do that once I start at Amazon
• Most people use cell phones as prepaid. They do not go by minutes but by “A time” which is
airtime, but no one can tell you how much time that allows you.
• Woolworths and KFC is popular here….I haven’t seen a Woolworth store since elementary days and these ones has clothing and food!
• My new place for the next 31 days is pretty sweet. It is a hotel that has all cooking amenities or as they say “self catering” suites.
Friday
• Went grocery shopping! They don’t have turkey but the fruit is unbelievably cheap!
• Everyone knows that I am from the “States” before I even talk…look forward to blending in at some point.
• Getting lots of whistling and “pretty lady” comments…pretty entertaining!
• Everyone says “Cheers” when saying goodbye…but every time they say it all I can think about is having a mug with good beer in it and clanking glasses 
• Went to the Waterfront and although there are a lot of tourists, the water is beautiful.
Saturday
• Had trouble finding the items I needed to get at just one store, had to go to several places to get what I needed. Guess this is common and I will learn the ropes of what to buy where.
• Went to the movies today…and you have to select your seats when you buy the ticket rather than first come first serve in seating. Also, you have to buy butter packets when you get popcorn, but they also have caramel packets!

Trip to South Africa

Packing and selling was extremely stressful and if it weren’t for friends, I would have had more meltdowns than I did. Kari might be a million miles away, but she was available for a call and to calm me down and help me think of what I could do when things seemed to not be working out. Tracey was my voice of reason when I thought my suitcases could expand and fit more than it really could. Deniz and Stevey were there to help me ship the items and dear Andrea was willing to accept my 127lb box for storage  Tasha and Kasea (with a K), thank you for handling my crying moments. Nikki, I cannot thank you enough for your help in packing the night before I left…people if you had seen my house you probably would have freaked out with the amount I still had..sigh. Thank you everyone that played a part in making this happen! Lastly, although you may not consider it a person, she was to me…Jasmine, my sweet, amazing car, I will love you forever. You were so good to be in SB and Seattle, and I am sorry I had to sell you.
It was such a blessing to have a quick layover in NYC on my way to Africa. It allowed me to process the transition between the stress leading up to leaving and the worry and concern about the unknown ahead. Getting to see Jen Velasquez, Lisa Kim, and Diana Mao was amazing! Lobster rolls, prayer, and carts with wheels was exactly what I needed. Thank you! As I left NYC the realization of what I was doing hit me. I started doubting this whole thing and although I couldn’t turn back, I kind of wanted to. In my freak out session, God continued to remind me that He is and will always provide. I got the whole 3 seats to myself on the 12 hour flight to Dubai. What a wonderful blessing to get to stretch out and sleep on such a long flight. Then…the the 9 hour flight to Cape Town, I was upgraded to Business Class and got unlimited glasses of Champagne, can I say FAVOR?! The last couple hours of the flight I played video games with the guy next to me…and lets just say we were not the quietest  It was such a relaxing trip, unreal to be honest.
I cannot believe I am in Cape Town, and cannot believe I get this opportunity. I am in awe of this whole adventure and what lies ahead. WOW!

Goodbyes are never fun

Leaving Seattle was more difficult than leaving SB…I think because there were some major people that were a huge part of my life the last two years in which I invested and they invested in my life and the season that I was in. Never would I have thought that I would end up in counseling but I would not have changed that time for anything. It was painful, but so worth it in the end. I will write more about that some other time, but T is a person that I will miss dearly. There are so many people that I consider dear to my heart, but there are several people that have changed me more than they will ever know or words can express. I had to say goodbye to a two wonderful women early Mary and PJ as they were heading to Uganda for a mission trip. Mary was the first person that I met at the City Church and has walked with me throughout the last two years, encouraging me, challenging me, and spurring me on. She is a treasure from Heaven and has the biggest heart for the Church and kids. I know that kids love me…but I can’t compete with Mary’s cookies that she gives the kids  I am going to miss Mary and her love for Nordstrom. PJ knows her calling that God has placed on her life and walks in that anointing and purpose. I have seen other women in ministry but she just has something special that makes me so excited and my Spirit say “YES” and “AMEN” for the calling that God has for His daughters. Worship will be different without hearing PJ in the background and getting “to hug her neck” as she always would say. My bible study ladies were such a blessing last year. It was such an honor to lead with Erin and was such a blessing to have them be a part of my life and that they would let us be a part of theirs. The time with them in and outside of church are sweet memories of Seattle and I cannot thank them enough for their open arms and hearts. There were also three other ladies that have brought me so much laughter in my life,Tracy, Stevey and Deniz. The time spent with you…oh my goodness I think you guys may have held the world’s record for making May cry…the good kind of crying from laughing so hard! Thank you for the memories chicas, heart you! Another person…who I will remain nameless but you know who you are... has changed my life forever! The walks at Greenlake, the laughs, and sweet, sweet conversations are something that I will treasure forever. You are someone that makes God smile from ear to ear, and melts my heart with you and your family. You have taught me so much about Jesus, contending for all that God has for you, and walking in the destiny that God has. I love you from the bottom of my heart and know that the best are yet ahead. You better keep me updated on your life or I will have to come beat you up ! All of these people, thank you for teaching me transparency and a greater love of Christ that I would not have gotten to know without you. Thank you for opening your arms and embracing me…all of me…including my crazy side! I love you guys so much and know that there will always be a place to stay if you make it to Cape Town.

In His Grips
May

Africa..my homeland

There is so much to update for everyone. I guess I will start with the question that most people are still wondering…What, huh, what, how are you going to Africa! It actually started in May when an HR person I was working with in Cape Town told me that there was an open position available. I told her to not tempt me, and the next 10 minutes went from there is an opening to “we would be willing to consider getting you a work permit if you are serious.” I was stunned and told them that I would need some time to think about…and pray. I had thought that it might be a possibility, but was thinking it would be years down the road if I stayed with Amazon. Thinking about the opportunity seemed like a no brainer. I would get the chance to see Africa, a chance to be promoted in Amazon, and have international experience under my belt. After taking some time to pray, think, and seek advice from some dear people, I decided to open the door and see where it would take me. For those of you that have been with me since college days, there was a time that I was attempting to go to China and everything fell through. So I knew that if God didn’t want me to go, He would close the door somehow. Two months later, I was finally offered the job and the work permit was requested. I was going to AFRICA! Throughout the process, I kept asking God for more confirmation even though I knew I was suppose to go…but by His grace and goodness He always came through. Some examples include going to a bible study and we were discussing “risks” and this friend said “that everyone’s thought of risk is different and for you going to Africa probably wouldn’t be a risk.” I asked why Africa and not Asia or Australia and the response was I just see you in Africa. I hadn’t discussed the job offer at this bible study yet. Overwhelming support from friends that I thought would object to this idea, the support of co-workers and bosses were another. When I told my Dad, his response was “well, you have always wanted to go to Africa. Ever since you were a kid.” Really? I don’t remember that. Working out the details of selling all my stuff and little money details like Verizon not charging me the fee for dropping service early and my landlord telling me that I didn’t have to clean my place! What? Really? Sweet! Even on the plane over to Africa this week was another confirmation. I started freaking out on the plane and doubting if this was really happening and if I was supposed to be doing this…what happens?...I had all three seats from New York to Dubai for myself and was upgraded to Business class from Dubai to Cape Town…Really?? It was just the Lord reminding me…calm down, I have prepared your comings and goings…chill. I will take care of you. Back in Santa Barbara, there is this Uganda Children’s choir that came to the church every year. There is a song that has stuck in my head all these years and I would see it now and then not realizing what it really meant.. “Africa…my homeland….Uganda…” and I don’t know the rest, haha.

Hearting City Church more and more

I work with the children ministry a least a couple times a month, and they truly have been a blessing in my life and teaching so much in this time. There is one adorable kid who I could literally squeeze all day long because that smile on this kid's face makes me melt! I asked this kid if I could get a hug and he runs over and lays a juicy kiss right on my lips and steps back and has the biggest smile, oh my! Each kid has such different personality and it just puts me in awe of God. We have been learning how "Jesus is our friend" and have been building off of a storyboard the last month or so. In one story it talks about Mark 5 where Jesus heals a little girl. We then did this activity where the kids lay down and then will sit up and say "I'm not sick, I'm feeling fine, Jesus is a friend of mine." When I read the activity I thought it was quite silly but went ahead and did it, to my surprise the kids loved it and wanted to do it multiple times over. I was shocked...and the weeks following when we would review that story, the kids would repeat the line from the activity. I have never had that many 2-5 year olds remember a story like that....guess that teaches me that the silliest things can actually be the most meaningful in kids.
I have been helping lead a table at our Ladies Bible Studies that happen on Wednesday nights. Each week I get to spend with them is such a blessing and I leave so stoked and excited to hear all that God has and is doing in their lives. Their testimonies, honestly, vulnerability, and openness has been ministering me so much in the season that I am in. I am honored that God has allowed me to stand with them and see them run this race being able to shout from the side lines and sometimes with them that they can and are able to finish this race, to pray and intercede, to love and spend time with them. So thankful and cherish all the random times we all can get together whether it is on Wed. nights or a fun nights with dessert and a girly movie. Jesus my heart is overflowing with what you have given me in this time in Seattle. Not only for letting me pour into this kids and women, but how you are changing me more than I could have imagined.

Transparency and Vulnerability

Stepping into a new season can be the most exciting thing or the most frightening thing...but this season that God is bringing me into is both. God is speaking about transparency and vulnerability and are you willing to do this for me? For your healing, for your wholeness, for the ministry that you are called to, and for my glory, are you willing May? I have been such a private person in which you had to be given the keys in order to access certain parts of my heart and life. What would it be like if I was an open book? What would I discover about myself and what would I discover about other people? Would friendships be more real, my spirit feel more free, and life be more memorable, enjoyable, and fulfilling? To God's question, I answer and say to God the lover of my soul, my redeemer, my healer, my everything- If you want me to...YES.
I came upon this song by Ginny Owens and it has ministered deeply to my soul....Yes God if you want me to, I will walk through the valley, I will walk through the fire if you want me to, If it will bring healing to my soul, if it will break the generational cycles and so that my future husband can have all of me and as whole as you created me to. So that my children can have the life and Mom that they deserve, YES Jesus I will!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q8pWgDsv1E&feature=related

Blessing, more details on this journey to come soon :)

Wow it has been a long time since I have updated. If anyone is even reading this, please forgive me. Since my last posting, I have gotten to travel a bit around Washington and Vancouver, Canada. Below are some highlights

Jason Castro Concert and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver

2010 Olympics and Museum of Glass in Tacoma

Dinner with Amazon co-workers and Tulip Festival

Tulip Festival