Day 3... Worship and OVC

Hey this is Ray here!

To start off a busy second day at Bridges we heard that the OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) would be arriving here at Bridges Academy in the afternoon. As we prepared for the kids to arrive there was lots of excitement and preparation for a busy day. We ate lunch together and afterwards started off VBS camp with Kathleen and Molly telling the story of Creation with the help of Tomeka a CHE (Community Health Evangelist) who translated. The team quickly made connections with the kids and fell in love with their joyful faces and we were filled with love and compassion for them.

 It was a tight schedule as we jumped into after school programs with the kids right after VBS.  Lindsey led an ASP on Pilates, Dana led an ASP on teacher appreciation and home economics, Lizzie talked on serving and evangelism, and I led an ASP on worship. Last night the team prayed for my confidence in teaching and having something valuable to offer and today God really answered that prayer. I was able to talk to the 10^th and 11^th graders about why we worship and what worship looks like. It was such an awesome experience! I started off with telling a bit about my story and how I learned about worship. The students’ voices and passion for worship was incredible and I was able to encourage them to have conversation with God when they worship. Later in the day I was able to lead worship once again and really was able to lead with a new confidence for the gift God has given me. It was so amazing to be able to be a bridge for the students to meet with God and sing so joyfully in worship! Afterwards Danielle told me many of the girls really were touched by what I said about worship and one girl told me that it really touched her heart - how awesome is that!? It blew me away to see their joy for worship and hearts to listen. God really taught me that I do have something to give and to be confident in that.

Jared here!

This afternoon was one of my favorite memories of my four trips to South Africa.  We’ve never had Academy Students and OVC Camp at the same time and we were spread pretty thin.  One of our team members, Kathleen, had a great idea of bringing some of the senior academy students to help us with the camp.  We invited seven of the 12^th grade girls to join us instead of going to their regular after school programs.  When they arrived we explained that we’d like for them to run two hours of programming for 22 kids and they had about 15 minutes to prepare.  They huddled up and put on a program that put ours to shame.  The kids were so attentive as they taught them songs and the story of Job.  It was incredible to see the respect the students commanded and how the little ones looked up to them.  We had a few of our team members there, basically just cheering them on as they ran the show.  It was a beautiful picture of what Bridges was intended to do - teach one to teach another.  How powerful it will be to send these students back into their communities to give back.  I met most of these girls four years ago as shy 9^th graders and was feeling pretty proud and emotional watching them as grown women, sharing the scriptures and bringing such joy to these little kids. 

After devotionals each night, we break out into small groups.  I “humbly” thought that I could “pour into” the house parents and spend some time with them.  As we opened the scriptures and started discussing, my man Mthobeli just started dropping truth on me!  He was explaining how our stories have power and the enemy wants to use fear to keep us from sharing our stories.  He said that when we share it, there is freedom in Christ.  When Paul shared his past and how he persecuted Christians, he put on display his freedom in Christ.  Come on!  I found out that when he’s not looking after the boys at the academy, he teaches at a local church.  Mthobeli loves these boys so well and what an example he is to them.  He carries himself with such humility and I was so blessed to have gotten to listen to his wisdom tonight.

I’m really proud of how our team has jumped into everything.  I already see so many taking bold steps of faith and risking with one another in vulnerable ways.   God is on the move here and it’s really fun to be able to join in!  Tomorrow is probably our busiest day of the trip so pray for endurance and patience.

Thank you for all your support.  Your words of encouragement mean so much to us.