Sweet Home

After a great day of team bonding in Cape Town, we started our second week by splitting the team into two groups – one group (Alan, Mark, Claire, Rachel, Kari and Chelsea) would be heading into Sweet Home while the other group would be staying at the Academy helping the staff get the school ready for the students’ arrival later in the day. From the Academy it is about an hour drive to Sweet Home and it was cool to see our team praying and journaling preparing for our time there.  Upon our arrival, Mark and Alan went off to teach a Business Class with the CHEs (Community Health Evangelists). This being my third time to South Africa it has been so awesome to witness the growth of the CHEs and their desire to further themselves through building a business.  While the class was going on the rest of the team played games and hung out with the pre-school kids.  The smiles and sweet giggles of these kids fill my heart with so much joy!  Once the class was finished, some of the CHEs accompanied our team on a home-visit. To arrive at our destination we walked a narrow, trash-covered path between shacks.  The house (shack) we were visiting was that of two of the boys who had attended the OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) camp that we had held over the weekend. It was so cool to see the photos from the camp last year and this year in a small cabinet above the stove.  This house was larger than many of those that we had passed (3 rooms and a yard) but once we found out that this was a family of 10 the house didn’t seem so large anymore!  After receiving the prayer request from the father, Alan asked if he knew who Jesus was, the One who would be hearing the prayers. Mr. Ketsekile responded that he had heard about Jesus and Christianity but did not know how to become a Christian. The next few minutes were spent sharing how to become a Christian and ended with Alan asking if Mr. and Mrs. Ketsekile would like to become Christians. They said YES and we immediately laid hands on them and led them in a prayer to accept Jesus!!! What an amazing experience for our team!!! The most amazing thing came as we were dropping off the CHEs, we learned that Mr. Ketsekile was a sangoma (witch doctor). A sangoma is an intermediary between an individual and the ancestors as part of the African traditional religion. They are sought out for solutions to any maladies or issues one may be facing. How awesome to bring a witch doctor to Christ!!! Your prayers for the Ketsekile family would be much appreciated!!!

A major highlight for me, Claire, was reuniting with a former Bridges student during the OVC Camp. Nomafili was one of the four students in my devotion group during my first trip to South Africa back in 2008. I have not seen her since 2008 and feel beyond blessed to be reunited with her and Sinethemba (another former student in my devotion group as well as a fellow team member during January 2011 trip) on this trip!

We feel your prayers and are very thankful for them!! Keep them coming!

Blessings and Love!

Claire