“She’s going to come home more beautiful.”
Corbin and I agreed on this, and that her friends would as well.
Essie is home from South Africa.
The twelve days to me felt like a month. I was not scared for her safety, wasn’t even nervous about her being so far. I was excited for her to get to experience Africa, as Corbin and I have never been. But her absence at home felt like a month.
When our school posted minister opportunities last fall, Esther immediately knew she wanted to travel to South Africa. It was the most expensive, most time consuming trip. We asked her (initially told her) to consider Honduras as it was literally half the price. She dug her heels in for South Africa. Corbin’s response was that if she insisted, she needed to raise half the money. He helped her with a plan to sell jars of cookie mixes, and they were off. In about three weeks they made and sold enough to earn her goal. I say they because Corbin was a significant part of the process, including the purchasing of ingredients and managing the assembly line. But Essie rolled up her sleeves and jumped right in alongside her dad, filling jars and creating labels and communicating with all of the “customers” via social media and texts. For several weeks I heard of people coming through our neighborhood gate – friends I hadn’t been in contact with for months or even years – who connected with Essie to buy the jars of cookie mix. It was fun to see her take ownership of the process and her administrative skills full force. And even more fun to have generous friends take her up on buying all those jars.
The week prior to spring break, the group of twenty (17 kids, 3 teachers) traveled to Port Shepstone, South Africa, with stops in Dubai there and back. Their time in Port Shepstone was primarily spent partnering with a church working in a baby home (orphanage), day care and attending a student worship event.
Essie’s first text described their day at the baby home and how endearing it was when the African American babies just attached themselves to her and the other students.
“African American” made me giggle. She called within a day or so of this first text, breathless trying to describe these babies, and I laughed and said, “Essie, these kiddos are not African American, they’re just African.” Pause. Laughter. “Oh yes haaaa!”
While their living conditions were fine, Essie quickly came to appreciate comforts that were not readily available – air conditioning, regular running water, familiar food, and even time alone.
I love that she got to experience some “discomforts,” several cultures, languages, and the beauty of Dubai and South Africa. At this point, she wants to go back to Port Shepstone – both to the school and the baby home, and on a family vacation because it’s so beautiful. And as for Dubai, while I think she was glad to experience it for a few days, she does not care to return.
We knew she would come home more beautiful, and she did. Sleep deprived and groggy after the 25+ hours of flights, jet lagged, ready for her own bed and comfort foods, even so she was clearly more beautiful. Bright eyes and a tenderness that comes from seeing God’s work around the globe, in new and unfamiliar lands and people. Her stories are unrolling organically as she unpacks and washes clothes and shares goodies with us from the South African markets.
The school trip to South Africa is now in the rear view mirror, but we know Essie’s processing will continue for weeks. As he officiated our wedding, my dad repeated the theme that over my years of growing up I became more beautiful. He credited it to the people and experiences that led me closer to Christ – Young Life, Kanakuk, good friends and college roommates, and ultimately Corbin’s love. Should dad officiate Essie’s wedding someday, this South Africa trip would be a marker towards that theme. Her time serving at Camp Barnabas last summer was a marker, her summers with church Kids Camps and Kanakuk, and some of the challenges we’ve watched her work through during high school. All of these working out to make her more beautiful.
Grateful for a school that prioritizes these minister mission trip opportunities. Grateful for Lori, Coby and Kristi sacrificing immeasurable time and energy in shepherding these kiddos (safely) across the world and back. And grateful to see the Lord’s working in Essie’s – and all the students – hearts. Our Sovereign Lord drawing her to himself – the whole point of this crazy life – and in the process making her more beautiful.
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