The Big Take Aways!

Our three month adventure in South Africa is sadly coming to an end. (Here are some pictures of a going away dinner the NieuCommunities staff threw for us.) Thank you to many of you who have prayed and supported us during this life-changing experience. We look forward to seeing many of our friends and family as we enter back into the states. We also look forward to drinking jersey cow milk and eating Mexican food! Thanks for all your encouragement along the way! We are looking forward to seeing how God will use us to play these experiences out once we are back home. Here are some final thoughts on our time here.


Reed Taylor:
My favorite part about being in South Africa was going to Pilanesberg. I got to go two times. I got to see a lot of wild animals. My favorite animal is the lion because they are dangerous!! I also loved going to Hartbeespoort and seeing all the African crafts at the marketplace. At first I didn’t want to come to South Africa because I would miss my friends and family. But once I got here, I realized how much God wanted to use me here. I helped my dad fix computers so the kids can learn, and I also played with kids who are orphans. Doing those things makes me feel happy. I liked being in South Africa, and I wish I could come here again.

Lacey Taylor:
My favorite part about being in South Africa was riding on an African elephant in the bush on my birthday. The elephant went slow but it was very exciting! His name is Tembo. I was happy to come to South Africa to help the poor. I made R700 in the states at a lemonade stand and gave it to the kids at House of Joy in the township called Soshanguve. It made me feel super! I’m thankful to God for letting me travel to beautiful South Africa.

Darcy Taylor:
My favorite part is being in South Africa to see the animals. All the animals are my favorite, but my very favorite is the cheetah because it is beautiful. I liked to be here for three months. That takes for a long time. I prayed for people here and for God to love people. It’s fun here.

Lorie Taylor:
During my three month time spent here in South Africa, the word that has kept coming back to me is the word “linger”. Of course, it’s been much easier to do that in a country where a slower pace of life is part of the cultural DNA! But it has taught me a lot about taking time – taking time for God and for others. This is more than just the old cliché, ‘Stop and smell the roses’. For me, it has been learning how to engage my heart and mind more. This means being present in the moment – to enjoy and live out my own desires and passions, to tune in to the stories of other people, to extend myself in service to others in need, and ultimately to walk with Jesus daily. I’ve thought of all kinds of ways I want to live that out, but I know that despite my eagerness and enthusiasm I will probably fail at times. Worry, exhaustion, and tension are all enemies of my soul. Nevertheless, I want to walk that path the best I can, and as I do, be renewed continually.

C.S. Lewis once said: “If I say that I want to be unselfish, am I assuming that part of that is to make myself feel better because I was securing good things for others rather than just loving people because I have the presence of Jesus in me? I am not called to let go of all my desires in order to care for others but to allow my desires to exist and love others at the same time.”

During one of our conversations with Nieucommunities, we were asked to write what we thought would be God’s invitation to the world with the implication of why humans truly exist. This was very meaningful to me. I would like to share the invitation that came to me:

Yes, of course you!! Pass through the threshold and enter into the dining room where you can sit among friends, eat delicious foods, laugh, share your life stories. There is enough time for me to linger with you as we also enjoy one another’s company. I long for that time with you. You say you want to hike, paint a picture, serve the poor? I invite you to join me in those activities for those are the things I love about life. Find life and love in Me and let Me give you the freedom to express that love in the ways in which you do best.

What is God’s invitation to you? Ask Him to show you the life you were meant to live and then soar!

Mike Taylor:
What’s my big takeaway? Well, there are a lot of them. This has been an incredible experience for me. But if I had to pick one thing, it would be learning to “live missionally.” I’ve learned that every relationship, every encounter with every person should have some intentionality about it. It’s an opportunity for me love people with the love that God has given me. It’s an opportunity to encourage, to build up, or maybe just to smile and say hello. I too often allow myself to get so caught up in what I’m doing that I don’t even see the people around me.

I shouldn’t say that I’ve learned this, but that I am learning it – and I’m trying to make it a part of my every day. I know it’s going to take awhile to do this more and more, and there is a process of unlearning that is already happening for me. So it’s my intention to keep growing in this area for a long time … because that’s how long it’s going to take.


Thank you for joining us on our journey in South Africa. We could not have done it without you! We leave for the US this Saturday night, and arrive in LA in the early afternoon on Sunday. We look forward to seeing you all face to face once again!

Love,
The Taylors