Hello!
We are near the end of the first week of my parents visit all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina to South Africa. It's been a great visit and we have so enjoyed just spending time together and hanging with Kieren. She always entertains us! We have done a bit of sightseeing here in Cape Town and beyond, as there is incredible natural beauty and some fun places to see. We celebrated Christmas together complete with presents and our three traditional Christmas day meals. We had to improvise with some parts - but it worked out in the end! The best part has been them seeing our 'world' here and beginning to meet the friends we already consider our family in South Africa. We spent some time with many of our friends in the community here of Ocean View, visited my Congolese refugee friends Antoine and Mathy and their kids, and met with some new friends who run an NGO called 'Sisters 4 Sisters' and work with women who suffer from domestic violence. Very eye-opening and we are all learning from the conversations that follow.
Lots of love!
Sarah


Grandpa hanging out with a very happy Kieren

Kieren with her presents... although she really wasn't that interested and it took two days to get through them all!

Abuelita reading a book to Kieren

Visit with my parents to Stellenbosh to the Fairview winery - beautiful and fun!

Kieren playing with her new magnet letters

Casey reading to Kieren

Mom and Dad at the overlook of Simon's Town

"The effectiveness of my work and my so-called success are tied to the quality of friends God has given me. Your friends see value in you and you meet that with value. The pursuit of that value is the friendship. If that stops because something got in your way-- time, goals, or something else-- it becomes a grace, because you benefit from something you did very little for."

We've talked about this a lot, Sarah and I, but I was reminded of it last night while reading from "Follow Me to Freedom" by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins. (This quote is from Perkins, who has been a civil rights advocate and fighter for justice since the 1960s.)
Sarah and I recognize that the thing that God has always given us in abundance is amazing friends. They are high quality, loyal, trustworthy, supportive, and caring. We left behind a community in Raleigh full of amazing friends that have continued to support us even from far away. You have sent us emails, called us, sent us letters and cards, one sent us an amazing care package, and one has even visited us. You have supported us financially as we rely on your generosity to allow us to be here. So, the first part of that quote totally relates to you.
But God has also blessed us with amazing friends here in South Africa. Many of you who follow our blog often have gotten to know some of these friends. Michael Jenkins, the Torrances, Shagmie & Lauren, Jamie and her family, Granny Jacoba, Bernadette & Iver, and the list goes on and on. They have embraced us in their homeland and made us a part of it. We are humbled by their grace towards us and their support.
As we celebrated our Christmas together with Sarah's parents yesterday, we were reflecting on the thing that God has done the last year that has been most significant to us. Our friendships are the thing that I shared about. The friendships at home that sent us and entrusted us to the friendships we have here. Friends in America, take heart, our friends in South Africa are doing a great job!

Casey

Video

This is a video I created for a group of girls from Grace Community Church called 'GEMS.' They do different kinds of projects together and one is on mission work - so they sent me some questions to answer for them. Also they made cards and gifts for the folks in my HIV support group and I gave them out during our Christmas outing this month - they loved them.

Enjoy!
Sarah

GEMS video from Sarah Prince on Vimeo.

Christmas Day

Just wanted to share some pictures from our first Christmas day in Cape Town, and Kieren's first Christmas ever. It was a very full and eventful day, and holds many great memories. We started by going to church at 8am (here everyone goes to church on Christmas day and not Christmas Eve!). Casey picked up a couple guys he plays soccer with at the Masiphumalele township and brought them to church with us (they called and asked to come), and our friend Michael Jenkins stayed over at our house Xmas Eve to spend Christmas morning with us. After church we brought all them together, along with Andy Chenlo and our neighbor Jamie Kallis for a brunch. Then we rested a bit and welcomed visitors who stopped by. Lunch was a much anticipated Christmas feast at the home of my friend Bernadette Terry in Ocean View. She and her family cooked for hours for a true Ocean View feast. We had a great time celebrating with them. Then we were back home for a quick rest and some calls back home, and then out to nearby Noordhoek beach area to have dinner with some of our friends who live there. Everyone brought some goodies and we feasted once again. The night was finished with a few more phone calls back to the States and then finally crashing! It was an awesome day!

Love,
Sarah

Our Christmas tree!

Casey with Kieren in her Christmas dress! Thanks Latta family!!

Andy Chenlo with our soccer friends Eric and Zucs

Sarah with our neighbor Jamie Kallis - love her!

Our host for Christmas lunch, Bernadette Terry

The Christmas table set outside for the whole family

The incredible spread of food - Ocean View style!

Sarah hanging with Lana, the daughter of our friends Mel and Bijou and our other friend Laurel playing with Kieren

Kieren watching the sunset from the house in beautiful Noordhoek beach

The table set for our Christmas dinner and our friends gathering for prayer

1 More Sleep...

So many thoughts on our first Christmas Eve living in South Africa. I have been talking to family and friends tonight on the phone and it makes me imagine even more all that is happening today in the US as people prepare for Christmas. For Casey and I, we hung with Kieren, went to the gym, ran last minute Xmas errands (with the rest of the country at the mall, geesh!), took K to the beach, made soup and grilled cheese for dinner, and watched a movie with our great friend Mike. Such a random and seemingly normal day to an outside eye, but it doesn't feel normal at all to me. It is our first Christmas in our new home, and Kieren's very first Christmas ever. Wow! So special, and I am really, REALLY looking forward to it. We do get to cheat a bit this year and celebrate twice - once tomorrow with our community here in South Africa, an then again on the 28th with my parents all day (they fly in on the night of the 26th).

As I write this blog, it's 11pm on Christmas Eve night, and Ocean View is still buzzing - I can hear people walking around, talking, laughing. In the distance someone is playing a beautiful gospel rendition of 'O Holy Night' which is my very favorite Christmas song ever. So many new things to take in. It's good.

I always thought I was so good at change, but it doesn't matter if you choose the change, it is still hard - even for me :) Still, even though we have said so many good-byes this year, I can't help but catch the hope and expectancy of all we get to welcome into our lives now and in the coming years. There is so much ahead. For all of us.

I am thinking of you all tonight, our friends and family back in the States, and wishing you a Merry and Blessed Christmas. May we all continue to embrace all that is coming and going, knowing that the author of our stories and our reason for celebration today, Jesus Christ, has an abundant life ahead for ALL of us.

Lots of love,
Sarah

Christmas-time fun

After receiving an incredible care package from our friends the Sasser's in Raleigh, we decided to share our wonderful gift of a sugar cookie decorating kit with some of our young friends from the Ocean View community. We invited the kids of our good friend Bernadette Terry, Robin and Amy, and then some of our other soccer guys who were playing outside also joined in for the fun. Bringing some American traditions to Africa, one frosted cookie at a time!

Sorry, wow, sooo cheesy. But it happens...

Love,
Sarah

Beach Day!

This week is a slow one, with not much ministry happening, so we are taking advantage of the free time and spending some time in our beautiful city! We went to a nearby beach called Kommetjie. It is a quiet beach town just down the road from our township and is just beautiful. I'm not going to lie, this is a nice way to prepare for Christmas...

Love,
Sarah

Christmas Thoughts

"I have this running quandary about Christmas. I get upset
about it, because I feel that we American Christians make too
much of it, and too little. Too little of it, because we pile
all sorts of other things onto it, including some that have
only the feeblest connection with the Event it is supposed to
commemorate. If God did become a man, in any real sense, it is
the most important thing that ever happened. Surely we, who
believe it, could well devote one day a year to uninterrupted
contemplation of the fact, and let Saturnalia fall on the
winter solstice, where it belongs.
On the other hand, we make so much of the actual birth, and
forget the things that make it more than just the birth of a
baby (though even that is, in Walt Whitman's phrase, "miracle
enough to stagger sextillions of infidels"*)--more, even, than
the birth of the greatest man who ever lived. We forget the
promise to Eve of a descendant who will solve the problem of
Evil; the promise to Abraham of one by whom all mankind will be
blessed; the promise to Moses of a greater prophet than he, to
arise from his people; and the promise to David of a Son who
would be his Master. We forget about the eternal Purpose behind
it all: it's like telling a story and leaving out the point.
Yes, it is true that God gave us His Son, and so maybe we ought
also to give gifts--but what, and to whom? It is also true that
God gave us Himself, and the only sensible response to that is
to give ourselves to Him. There is nothing else that He wants
from us, or, if there is something, He can take it. Only I, my
ego, my heart, is truly mine to give or to withhold--and is
therefore the appropriate gift to Him." - Walt Whitman

4 Sleeps Until Christmas

Morning!

So here in Africa, when someone is counting down to a certain day, they count it in 'sleeps' - number of time they sleep until that day. So just four sleeps until Christmas! Wow, so unbelievable it is so close! I think we have a few things still to do to get ready, but honestly I don't even know! Everything is so different here this year, I don't know what we need to do to prepare. I am just so looking forward to how we will celebrate Christmas with our community here. And then, to top it all off, when my parents arrive at the end of the week, we will also celebrate Christmas with them for another full day, and make sure to pack in all our American traditions. Best of both worlds :)

We had a great weekend full of many things going on. We were able to see many friends and enjoy the beautiful Cape Town weather. Kieren has a bad cold so she is a bit fussy here and there, but only normal kid stuff. What makes her most happy these days is to play with soccer balls - both big normal size ones and small 'bouncy ball' soccer balls that I got Casey for his birthday. She loves to chase them around the house - cute!

A prayer request. I have a friend in my HIV support group named Patricia who came to me on Sunday morning at church. It was her first visit and afterwards she came and gave me a hug and immediately started crying. We walked outside to talk and she said her husband had strangled her earlier in the morning and was being very violent. She threw him out of her house but has no idea how she will pay for food for her two kids, as she doesn't work except part-time in a 'creche' or preschool. It totally broke me and I am thinking about her constantly. I invited her over today to make Christmas cookies with me (as thanks to the Sasser family we have a whole Christmas cookie kit straight from America - yeah!!). It seemed so trite though, hey come make cookies even though your husband is beating you.... So the prayer request is two-fold. One, please pray for my friend as she is trying to figure out what to do next in her life, and so scared and overwhelmed. Second, domestic violence is something that I hear about ALL the time from people who I council and work with, and my heart is really drawn to help these people. I don't know what God has ahead, but I would really like to do something. I am thinking maybe I can start some support groups for these women to help them work through their stuff and not feel alone. I am working with an NGO that I met at the UCT conference, and the group is called 'Sisters For Sisters' and they have support groups for abused woman in other areas of Cape Town. So yeah, I don't even know, but I am so stirred by this problem and just feel like God may be leading me somewhere....

Many blessings for your week and may the sleeps come and go quickly so we can celebrate Christmas!

Love,
Sarah

Christmas is near...

We have been enjoying some great times here of preparing for Christmas, and went with our friends Evan and Kerryn Torrance and their son Cameron to a Christmas event. There is a huge and beautiful botanical garden called 'Kirstenbosch' that also has an outdoor concert venue. Each Christmas they host five nights of Christmas carols where everyone gets candles and sings the songs together. We went early with a picnic dinner and hung out for the night. It was a special and beautiful new tradition!

Love,
Sarah



Kerryn and her mom, Pam singing carols


The sun setting at Kirstenbosch

Great Devotional

This is a great devotional that really touched and challenged me this morning. It's from a devotional book called "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

Enjoy!
Sarah

Test of Faithfulness

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . —Romans 8:28

It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may bring the realization of our unfaithfulness to Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that exact event will never be repeated in our life. This is where the test of our faithfulness comes. If we will just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses.

Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.

The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.

New December Newsletter

We have created our December Newsletter. If you aren't already getting them, and would like to, please let us know so we can add you to our database. Just email us at caseyandsarahafrica@gmail.com.

Thanks,
Casey

Book Review

The book reviews are BACK! We have been reading, but just neglecting to share our wonderful books and our own thoughts on them, so here is the first of many to come...

"Rabble Rouser For Peace: the Authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu" by John Allen

I found this book in our community library early on in our time here and was immediately drawn to it. This man, Desmond Tutu, is someone I learned about during my time in seminary and has been someone that I have hugely admired ever since. He was the Anglican Bishop of Cape Town during the end of apartheid and was hugely involved in the end of oppression here. He lived a very public life all over the world, even winning a Nobel Peace Prize for his work, and did it all while serving as a 'pastor.' His biography is written by a friend and someone who worked closely with Desmond for years, and is filled with stories and recollections that are inspiring in so many ways. The life of this man has been incredible, and I pray to live a life a fraction as courageous and fully devoted to God and His people.

DEFINITELY recommend this one!
Grade: A


Love,
Sarah

Happy Birthday

Today, December 17th, we wish Casey a happy 25th birthday (plus 6 years...). The South African sun has been a little harsh on him, but I think he still looks hot!



Love,
Sarah

Farewell for now

Wanting to wish good luck, and send our blessing and prayers to our friends Jeremy and Sarah Hurst. They came out two months ago to South Africa to work and live in a township community called Mitchell's Plain to partner with a local pastor and run a community center called the FROG center. Their story is captured on their blog: http://amazedbyyou.wordpress.com/.
We became friends with them here as Jeremy's parents live in Raleigh and saw our article in the paper and connected us. They have had a long and complicated journey here in South Africa and had hoped to stay for a couple years, but left to go back home on Tuesday. We feel blessed to have shared time with them during a difficult season of theirs and took many lessons for our future endeavors. Our thoughts and prayers and with them especially as they return home and try to figure out what life now holds ahead.

Love you guys!
Sarah

Love you Raleigh family!

P.S.

Just wanted to add on to Casey's last blog post. I was sharing the same sentiment as Casey yesterday, just really missing being 'home' for Christmas this year in order to share it with our family and friends. After Casey's emotional moment, our friend Mike Jenkins showed up for a planned dinner and we had a Mexican feast (seriously - I made yummy enchiladas!) and we talked until late in the night. He is such a great friend and we talked for hours about our community back home and Casey shared the whole story of his parents. One thing that 'Jenks' said early in the night was that this will now be our new life - always leaving behind people we love. BUT, the blessing of our lives is that even though we will always leave behind people we love, we can then trust that God has really great things for us here too. If that was so wonderful that God would ask us to leave it then it must mean that there are really wonderful things ahead. God showed the truth of that even last night, reminding me that he is already building wonderful things here through special people who walk this transition into our new life here with us. We are blessed.

Love,
Sarah

"You Would Always Stay Right By My Side"

So, we just had a "moment". We were busy cooking dinner and had some music going and we sat down to rest while our enchiladas baked. The song playing was called "I Could Run Away" by Enter the Worship Circle. Well, part of the lyrics are, "you would always stay right by my side". I sat down on the couch as those lines were being repeated and looked across from me to two frames with pictures of some important people to us. Now, admittedly, the song is about God, but the line just seemed perfect for these people. Each frames has two pictures. The first includes our family friends, The Kelly's, who we've grown very close to this year. The other has a photo of our good friend Jeff Wooten from our visit to the Grand Canyon last summer. Below that one is a photo of me and Chris Sasser; my ministry partner, friend, and mentor; from the Final Four in Detroit last spring. As I was connecting the line in the song with the people in these photos I got a little choked up.
Okay, it wasn't just a little. These people really have always been right by our side. Woo was by my side as I learned to drive. He was by my side leading mission trips to Mexico. And he was by our side as we made this move. When Kieren is around he usually isn't by our side, because he usually has taken her off on his own! Chris Sasser has been by my side through the death of my parents. He was by my side as I discerned my call to ministry. Sass was by my side doing ministry at Grace over the last 7 years. And he was also by our side supporting us through this move. It really is overwhelming the numbers of people that have been right by our side through this whole adventure. And it's amazing the ones that have taken a VERY personal investment in this whole thing.
As we talked about what I was so unsuspectedly feeling we realized something. It's not hard living HERE. We have a comfortable home, a beautiful healthy child, a call to do great ministry, and great people to do it with. It's just hard not living THERE. As we've shared the moments that we've been missing (Kevin's baby, Lauren's engagement, etc) that's really what we are saying. It's hard not being there. We are so happy here and really fulfilled. But man, we really wish we could be there for some things right now. Even the 24 hours-a-day Christmas music on MIX 101.5!
Thanks for continuing to allow us to share our hearts. Hopefully it helps you understand what we are really experiencing.

Casey

Moments Like These...

We have experienced another moment here where we are filled with joy for a friend, and deeply wish we could be home to share in the celebration. Our friends Lauren Wishon and Robbie Sachman have gotten engaged in this past week and we are so excited for them! We have known Lauren for our entire time of ministry at Grace Community in Raleigh, and I was extremely close to Lauren as I led her in a high school girls small group and then continued to mentor her throughout the years. She has always just been someone very special to Casey and I, and is more like family than a friend. We love Robbie and the life they are already building together and are overjoyed that God has blessed them in this way. It is in moments like these, that our hearts also break just a bit, wishing we could be there in person to celebrate. Our hearts are there Lauren and Robbie and we can't wait for all God has ahead for you two!

Love,
Sarah

Sarah with her girls - Sarah Vevurka, Lauren Wishon, and Melissa Book

Kieren Joy

Fun Kieren story. We have a woman who is helping us watch Kieren now, her name is Jacoba Simon, and she is the aunt of our good friend Bernadette. She is an incredible Christian woman, and basically takes over the entire house when she is here and keeps us together. We need it and are so thankful.

So Jacoba told us a hilarious Kieren story yesterday. She said that last week while she was watching Kieren, she was doing some things around the house and Kieren was crawling around and 'exploring' in the kitchen. She loves to open one particular low cabinet and get out all the food we keep in there. Jacoba was in another room for a few moments and returned to the kitchen to find Kieren sitting on the floor enjoying her found treasure. Seems Kieren found a bag of potato chips, opened the clipped bag, and was chowing down on the chips. Jacoba's first thought was she WISHED we had been there to see it! It was so funny she just left her there for a few minutes to enjoy her find. Too funny!

Kieren gets funnier every day - I am SERIOUS that our girl has quite the personality on her. Watch out world...


Love,
Sarah


Kieren with Jacoba, who we already lovingly call 'Granny'

Another Manic Monday

Hello Family and Friends,

It's hard to believe, but we are actually creating a bit of a rhythum and schedule around here. Monday mornings start slow, but we set out mid-day to run errands and get the week started. We make appointments, check emails, and get the week set up for what we need to accomplish. It may sound boring, but actually it's SO nice to have created the start of a life around here!

Not much to report on the weekend because Casey and I were both sick with a stomach bug. We are both still a bit 'off' but definitely getting better. What made it so hard was that Sunday we were both dead and Kieren was happy and on the move! Thankfully, our friend and neighbor Jamie Kallis took Kieren to Hout Bay for the day for a family outing they were having. The house was VERY quiet but it was nice to just lay on the couch and not feel like we were neglecting our child! We watched so many movies this weekend - which I love! Being sick is always a bummer, but the good thing is that it makes you slow down a bit which was great.

Kieren turned 11 months this weekend - WHAT?? Seriously she is a little person and on the move ALL the time. It's hard to even tell when she is ready for a nap because she is so happy and enjoys playing and crawling and cruising aroung the whole house. She also continues to look more and more like her dad. As they say in Ocean View, 'shame.' :)

Looking forward to a good week of meeting with people, Casey is looking ahead to the next Ubuntu events, and hanging with our friends and neighbors. A prayer that we honestly have for the week is to begin spiritually and mentally preparing for Christmas - because it's less than 2 weeks away and we feel so out of touch!

Lots of love,
Sarah

Ukhanyo & Marine Clinics

Go to www.ubuntusports.blogspot.com for the update from our other clinics!

These are those moments...

Today one of my best friends, Kevin Bell, and his wife Karen had their first baby BOY, Griffin Hayes Bell. They really persevered during this pregnancy as Karen was on bed rest for many weeks, some at home and some in two different hospitals. Griffin is a bit of a miracle baby. He was originally due in January, but because of the struggles they were having, the doctor had scheduled to induce on December 15, but instead he came on his own. At 36 wks and 2 days, he is a healthy 6lbs 11oz and 19 inches long.


We are so excited for Kevin and Karen, but these are one of those moments when it's really hard to be here. We keep saying, "I wish we were there right now." These are the moments where you want to celebrate with the people you are closest to. If you are in Raleigh, go visit the Bells, and give that baby a kiss for us!

Casey

Summer Break

Although this is a strange concept for you readers in America to understand, we are at the beginning of a beautiful summer break here in South Africa. The seasons are opposite as we are the bottom half of the globe, and it's gorgeous around here these days. Not trying to make you jealous, but I am writing this blog post from a coffee shop that is open-air, and I am gazing out at a view of the ocean. I can't be responsible to your feelings about that, but you do wish you were here....

People around here joke about 'Africa time' and it's such a true way of life around here, and things come to even more of a halt during summer break. Schools aren't officially out until the end of this week, but since all final exams were given two weeks ago almost NO one is at the schools anymore. People are having Christmas celebrations, going to the beach, and leaving for vacation. In Ocean View, the township summer means everyone is walking around outside, playing sports, hanging out, and trying to stay cool. Last Saturday it was in the 80's and I heard this week that most people stayed inside and tried to not sweat (there is not indoor heating or cooling for most homes and buildings here... seriously). Mostly people are very happy and looking forward to a break and some fun. We are too!

In the past few weeks things have gotten REALLY busy, and now that everyone is out of school there also seem to be kids constantly at our house wanting to hang out and play soccer. It's so cool, but wow, pretty crazy too! Last weekend Kate Berry commented that our house was Grand Central Station. Casey finished his last Ubuntu clinic today and had a great week of learning and teaching with the kids in the schools we want to be in. I had a few events for Living Hope this week, and today spoke at a Christmas celebration for all clients in Ocean View who attend support groups. I did a bit of 'preaching' and had a blast getting to share with my own community. It is a privilege to get to live in Ocean View for so many reasons, but I feel like it gives me a platform to speak more directly into people's lives since I do understand the challenges more than I would as an outsider.

Casey and I are looking forward to relaxing together a bit on Friday and just catching up on our time together in the midst of all that has been going on. And at some point we need to prepare for Christmas, but it is still yet to be determined how that will look in our new lives in Africa. We do already have plans with different families and friends, but want to begin some traditions for our family here! Christmas day is getting closer and closer!

Lots of love,
Sarah

Christmas Celebration With My Support Group

Yesterday was a special day. I have had the privilege of jumping back in to help lead a support group of persons living with HIV, the same group of people I helped to lead when we were here before. These people are incredible and struggle with difficult lives in the midst of daily fighting their disease. They are humble and strong. For Christmas, the other leaders, Naomi and Bernadette, suggested we get out of the Ocean View township for a fun outing. We went to a beach and 'braii' (cookout) area called Soetwater that is only about 10 minutes from where we all live. The weather was perfect, sunny and in the 70s, and everyone was excited about our day out. All three of us leaders prepared a TON of food, and most of my job was to buy the meat. For the 'braiis' here they grill over a fire chicken and sausage, and Bernadette also made a stew-like meal called 'Poike' (pretty sure I am spelling that one wrong...). We ate ourselves sick and just enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and water. The best part, however, was to see how different everyone was just being outside of our community for the day. Everyone was laughing and talking and just having a great time. They just seemed so 'light' to me and I felt like I got to see their true selves. I think the hardships and oppression of their lives and illness bring them down so much, so it was heartwarming to see them happy for a day. I kept saying all day 'this is HEAVEN,' and I was referring to the good food, perfect weather, and fun time with my friends. Thinking back on it now, it probably was a glimpse of what heaven will be like; where there will be no sickness or darkness or oppression, and we will be truly free. Can't wait.

Lots of love,
Sarah

The support group at the end of a great day!

The fire pit with 'Poike' cooking

Glenthia (on left), a group member, presenting gifts to the leaders Naomi and Bernadette

Eating our second round of food, sitting together under the shade of the tree

Me with Joanne, the member from the group who publicly shared her status at the World's AIDS Day rally in Ocean View last week. She is amazing!

Clinic Update

Go to www.ubuntusports.blogspot.com for the update from our first clinic!

We are sad to see Matt and Kate Berry leave lovely South Africa today. Both are from our home church in Raleigh; Matt has been here working with Living Hope for over two months and Kate, his mom, has come to visit him at end of his time of service. Matt has had an incredible time here and it's been so cool to share this place with him. Then Kate came about 10 days ago and brought her joy to our home and lives too! We have had some great times and many great pics, captured by Kate Sharing a couple below.

Lots of love,
Sarah



Kate and Matt Berry


Cute Baby K After a Bath

Reflection...

On Sunday the conference I was attended came to a close, and WHEW I am exhausted! It was such a whirlwind as we were there three full days and two half days of lectures and workshops all about social justice issues. Most of the people there were INCREDIBLY intelligent and gifted and the work they had been doing all over the world was inspiring. I have so many thoughts and ideas floating through my head that I can't fall asleep at night and wake up too early! I have many contacts that I will keep in touch with and look forward to where some of the relationships will lead. What touched me most was the stories that were shared about people suffering through conflicts and violence on both large and small scales. Through our time you would hear about the hope that was still there and how people were remaking new lives out of the ashes. Desmond Tutu talked about our shared humanity and connectedness by referencing 'Ubunutu' and pushed us all to look for the hope and goodness that is found in every person because we are children of God. Last night we went to Hillsong Church again in downtown and it was a great time of worship for me as I could just bring all my head and heart to God. It is depressing and heartbreaking to hear of the suffering and pain people have and are enduring, so I just laid these people and stories out before God. But I was reminded by Him of His love and how His heart beats and breaks for these people, as well. When I reach out to them I am doing so with His power and love that can breathe new life where there is only death and darkness.

I would love your prayers and I know I am at the beginning of a new journey (duh), not just in being a missionary here in South Africa, but the next steps of my career and ministry path. For years I have felt a desire to continue school to get my PhD and teach in a college setting, as I love that environment and potential. In my college years I had incredible professors that walked along side me as teachers, mentors, and friends. Since that time God has put a stirring in me to do the same. So yeah, not sure what is next, but I'm going to begin pursuing what that might look like and we'll see where I end up.

I want to share the lyrics of the worship song from last night, as it gave me so much hope and reminded me of all I believe God wants to do here.

Lots of love,
Sarah

Tear Down the Walls
Hillsong United

VERSE 1:
Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

PRE CHORUS:
And I don't need to see it to believe it
I don't need to see it to believe it
Cause I can't shake this
Fire deep inside my heart

VERSE 2:
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

PRE CHORUS 2:
Cause I don't need to see it to believe it
I don't need to see it to believe it
Cause I can't shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

CHORUS:
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It's all for You

CHORUS 2:
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

BRIDGE:
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

It begins here...

This week we are starting the official 'work' of Ubuntu Sports Outreach. We're having a clinic each day in our 4 startup schools: Simon's Town, Kleinberg Primary, Ukhanyo Primary, and Marine Primary. We expected to do the clinics after school, but the schools have asked us to do them during school, b/c kids stopped showing up the last couple of weeks b/c they did exams a few weeks ago. (Don't ask me why it's done that way.)
We're really excited about the opportunity to 'introduce' ourselves to the communities, schools, and kids. Please be praying for our influence there, our relationships with the schools, and that kids would be excited to be with us.
You can follow up on all that happens at the clinics at www.ubuntusports.blogspot.com.

Casey

Desmond

Up in the Clouds and On the Ground

Hello friends and family,

A quick update for you today, I am in the second full day of this conference at UCT called 'Beyond Reconciliation.' It is an incredible meeting of scholars, teachers, and practitioners. I am FILLED with information, stories, and new heroes whom I deeply admire. After the first full day, I came home Thursday night completely exhausted and I could barely function! I am meeting incredible people and am prayerful about how this time of learning and enlightenment will lead to my next steps - but at the present I am not sure! For now, I am 'up in the clouds' in almost euphoria and the excitement of all I am taking in.

Down 'on the ground,' I would like to ask for your prayers, as Kieren has a bad stomach bug and isn't able to keep anything from running from one end of her body to the other. She was in a good mood yesterday, but over the night and today she is in obvious discomfort and even pain because of her stomach. We have gotten some medicine from the pharmacy and hope she will be on the path to healing and rest soon. Poor baby - please pray for her!

Lots of love,
Sarah

My New Friend

Okay, so maybe he is not my 'friend,' but I definitely did meet one of my heroes, Archbishop Desmond Tutu this morning. I am attending a conference at the University of Cape Town called 'Beyond Reconciliation' and today is the first full day of sessions and lectures. Desmond Tutu spoke this morning and received questions from a panel of incredible scholars. He was full of joy, wit, and deep grace. I was so amazed (but not surprised) at how he unashamedly brought up the power and love of God as our prime example in reconciliation and forgiveness time and time again. He told many poignant stories along with jokes and powerful teaching. It was remarkable. As soon as it ended, I noticed he wasn't being rushed off, so Andy and I decided to go down and meet him. Ha! We just walked right down there, waiting until he was finished talking to the other 'scholars' and introduced ourselves. I mentioned that I was here because of Peter Storey, the South African professor who taught me at Duke, who is also a colleague and friend of Desmond. We talked a bit about why we were here and he was so gracious. WOW! Just a dream come true of a day as this is a man whom I deeply admire and a person who informs and challenges my life as a pastor and social 'activist.' Nothing can top that, but the rest of the conference has been challenging and inspiring and I am meeting many incredible people from numerous fields. My mind is spinning and inside I am still giddy that I am even here to experience this. So many people to learn from and I hope to follow in their footsteps of teaching others about social justice and reconciliation.

I hope you are inspired today in some way too!
Blessings,
Sarah

Coming and Going

Hello friends and family!

We feel like we are WAY due for an update on what is going on in the Prince home - but things have been suddenly very busy around here, so we apologize for the lack of info! On Friday night, our friend Kate Berry flew in from our church in Raleigh to visit her son Matt who has been volunteering with Living Hope for 2 months (oh and she gets to see us too!!). It's been SO fun to host Kate, as she brings so much joy into this place and helps us process all we are seeing and experiencing - the highs and lows. And we were SO blessed to have her bring an extra suitcase filled with goodies from home - everything from a Christmas dress for Kieren, frosting for me, candy corns for Casey, and LOTS of cereal. Even just to get some handwritten cards was SUCH a treat!

Oh, by the way, we ARE getting mail now here from the States, it took less than 10 days for a letter. It's been so fun to get some Christmas cards already!!

Okay, so many things happening in the midst of our hosting Kate. We have been spending time with lots of friends and ministry things are also really picking up. There have been some highs and lows, as well. Yesterday, Living Hope held a rally in Ocean View for World AIDS day, and my friend Joanne, who is in my HIV support group, publicly spoke about her HIV status in order to encourage others to be tested. It was INCREDIBLE - people were cheering for her and others even then shared their HIV status with the crowd. It was so inspiring and I told Joanne after that she was my new hero! She has built a great life where she is choosing to be healthy and live even though she is HIV positive. It was a beautiful thing. Then shortly afterwards, Kate and I were thrust into a really intense situation. We met a young woman named Jakie who came to the clinic and wanted help because she was having a bad 'drug trip' on some 'tick' which is crystal meth in the States. She was prayed for, and then eventually brought in to see the doctor, and later taken to the hospital. She felt she was ready to try to get clean but was also scared and filled with so many emotions. Just before she was taken to the hospital, Kate and I went in to see her and she was crying and scared and sick, and I just trying to minister to her in a few moments. I prayed for her and tried to speak truth to her about the challenges ahead of getting clean but how it was worth it. I told her God brought her to us that day and that He saved her to make her new. She was filled with so many emotions but would stop and focus on what I was saying and smile. I have to believe she understood and I hope she follows a new path, but wow, it will be a mountain to climb ahead. It was very scary and emotional for both Kate and I, but we certainly saw God's presence in those moments.

Many ministry opportunities are popping up lately for Casey and I, and we continue to grow deeper in love with this community. Casey is preparing, with Andy Chenlo, for the Ubunutu clinics in the schools next week and getting very excited. And I look ahead for today and the rest of the week for my incredible conference at UCT. So much happening! We are on quite a ride right now and truly enjoying it! Pray that we will have times to process, rest in the Lord and each other, and enjoy all God is doing.

Lots of love,
Sarah