Day 5 - A great day of worship and soccer!

Today was a beautiful day!  It was sunny and in the 80’s.  We woke up and went to church at New Creation Family Church.  That is the church that runs The King’s School where “N” attended.  We met many people that know “N”, so it was great to hear how excited everybody is for him.  Our first impression of the church was that it didn’t seem that much different than what we are used to.  They meet in a gym/auditorium.  Shortly after arriving a praise band started playing and the majority of the songs we sing at Corinth.  The service order was very similar to what we are used to as well.  What struck us the most was how friendly and welcoming everybody was towards us.  It wasn’t a very large church so it was easier to pick out the visitors, but it was still amazing how many people greeted us and asked us where we are from and why we are in South Africa.  It was also awesome to see how others worship the Lord.  While singing I found myself looking around and it was easy to see how much they loved singing and worshiping God.  Not that we don’t in America, but it just seemed different here – there was a different energy or feel to the room.  I saw a women drop to her knees while singing, people raising their hands, and people moving to the music.  Nobody cared what they looked like or what others may think of them.  It was an awesome sight to see just the intensity they worshiped with.  After the service they had coffee, tea, and scones.  Which also amazed me – nobody rushed out of there in order to get on with their busy lives.  They all sat at tables and just enjoyed each other’s company as a family of believers.  Once again we were invited to sit down at a table with somebody that volunteers at “N”s home and talked with her for probably another half an hour.  All of the kids just played outside on the playground equipment while the adults sat and talked.

Another interesting part of today’s service was that the whole thing was done by one of their adult small groups.  Every adult and even the kids participated in leading somehow.  Three different people gave a short sermon, but all were about perspective and how it’s so easy to lose sight of God’s plan when we are too busy trying to live our lives the way we want to.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11  After hearing this sermon it was a good reminder that we need to stop trying to live our lives our way and keep our focus on God in order to follow His call on our lives.  Even with all of our frustrations with delays with our adoption we are reminded that everything happens in Gods perfect timing.  Our perspective at the time just gave us frustration, but ultimately God knew what was best which is so apparent after spending the last 3 days together as a family.  During church they played a video expressing the need for help to stop the orphan crisis here in South Africa and it reminded us of how big it really is.  Just driving around we see people at every corner begging or trying to sell you something.  We've seen people keeping warm by fires along the road.  There is so much need that it somewhat saddens me to think about what we take for granted in the United States.

This afternoon it was nice and sunny so we played in the yard most of the day.  Our soccer skills are definitely improving with so much practice!  We had a wonderful pasta dinner and tried to do a Skype, but our internet has been very slow.  We are very fortunate that we have internet at all though! 

“N” has had a runny nose for the last few days and is now beginning to develop a cough.  Please pray for him for health and strength.  We have so many fun things to see and do and we want him to be able to enjoy them all!