Molo,
That's "hello" in Khosa. This morning, God gave us a break in the rain to go door to door in the informal settlement community of Barcelona. The homes in Barcelona are basically recycled structures with dirt paths linking them ... and it often seems like a maze. I was amazed how clean the ladies could get their laundry when all of it was done by hand in two wash tubs and then hung on a line to dry. It is very humbling to think that most of us have camped in more luxury than these people live on a daily basis. As we walked door to door, we tried to find ways to help them with their chores....laundry, carrying water, etc. Very few would accept our help, but all but a few allowed us to pray for them. Most of the time, they requested that we pray for them to find a job.
We were surprised how many didn't seem to know about Jesus...even a little bit. For the first time in my life, I encountered someone who couldn't recognize themself as a sinner....much less a sinner in need of The Savior. Even though we won't be here to continue sharing with these people, it is our prayer that they will form a relationship with Pastor Julius and come to a more complete understanding of who Jesus is.....and not that He would change their living conditions or take away their many problems, but that He would be WITH them.
After lunch, we witnessed a "graduation" of sorts at Zanokhanyo. We heard many individuals give their testimony of how they had found or recommitted their lives to Christ in this Christ-centered job preparation course. So many of these people desire to work and support their families...but jobs are so hard to find. As these students were sharing their talent, we were blessed by the beautiful songs of their culture that poured from their hearts. Zanokhanyo plans to disciple these students on an on-going basis and help them assimilate into a Bible-believing church.
How can you pray? Tomorrow morning (Saturday), we will be having a kids club at Barcelona. In many ways, "Saturday Kids Club" is much like VBS where students not only hear the Scriptures, but are engaged through games, music, drama, and crafts.
We are hoping that their parents come as well to meet Pastor Julius and hear about Jesus. At 5:30 pm, we head to the airport for the first leg of our journey home. Please pray that we will board the plane without any trouble, for our safety, and that we might get some rest on our flights. Many of us have been battling a cold....I guess that's what happens when you get to experience a little bit of winter winds. :-)
I think two questions burn in all of our hearts....
1) What can we do to make a real difference when there is so much need?
2) How can we open ourselves to help others at home?
It's so easy to do nothing because the need is overwhelming....I know the key is prayer. We all need God's wisdom how to best use our time, talents, and resources to meet these needs. In addition, we cannot meet spiritual needs....without meeting physical needs. But it is not enough to simply meet physical needs...we need to be faithful to plant the spiritual needs and let God provide the increase. To Him Be All Glory!
Looking forward to seeing y'all and having a big glass of iced tea!
Love,
Kelly |
|
Its difficult to believe that we only have a couple more days here in South Africa. I'm positive I can say on behalf of the team that we are having a blast and none of us want to see our trip come to a sudden end.
I know it has a been a couple days since we last posted and we apologize for that. Its been tricky getting a different team member to a PC with internet access to post. Especially since that last couple days we've gotten home late and are all tired. I'll make sure we have another team member write later today but I wanted to play a little catch up on the events from the last couple of days.
On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to visit Barcelona and meet Pastor Julius and his wife. Pastor Julius and his wife are surrogate parents to 22 orphanages along with pastoring the Barcelona Baptist Church. They has an amazing story of God calling them into the then very violent and very poor Barcelona area to plant a church. Their story includes heart wrenching sacrifice as they lost two of their children on the journey they took. The first was his son who was killed in the 70's for pointed out a teachers incorrect interpretation of Moses and Pharaoh. The teacher organized a group who stabbed and murdered their son, wiped the blood on their door step and said they were next. This was the setting they were throwing themselves into. But through pain, prayer, and God moving in their lives, then ended up in Barcelona with a church, an orphanage, and an amazing ministry.
While in Barcelona, we were able to do some house to house ministry where we offered ourselves to serve and pray with the locals. We washed clothes and carried water. We prayed with many for jobs, healing, and even to be blessed with a baby. Pastor Joe, Eda, and Sierra had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a lady who stated the only thing she had in her heart was a desire for a job. She gave herself to the Lord. Praise God!
Tuesday afternoon, we were able to present the Gospel using the wordless book, bridge of life, and Gospel bracelets with the 5th grade students we've been working with at Mokone Primary. It is difficult to say how much they actually grasped as their understanding of English is rudimentary and they seemed more interested in the craft then the meaning behind it. Emily's group however sat very attentive in a circle and listened as she represented the Gospel with them, walked them through the Gospel bracelet, and then led them in the sinner's prayer. Please pray for these precious souls that God will continue to work in their hearts!
Yesterday, we had the awesome privilege to tour the Cape Town ministry Living Hope. If you have ever read the book Hole in Our Gospel, this ministry is noted to be one of the two churches worldwide who preaches the "whole Gospel." Obviously that statement is a bit exaggerated but it is obvious that they are living out the book of James. They not only believe, teach, and preach Christ but they live it as well. Their ministry over the last 11 years has gone from a small outreach to a few to reaching thousands with HIV/Aids, homeless, hungry, and obviously the lost. They are a faith based ministry thus every aspect of what they do is Christ centered. The cool thing is that they are completely endorsed by the government. Living Hope has worked a deal with a burdened government where they have completely taken over HIV testing for a large portion of Cape Town area. The government provides the resources and clinics but Living Hope fully staffs and operates them. This means they have direct access to who has HIV and are then able to provide follow up counseling which will obviously be Christ centered. I highly recommend that you take a look at their website, http://livinghope.co.za, as they do so much more and the cool thing is that they do it in such a way that does not create dependencies and brings many to Christ.
After we toured the facilities of Living Hope, we had the awesome opportunity to have a private lunch with John Thomas the Pastor of King of Kings Baptist Church and founder of Living Hope. 11 years ago, God gave him a conviction to reach those dying of HIV in the township of Masiphumelele. From that conviction has grown an amazing ministry. It was obvious that God was working in and through him and I sensed that he was humbled by the fact that God is using him so mightily. From our conversations, I gathered that he pours himself out for the Lord day and night. He is definitely now one of my heroes.
After lunch with John, we did a little R&R and toured around Cape Town. We drove up to Cape Point which had some breath taking views of God's creation. We saw penguins walking the streets and at least one whale swimming in the bay. God is truly creative and amazing.
A cold front has moved in and thus weather is cold and icky out. So today most of us are preparing for the monthly Bible club held at the Barcelona Baptist Church each month. We are expecting between 30 and 50 kids to join us. Pastor Joe and Tim went back out to Mokone to finish up a few of the desks that had their table tops repaired. Tomorrow we are planning to head back out to Barcelona for a morning of house to house ministry and then join a Zanokhanyo, http://zanokhanyo.co.za, graduation tomorrow afternoon. This group has been especially special as it has been coined a "revival." It will be exciting to hear some of the student's stories and what God did in and through them during their 2 week course.
Here are some prayer requests that come to mind in no particular order:
* Pray for our team as we all have sore throats and some of us coughs. Pray that God will sustain us and heal our bodies from any illnesses that may be setting in.
* Pray for Barcelona; that God will continue to work in the hearts of those we shared with and would be preparing the hearts of those that we will be sharing with tomorrow and Saturday mornings. Pray that God will be preparing divine appointments for us during those times.
* Pray for the Bible club scheduled for Saturday morning. Pray that God will draw the kids out, that he will work in their hearts, and that many will come to know the Lord.
* Pray for the Mokone Primary 5th grade students who heard the Gospel presentation. Pray that God will work in their hearts and the Gospel seeds planted would grow into fruition.
* Pray for the future relationship of Living Hope and Phambili ngeThembe (the ministry of Pinelands Methodist). Pray that God would forge a partnership where they would work together to reach the lost of South Africa and provide for the needy; that they would learn from each other's failures and successes; and together, along with other local ministries and churches, would bring millions to Christ.
* Pray that God will be pressing on our hearts and minds how we are to take the events from this trip and apply it to our day to day lives in Houston, Texas.
Even though we are sad to see the trip coming to a close, we are looking forward to reuniting with loved ones and share personally all about what God did in and through us.
With love from Cape Town,
Alan on behalf the team |
|
It's hard to believe that we've been here a whole week already. Time is flying by and I think the people and landscape of Cape Town has captured the hearts of our team members. This morning the team finished restoring the desks and prepared for "maths" for the "grade 5" students. The desks look wonderful and the principal seemed very grateful to have them back in working condition. After lunch we were surprised to be part of a "thank you" reception given to us and another team of teachers from Chicago who have been at Mokone Primary School as well. I was so humbled how out of their poverty they provided a lovely reception of local savory treats and sodas for us. They all made sure we each had seats food and sodas before they served themselves. It was quite humbling and yummy too :-)
We went directly to the grade 5 students who were waiting for us. Kelly set us up with math games to improve their skills. As a teacher I am so touched and excited to see students who WANT to stay after school to learn. Not only that, but many stay after the tutoring to clean up the class room!The conditions are quite cramped and dusty, but they don't complain. They are so patient with each other and me that its quite a joy to work with them. It is sad to note though, despite the fact that they are in 5th grade, they struggle with anything above addition...Tomorrow will be our last day at Mokone Primary School. I fear tears will be shead from both the students and our team.
Thank you for your prayers. We ask that you would be please continue and be in prayer for the following:
- Tomorrow we will be making gospel bracelets with the grade 5 students. Please pray that we would be able to communicate the gospel effectively to the children and that many will come to know Christ.
- In the morning we will be doing "shack to shack" ministry in Barcelona. Again, please pray that we would be effective inour communication of the Gospel and that many would come to know Him.
-Please be praying for the teachers and students at Mokone Primary as the task of getting the children to perform at grade level is huge and teh teachers need much support and direction. |
|
Hey its Emily here! I can't believe how blessed I am to be here in Cape Town, South Africa at this very moment! I have seen such beauty in God's creation of nature, people, and culture.
Over the past week I have seen God move in magnificent ways.From the first day out with the kids I have felt such love from God for them. They are so sweet and humble. No matter how much they have or what condition their home lives are in, children are children and give love wherever they go. I have joined in with the kids in many of their games, of which I have heard of none. I have learned though that many of their games are similar to our games at home.
It was so humbling teaching the kids for they have such a hunger to learn. One of the days I gave them a piece of paper to take home with some activities on them. "Are you giving us homework?!" they would ask excitedly, for they never get to take homework home. Also they would be so excited to put their names on he peices of paper for it was something to call their own.
Well this is some of what we have been doing here. I ask you to pray for us as we continue to minister to the kids. Pray for our safety and that God will give us the words to speak.
God bless!!!!
Emily Schwenk |
|
South Africa is absolutely amazing. The place is beautiful, as are the people. For the past three days we have been in one of the local schools, helping out. We have been gardening, helping teach some classes, refurbishing desks for the kids, and teaching an after school club with some of the 5th grade kids. It's different seeing kids actually wanting to learn. Handing out a story page with some activities on the back, all the kids were asking if it was homework, because they wanted more to do.
My absolute favorite part is seeing the kids smile. It doesn't matter how much they have, what they wear, or their surroundings, they always seem to have a smile on their faces. You can't help but smile at every precious face you see. It's absolutely infectious.
Some things to pray about...the language barrier for one. Fortunately the love of God is universal, so hopefully they see that through our actions. Another is for the team here...that even once we leave the work continues and even more people will come through to help out. The need is so great, not only here, but everywhere, and we're only a small part of the work to be done. But it's a step.
Thank you for all your love, prayers, and support.
God Bless,
Sierra Duncan |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 2 |
