first full week in CPx!

Molo from South Africa (Molo means hello! Xhosa lessons are going great…I am almost fluent…hmm almost :) Here is an update on my life since my last post…

Last week on Monday and Tuesday we had a guest teacher who is the leader of a church planting movement in South Africa. He taught on their method on rapid multiplying simple house churches (simple church is simply a gathering of people who seek to worship God, love each other and seek the lost). As Floyd was introducing him to us, he told us to prepare ourselves for brain surgery…and that is exactly what we got. I have not been that challenged by teachings in a long time. So many of my paradigms of what church actually is and what it can look like were completely shaken up. He taught straight out of Matthew 28:16-20 and Luke 10:1-12 challenging us to look at the commands that Jesus set before us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” He helped us break down paradigms that are biblical about church and making disciples and what is simply things that we have learned through the church culture we have grown up in. (If you would like to hear more in detail about the teachings or the discipleship method we learned please email me!) After the two days of teaching, we all were so stretched and our brains felt so tired that we could barely hold coherent conversations! It was a really intense, but good way to start the teaching phase! It has been really challenging learning to bring the teachings I am receiving before the Lord and to ask the Father how this applies to my life and the things he has for me in my future!

This past week we also began meeting with our discovery groups (d-groups). My d-group is led by Munya, an All Nations staff member from Zimbabwe. My group consists of: Brandon and Julianna, (who I came with from Norman Community Church), Nicole (my roommate), Lifa (a black South African) and Lucas (who is from Masi). The vision for the d-groups is for them to function as our simple church during our teaching phase. We also go with these groups into the township communities for outreach during the teaching phase of CPx. Like I said before my d-group is working in Masiphumelele (Masi). We had our first day in Masi on Friday and we really hit the ground running! One of the programs All Nations runs is called Vulnerable Children (V.C). The mission of Vulnerable Children is to find child headed households in Masi and to network to find supporters who will sponsor one of these households in order that they can meet their basic needs. (If you are interested in sponsoring a child headed household please let me know!) Child headed households are homes where the parents or guardians have either passed away or are no longer present in the home (many times due to sickness such as HIV/AIDS) leaving the oldest child to take care of and provide for the other children in the home. A few people in our d-group have joined up with the Vulnerable Children program and have committed to connecting with these households, building relationship, and hopefully planting simple churches with any who are hungry and thirsty for Jesus and His Kingdom! Most of the V.C households are located in an area of Masi called the Wetlands, which is the poorest part of the township community. There are no paved roads in the Wetlands, and the shacks are packed in with just enough room between each one to walk. We had a list of shack numbers and we spent the afternoon searching for the homes. As we squeezed between shacks, ducking under clothes lines I was filled with emotion. We were truly on a treasure hunt, seeking out the lost and the broken, true treasures in the Father’s heart. Before we left for Masi that day the Lord gave me this verse: James 2:5: “Listen my brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?” This is who he has chosen, his treasures, the poor in spirit, the broken hearted, the weary and downtrodden, the overlooked and unloved, the oppressed and the captives. This is what I long to give my life to. To seeing the broken raised up from the ashes and restored to beauty. This is exactly what the Father has done for me. He has reached down and pulled me out of the pit of despair, he has rescued me because he delights in me. And this is His heart for all His children of all nations. This is what he commands of us: to GO and bear his good news to the nations and to those in our lives, to declare to those who do not yet know that we have a Father who has saved us from death and has done great things for us! Amen!

I have found it to be a joy to have this chance to live with friends from all over the world. I love getting to share life with so many beautiful people who bring such different experiences and perspectives to the table. There are so many moments where I will find myself sharing conversation with someone who was born halfway around the world from me, listening to their stories, hearing what life is like for them. Getting to share our hearts with one another, who God is to us, and what we dream for in life. It is so unbelievable that I get to share life with people from so many different walks of life. It is amazing to get to play games, laugh, share meals, and worship together; to pray for one another, to share the deep places of our heart with each other, to go after the Kingdom and run to the broken hearted together. It is a true joy and I am daily learning how to lay down my life, my preferences, my way of doing things for others around me.

For my birthday I got to go to Boulder Beach, my favorite place in the world, and swim with the penguins! It was the perfect birthday adventure!

Here is a pic of Rachel, Amanda and me on Norman Road! We miss norman sooooo much! We daily talk about our friends who we love so dearly. We also daily talk about how much we would die for some Café Plaid, chik-fil-a, taco bueno, orange tree, etc. mmmm. We are missing the comfort foods from home :)

To end things, here are few things the Father is currently teaching me…
…to trust him; he will ALWAYS go before me and make a way for me (wow, I think I have learned this like one million times.)
…to live a lifestyle of worship. to keep my gaze on his face and not look at my circumstances but instead worship him in every moment of my life. Life is better when we walk in constant praise!
…to live from a place of fearing and honoring God above all else in my life (I have noticed that my African friends are so good at this. I am constantly inspired by this in their lives.)
…to daily lay down my life for God and others because it is not my life to cling to…this is actually so freeing. I am being SO humbled every day.

Thank you so much for continuing with me on this journey! I am so thankful for each and every one of my family and friends! MUCH LOVE from south africa!

whitney

molo from south africa!

Molo from south Africa!

FINALLY, here is my first blog update from cape town! My time here has been great so far! I do have to say that I am sorry that it has taken me so long to update but I feel that as we get settled into more of a schedule I will be able to figure out more times to spend communicating with everyone! I just wanted to do a brief overview of my time here so far:

Travelling was amazing! We truly had the Father’s travelling mercies! Our flights and layovers went so smoothly and the Lord surrounded us with the kindest, most open people on each flight! On my first flight from OKC I sat next to the most incredible woman of God, who was just overflowing with the light, love and joy of Jesus! It was really orchestrated that we were sitting next to each other because I LOVE flying and she is scared of flying! We soon learned that we both loved Jesus and I got to pray for her and contend for her during the flight and she spent time praying over me and encouraging me. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to sit next to! A quick story about the goodness and power of God: the pilot came over the speaker and told us that when they were flying to Tulsa the flight before there was pretty bad turbulence most of the way because of a storm. We soon hit some crazy turbulence, the worst I have felt in a while. Of course my dear friend was NOT enjoying the bumpy ride, so I just began praying peace over her and praying the turbulence to calm down. I got a picture of huge angels on either side of our plane surrounding us and also going before the plane and smoothing out the clouds. As soon as I shared this with her and declared this as truth, the turbulence STOPPED! And there was no more turbulence the rest of the plane ride! Praise God! Nothing is too big for him!

I LOVE where I get to live! I live at All Nations main team house and meeting place, called Africa House. The majority of the students in CPx live there as well, and the rest live in a house right across the street. I live in a room with the two norman girls and a girl from Florida named Nicole. There are 42 students in CPx and we represent 12 different nations: USA, UK, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Colombia and Canada. I LOVE living in community and with people from all over the world! I was definitely made for community housing and it is so fun and energizing to get to be with people all day long.

Two of the students in our class are from Masiphumelele (Masi), the township community that I have worked in each time I have come here! One is a woman named Vovo who is around my age who has fully given her life to Jesus and the other is Lucas, a former Rastafarian who has encountered the living God and been consumed by his grace and love. It is so sweet to get to go hand in hand with the sweet fruit from seeds sown into the community! God is doing so much in Masi. SO much has changed since I first went in 2007. The locals will tell you, Masi is NOT the same place! The atmosphere is changing and God is turning hearts to himself. Most of you will remember that when I was there in 2008 our team spent a lot of time praying that a curse that was over the land would be broken off. For many years on the 16th of December there would be a massive fire that would destroy dozens of homes. That year there was no fire! And Vovo shared with me that since then there have been no more big fires like that! The people of Masi are beginning to know that have a Father who loves them and is protecting them!

Here is a little bit of an idea of my weekly schedule:
Tuesday and Wednesday: Teaching days (from 8 to 5)
Thursday, Friday and Sunday: In the township communities
Saturday: Work day
Monday: Rest day

Our first week of class began last Monday and I really enjoyed it so much. We did a lot of orientation and getting to know another. We even spent one day at an adventure camp doing team building activities. It has been so stirring and exciting to get to have a few class sessions with Papa Floyd (the founder of All Nations and our primary teacher). We also spent a small amount of time going into each of the townships and prayer walking to begin receiving the Lord’s heart for his people there. I found out that I am on the Masi team. I will explain more about that later, but I know that the Lord has so much for my time in Masi these next few months. He has been giving me so much vision and excitement for what he has for our team in Masi! As most of you know it is my heart’s desire to learn a language. One of the African guys in CPx has offered to give Xhosa (the main language spoken in the black townships) lessons! We had our first lesson and my heart was so alive and excited thinking about getting to spend three months learning a language! English is spoken a little bit by most people in Masi; however, language truly is an instant bridge when you are able to connect with someone in their heart language! I can’t wait!

I really am so expectant of my time here in Cape Town. I feel that the Lord has been saying that this is a time of JOY and a time of drawing to the deep places of His heart. I know the Lord is going to pour out much of his heart and vision for my life, but more than anything my heart cries out to see God face to face and to be consumed by His love! I am praying that this is a season of being overwhelmed with God’s heart. I want to be one with Jesus, loving the things he loves, mourning for the things he mourns for and longing for what he longs for. I pray that each of you is doing well and that you are filled with the love, truth and joy of being children of God!
MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL!
Whitney

PS I can not check facebook at the team house, so the best way to contact me is my email: WhitneyElise211@hotmail.com I would LOVE to hear from you!!!

OH here is a pic of me on my birthday! i celebrated my 23rd birthday last thursday...and i received my first birthday sunburn!! i LOVED having my first summer birthday :) thanks to all my friends and family who loved me so well from across the world!

getting ready!

in one week i will be in cape town, south africa (ah!) and i am getting so excited for the adventures up ahead! (i leave on february 4th at 10:30 am.) i am currently spending my last week in tulsa with my amazing mama and family! i spent the last two weeks in norman hanging out with my friends whom i love so dearly. i truly have found spiritual family in norman and i am so thankful for that! my time in norman was filled with lots of hang outs with dear friends, lots of time to process through my big move to africa, and lots of joy and laughter.

during my time in norman, my housechurch threw me my first surprise party ever! i was SO surprised! (see pic above) i was thrilled! they got me my favorite food (cookie cake!) and they spent time praying over me. the Lord gave me some AMAZING words through them.
here are a just a few:

--he spoke to me that he has perfectly positioned me for this move. i am perfectly positioned to bear much fruit! the time is just right!
--that he is sending me with angels on either side of me, protecting me. no fear! 100% protected by my heavenly Father!
--that he is preparing the hearts of people i will meet and that they are holding their breath, waiting in eagerness for the Good News to be shared with them!
--that the Lord will send me with his power, bringing salvations, joy and the power of his presence to the people in South Africa.

my time in norman was marked by refreshment, encouragement and lots of breakthrough both spiritually and financially! the Lord has provided for me in abundant ways and i am so unbelievably grateful for all who have supported me in any way, shape or form! i am so close to having all the money i need for tuition, but i still need just a bit more. if you have been stirred to give and have not been able to yet, it is not too late! (*see below for info on how to donate!)


below are some pics to help you get a better grasp of where i will be going! enjoy!

the beauty of cape town is breathtaking...i think it is the most beautiful place in the world!

this is a picture was taken from the top of table mountain. there are oceans and mountains everywhere in cape town!

my most favorite place in the world...boulder beach! penguins live here! isn't that funny?

here is a pic of a township in cape town. people use whatever materials they can to build homes. this is where i will be spending a lot of my time; meeting people, making friends and serving them, and sharing the love and hope of Jesus!

this is a pic of me and amanda sperle (who is attending CPx with me) saying goodbye to some friends inside their home in Masiphumelele, one of the townships All Nations is committed to.

the future of south africa. beautiful children at a primary school in masiphumelele.

the boy on my right's name is musa. musa has been my friend since the first time i visited south africa in 2007. i am not sure where his father is and since his mother died he has been passed around amongst family members. i have been committed to praying for musa; that he would be protected and love, and that he would grow up knowing that he is a son of God. he is very smart and i believe in him so much.

beautiful girls from masiphumelele. my heart cries out for the women and children of south africa; for them to know the love and freedom of Jesus.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has annointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners...

Instead of their shame my people will recieve a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs." Isaiah 61:1-2, 7

MUCH LOVE AND JOY TO YOU ALL!

*if you woul like to donate to my time in south africa you can send checks to my home address:

10513 S. 86th E. Pl. Tulsa, Ok 74133

you can make checks out in my name (Whitney Caldwell). if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at whitneyelise211@hotmail.com.

claire layla caldwell

claire layla caldwell was born

on december 7th at 4:22 pm
in amman, jordan

7 lb. and 20 inches long

i love her big eyes and sweet chubby cheeks....i could kiss them ALL day long. my favorite thing is when i get to wake her up to eat...she is so warm and snuggly and i love watching her streeetch and open her eyes...it really is the best thing ever.


watching drew with her...he LOVES to burp her, change her diaper and do anything to take care of her. she is mesmorized by her daddy...his voice soothes her every time.


she loves her hands. she hates being swaddled and she likes having her hands by her face. she is so sweet. snuggling her is the best!


this pic is hilarious. since she was born, one of her ears flops over. the doctor said she probably was laying weird on her ear in the womb and that if we flatten it, it would lay right. but we discovered how her ear really got this way.... she loves to grab her ear! she was sleeping like this the other day! and she had her arms just like this in her 4-D ultra sound pic...so funny!


i have LOVED being an aunt. i love claire so much and i am so excited to get to see her grow up and become all the things the Lord has dreamed over her!

MUCH LOVE FROM JORDAN :)

adventures in jordan...

here are some more highlights from my time in jordan...claire definitely took her sweet time coming into this world, so we had some time on our hands!

one day my brother took my mom and me to explore downtown amman. we had been sitting around doing NOTHING for about a week waiting for claire everyday so it was so refreshing to get out and have an adventure!

downtown is filled with tons of small shops and little markets up alleyways. a pic of me and drew in a fruits and veggies market...everyone just yells as loud as they can...we bought kiwis, my new fav.

we ate at one of jordan's most well known restaurants. sitting outside eating falafel and hummas and egyptian tea...mmmm!

we also went to some roman ruins (who knew) and got to enter for free because the guy loved that drew spoke arabic like a native. (his arabic is unbelievable...sometimes people ask if he is arab because he doesn't have an accent...dang!)

here is a pic of our camel friend. this sweet camel lived a few blocks away from drew and mary's house in a neighbor's backyard!...really. this camel was bought for one the big holidays in jordan called the feast of slaughter (it was the day after thanksgiving). this holiday is celebrated to remember abraham's sacrifice of isaac. to celebrate families will slaughter an animal. (yikes! lots of blood in the streets ah). most will slaughter a sheep, however, this family went big and bought a camel to slaughter :( thus, our camel friend is no more! (also for this holiday there are feasts, and everyone goes and visits their families and they give eachother money and gifts...family is such a big deal here..i am learning so much about the culture which i love.

as i sit here writing this blog you can hear an array of noises flooding the streets of jabal hussein (the team's neighborhood). street vendors drive around selling things...they each have their own noise to let people know what they sell. so the fruits and veggies guy has a recording of him yelling in an incredibly obnoxious voice "fruits and vegetables" in arabic. some have songs, some just yell. the cotton candy vendor has a nice, whimsical sounding whistle that he blows as he walks by. and five times a day the call to prayer is blasted from nearby a mosque. never a quiet moment around here...especially now that we have the sounds of a sweet newborn to add to the mix :)

i will be back in the states on wednesday...so sad to be leaving family here :(
but i am excited for the holidays with family and friends in oklahoma!

PEACE AND JOY to you all!

life in jordan!

greetings from amman, jordan!

it has been really fun being here with my brother and mary. i love amman. i love the city, the culture, the people we have met. there is nothing better than being in a place i have never been...i love the nations! being here has been so stirring...reminded me of the desires of my heart to let go of comforts of home for the Kingdom. its so amazing to listen to drew and mary and the team speaking the language so well, laughing, joking with arab friends...i love it! my heart is bursting to learn a language and give myself to a people! someday. here are just a few pics of our time here so far...

setting up for baby claire....she has so much stuff! we are ready for her to come!

mary's baby shower! tons of amazing food, presents and DANCING! the last pic is of us laughing so hard because of how NOT good we are at arab dancing :)

we love jordan but its always nice to have a touch of home. we went to starbucks the other night...i thought of my cute barista roommate and my sister amanda. some other american things we have done: dinner at chilis, mcdonalds at the big mall, and seeing NEW MOON!

well thats all the pics i have right now...will upload some more tomorrow maybe. there is so much more to tell! well we are still waiting for baby claire! we are praying she comes soon because we can not wait to meet her!

i miss you all. SO MUCH!

LOVE LOVE LOVE to all!

oh baby baby!

today i went shopping with my mom and nanny for my niece, baby claire! it was quite the adventure. we seriously shopped for NINE hours ah. we were freaking out, really. we bought an obscene amount of stuff. BUT it was sooo fun. my favorite thing i bought for her is a light pink tutu with a princess onesie...oh man i can't wait to love on the little princess. so excited to meet her.

i leave in three days. i will post pics the instant she is born! i am headed back to norman tomorrow for my last day in my apartment...i will miss living in norman SO much...oh how i have been abundantly blessed by the people i get to live life with in norm norm.



LOVE YOU ALL.