Perseverance seems to be fitting for us to talk about today. It would be a bit of a stretch to say the last 5 days have been easy. We've struggled and we've certainly become discouraged. We've both been suffering from nasty colds that don't seem to want to go away and definitely don't get better when we sleep in a non heated apartment when temperatures drop below freezing at night. We've been traveling from one place to another with far more luggage than we should have ever thought of bringing! Yesterday we had our first outing to the store here in Botshabelo-- it was evident that we don't fit in one bit based on appearance and language and we've also learned from our coworkers that we're the only two white people living in this town of 200,000 people :). Today we walked into our apartment and found the sink was leaking which resulted in big puddles all over the floor.
It would be very easy for us to sit here and continue to find things to complain about and dwell on as it would for any of you in your situations. Everyday each and everyone of us experiences obstacles, struggles, hurdles, pain or what seems to be roadblocks. It's in these situations we're finding it so important to PERSEVERE. We have a choice-- we can chose to complain and be miserable with our current situation or we can find the growth opportunity from each challenge.
Each day is full of joy and it's up to us to find that joy in our everyday life. Our joy today came from our first opportunity with the children here at the shelter. We both were able to bring two babies to the local hospital for their monthly check in with the dietician. Since they are not able to be breast fed, the dietician needs to monitor their weight to ensure they're growing and thriving off of the formula provided by the government. Those big brown eyes can't do anything but melt your heart!
Although we may be uncomfortable at times, there is also so much to be thankful for and we must persevere through what seems to be challenges. It's in these moments and these struggles that we become a greater version of ourselves. I hope each of you can find a way to persevere today and throughout the weekend. Don't let yourself crumble when you feel like something isn't going your way or something isn't "fair"-- move forward and allow GROWTH.
Please keep us in your prayers, we'll be learning a bit more tomorrow about what our time here in South Africa will be looking like. We're trusting that God has a lot in store for us here with Setshabelo Family and Child Services!
With Love,
Ty + Michelle
This is the first little one Michelle could get her hands on since we've been here. He is 3 months old-- this is one of the boys we took to the dietician.
Feeding him while we waited.
This is how they serve tea and coffee for visitors-- we were impressed. :)
The ladies here at SFCS did such an amazing job putting this apartment together for us. We are so grateful for all the effort they have put in to help us feel at home here in Botsabelo.
Missionary type of dinner. :)
Ty's handy skills came out when we noticed our sink was leaking all over. Thankfully this was resolved-- just a little clean up to do.
A shot from our grocery store here in Botsabelo.
Thanks for following along with us on this journey!
Miehelle and Ty, I love this word...PERSEVERANCE! Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:3-4, "Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. There is another phrase that I memorized when I was about your age which goes like this, "Remember it's the things you do, that you don't have to do, that will always make a difference, when it's too late to do anything about it." PERSEVERE Ty and Michelle!
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