One Splattered Toad, Please

Last night, my friend Kendra and I went out for dinner/drinks. Both of us were craving pizza and some girl time, so we went to The Toad. It's a fun little restaurant with outdoor seating and a bar upstairs. The first floor is a really nice intimate restaurant with a fire place and well loved interiors...very homey.

The Toad

The pizza by the way is phenomenal! I have found that I am a huge fan of the Splattered Toad Sauvignon Blanc. Just in case you are planning to visit. (The cost for a pizza, not just a slice but the whole pizza, and a glass of wine on average here will cost R74 which is around $10.60) I've also already located the vineyard, and I'm dying to go wine tasting! Fingers crossed that will happen this Saturday.

Kendra and our yummy dinner!

I have posted the above for two reasons, one is so that my parents can see that I'm not starving. The other reason is to help illustrate the importance of fellowship. This week has been pretty intense emotionally with everything at home and here with still finding my footing at work. Kendra has really been a blessing from God since my arrival. She is leaving the beginning of November after living here for over a year. A Belmont grad and native Knoxville girl, she has been a real comfort to me. I am very thankful that God has blessed me with a new friend!
We also both share a common interest, I mean besides the arts and being from Tennessee and loving NYC...OK we're actually pretty similar. We both have tattoos. Mine (for those who don't know) is Psalms 18:49 "I will praise you among the nations" on the inside of my left wrist. Hers is a black line that wraps around her wedding finger. I love that my tattoo is a great conversation starter whether I'm at church or on the bus or at work here. At dinner, Kendra and I were talking tattoos (if you have one, then you understand) and if we got a second what it would be..blah blah blah. We both mentioned that we loved a verse that was used on Sunday. Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but God determines the steps." God loves us so much that he allows us to walk our own course but is with us every step of the way. He has already walked the path! Our distant hope is God's 3D. He knows where you've been, where you are and where you are going. And the most amazing part is that he has laid the foundation for us to follow. In his word, he says that he is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
I've been trying to think only in the moment here and not get caught up in planning for the future. People have been asking what my plans are for when I get back to the States. Well, I don't know. God has only told me so much, and that is I will have a wonderful long Christmas break with my family, enjoy having the time to process this trip and create work in January, and FINALLY meet my Compassion child in February! That in itself is the most amazing answer to prayer! And get this, it's paid for. In full. I have been praising God from the valleys to the mountains...literally. I have my church family to thank for that. I don't have enough words to express how completely humbled I am by this immense blessing. I pray that God allows me to use this as a testimony for how generous and faithful he is and continues to be.
Our God is good, friends. Another quick praise, I am getting ready to start a project here for the Living Way newsletter. They want to be able to feature a different person from LW's campus, and I get to tell their stories. This means that I get to meet more people and hear where they come from and what their hopes are. I am so grateful for the opportunity. Please be praying that God allows me to have the heart to hear their needs and the words to write.
Prayer request: the ladies in the bakery really need direction. I don't know if a manager from outside the Living Way umbrella or if one of the ladies will step up to the challenge, but someone needs to give them a push. We're finding it's a fine line between helping them and running the business for them. The goal would be for the ladies to take more ownership in running the business efficiently.
Thank you friends and much love to each of you!