This weekend I enjoyed a visit from Chiraphone, APU’s Director of World Missions. She was here in South Africa, where she lived for two and a half years as a Peace Corps volunteer, and was able to stop by Paarl for two nights. It was such a blessing to see a familiar face, as well as to be able to share my new life with someone from home. We had a great time together. She showed me up with her ability to communicate fluently to all my black friends in their language. But it’s all the more reason to practice! It was certainly a refreshing time for me. And it’s great to know that I have yet another friend waiting for me at home that now understand a bit of this wonderful life I’m living. 
And it was good to be back with the visiting team from Orange County for their last week here in Paarl. They spent their time sharing in elementary schools in Paarl East & visiting our small groups in Mbewkeni. While I’m not always participating in what they are doing, I am blessed by hearing their stories. Certain things that I overlook touch them deeply. Things I’ve begun to accept outrage them. It’s this reason that I enjoy working with the short-term teams; they bring a fresh set of eyes to the things I encounter daily. And I’m challenged, once again, to find a balance between understanding and questioning. I want to understand that because of our own sinfulness, this world will never be sorrow-free but I hope I never stop questioning why there are children going to bed hungry in a town where men drive Mercedes and golf on the weekends. It’s a never-ending balancing act of coping with the daily heartbreak and maintaining an aggressive compassion for justice. As the weeks continue to fly by, I find myself constantly thanking God for each moment and asking for a few more. It’s a balance of contentment and yearning. And I guess that’s what I’m learning this week: balance.
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