Wow, sometimes I am just in awe of my life. God has been so good to me. Sure, I have struggles, hurts and frustrations but I am amazed at the way God has been faithful to me. None of you may have realized it but I was facing some pretty big and real fears before coming here to South Africa. When I made the commitment to come back in the spring of 2009 I didn't really have much fear about leaving my comfortable, easy, North American life for South Africa. I just felt a lot of joy about being clear on what God had called me to do. Somehow, during a spiritually vulnerable time during tour with the choir in the UK, satan snuck in and replaced the original joy I had with fear. I'm not sure how that happened but it did. I was fearful about failing in what God had called me to do. I also had huge fears about my relationship with the people I would be working with here. I wish I could describe how I felt when after completing the long journey here. After a 11 hour flight and a 5 hour drive I sat alone in South Africa and wondered "What in the word am I doing here?" Even though I had met a very nice MFL staff family and was looking forward to seeing the 23 kids and 2 chaperones I had traveled with I still felt very much alone. Now, looking back, I am so glad that God put me in that "alone" place because it caused me to run directly into His ever present arms and seek out refuge. I knew I was beat.... I couldn't do anything on my own. I am so thankful that God gave me strength and perseverance to face the fears head on. He was faithful to replace my fear with joy. I know things won't be perfect or even easy here with ACC in South Africa but I know it's where He has called me to be for the moment. So for now I will take each day as it comes. I will drive the Land Rover on the "wrong" side of the road listening to the small children yell "Music for Life" as I drive through the villages to our outreach programs. I will spend time sitting eating peri peri chips (french fries with hot peppers and vinegar) at the picnic table at the gas station with my co-workers building relationships with them. After telling a Bible Story I will serve juice and buns to the 50 little children sitting on the dirty school room floor at a village school. I will spend time with "my" choir kids helping them with homework or just playing. I will sit on the old swingset at Music for Life Academy and chat with the R.A.'s (residence assistants) who live at the school and act as parents to all the children in the boarding school. I will do my best to encourage them in their hard work. I will try to cheerful do whatever God asks of me while asking Him to continually replace my fear with His joy. Thanks for joining me on the journey.