Having just wrapped up finals, I have a significant amount to reflect on when I look back at my year. Needless to say, it was a long, arduous journey through my third year at UW. Yet somehow, buried in classes, a job, and other various commitments and responsibilities, I chose to learn more about Deputation. I picked up an application and read through the information with both genuine interest and limited expectations. I chose to make the decision from several different angles. The chance to travel is always an exciting proposition, but that is hardly a decision-making factor. The opportunity to serve others is an actual passion of mine, as I aspire to become a Nurse (I will be beginning UW’s School of Nursing this Autumn). What made Deputation transform from a casual interest into a confident decision had to do with the opportunity to do God’s work in a location and to a population in need. Personally, I do not have a great amount of mission experience to look back on. During my one and only medical mission, in which I helped volunteer with Young Life as well, I did not have the level of responsibility I will have in South Africa.
So what will our team be doing when we venture down to Cape Town? Well, for starters, we won’t be in Cape Town. We will be living in Wellington, a township about an hour drive outside of Cape Town at the Andrew Murray Center. Andrew Murray himself was a 19th century pastor in South Africa, so he’s not around, and the program is currently led by Andrew May, a gentlemen we had the pleasure of Skyping with a couple weeks ago. Our work there will involve traveling to almost a dozen prison sites, doing everything from leading small group discussions to a program called restorative justice, where inmates are reunited with their families in what could only be a stirring sight.
As the other groups know all too well, us Deputees are often confronted with questions regarding readiness, our level of excitement, and how long we will be gone. What I have noticed is that my answer has changed since I found out who, what, when, and where on announcement night in March. As I type this I am becoming more aware of whats on the horizon. Nervous is not the right word; anxious fits a little bit better. To those inquiring about my state of mind, since we are leaving so soon after classes, I likened my situation to a snowboarder at the top of the mountain. Final exams are (or at least were) like strapping in my feet before I begin a breathtaking journey. It was the last loose end to tie up before I feel committed and my emotions come full circle. I can hardly wait–the next 96 hours for my team and I will be an exercise in controlled anxiety. Please pray for a safe journey! We hope to keep everyone stateside informed during our trip!
Peace and Blessings,
John Franco, Eli Chin, Peter Clinkenbeard, Aaron Trask
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