First Week in South Africa!

We’ve officially been in South Africa for a week! We arrived in a small town called Heidelberg and were welcomed by our ministry host, Wayne. We had no idea what to expect for living arrangements and assumed we’d be sleeping on the floor of a church since the town is so small. But to our surprise, the church has a college attached to it, and we’re staying in the college’s living quarters!

I’ve been so blessed by the space here. I have my own comfortable bed, a full set of shelves, and even a desk! The kitchen is huge, which makes cooking for ourselves so much easier. And the hot showers—praise the Lord for hot showers! There’s also a large property with a volleyball net, a soccer field, and plenty of space to run.

Our neighbors have been incredibly kind and generous. They’ve taken us out to eat, helped us get groceries and water, and even spent time playing games with us in the evenings.

Things I’ve Noticed About South Africa

•People drive on the left side of the road and sit on the right side of the car.

•French fries are called “chips.”

•To show respect, you address someone older as “Auntie” or “Uncle” before their name.

•Apparently, I pass as South African because people keep trying to speak Afrikaans to me.

•The back of a truck is called a “bakkie,” and it’s illegal to ride in the back.

•Everyone in town knows everything about everyone—including us. The whole town knew about our arrival before we got here!

•There are lots of ostrich farms around. I even tried ostrich biltong—not sure if I’m a fan yet.

•The sun is HOT. On Christmas, the UV index was 14, and I definitely got sunburned at the beach.

•Things are cheaper here than in Guatemala. One USD equals 18.87 rand.

•Barbecues are called “braais.”

Christmas in South Africa

Christmas this year was a toasty 99 degrees with a UV index of 14. We started the day with a Christmas service at church. Two teammates and I led worship, and our team, Stoves (Steadfast + Doves), put on a skit for the congregation.

After church, we were invited to a lovely family’s home. We spent the afternoon swimming and enjoying delicious food by the pool—it was my first-ever Christmas spent swimming! Later, we returned home, cooked a big Christmas dinner, and invited our neighbors over to celebrate with us.

The night ended with a white elephant gift exchange, which was so much fun. I also got to call my family and two squadmates who are serving in other countries. It was such a sweet way to wrap up the day, though I miss them all so much!

Witsand beach!

Ministry!

Ministry here has been humbling, as it often is at the start of a new country. I came in expecting to see salvations and big, dramatic moments, but God continues to remind me to submit to His plans, not mine.

In Guatemala, I learned this while cleaning a sheep pen for hours on the first day. Here in South Africa, our first ministry task was cleaning the entire church and school. Honestly, it was still fun—my team can make anything enjoyable.

When Pastor Phil returned from his trip, he shared the history and culture of the church and explained how we’d be coming alongside them. Since the school is on summer break and the holidays make this a slower season, there aren’t many structured activities for us yet. So, we’ve been brainstorming, and I’m excited about whats ahead!

This week:

•We’re painting classrooms, including working on a mural.

•We’ll host community worship nights every Monday and Wednesday.

•On Tuesday and Thursday, we’ll have kids’ days.

•On Saturday, the church is hosting a 5K run. We’re organizing coffee and activities for after the race to help people connect with the church.

Next week:

•We’ll host a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the kids, packed with games, fun activities, and opportunities to learn about Jesus.

Part of our ministry also involves simply engaging with the town—meeting people, visiting their homes, and enjoying meals together (including some delicious braais!).

Learning to Slow Down

Life here is slower than in Guatemala, which was frustrating at first. But I’ve grown to appreciate it and have set some personal goals for this season. I want to be more intentional about resting in the Lord and taking disciplined steps to grow in my relationship with Him.

I’m so excited to see what God has in store for me in this country.

With love,

Ashlyn