God has really been humbling and blessing me at the same time lately. Second Session is a thrift store in Jeffrey’s Bay that makes almost all the profit for Christian Surfers Africa. As interns, we serve there every day for a few hours organizing shelves, washing toys or stitching old clothes. I have to say that I have felt God’s love so strongly when I’m working there. I look at the two bins overflowing with dirty toys and Tupperware that need to be washed, take a breath and get at it. The worship music is blaring in the back room with me, and the grime on the dirty ice trays won’t come off. I grab a handless Barbie and an old pony out of the bin to scrub. I flash back to my childhood as I looked at the pony and was sad that it was junk now. As I was scrubbing, I realized that the Barbie was probably going to be thrown out anyways because she had no hands. Who wants a handless Barbie??

Her hair was so knotted, her skin was all scuffed and worthless in my eyes. I thought she was junk. I asked Linda if she wanted me to throw her away and she rushed over to me and pulled some shampoo and conditioner from under the sink and told me to wash her hair. She said that every child should have a new toy. As the worship music was still playing, I was overwhelmed by God’s love and humbled. I cannot even express His love in detail, but I know that He cares so much for the child that will get this handless Barbie with newly washed hair.

Second Session is such a blessing to the community especially to the people living with barely minimum in the township. I love working there because there are always really cool treasures. I saw a beautiful blouse on the racks a few days ago and tried it on. I noticed an African lady looking at the blouse from across the room. I took it off and told her she would look GREAT in it. She tried it on and checked herself out in the mirror. She was sad though because she didn’t have R4 to pay for it. For my Canadian friends and family, R4 is less than 50 cents. My heart strings tugged, and I ran to the back to get my wallet and told her I would buy it for her. She gave me the biggest hug and asked me what the date was and that she would never forget it. Again… this is how much God loves us, I cannot contain it. It’s so amazing to me that His greatest command is for us to love Him and then love others. It’s so easy to do when we allow Him to rule our hearts.

I am feeling very mellow lately. We are coming up to our last week of lectures and doing one more month of missions and then I have to say goodbye to some very special people. We did a lecture week on leadership. It was very cool to find our leadership styles. My styles are visionary and entrepreneurial leadership. I often receive a vision and will fight for it to the very end. I write about it, dream about it and plan it. Once the vision has come to life, I often seek the next goal which is why it is so amazing that I have my great husband who is a strategic and motivational leader and sticks to the visions. Andy loves to see the details and fine prints of my visions. Often it can cause conflict between us, but we are learning to work together.

My Kiwi girl Brookie! Gonna miss her heaps!!

Our crew at the local cafe having some eats. #AWESOME FRIENDS!!

As for our final missions phase in June, Andy and I have a heart to see travelers, surfers and backpackers come to know the love of Jesus. God has opened a door for us to work alongside the staff of Aloe Again Backpackers located at the world famous surf break “SUPERTUBES”! God would.

Our home for the next 2 months

Sharon giving the low down to Roy and Andy about “Aloe Again Backpackers”

Sharon, a local JBay wonder woman owns several surf shops and hotels in JBay. She founded Billabong Africa after sitting on the sand dunes sewing board shorts for the surfers in the hippie days… She is a legend to JBay, and Andy and I are so privileged to get this opportunity to work with such a business woman!! Our Christian Surfers director Roy Harley connected us with her, and she is in need to market the backpackers and create a vibe there to bring in more business. She is allowing us to live in the hostel for 2 months rent free!! July will be a busy month since the Billabong Open is held at Supertubes and the waves get bigger and bigger. We get to be with the backpackers sharing God’s love by simply living amongst them!!

We are so excited for this next journey and will keep the updates coming as we market to backpackers in South Africa!!