Friday we started doing some construction on the church and pulling up carpet and tearing down the round stages (you can see them in my previous post on the church) after that we began prepping the upstairs hallway to the kids rooms so we can finish painting soon and we will do more of that tomorrow (Monday). Friday night we went to our first Bible Study and met some of the people who will be starting the church with us. They are all great and loved getting to know Kelly and I.

Saturday we did some more work on the church and then prepared for a Braai we had at the house. Its what they call a grill out here. South African life is obviously very different but its fun learning the culture.

However, another thing is limited internet access for now. It is not like back home where it is so easy to access. So for now my updates may be rare but i promise to post as much and as soon as i can. Thank you for all the prayer and support thus far. It is going to be an exciting year.

Ah! The long-awaited post! I’ve been meaning to post for a while now and just haven’t had a big enough time gap to post and really put effort into it. Needless to say, I am now done with college.. minus a transfer credit class on “The Gospels” that I am currently working on. The idea that I am done and can say, “I HAVE a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Biblical Studies,” has really not hit me yet, it probably won’t until I leave for Durban.. or maybe not even til I come back and see the actual diploma.

On another note.. IT IS MAY! This is the month I’ve been waiting for since last August when I found out I was officially moving. Not only is it May, but also the current countdown is 14 days! WOW! I know I am more excited to go then words can explain, but I honestly can say I haven’t fully grasped the idea of it yet. Since I am finally done with the hectic schedule of college, I can get to packing and organizing for my trip.

However, the closer the time comes to leaving some of the excitement turns into nervousness. I don’t think I have fully grasped that I will be gone for a year. Let alone that this is actually the beginning of my life after college. Forever ago I changed the caption box on my facebook to this…

dream vocation: missionary to Africa!

May 25th 2010: achievable!

I had totally forgotten doing that til I just was looking at my profile the other day. It’s so true! This will be my 4^th trip to Africa. Ever since the first one I went on in the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I have always had a heart to just go there and live. God put that calling on my life to go and I am following it. I’ve had a lot of people tell me how amazing I am for doing it or how much they admire that I am. In all honesty, I feel more blessed than privileged to do so. Personally, I am still wow’d by the line “missionary to South Africa” under my own name! ..like it amazes me that that is what I get to be. I in no way feel like I have done enough in my short lifetime to gain that title, but I accept it. It gives me the drive to constantly be doing more and wanting to do more to just love and serve others.

I am also really blessed in that I went from needing $14,000 more for my trip just a month and a half ago.. and now I only need $2500 more. I can honestly say that was all God! Many people would make astonished faces and be stunned by the amount, but I decided in the beginning to just give it to Him and knew it would get taken care of just like He has every year. :]

if any of you have any questions or want anymore information you can just email me! kperritt@goglobalmissions.com I’ll be glad to to answer anything you want to know!

the pressure is on to get all my funds together and raised before i go.. ideally i need $14,000 more. i know that sounds huge but i know to God its pocket change! i’m believing for BIG change! :]  i know it seems pretty easy to think to just get small monthly support.. however, because anything can happen i cannot risk losing any monthly support while i am in South Africa. So I am aiming to get everything i need BEFORE May 25th.

I am not looking for huge amounts from people (although that would be great), but given all the economic issues we have had in our country i understand not everyone can give big. I am looking to spread the word to as many people as possible to give what they can.. even if it is just $20!

so all i ask is just donate what you can.. and  if anything help me spread the word! :]

p.s. my fellow missionary and future Durban roommate  Kelly Phelan is also taking donations!

We did about 2 outreaches each day we were there. One day we even went down to New Orleans to help do some construction on a church being put up in the St. Bernard Parish. We did some of the simplest things such as handing out water on the side of the road to going door-to-door around the Dream Center handing out candy and praying for people. The feeling of being able to brighten someone’s day or even change someone’s life will never cease to be amazing. I completely loved being able to serve along side people who have a heart for helping others and advancing God’s kingdom. My life this past year and being a 2nd year intern is far different from my life as a 1st year intern where I actually got to do more outreach opportunities. This trip definitely made me look forward to Africa even more, because I know in Africa the main purpose of what I will get to do is reaching people with God’s love.

this post is later than should be, but i included the promo for those reading this who are not familiar with the conference at all. this conference has to be one of my favorite things that our church does. it’s a huge inspiring conference to help other pastors learn how to grow their church.

during Make Room week, Greg Evans was in town from South Africa. Greg is going to be the pastor of our Durban campus. Kelly and I will be living with him along with his wife Kristin and their baby Isaiah. I’m not sure if I’ve previously mentioned that or not in any other posts for those who do not know. Greg brought pictures of the building we’ve purchased for the church in Durban, so the main purpose of  this post is to share them with all of you :]

a construction team is planning to travel to Durban in April to start working on the space. This is only the middle of 3 stories we have purchased. From what I’ve been told, the floor below will be a lobby, and the floor above will be for our Next Gen ministry. Oh I am seriouslymore excited than this post can show you!

here is the first of probably many cliche macbook pictures

Valentine’s day happened to be the 100 day mark on the countdown! The 14th happened to fall on a Sunday so all day long Kelly and I informed each other and everyone else about it all day long! My birthday was a few days later on the 17th.. i am now 22! that is definitely a strange feeling to me. I just haven’t found the fun in this age yet.. i guess 25 is the next big milestone.

enough of the update.. here’s something you can take away from the post. everything for me right now is moving at a rapid pace between trying to finish school, to attempts to fundraise, to a busy season in church. We just launched a 2nd service for Axis at our new Collierville campus.. this weekend is our Make Room Conference.. then i leave to go on a missions trip to the Baton Rouge Dream Center on Monday during my spring break week. i love it! in staff meeting we’ve been learning about the concept of “living today with tomorrow in mind.”  A verse Pastor John shared with us a few weeks ago was Joshua 3:5, which says, “…’Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’” Amongst all the struggles and stress that may come i stay dedicated and press on knowing that God will provide in the end.

“Momentum is one of the greatest agents of change” -P.John

Jackson campus

Collierville campus

I still however serve at the Cordova campus and it is still growing strong and growing more than ever before.. But everyday Africa is still on my mind.. I cannot wait to help plant and build up The Life Church of Durban!

this is my year! i cannot wait for the great things God has planned.. i CANNOT wait to graduate and go to Africa! we’re only 3 weeks in and this year has already had me pretty busy. our church is growing and we just bought a new building for our collierville campus.. so i am definitely in a growing and stretching season. however, i have no complaints, but i do prefer doing church stuff over school anyday. welcome to senioritis extreme!

all i can say now is look forward to way more posts.. and if you have any questions feel free to comment!