Welcome to Godly Waves...

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19v21

Hello readers! As some of you might already know my names Jordan Kelly Goddard - although since becoming a Geography teacher a few years ago I ditched the Goddard bit (sorry Dad). I'm 27 years old and I'm from a lovely coastal town in South Wales. I'm a Christian, a proud veggie turning vegan with a passion for traveling, social justice, anything fitness related, surfing and spamming my friends with photos of my cats (although on here I'll keep that to a minimum don't worry).

If I'm honest, I started this blog back in June 2019 when I had just returned from spending 6 months in South Africa, but I just couldn't find the confidence to publish it. However, here we are a mere 10 weeks before I plan to head off back to Cape Town to continue with the missionary work I started earlier this year, and get involved with the exciting new project so now it seemed like the right time.

My close friends and family know all I ever wanted to do was travel and help people. I never had a career in mind, I just kind of trusted God would make that bit work. Numerous ill-suited jobs later and some tough life events I was broken enough to give my all to God and He did exactly that - He made it work. Those of you that follow me on social media probably already know a taster of what I got up to during my 6 months in South Africa. The first few months traveling alone - God used as a time for personal healing, deepening my relationship with Jesus and developing my love of surfing. I know that last part seems pretty random but since learning to surf 5 years ago in Bali, I always wanted it to be a more active part of my life. I had spent 2.5 years living away from the sea, which felt like I had lost a part of myself. So It was all showing me God knows exactly who I am and exactly what touches my heart. I know that so many people think being a Christian means you live a boring life but I've found walking in line with God's plans and purpose for me have brought me more opportunities filled with adventure, excitement and joy than I could ever get going life alone.

Talking of opportunities and adventure; the second part of my journey was the missionary part. I had always been aware of Human Trafficking and the increase in global slavery. Attending seminars at Soul Survivor by David Westlake would both break my heart and ignite a passion against injustice. So when I got to Cape Town and met with the charity S-Cape I was pumped I was able to get involved. I mean it's a big fight against Human Trafficking - there are currently around 24.9 million victims in the world today, that's more than in any other point in history. That is an overwhelming number of men, women and children that have had their freedom, identities and hope taken away. The 2019 TIP Report was released and revealed that South Africa remains on the Tier Two Watch List, which means although they are making strides to stop this there is still a huge battle against modern day slavery. S-Cape, a Non-Government Organisation based in Cape Town is one of those strides - as the ONLY Human Trafficking safe house in the Western Cape and having restored, healed and saved more than 100 women since 2011.

S-Cape team photo May 2019 after the 'Touch of Gold' fundraising event. Photo by Wesley Eland.

Photo taken by Madison Barefield - from the Micro-business workshop where residence were able to create their own pillows and sell for a profit.

Along with the team pictured above (as well as other staff and volunteers not pictured) I had the privilege of serving 8 residence of the safe house. My role would involve attended weekly team meetings, planning, resourcing and teaching English lessons as well as leading Bible studies, worship workshops. I took the girls to knitting classes (safe to say that's really not my gifting but they were amazing); I helped part-take in horse therapy and micro-business workshops allowing the women to create lip balms, pillows etc to sell so they could earn their own money. During the summer I was able to share my love of fitness and surfing with the girls, taking them out to a local beach and giving back some of the fun and laughter that was previously taken away. Working everyday with the residence you wouldn't always remember what their past was like and that's part of the incredible work S-Cape do - no longer are the defined by their past but with the help of everyone on the team from the Founder to the Social workers, House mothers, Leaders and Volunteers each work incredibly hard to show these women the love they deserve.

Mum and I on a sunset cruise of Cape Town.

Three weeks ago I returned to South Africa on holiday with my Mum, while at the Hout Bay market I saw an African proverb which read "Home is not where you live but where you belong". That's exactly how I feel when I'm in Cape Town, I felt like a kid on Christmas visiting the Church I made home, surfing in Muizenberg with friends and climbing Lions Head - because when God puts a calling on your heart when you're living in His promise there's no other feeling like it.

Whilst on holiday with my Mum and showing her where I would hopefully be making home, I was able to show her (and everyone else) it's really not a scary as the media makes out with the added bonus of escaping the Welsh weather for a few weeks. The main reason for the trip was to meet up with my friends still serving at the charity, catch up with the residence and meet the new volunteers and find out if I could still come back. Thankfully, after lots of prayer it seems the desire was mutual for me to return. With S-Cape currently in the process of opening a school for children coming out of Trafficking I would be able to use my skills as a teacher, and love for children to help with the teaching, curriculum and raising awareness of the wonderful work God is doing through S-Cape.

So that's what I'm doing.

I'm currently in the process of applying for a 2 year volunteer visa, which is both terrifying and exciting - not only do I have a very tight deadline to get a lot of requirements ready and submit my application but also financially, as hard as I've been working to save these past 6 months It has become evident I am not going to be able to do this alone. I've managed to save a total of £6000 and I'm going to put all of this as a personal donation which is enough to pay for accommodation, bills, food and (hopefully) a car for one year. I would love to ask you to partner with me to allow me to stay an additional year. Your support will ensure I can provide additional support for the school and give these children a second chance of freedom, knowing God, having an education as well as having fun. Each month I will be providing updates; showing how your prayers, support and money are impacting the children's lives and continue to allow me to live out my calling. Your monthly or one off donations are easy you can support me by clicking the links: Paypal, Go Fund Me or setting up a monthly direct debit straight to my account by messaging me on the Contact section on the homepage and I'll provide you my account details.

Thanks again for reading my first post! Please know any support: prayers, encouragement, advice are all appreciated. If you wish to know more information please check out the S-cape website here or again email me from the 'contact' section on the homepage where I'll be more than happy to share more with you :)