All the students and staff of Gateway36 hours later I will arrive in Durban, South Africa, ready (or not!) to begin my 3 month internship. I will be assisting two long term missionaries in their work with a local church, specifically in children's ministry. A good portion of my time will also be committed to learning Zulu, which is the local language (although most people also speak English). In order to effectively apply what I've been learning from the classes here at Gateway, I will be required to turn in weekly assignments as well.
With my internship inching closer, I'm getting more excited and nervous by the minute. I'm looking forward to being in South Africa, to experience all the wonders of an unfamiliar place. To smell, touch, taste, hear and see. To learn how to pronounce 'ngiya bonga' correctly ('thank you' in Zulu). However I'm also worried about going through customs, collecting my bags and trying to find whoever is picking me up. I'm concerned about what it will be like to be a single white woman in a male-dominated society that is 79% black. I won't be able to blend in much! I'm afraid of unintentionally offending someone or having trouble communicating effectively. What if I get sick? What if I don't make friends? What if I don't like the food? What if someone steals my lunch money?
With all these upcoming challenges, I know that I need to take a deep breath, pray, and have faith that Jesus has my back. That doesn't mean that everything will be perfectly easy, but it does mean that my God will love, support, and guide me through every step of the adventure!
