East London, South Africa

wow, its been a while since i have posted something. I have been sooo busy lately. so, i left my children and Audrey on thursday night. I feel like a piece of my heart is missing. I miss them sooo much. I basically took them in as my own children at one point they called me mommy. They had many nicknames for me.  They are seriously like family to me and when i left you better believe that i cried my heart out. God definitely knew what he was doing when he put 6 children in my life. It was such an honor and a privilege to get to know them. Lord willing, one day i can come back to come see my children, Audrey, Nan, and my South African parents, Reynold and Rita and all the other amazing friends God placed in my life. What amazing people God has brought into my life.God taught me soooo much through all those people and i am blessed to know each and everyone of them. I am forever changed by What the Lord has taught me and done in my life. I am so blessed with sooo much and so often i take it for granted. Also, God definitely is such a provider. I look back on my mission experience in Cape Town and realized how much God provided for me in the littlest aspect of everything. I just love how much God cares about the littlest things. It just reminds me of the verse“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord "Isaiah 55:8. Gods ways are to even care for the small things. It has now been a little over 2 months that i have been in South Africa. I left Cape Town to meet up with a group from Spartanburg, South Carolina in East London,South Africa. I left Cape Town at 6:45pm. and arrived in East London at 7:45pm. It was only an hour flight which wasn't bad at all. I got to the airport about an 45 minutes before the group arrived in East London. Warren Baptist has joint up with First baptist Spartanburg (FBS) and worked together to build some foster care homes for the organization that i volunteered for in Cape Town called Home From Home. So its really cool to be able to see what the Lord is doing not only in Cape Town but also in East London for the Same ministry. The houses are built we are just going to do some finishing touches and in the afternoon do VBS with some of the children from the township. Also, its been cool getting to know people from FBS. Also, Tabatha McCormick ( a girl from augusta) flew down here to come paint some murals on the walls for the children. It was great reuniting with her here.  There are 13 of us here and we are going to start it all on Monday. We took yesterday and today to get the touristy things out of the way such as we walked on the beach,took pictures,went on an awesome safari, looked at the site we will be working at and went souvenir shopping. I absolutely loved the safari.I got to pet a cheetah and hug it and it was soooo sweet. It just fascinates me to look at how God made these amazing animals. I am excited for what the Lord is going to do in and through this us here. I ask that you would pray for us as we are trying our best to serve the Lord in East London. That God would have his will be done in and through us. Thanks so much for all the support and prayers.Lord Willing, I come home on the 28th of May. this is definitely way Bittersweet! But i am excited to see everyone again. Have a Blessed day!
in His grip,
Christine Harper

Wating.....

The children are on holiday this week and we have been just chilling out at the house for the past couple days. Yesterday,i took the children to go see the movie "Rio", which was completely adorable and my children were just thrilled to go to the "movie house" as they say. Then when we got home one of the little boys came to us and said "i am not feeling good" we just thought that he ate too much candy. Then he threw up before dinner and then one of the little girls threw up a couple hours after. so, I woke up at 2:30am not able to sleep and then i knew at that point that i was about to throw up. So, now i have a stomach virus and have been in bed all day and to top it of i have a cold!But its all good, i'm glad it was me than nobody else. The two children that had it only threw up once but i have thrown up like 7 or 8 times. Its okay though, Lord willing i will get over it soon. On another note, the Lord has been teaching me more and more everyday about waiting on him. Why is is so hard to wait upon the Lord? I guess i have been struggling with this one for a while now and now the Lord is just continually showing my need for him in EVERY situation. I have just been meditating on Ephesians 3:20-21 which says "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Yes,he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine but that also includes waiting upon him.  I am such a go and get it done kinda girl and this is such a hard but good reiterated lesson to learn. 
Psalm 27:14-"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" is the verse that keeps on coming to mind. Even though it can be tough to wait on the Lord its so worth it in the end because his wisdom far exceeds our wisdom and he sees the big picture and we don't. well, that's it for now. i hope all is well! have a blessed day!

A south African Greeting :)

Greetings from South Africa. I hope all is well with you! :) This week has been a good one. I have made some friends here in Cape Town. I was really scared and before i came that i wouldn't make any friends here in Cape Town but the Lord has definitely answered my prayer and has provided in that area and i am grateful. Most of my new friends are from Goodwood Baptist Church (GBC) and some from other places. Also, the Lord has provided me a friend named Nan, who is my age, and the Lord has just been using her so much in my life to encourage me and she is so understanding and a great listener. Its really cool how the Lord does things. So, the first week that i was here i visited Hillsong church and i happen to come to the church on a Friday where they were having a youth meeting. so they told me to stay and check it out as a leader. so, I needed a ride home and they were trying to figure out if anyone was going close to where i stay. so, they asked Nan and she directed me to someone who takes her home. I went into the youth service and as it was starting Nan came up to me to introduce herself and then we got to talking and then she asked me when i got into Cape Town and i said about a week.At that time i was still quite fragile because i was still jet lagged and feeling sick and completely overcome with culture shock. So, Nan could sense my state of sadness and she lead me out of the service and to talk.We talked for a while about the Lord and our testimonies. She was such a great listener and the Lord definitely had his hand in it.At the end of our Conversation she said she hasn't really had a conversation like that. That was so cool to me! I just love how the Lord does things. So she is such a great friend to me here and I am blessed to know her and its awesome How the Lord uses her in my life. Nan and I try to hangout every Saturday. Last Saturday we took the children to the Park down the street which was fun. The children love hanging out with Nan and I.  They always love it when people come around to the house. Also, Last Sunday i ate lunch with the older couple named Reynold and Rita Swart from GBC and they adopted me as their daughter while i am in South Africa. They are so sweet and so easy to talk to and they both Love the Lord and are down to earth. So, they love music just as much as i do, so i played a little bit of guitar and they taught me some more chords on the guitar. Then they whipped out a beach boys song book and as Rae (their son) played the guitar and  Reynold and i sang some oldies but goodies, like "surfer girl" and some others. It was a fun little Jam session. Another another note, Today was the last day of school for 10 days. So they will be home with Audrey and I, and we will be hanging out and chilling out. But as of the status of everyone here, the children are doing well and Audrey is doing well. I am so blessed to have Audrey and the Children in my life. :) God is so good to allow me to serve here in South Africa. I am so blessed in every way. I put up a new Bible verse for the week, it is 1 Corinthians 10:31- So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. and again, It has been so awesome to hear them singing the books of the Bible around the house and to hear them quote these verses to me. Every single one of them have memorized every verse that i have put up for every week. I have been so challenged by that. But it has been awesome to be able to serve here and its still such a privilege and an honor. I am just in awe of a God that allows me to serve him in such a way as this. :) well, i hope all is well and that you have a very blessed Easter.- in Christ alone, Christine

Part of the Journey...

Wow, i can't believe it will be exactly a month that i have been in Cape Town,South Africa tomorrow April 15. All i have to say is God has been teaching me so much that i can't wait to tell everyone when i get home. I am not going to sugar coat anything and say that this has been such a magical experience but i can say one thing there is no growth without Pain. Although this past month has probably been one of the most painful months of my life, i am grateful for a God who understands me through it all, that cares for even my little hurts and my little concerns. I am reminded of my absolutely favorite verse Hebrews 4:15-16 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." I am so grateful that the God of the universe understands my weaknesses and that i can approach the throne of grace. WOW, what an amazing God I serve? I feel like Satan has been attacking me non-stop but i have been reminded of  this verse 1 John 4:3-5 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world ". I still praise him through it all because he is worthy and he went to the cross for me and  the wrath of God was poured upon him for my sake and i can go through some pain so that he can be glorified. I honestly just want God to be glorified what ever the circumstances i have to face. I mean, don't get me wrong, i am not always in pain, but every now and then it comes and consumes me and i have to constantly be resting in God truth about "not leaving me nor forsaking me"which is in Hebrews 13:5. It comes and it goes and when it comes, it comes hard so thats why it can be unbearable at times. I have been encouraged by the many facebook messages and notes from some many people. I don't deserve such amazing friends and family and I am sooooooo grateful for each and everyone of you. On another note, i did quite a lot of things with the children last week because they were on holiday and it was quite fun. we went to the mall to play a couple kids games and then we went to the aquarium, then we took a boat around the waterfront area. Ruth (Kurt Malzer's sister) picked me and the children up and took us to the aquarium and the waterfront. I do have to say that the Lord definitely blessed me in meeting up with her family, they are so amazingly sweet. What a blessing they have been to me. Also, i took the children to the park and we hung out and watched some movies at home. At one point last week, we had another mother that is part of this organization come and stay with us and she brought 2 of her 4 children along (the other two were at a camp) and there were 8 children in the house. I made dinner for them one night and it was quite a batch of food i made. hehe. It is always such a pleasure to make food for these children and clean their dishes or do whatever Audrey needs me to do. I find some much Joy and being able to serve the Lord here with Audrey and being able to serve these children. Even when things are hard and painful, that is one of the things that the Lord uses to get me through. but I love these children and Audrey so much and its such a pleasure serving them with the help of my Jesus. I am so grateful that God has placed them in my life. This week has been kinda a chill week because the children went back to school. Everyday, i am just showered with hugs from them. I absolutely love getting hugs from them. Yesterday,we took the boys to the hospital for their monthly check up and it was quite interesting. We got there at 8:30 and left at 12. we did quite a lot of waiting. but when we got done with the doctor we went down to the pharmacy to get all their medication which took quite a while because this is a government funded hospital and there are many there waiting. While we were waiting a man started talking to me randomly and then I got into a conversation with him about the gospel which was super encouraging. He seemed to know the Lord which was cool. I think he saw that i had my Bible in my hand and he just started chatting with me. Throughout this whole conversation the my sweet boys were just playing with my hair, for some reason they are so fascinated with my hair and love making new hairstyles on me.haha, i think it is so funny but hey, i don't mind. My sweet boys are always making my hair look crazy and often getting my hair in big knots but its all good, i don't mind, if they are happy then i can be happy too.hehe. but this experience has been such a good one for me and I am so grateful for all the marvelous things the Lord is teaching me. Also, i have been reminded twice today by two different people that God will not waste this experience. He may be preparing me for something different and bigger. Who knows how God could use this expediences but i pray that in all this he would hide me behind the cross and use me daily. Thanks so much for reading this and feel free to let me know how things are going with you. Another thing, please feel free to let me know if there is anything i can pray for you about because I love to pray for others. blessing in the Lord, Christine

Gratefully serving my God

So, it is April 4th, and i have been in South Africa for approximately 21 days. So, where do i start. i feel like i could write forever on the lessons the Lord has taught me and the things he is continually showing me daily but i can honestly say that this experience is going to change my life forever. It is sooooooo amazing being able to serve the God of the universe.  I mean, i feel so inadequate sometimes to serve such a Holy God but the Lord then reminds me about Moses when he said in Exodus 4:10-11 "O, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of Speech and tongue. Then the Lord said to him, "who gave man his mouth? who makes him deaf or mute? who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Later on in the chapter The Lord provided Aaron to help Moses. The Lord reminds me that he can use anyone to bring glory to his name that i just need to be willing to step up and allow him to work through me.I have been reading through Philippians and the Lord has been strengthening me through it. The Lord is continually reminding me of what it means to be a servant of the one true God. I have been reading through Philippians 2 and meditating on the fact that Jesus " made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant" and that my "attitude should be the sane as that of Christ Jesus". This has been one of my favorite passages for years but the Lord has really been teaching and strengthening me through this. Also, the kids have been learning Exodus 20:12 this week and i have been teaching them about respecting their mom and listening to her and doing what she says as soon as she says it. These children are so eager to memorize these verses and the books of the Bible. It is such a challenge to me to memorize more scripture.Also, the other night someone came and picked me up for church and as i was getting ready to go, they all asked me "are you leaving...like to go home?" and i said i am coming right back home after church. This showed me that because of their abuse and neglect that they just want to know if you love them enough to stay with them. It's so sad that they are so used to family members from the past walking out on them and leaving them. God has placed them with the best foster mother ever. Audrey is just a passionate Christ Follower and trusts and thanks God for EVERYTHING. God has taught me so much through her and I can honestly say that we are going to be friends for a long time. She is such an encouragement to me and her strength is found in the Lord. While i have been here the Lord has just humbled me so much and I am so grateful that i get to serve my amazing God. Some of you, im sure, have been wondering what specifically do i do here? well, with the strength of God, I help the children with homework, I play games with them, I take them out to do some fun things like go to the park. I watch movies with them, I help make food for them, I help them get ready for bed, I help them with their medication and get it ready for them to take. Every item on this list, i praise God that i get to take part in it. I am grateful to be able to serve him in any way. He has been so faithful to provide a great body of believers and some great fellowship here in Cape town. thanks so much for your prayers i seriously appreciate them soooooo very much. I can't express how much prayers mean to me. The Lord is such a provider for me here and i wouldn't be here without him. The other day, one of Audrey's friends, Shirley, took me to the waterfront where i got to see a marimba band and they were so awesome. I just loved it. It was a serious African band with all home made instruments. I loved them so much, i had to buy their CD, which was super cheap. I now have this joke here with all the south Africans, that they never waste any food down here, so never ask if they are going to finish their food or clean their plate because they would rather die than to waste any food. It has been good for me to see that. hehe. I must admit that i miss everyone back home so much and i can't wait to see yall again. And also another funny thing is that, i look like a South African girl until i start talking and then people start giving me double takes and they suddenly become amazed that I am from the United States.I'm sorry these posts are so random, i just keep on wanting to write everything at once. but thanks for sticking it out and reading this whole post. Praise the Lord for getting some time to write again. I hope this blog finds you doing well. Have a blessed day/night! :) blessing in Christ!-Christine

The first week being in Cape Town, South Africa

Hey everyone,
First of all, I thank and Praise God for all of the prayers that have been lifted up during this time. I really cannot do this trip without my amazing God.I arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on Tuesday March 15th, 2011 at around 10pm. Definitely, a blessing to have gotten here safely. I traveled from Augusta to Atlanta, to Johannesburg to Cape Town. When i arrived at the airport, Audrey ,the house mother of the house i am staying in, greeted me at the airport. One of the first things i saw when arrived that was a bit different from the united states was that they drive on the other side of the car and on the left side of the road. I did know this before i arrived but it was very different to ride in the car with the driver on the right side of the car on the left side of the road.haha.  Driving into Cape Town was quite a shock, one of the first things i saw was a huge community of man made informal housing. They are small little house made out of probably some sort of aluminum or some not very durable resource. It immediately broke my heart and made me very sad because i did not realize that there was quite a large bit of poverty in Cape Town. I was under the impression that it was pretty Americanized which put me in quite a bit of culture shock. I mean, i figured there would be a little bit of poverty but it a lot more than i expected. I guess i should have known but i guess it doesn't really matter how much you prepare for something like that, you will still get a little bit of shock.It just immediately broke my heart. Also, i praise the Lord for all that he is doing and the Lord has taught me so much already. When the kids saw me for the first time, they all ran and gave me a huge hug. It was super special. I have took them out for ice cream and for a nice Sunday lunch. These children saw it as such a treat. they are so happy with the bare minimum. This has been such an honor and a blessing being here. Although, it can be painful, I praise the Lord for all he is teaching me through it all. I have so much to be thankful for and I am grateful for this experience. I praise him through the joy and through the pain because he is my precious God. One of the things that i have been doing with the children is teaching them the books of the Bible in a song and they have a weekly Bible verse. This week they Learned the first 12 books of the bible and have been singing it around the house all week long. What a blessing it is to hear that!!! I just LOVE it. The bible verse for this week was Philippians 4:13. Also, they have been saying this all week around the house. I have been teaching them what the verse means.And have been sharing the Gospel with them. Again, this is a privilege to work here in south africa even if it means it can be uncomfortable at times but the Lord has been sooo good and i am so grateful to be here. I have been visiting Goodwood Baptist Church, which is right up the street from me. Its a small little church but the teaching is good and the people are so sweet! I feel like i have so much to say, i could write a book on the things the Lord has taught me so far but i have been clinging to Psalm 86 and Psalm 25. The Lord is good and he has provided in so many ways. Praise the Lord for everything, He is so good! Lastly, Audrey is absolutely a blessing from the Lord, the Lord provided her for me because she understands the shock and the homesickness i have been going through because she went to London for a little less than a year to do Au pair work when she 30 and she went through the same exact thing. The Lord uses her in my life so much. He couldn't have planned it any better. The Lord has got all things in his hands.Within the last couple days,things have gotten better and The Lord has been strengthening me through his word and through it all. thanks for reading all of this! Pray that the Lord would use me in a huge way here and that the Gospel would be super clear to these children. Pray that the Lord gives me and Audrey strength as the homesickness comes and goes for me. That the Lord would continue to Show me his way, because i am nothing without Him. Thanks again, and I love and miss yall! :) blessing on you!

Leaving on March 14,2011

 About a year ago, I got the chance to talk to this lady named Pippa who runs the orphanage in South Africa. I kept into contact with her with no intentions of actually going over there because i did not think it was possible. So, after last semester in college i wanted to do study abroad but it wasn't really realistic. So, i was reading over and praying over Isaiah 6:8-Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”, I asked the Lord to send me where he wanted me wherever that may be whether it be to my front door step or across the world. After asking the Lord where he wanted me, I got this idea about going to South Africa to help out in the orphanage that Pippa runs. So, I sent and email to Pippa asking if there would be a possibility for me to come to South Africa for a couple months. So, i started praying that if the Lord wanted me there he would allow her to say "yes" to me but if he did not want me there he would allow her to say "no".  So, that day i got a response back saying "sure, when do you want to come?". Isn't it cool how the Lord does things? After, that i decided to take off the semester of school and go to South Africa. The Lord has definitely been working things out every day. the Lord has worked out the big details and the Little details. I can only give the glory to God for all that he has already done through this trip. This is such a privilege and an honor! I am so blessed to have an opportunity like this. I am excited about all the Lord is going to teach me through this.  As i am preparing to leave for South Africa, I can only help but feel so many different emotions. Sometimes, when God calls us to do something it may be out of our comfort zone but there is no way you can deny the call that he has placed on your life at the moment. So, my prayer is that God be Glorified as he helps me in this new journey.