Biweekly Update.

Yet another 2 weeks have passed. Every week goes by so, so quickly. Too quickly. Each week, the same thing happens to all of us on Boschkop.

When it’s time to collect pocket money on Fridays, we go, “What? Already?!

”

When it’s time for Care Groups on Thursdays, we go, “What? Already!?”

When it’s time for us to be on kitchen duty again after 6 days, we go, “What? I was on kitchen duty yesterday!”

And… we’re left with 3.5 months of training. WHAT!?! ONLY!?!

Yes, only. So enjoy it ttm!

That was a note to myself, by the way.

The most impactful lessons I’ve learnt over the past 2 weeks have been, surprisingly, from the book I’ve been reading for the study group sessions. It’s called The Life You’ve Always Wanted, by John Ortberg, and I’d strongly recommend it to every single Christian, wherever you are on your spiritual journey right now.

In a nutshell, what I learnt from the book helped me to reevaluate my attitude towards life, and how I live my life. It made me question why I lived the way I did, and inspired me to live my life the way God wants me to.

In other words, I celebrate life. I celebrate every single day. With all its disappointments, shortcomings, unmet expectations, pain, hurts… and of course the 12049729835 things I can actually enjoy and be thankful for.

One thing the writer says (amongst a tonne of other things) that strikes me is that circumstances might never change. Tomorrow, the world will still be filled with pain and suffering. So will the day after. And the day after. And the day after. And… (it goes on indefinitely until Jesus comes again). But! I can still choose to be thankful for whatever I have, be contented with it, and enjoy it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m happily jumping around, singing songs and giggling every waking hour, but it does mean that I’m joyful and contented

with what God’s blessed me with – and that should translate to an attitude of gratitude, and a lifestyle that reflects that attitude.

As I hurriedly read through the subsequent chapter of “An Unhurried Life”, I managed to pick out the point that I should slow down and savour life’s precious moments – which I tried to consciously do in the days that followed.

And in doing that, I realised that when you live in the present rather than the past or future as we so often do, life is much more… fulfilling.

There are 2 possible explanations for that phenomenon in my life:

1. For whatever reason, life has been exceptionally exciting and adventure-filled, or

2. Things that I’m not usually thankful for are starting to bring me a lot of joy.

I think it’s more of the latter option. It’s been great to wake up and thank God that I’m awake. Thank God that I had a good night’s rest (albeit with a few random dreams). An

d know that I have a lot to look forward to in the day to come because God’s in control, and because He’s simply amazing.

On Saturday night, Nathan told us, “Guys, you’ve gotta come look at the lightning. It’s amazing.”

So a bunch of us who were congregated downstairs headed to the far end of the base to peer over the brick wall. Some of us sat on the brick wall, watching hundreds of flashes of lightning light up the night sky at random, very frequent intervals.

It was breathtaking. It wasn’t like Singapore’s 01 x lightning followed by 01 x thunder followed by 01 x rain. This was 198602385 x lightning, AND THEN 01 x rain. I managed to capture a couple of lightning flashes, but this is probably the best shot I’ve got, and it really doesn’t capture the full splendour and glory of the lightning bolt. Duh.

On a lighter, less spiritual note, I played in the rain for the first time in my life! It drizzled on Thursday for the first time since May, and we trainees decided to embrace it by playing soccer on an open field (trusting God to protect us from being struck dead by lightning…).

It was awesome.

Never have I enjoyed playing soccer so much before.

If you’ve never played in the rain before because your momma told you you’ll fall sick if you do, and if you’re past the age of 18, go out and play in the rain the next time it falls. Trust me :)

In general, I’m loving training more and more each week. I’ve got photos to prove it too! :) Hehe.

Refer to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=218703&id=567026643, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=211867&id=567026643, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=222448&id=567026643, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=222449&id=567026643

You can also send me post at this address, if you want to :)

OM South Africa MDT

Private Bag X03

Lynnwood Ridge 0040

South Africa

And finally… (that was a long post. Oops.)

I’ll leave you with something that really encouraged me this week, and I trust will encourage you too :)

Acts 17:27 – that they should seek God in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us.