Hello Redding....
The day after we landed in San Francisco, we rented a car and drove to Redding. It is such a beautiful drive and we drank in every mile. Driving on the other side of the road took some getting used to, especially amongst the massive trucks and pick ups. (South Africans: you think a Prado or double cab is big? You should see the monsters on these roads! My Hat! I swear they growl at you when you pass them.)
We arrived in Redding and drove straight to our apartment complex. We opened our car doors and BAM! The heat hit us like a brick wall. The car thermometre read 110 degrees Fahrenheit (around 40 degrees Celsius). We were given our keys and we were greeted by our clean and perfect little apartment with new carpets and new appliances. We took a deep breath... this is our home! Then ran upstairs to turn the central air con on.
We arrived at 3pm and by 6pm we had all our furniture in our home. People we hadn't met before; but who had heard we were coming; helped us move all our stuff in. We were given almost everything! Sheets; towels; a couch and coffee table; a cot; a bed; duvets; a dining room suite; more toys than Amy and Katie know what to do with AND a whole kitchen of appliances, cutlery and crockery - even cookie cutters!! And as if that wasn't amazing enough, our new friends gave us a home cooked meal to enjoy that evening. Pete and I sat at our dining room table, eating the delicious meal and looked at our instant home in wonder..."How did this all happen? And why was it so easy?"
Before we left South Africa I had really been praying and asking God for an apartment and a bed for Amy and Katie within the first 2 days of our arrival in Redding. I didn't even think it was possible to arrive in a foreign country and have everything we needed in one afternoon! The funny thing is that some of the stuff we have been given here is BETTER than what we had at home.
I shouldn't be so surprised because God, You are SO good!
It took a few days for the jet lag to wear off and by the weekend we were somewhat familiar with our location and surroundings. We have set up a bank account, got cell phone contracts, put Amy into Bethel Pre School and are currently looking for a car. Pete starts school in September and I have registered for a ladies group and a few other courses the church offer during the evenings.
We are just loving our little home and we have all adapted so well. We even have some daily entertainment: there is a man that walks around the apartment complex all day and each time he does a round he wears a different hat. His hats are amazing and so creative. He has a gold Aladdin turban, a joker hat, a hat with a parrot on and one hat even has a poodle on it. He also has a green radio around his neck and walks while listening to music. Every 2 hours or so he walks past our window and we all run to see what hat he is wearing. Its such fun and Amy thinks its the best thing ever. :) Poor dude is probably thinking we are the crazy ones. (chuckle)
Grocery shopping is an adventure in itself, the variety is unbelievable and everything is bigger - gallon milk jugs, longer loaves of bread, bigger bags of chips, shinier apples and yellower bananas. My eyes were like saucers on our first grocery shop.
Sunday morning arrived and we all got dressed up for our first church service at Bethel. During worship it hit me, "We are here. We made it." I actually got on my knees and burst into tears. My heart felt so blessed and overjoyed. It is such a privilege to be involved and to be taking part in a culture and a church that has understood the Kingdom of God. Since the day we arrived we have felt that culture through the love and support of new friends and the people we have met here. They certainly have something right!
Trust without Borders...
I have been listening to a song by United Live called "Oceans". The lyrics of this song are amazing and it honestly is the cry of my heart. Its scary to take a step out onto unknown waters. But throughout this journey I am beginning to realise that when He call your name, you cant help but respond. When He calls, He sustains and you find out who you are meant to be and what you have been created for. We have been designed to trust in His love and to rely on Him, we weren't meant to be independent; we weren't meant to do life all on our own. Sure it takes guts to make that step, but looking back now, we were actually carried the whole way :)
We have never felt so alive. There is something about taking risks, making that jump and finally finding out that the dream you've had in your heart for so long is a possibility.
"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet will ever wander, that my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my saviour..."
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