On the first morning of our first
meeting, we all gathered around the table with coffee cups and newly filled
binders on it, anxious and excited about this journey we were about to embark
on called “South Africa”. As anyone who has been on a mission trip knows, the
journey begins long before you first step foot on the plan, but starts months
before in the planning, learning, preparing, fundraising, and praying for the
trip. As we sat in our chairs, we began to learn about each other; each other’s
names, who was the youngest team member, who had been to South Africa before,
why we felt called to go, etc. We learned about what the community is like in
Sweet Home and about “Africa Time”, which means that things take a little bit
longer over there and it was one of the many things we would need to be able to
adapt to. We all left that Sunday ready and excited for what God has for us on
this mission, and how we are going to be used to carry out his special and
intricate plan.
Since that first meeting, we have
met many times as a group, memorizing God’s word together, learning about South
African culture, delegating duties, discussing our purpose, and learning how to
be better servants of Christ. For me, some of the most impactful moments we
have had together have been during the prayer training and the HIV/AIDs
information session. In both situations, our Winter team was joined together
with the Summer team.
For the prayer training, Nick and
Ben, the head of the prayer team for RH Costa Mesa, came in and walked us
through prayer—its purpose, how God wants us to pray, and how to live prayerful
lives. After we had learned the steps, we were all invited to practice them
right then and there. Being in a room of people that you do not fully know and
letting God lead to you to pray for them was a very intimate and scary
thing—but God used that time and did big things. Nick announced a few things
that had been put on their hearts about the team members. He asked if these
things had resonated with anyone, and if they would stand to receive prayer.
Slowly but surely, one by one, people began to stand. Hands were laid on them,
and the people surrounding them began to be led by the Spirit to pray. With
each word that was spoken, the tears began to flow. Deep and festering wounds
of the heart began to be called into the light and cleansed with the
disinfectant that is the power and truth of Christ’s love. Prayers began to be
said for each person in the little pods that were created, and as we prayed for
one another, the Holy Spirit filled the room to brim with His compassion,
healing, and overwhelming peace. That day, just like all the other days we have
spent together was such a blessing and incredible testament to the ability of
God to bring people together for his purpose.
In our HIV/AIDs information
sessions, both teams watched a movie about a previous team that had gone to
Africa to help the victims of this disease. As we watched, we saw the
devastation and heartache it has caused in the people there, and our hearts
became more committed to this mission than ever before. Staggering statistics
and the heart-breaking reality that was captured the film had us more
passionate than ever to come to the help these struggling people without hope.
After the video, a woman came in and began to tell us her story—one than none
of us could have predicted the ending to. This sweet and joyful woman who was
standing if front of us, so full of passion and hope, was living with AIDs. The
more we learned about her, the more the realities of the disease became to each
one of us. We walked away from that session sobered by the reality that is
HIV/AIDs but more determined than ever to help and share the message of the
cross in whatever way we can to the people we come in contact with—both at home
and when we our in country.
Other than
our formal meetings, we have had one of many team bonding nights; our first one
was a bonfire at the beach. The day was absolutely stunning, not a cloud in the
sky. Most of us arrived around 6, with blankets, sweatshirts, and grocery bags
of food in our hands. We roasted hotdogs and marsh mellows as the sun was
setting, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. We joked about proper wire
hanger-reassembly-into-a-skewer techniques and tried very interesting yet delicious
variations of the S’More. Towards the end of the night, we began to ask each
other questions, and ended up going in a circle. At first starting with where
we were from but then going into hobbies and passions we had. It was the first
time we all truly just got to simply just hang out as a team, and it was both
needed and very much so enjoyed. As the night continued, we shared our pit with
another group, and then walked each other to our cars—lingering in the parking
lot to say our last few humorous comments before we got into our car and headed
home.
As a team,
we enjoy one another and are excited for all of the things that are yet to
come. We have already seen God move within us in a multitude of ways, both as a
unit and individually, and we are all extremely excited to see what else God
has in store for us. Being apart of this mission and this team is such an
incredible blessing, and we all feel honored to be apart of it.
-- Natalie
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