A Generally Ordinary Day Becomes Extraordinary

Saturdays here at the Academy are not generally filled with 20 people from America running games like three different variations of dodgeball, five different groups of jump roping, more dodgeball, crafts, basketball court games & five on five matches, more games and much laughter, not only from the Academy students but also from the Rock Harbor team! In short, Bridges Academy allows Rock Harbor teams to take over a good portion of the weekend for the students not only to allow the RH team to minister to the kids through fun and games but also to give the Bridges staff a bit of a rest. It is our joy to step in with a whole heart in this way because the staff here need rest from their "work" just as you and I need rest from our work. The students are happy to step away from the peers they see everyday in order to engage with the RH team and other visiting teams alike. Pray that the students would not only show cooperation and respect to the short-term teams who come to visit, but also to their teachers and peers who they see and interact with on a daily basis.

With all numbers and games aside, everyone took a break from activities today around midday to continue a "talk" that the students have been having with two of the resident staff, Wade & Tara, husband and wife. Wade has been meeting with the boys and Tara with the girls to discuss a very serious topic and a topic which has been and is currently affecting the lives of many students here at the Academy. The topic of discussion is that of sexual sin and lust. For boys, questions like, "How are things like sexual thoughts and addictions dealt with on a daily basis, in a Biblical manner? What does it mean to respect a girl and her body?" And for girls, "How does the way you act and dress affect those around you? How might you cause a boy to stumble?" The discussion with both groups is very open and raw and who better to lead it than a married couple whose relationship is firmly planted in the root of God's tender love and mercy, and today, with the help of the RH team. Pray that God would use Wade & Tara's boldness to influence the students here in radical ways.

The day came to a close with the traditional Rock Harbor girls & guys night. This is generally a more passive time where the RH men can simply spend time with the boys of the Academy and the RH women can simply spend time with the girls of the Academy. A beautiful time to connect and shine the light of Christ to the kids. Pray that the RH team would continue to connect with the Bridges students, not for our glory but for the Lord's.

Congratulations to those on the RH team who participated in an early morning 5K run with a handful of the students this morning in a nearby town. Such a unique way to build relationships with some of the students, showing them that we are all one, on the same path, at the same time, in the same country. That we all have two lungs and a beating heart. That we all have been uniquely made, with some of us going slower, some going faster, some of us seeing what another does not, some of us hurting our knees or having to walk... "For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." Ephesians 4:4-6

We thank you all dearly for your comments and prayers and we ask that you would keep them coming!! Please continue specifically praying Ephesians 1-4 over our team and the remainder of our time here.

I would like to personally thank those who commented with birthday wishes...so, thank you! Though I love everything about sharing this day with the students, RH team, and South Africa, I am very much looking forward to celebrating with friends and family upon return.

Finally, as you can now read, a generally ordinary day for us all, team and students alike...became extraordinary.