And so it begins... 31 May 2011

(Just fyi, I wrote this on the day I arrived, but only getting to post it now, hence the time difference...)

So I’m in North Carolina. At “A Place For The Heart.” WHAT THE HECK?! Still feels completely surreal! The loooooooooooooooooooong flights over here (especially the 16  and a half hour one. And the time change) certainly didn’t help. What has been really interesting has been the few days leading up to actually leaving. I have never experienced so much fear and doubt in one go! It was like everything I could possibly worry about tried to get my attention, and reasons for NOT going started presenting themselves. But all the time, deep down, I kept thinking: this is not really my fear. This is not true. What’s true is that I’m meant to go. What’s true is that God is in control. And then on Sunday, before I left, a few people confirmed that though words and prayers for me. One highlight was Monday evening, when I was buying some water from a lady in the Johannesburg airport (oh, and can I just say at this point that South Africans are so friendly! You only realise this when you see how un-friendly people can be!). I think I gave a little sigh or something, and she said, “What’s wrong sisi?” I explained where I was going, what I would be doing, and that I was a little nervous about going all that way by myself. Her first response was: “But Jesus is flying with you!” I nearly got a little weepy, ha ha, but it made me smile too. And it also brought crazy amounts of peace to my heart :o)

After all the journeying and airport-missioning, my brain feels a little frazzled. But I’m here! Wheee! Was met at the airport by a smiling, friendly face (John Daniel, aka JD), and we chatted away (about cool music especially!) as we waited for another student to arrive. But we’d got the day wrong – he’s only arriving tomorrow. Was really great meeting just one person first, getting a feel for the guys and what they’re up to, without kinda being overwhelmed straight away by all the introductions, ha ha! Which came not very long after that anyway...

Driving towards the farm was interesting – the countryside is beautiful. Lots of woods, and beautiful old-school barns and letter boxes etc. Driving on the right-hand side of the road is just WRONG though, ha ha! And seeing all the different road signs, and the distances in miles instead of km. Weird how small differences like that can make ALL the difference! But then we turned into the driveway marked “A Place For the Heart”, and my little heart just about stopped! It is STUNNINGLY beautiful, wow! Trees EVERYWHERE, a beautiful lake, beautiful buildings... it’s breathtaking. I think i *might* just be able to suffer through two months here... :oP :o) JD gave me a quick whip-around view of the property, and then we dropped bags off in the room that is going to be my home. It’s a bunk room, so will be sharing with a few other girls. Only one other girl is here so far though – her name is Katharina. She’s German, but she flew out from Norway where she has been working for Youth With a Mission. She’s very lovely – we took a walk around the place chatting and getting to know each other a bit. Of course, we met some of the actual staff too. They’re just ridiculously delightful. I’ve never met a group of people who more instantly feel like family! On the way here I was telling JD that at the worship school (in Johannesburg in April) I felt like a fish back in water – it was like I had been out of water for a while without realising it, and being back in it was so sweet. I feel the same here – this incredible relief at being home, being with family. I feel like I can breathe deeply here.

I’m sitting on my top bunk now, writing this, looking at Malachi 4:4-6 which is written on the walls. It’s a swelteringly hot day (so WEIRD after Grahamstown cold), but we have aircon in this room , yay! Supper’s at 7:30... but we’re 5-6 hours behind South Africa. WEIRD! I’m looking forward to meeting some others later, and everyone who arrives tomorrow too. I was asking JD about how it’s all structured, and it seems pretty informal. There’s lots of worship obviously, some time spent on the different “collectives” (music/photography/writing/book-binding etc)... and lots of time for reflection by ourselves. A value of this place is that you must dig your own well. You can’t expect a quick-fix list of things to do/not do. We’re expected to take what we hear/see, chew over it, digest it, and build it into our lives ourselves. JD was also getting excited about some surprises they apparently have lined up for us... which is very intriguing! I’m thinking maybe guest speakers...? Hmmm. We shall see :o) One thing I know so far: this is going to be the journey of a lifetime! :o)