Siobahnne here.
There will be a post from Wood and Tanya in the morning, but for now we're all exhausted and ready to be asleep! We have an early morning tomorrow (as always) and a place to attend church before the OVC kids arrive.
As many of you know, today we spent the day in Cape Town. With the CHEs we went to Robben Island and learned some important historical facts pertaining to this amazing country we're visiting. It actually reminded me a lot of the story of Joseph. Robben Island is this beautiful island filled with so much pain. The prison there housed many men who unjustly served out long and cruel sentences. It amazes me that the men who walked away from that prison walked away with a heart seeking redemption, not revenge. The do not hide the fact that horrible things happened there, but they rose above in that place. My heart truly felt God's hand at work there.
We also had a big answered prayer today! We saw PENGUINS! A childhood dream came true for me today in seeing penguins in their natural habitat. It was incredible.
We had lunch with the CHE's (after which, I got to hold one of the women's adorable 3 month old son!) and then the team got to wander around Cape Town for a while.
Now for the truly exciting part:
Sinethemba lead us to UCT and we got a tour of parts of his University! The UCT campus is amazing (I may have to look into their Doctorate programs...) and it was awesome to see how far he has come in his life. He's been such a blessing to us here at Bridges, and as a graduate of the academy all of the students look up to him. We say it jokingly, but he really is a big deal here, and he handles that responsibility very well. He's been a huge inspiration to us all.
Some prayer requests:
...Giant white spider thing in the building tonight. I did not have to see it (Thank God!) and Wood and Tanya got rid of it. But please keep the anti-spider and anti-bug prayers going!!!
...Pray for rest and refreshment for the team. We're tired, but still kicking!
...Pray for the CHEs, translators, OVC kids and the team tomorrow as we begin this next part of our trip here. Pray for open hearts, open minds, clear communication and lots of love all around.
...Pray for Steph. Don't know if you guys have hear, but she may have torn her achilles. She's in an ankle brace and really hurting and could use the prayer.
Love and Blessings to you all!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Mykl here, writing after our last day of leadership camp with the Bridges kids. It's been a week filled with not just fun, but also many challenges and life changing experiences not only I, but the team has encountered as well. I have to be honest, through out the week I found myself asking God why He sent me to South Africa to be His hands and feet, there had been moments when I really questioned if I was really making a difference in these kids lives, and what God was thinking when He chose me to god here.
The last two days, especially last night and this morning, really made it clear that God was not only working in me, but also through me to reach these kids. Although I may not have connected and made an impact in every one of those kids life. I realized this morning that if I could just make a difference in just one or two, and just show these kids the love and honor they deserve, that THAT was my purpose, that is why God brought me here.
This morning I had the 8th grade girls for my devotional group and for my Relationship/Sex class. I'm not going to lie I was pretty intimidated all week thinking of how I was going to approach such a sensitive and touchy subject to a handful of 12-14 year old girls. With much prayer and patience, I have to say that I was surprised and had my best morning/class yet! There was so many questions, so much openness and honesty, I really couldn't believe how smoothly and beneficial it turned out to be. These 8th grade girls are incredible! I was amazed with the honesty, grace, and intelligence these young girls brought. Between Nwabisa and Nontundo reciting scripture, to the other girls telling me that they want to be lawyers and journalists when they grow up, I really did not want to leave that moment and at that point I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be:)
I am looking forward to the rest of the week with the OVC kids and more relationship bonding with the team and the kids:) Love you mom and family! :)
*~*~*
Jared Here:
Today was the end of a very long, exciting, tiring, and encouraging week. The reason I signed up for this trip was because I wanted God to stretch me and boy has he done that. When I signed up I had no idea what we would be doing... I imagined us playing soccer and doing some sort of manual labor, which was fine by me. Something you should know about me is that I hate teaching and I think my least favorite age group is Junior High/High School. Of course... the entire week is focused around teaching Junior High and High School. God sure does have a sense of humor sometimes. All that being said I was pretty nervous coming into my first classes where we would be talking about Integrity.
Obviously, this is exactly where God wanted me. I was completely out of my element, uncomfortable, and forced to rely on him and it was in this dependent state that I got to see God really work. The classes all went so smoothly and it was such a great opportunity to talk about the issues these children are facing, which are heart breaking. I got asked some questions (from 8th graders) like "If I prayed for my Mom who was sick and she died, does that mean God doesn't hear my prayers?" Another tough one was, "If God knew who would follow him all along, why didn't he just sort us out in the beginning?" I think my favorite group, if I had to pick one, is the 8th graders because of their raw honesty. They just say what's on their minds. I asked the group if they believed that God answered prayer and one girl very bluntly said "no". When I asked why, she said simply because God had never answered a prayer of hers. While none of these questions were easy to answer or talk about it was so refreshing to hear such honest questions about our faith.
It's so encouraging for me to see that in the face of hardship, these kids still have such joy and happiness. Last night was our Talent Show night and our leaders told us we all needed to participate. Having no talent show worthy talents, I scrambled with Nicole to learn a dance that one of the students, Yanga had been showing us earlier. Well I had no idea how serious the talent pool was here and as we listened to beautiful acapella songs, serious dramas, and showstopping dance moves I got a little nervous. Nicole and I nervously jumped in through the backdoor to start our routine and within the first 8 count had completely gotten out of sync and abandoned our "dance". It was kind of embarrassing, but really fun and funny and the kids really enjoyed watching us make fools of ourselves. Fortunately, my job is videographer so I control this content.
There is so much more I could say but it's getting late here and we have an early morning. God is moving in our team and in these children and it's so exciting to see. The kids went home to their townships today so please pray for their safety and that they make wise decisions.
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
First of all, don't worry. Jared may have control of HIS video footage of he and Nicole dancing, but he doesn't have control of the rest of it. Apparently some of it has already been posted on the web by one of the couples staying here and working with the Academy (somebody look into this and find it for us, okay?).
Today was both an amazing day and a hard day. It was our last day of classes after a grueling but incredibly rewarding week. Not only have we seen these kids open up and grow, but I know each and every one of us on the Rock Harbor team has been stretched and tested and grown a little. God has worked in some crazy awesome ways here.
After lunch the kids began to gather, waiting for the cars to come and take them home. That's where it got tough! We know they aren't going back to the best situations and we just ask that you pray for them. Pray for protection, wisdom and a safe return to the academy on Monday for all of them.
All around the room kids were hugging, singing worship and praying. Some really heartfelt conversations were going on between team members and the kids as they were preparing to leave. We reminded them about making good choices, staying strong and keeping their eyes on God. It was so easy, and yet so difficult in so many ways.
The afternoon lent itself to some team bonding, including some interesting conversations with the Winery folks next door.
We are now headed to bed because we have to be up VERY early to head to catch the boat to Robin Island tomorrow. Pray for a fun and relaxing day off for us, but also pray we keep our focus on why we are here. I'm excited to learn more about the rich history of this amazing country.
Please keep the anti-Spider pray going, but add to that anti-bugs. Some of us are being eaten alive, Mykl especially, and could use a reprieve!
Also pray we remember to use sun screen if we're going to take a cat nap outside. Long story short, I have a very interesting bit of sunburn.
Pray for the CHE's and OVC kids as they come to join us Sunday. Pray for our preparation of the VBS, pray for the people involved, our team and the hearts of the kids attending.
Keep praying for good health and safety! Your prayers are working and they are much appreciated!
Also, sorry about the lack of pictures, but I'm honestly not sure if any will be posted until after we get home. Spare time has been limited and we're trying to stay off the computer as much as possible. I promise, the wait will be worth it!
Lots of love and prayer.
The last two days, especially last night and this morning, really made it clear that God was not only working in me, but also through me to reach these kids. Although I may not have connected and made an impact in every one of those kids life. I realized this morning that if I could just make a difference in just one or two, and just show these kids the love and honor they deserve, that THAT was my purpose, that is why God brought me here.
This morning I had the 8th grade girls for my devotional group and for my Relationship/Sex class. I'm not going to lie I was pretty intimidated all week thinking of how I was going to approach such a sensitive and touchy subject to a handful of 12-14 year old girls. With much prayer and patience, I have to say that I was surprised and had my best morning/class yet! There was so many questions, so much openness and honesty, I really couldn't believe how smoothly and beneficial it turned out to be. These 8th grade girls are incredible! I was amazed with the honesty, grace, and intelligence these young girls brought. Between Nwabisa and Nontundo reciting scripture, to the other girls telling me that they want to be lawyers and journalists when they grow up, I really did not want to leave that moment and at that point I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be:)
I am looking forward to the rest of the week with the OVC kids and more relationship bonding with the team and the kids:) Love you mom and family! :)
*~*~*
Jared Here:
Today was the end of a very long, exciting, tiring, and encouraging week. The reason I signed up for this trip was because I wanted God to stretch me and boy has he done that. When I signed up I had no idea what we would be doing... I imagined us playing soccer and doing some sort of manual labor, which was fine by me. Something you should know about me is that I hate teaching and I think my least favorite age group is Junior High/High School. Of course... the entire week is focused around teaching Junior High and High School. God sure does have a sense of humor sometimes. All that being said I was pretty nervous coming into my first classes where we would be talking about Integrity.
Obviously, this is exactly where God wanted me. I was completely out of my element, uncomfortable, and forced to rely on him and it was in this dependent state that I got to see God really work. The classes all went so smoothly and it was such a great opportunity to talk about the issues these children are facing, which are heart breaking. I got asked some questions (from 8th graders) like "If I prayed for my Mom who was sick and she died, does that mean God doesn't hear my prayers?" Another tough one was, "If God knew who would follow him all along, why didn't he just sort us out in the beginning?" I think my favorite group, if I had to pick one, is the 8th graders because of their raw honesty. They just say what's on their minds. I asked the group if they believed that God answered prayer and one girl very bluntly said "no". When I asked why, she said simply because God had never answered a prayer of hers. While none of these questions were easy to answer or talk about it was so refreshing to hear such honest questions about our faith.
It's so encouraging for me to see that in the face of hardship, these kids still have such joy and happiness. Last night was our Talent Show night and our leaders told us we all needed to participate. Having no talent show worthy talents, I scrambled with Nicole to learn a dance that one of the students, Yanga had been showing us earlier. Well I had no idea how serious the talent pool was here and as we listened to beautiful acapella songs, serious dramas, and showstopping dance moves I got a little nervous. Nicole and I nervously jumped in through the backdoor to start our routine and within the first 8 count had completely gotten out of sync and abandoned our "dance". It was kind of embarrassing, but really fun and funny and the kids really enjoyed watching us make fools of ourselves. Fortunately, my job is videographer so I control this content.
There is so much more I could say but it's getting late here and we have an early morning. God is moving in our team and in these children and it's so exciting to see. The kids went home to their townships today so please pray for their safety and that they make wise decisions.
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
First of all, don't worry. Jared may have control of HIS video footage of he and Nicole dancing, but he doesn't have control of the rest of it. Apparently some of it has already been posted on the web by one of the couples staying here and working with the Academy (somebody look into this and find it for us, okay?).
Today was both an amazing day and a hard day. It was our last day of classes after a grueling but incredibly rewarding week. Not only have we seen these kids open up and grow, but I know each and every one of us on the Rock Harbor team has been stretched and tested and grown a little. God has worked in some crazy awesome ways here.
After lunch the kids began to gather, waiting for the cars to come and take them home. That's where it got tough! We know they aren't going back to the best situations and we just ask that you pray for them. Pray for protection, wisdom and a safe return to the academy on Monday for all of them.
All around the room kids were hugging, singing worship and praying. Some really heartfelt conversations were going on between team members and the kids as they were preparing to leave. We reminded them about making good choices, staying strong and keeping their eyes on God. It was so easy, and yet so difficult in so many ways.
The afternoon lent itself to some team bonding, including some interesting conversations with the Winery folks next door.
We are now headed to bed because we have to be up VERY early to head to catch the boat to Robin Island tomorrow. Pray for a fun and relaxing day off for us, but also pray we keep our focus on why we are here. I'm excited to learn more about the rich history of this amazing country.
Please keep the anti-Spider pray going, but add to that anti-bugs. Some of us are being eaten alive, Mykl especially, and could use a reprieve!
Also pray we remember to use sun screen if we're going to take a cat nap outside. Long story short, I have a very interesting bit of sunburn.
Pray for the CHE's and OVC kids as they come to join us Sunday. Pray for our preparation of the VBS, pray for the people involved, our team and the hearts of the kids attending.
Keep praying for good health and safety! Your prayers are working and they are much appreciated!
Also, sorry about the lack of pictures, but I'm honestly not sure if any will be posted until after we get home. Spare time has been limited and we're trying to stay off the computer as much as possible. I promise, the wait will be worth it!
Lots of love and prayer.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Things in South Africa are never what they seem to be...the first couple of days were HARD but God has been so good and provided me (and the team) with the strength to get through the days. The past two days have been so great and full of blessings! One of the many little "nuggets of God's goodness" I experienced was the other night when I slept in one of the girls' rooms. As all girls do we were up chatting for a while but these girls love to sing before they fall asleep and I was not going to stop them! These girls have the MOST amazing voices and to hear them signing in Xhosa as I fell asleep was one of the best gifts I could have received! BY far the good times have far outweighed the stressful times experienced thus far. Thanks for all the comments and prayers -- they are a HUGE blessing! And I've got to add this one...Go Patriots..beat those Jets!!! Blessings and Love, Claire
*~*~*
Wow, I can't even believe we are here in South Africa, let alone it being our fourth day here. There have been some challenges, and times where I don't feel effective. Through it all God has been so faithful and amazing. God has brought us closer as a team and given us even more love for these kids. There are some amazing kids here, full of joy, compassion and an incredible knowledge of God and the bible. Today we got to swim with the kids and it was just down right fun. They also did a talent show tonight and I couldn't believe these kids. Talent oozes from their pores. My favorite was the native dances and singing, seriously they sound like angels. I am so thankful and feel so privileged to be here and serving with an amazing team and phenomenal kids. Oh and did I mention it is hot, beautiful and I got a little bit of a tan. Man now you're all going to think I am on vacation! So on that note, miss you Kameron and Harley and love you...you too Mom and thanks to everyone praying.
Jennifer
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
There's a natural rhythm to South Africa. Laid back, but strong. It feels like the heart beat of creation. Today was a good day, and I feel many of us really found and rested in that rhythm.
Today was the day of the Talent Show. Something the kids went crazy for! I was smartly informed by the 11th grade class that reading a book was not considered an acceptable talent for the Talent Show (these kids have me pegged already!). I was able to barter with Azile a little. I would sing, but only if she would accompany me with voice and drum.
We sat outside before dinner today, and we sang Cannons together and for a few moments everything stopped. The world was still. And then our voices faded with the ending of the song and it was as though all of creation applauded. The wind started blowing, the trees swayed back and forth, the animals raised their voices. It was an incredible moment from God.
These kids are seriously talented and they blessed us in abundance tonight in song and dance. It was beautiful, and I couldn't keep the grin off my face as I watched them shine. Such beauty and joy should be protected.
Today was a much better day for us. Classes were blessed and prayer was the foundation of everything we did today. It's hard to believe the week is almost over.
We love you all so much. South Africa is winning pieces of our hearts and it's a blessing to be able to share this with you. Please keep praying, and know that we are praying for you also. Your efforts and support mean so much to us here.
God bless you all!
*~*~*
Wow, I can't even believe we are here in South Africa, let alone it being our fourth day here. There have been some challenges, and times where I don't feel effective. Through it all God has been so faithful and amazing. God has brought us closer as a team and given us even more love for these kids. There are some amazing kids here, full of joy, compassion and an incredible knowledge of God and the bible. Today we got to swim with the kids and it was just down right fun. They also did a talent show tonight and I couldn't believe these kids. Talent oozes from their pores. My favorite was the native dances and singing, seriously they sound like angels. I am so thankful and feel so privileged to be here and serving with an amazing team and phenomenal kids. Oh and did I mention it is hot, beautiful and I got a little bit of a tan. Man now you're all going to think I am on vacation! So on that note, miss you Kameron and Harley and love you...you too Mom and thanks to everyone praying.
Jennifer
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
There's a natural rhythm to South Africa. Laid back, but strong. It feels like the heart beat of creation. Today was a good day, and I feel many of us really found and rested in that rhythm.
Today was the day of the Talent Show. Something the kids went crazy for! I was smartly informed by the 11th grade class that reading a book was not considered an acceptable talent for the Talent Show (these kids have me pegged already!). I was able to barter with Azile a little. I would sing, but only if she would accompany me with voice and drum.
We sat outside before dinner today, and we sang Cannons together and for a few moments everything stopped. The world was still. And then our voices faded with the ending of the song and it was as though all of creation applauded. The wind started blowing, the trees swayed back and forth, the animals raised their voices. It was an incredible moment from God.
These kids are seriously talented and they blessed us in abundance tonight in song and dance. It was beautiful, and I couldn't keep the grin off my face as I watched them shine. Such beauty and joy should be protected.
Today was a much better day for us. Classes were blessed and prayer was the foundation of everything we did today. It's hard to believe the week is almost over.
Prayer requests:
...The kids leave to go home for the weekend tomorrow afternoon. Please pray for safety and smart choices. Already some of the kids are indicating that when they go home they will not be making the best of choices and of course we want what's best for them.
...Like most kids middle school and high school age, there can be a lot of negativity among peers. We are blessed to have Sinethemba here as a mediator between the team and the kids. He really called the kids out tonight on the way they put each other down and hurt each other. Pray for them in this. It's so easy to be mean to one another, and often so much harder to continually love one another. Help them love and lift up, not hate and tear down.
...Continue to pray for our team. Tomorrow is a new day and anything can happen. His mercies are new every morning, but it's also another day within which the devil may find a foothold. Keep us strong against the enemy Lord.
...Pray for rest this weekend for us. We get a slight reprieve before the OVC camp begins and we could really use it. The guys are beginning to catch Wood's cold and I know many of us girls are just tired from constantly being on the go.
...Please pray that the Spiders continue to stay away. Laugh all you want... but it's important to us.
We love you all so much. South Africa is winning pieces of our hearts and it's a blessing to be able to share this with you. Please keep praying, and know that we are praying for you also. Your efforts and support mean so much to us here.
God bless you all!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
WOW, where to begin?! It is only day 3 and I have been touched in so many ways! There is no better way to start your day then hearing the love for God through the vocals of these children. We were blessed by their voices in leading us in worship free style! We had Azile on the drums as Paula, Phumzile and Thandazwa lead the group in singing "Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord"! It was one of the most moving moments I have had, seeing how much love and joy these children have for God with their smiling faces, hands lifted high and their feet a dancing has touched my heart forever! You can see them pour their hearts out to the lord and praising him for his love which is the most remarkable experiences I had! Worshiping is one of my favorite times with God and to be able to share this remarkable experience with these children and my teammates is a Gift!! It has been a joy playing, laughing, worshiping, praying and just being presence for them! I can not wait to see what else God has planned for us!!! We miss you all and are so thankful for all your prayers and support!
PS - Thank You God for a Seahawk Victory!! Wow that was a miracle! ; )
~Nicole
*~*~*
Sorry this is going to be a short post because I'm exhausted and have had a rough day, so words are not coming easily. Don't get me wrong, I'm having an AMAZING time, but the fight is definitely on! I'm struggling with building relationships with the students, but am hopeful for a different tomorrow! Our team is such a blessing and grows together everyday! Thanks for all your prayers!
-Heather
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
As the Ladies mentioned, our team has been under going a lot of spiritual attack today. It's been a rough day for many of the team members and we could really use prayer for it.
I have to say though, being a part of this as everyone is pulling together to support one another and bind the enemy from us has to be one of the best experiences I've had so far. Our group has really bonded together in this. There's been a lot of individual prayer as well as group prayer and we've really lifted each other up. It's so encouraging to know that we're fighting for each other here, and that so many of you are praying for us as well!
Classes have been tough and these kids could use a lot of prayer. We're continuing to try to build relationship with them, but it's been tough. Some of the kids seem really withdrawn, they are falling asleep in classes or getting frustrated with the classes. Pray that God gives them restful sleep and works in their hearts. The team needs divine strength, and these kids need prayer to soften their hearts.
We are loving it here. We are stepping into what God has called us for. At this point Satan is attacking us with petty vengeance and he must be stopped.
Please pray we continue to recognize the attacks for what they are, and that we take it very seriously from the start. Don't let the devil undermine us.
Pray that we continue to pull together as a team in the face of adversity.
Pray that minds, ears, eyes and hearts are open Lord. If we must be satisfied with never knowing if we made a difference here, please put a peace upon our hearts.
It's getting closer and closer to the end of the week, and our hearts break a little that the kids will be going home for the weekend before they return Monday. Please pray for safety and rest.
It's so comfort to know that there is an army of Saints praying for us back home. We love you all.
PS - Thank You God for a Seahawk Victory!! Wow that was a miracle! ; )
~Nicole
*~*~*
Sorry this is going to be a short post because I'm exhausted and have had a rough day, so words are not coming easily. Don't get me wrong, I'm having an AMAZING time, but the fight is definitely on! I'm struggling with building relationships with the students, but am hopeful for a different tomorrow! Our team is such a blessing and grows together everyday! Thanks for all your prayers!
-Heather
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
As the Ladies mentioned, our team has been under going a lot of spiritual attack today. It's been a rough day for many of the team members and we could really use prayer for it.
I have to say though, being a part of this as everyone is pulling together to support one another and bind the enemy from us has to be one of the best experiences I've had so far. Our group has really bonded together in this. There's been a lot of individual prayer as well as group prayer and we've really lifted each other up. It's so encouraging to know that we're fighting for each other here, and that so many of you are praying for us as well!
Classes have been tough and these kids could use a lot of prayer. We're continuing to try to build relationship with them, but it's been tough. Some of the kids seem really withdrawn, they are falling asleep in classes or getting frustrated with the classes. Pray that God gives them restful sleep and works in their hearts. The team needs divine strength, and these kids need prayer to soften their hearts.
We are loving it here. We are stepping into what God has called us for. At this point Satan is attacking us with petty vengeance and he must be stopped.
Please pray we continue to recognize the attacks for what they are, and that we take it very seriously from the start. Don't let the devil undermine us.
Pray that we continue to pull together as a team in the face of adversity.
Pray that minds, ears, eyes and hearts are open Lord. If we must be satisfied with never knowing if we made a difference here, please put a peace upon our hearts.
It's getting closer and closer to the end of the week, and our hearts break a little that the kids will be going home for the weekend before they return Monday. Please pray for safety and rest.
It's so comfort to know that there is an army of Saints praying for us back home. We love you all.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Its only been two days in South Africa, but God has been at work doing amazing things through our team! For the afternoon today, myself, Heather and Nicole got to spend 4 hours playing volleyball outside with the academy kids and i am not sure who enjoyed more, the kids or the three of us! The kids loved being outside learning a game that most of them have never played. As the groups came through our volleyball clinic, they were progressively getting better with the last group wanting to play against us 3. The highlight of the clinic was at the end when the Academy kids all came up to us and thanked us for teaching them volleyball and told us they had so much fun. Even though our days can become extremely long and tiring, hearing those kids tell us how much fun they had makes it all worth it.
Andrew
*~*~*
We have such an amazing God that answers prayer in a big way. Today started out a little rough for Andrew and I. We have a great group of kids for our devotion group but we could not get them to participate and interact with us at all. Devotions are a forty-five minute discussion time that we have on the topics that the kids will be learning about later on in the day. After devotions, two of the team members get one grade to teach a series of lessons for a four hour period. As the teachers, it can be a daunting task to try to keep the students interested and interactive with our lessons. The lessons that Andrew and I teach are on respect and authority. Andrew and I were genuinely concerned about the day ahead of us because today was the day that we were scheduled to teach our devotion group for the four hour period. We could not even get them to participate for forty-five minutes, how in the world would we hold their attention for four hours?! Thankfully, we have a Big God that worries about the small things. After devotions, Wood prayed with Andrew and I about our upcoming class and it made such a big difference. When we began to teach the students, they all actively participated! We had volunteers to read, responses given, and questions asked. Apparently, the students were even telling other team members how much they learned in the authority class! It just shows that our God loves us so much. These students are such a blessing and my heart is filled with so much joy being back with them. So far this trip has been amazing and I can't wait to see the other ways that God is going to amaze and impress us. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and responses. It means the world to us to hear from everyone back home. Oh, and August team members that are reading this, I saw Eddie in Sweet Home yesterday. He's just as rambunctious as ever!! Thanks for all the love from everyone! We miss you!
Tanya
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
As you can see, it's been an amazing day for us today. By the end of yesterday we were feeling worn down. In our debrief time, we shared a lot of concerns about specific groups and kids and then really spent time praying as a group and on our own for a change. Already, these children have stolen pieces of our hearts, and we want to see them succeed and take to heart the purpose God has for them. Classes today seemed to go a lot better for everyone which was a true answer to prayer.
We also will have a bit of a treat for you when we get home. Today was the day that Jennifer and I taught a class on Poetry in the afternoon. I spent time putting together a packet of information on Biblical and Classical poetry forms as well as writing tips, but I also wanted to share some poetry with the kids. I picked four that really spoke to me and prayed the kids could see the beauty in them as well.
Each class was different. What ended up being so unexpected was the way that Jennifer and I reacted to the class. We've found in a lot of cases that the best way to get the kids to open up is to be willing to share things about yourself. As we went line by line through some of the poetry and what it means, it meant really opening up and sharing with the kids. There's a poem by John Donne about forgiveness. It talks of exposing layer after layer of sin, always waiting to hit upon the one sin where God just finally can't forgive us anymore. It required a lot of honesty, but the kids really understood and shared in that with us. It was incredible.
Each of the kids was then given a number that corresponded with what topic they would write about. They were given about 20 minutes at the end of the class to write a poem about a time they were angry at God, a time they praised God, a time they were in awe of God or a time they questioned God. The kids really opened up in their poetry and it was incredible the insight and the reflection we saw within their words. Their hearts are so amazingly big. While many of this kids kept their poems due to their personal nature, some willingly gave them to us to share with the team and to bring home to share with you. I know they will be treasured.
I think we all learned a lot about the kids today. There was so much laughter and so much joy... but we also learned of the pain behind the smile. Also, our Group One students wrote a poem they wanted to share with you!
- Group One: Onele, Zimkhitha, Zintle, Nontando, Nomfundo, Zenande, Nongamso, and Asemahle.
Pretty awesome, right?
Thank you so much for all your prayers!
As always, keep praying to keep the spiders away! Pray for continued endurance and for God to reveal himself even more. We saw a lot of God in these kids today and I know we all ache to be even closer to our Heavenly Father. He's stretching us and growing us, so please pray that we are taking care and resting when we need to. Pray for health and please pray for these kids! They all have to go back home for the weekend on Friday, and we're praying they return safely on Monday to start their official first day back at school. Thank you for being our prayer warriors! You've helped bless us so much!
Andrew
*~*~*
We have such an amazing God that answers prayer in a big way. Today started out a little rough for Andrew and I. We have a great group of kids for our devotion group but we could not get them to participate and interact with us at all. Devotions are a forty-five minute discussion time that we have on the topics that the kids will be learning about later on in the day. After devotions, two of the team members get one grade to teach a series of lessons for a four hour period. As the teachers, it can be a daunting task to try to keep the students interested and interactive with our lessons. The lessons that Andrew and I teach are on respect and authority. Andrew and I were genuinely concerned about the day ahead of us because today was the day that we were scheduled to teach our devotion group for the four hour period. We could not even get them to participate for forty-five minutes, how in the world would we hold their attention for four hours?! Thankfully, we have a Big God that worries about the small things. After devotions, Wood prayed with Andrew and I about our upcoming class and it made such a big difference. When we began to teach the students, they all actively participated! We had volunteers to read, responses given, and questions asked. Apparently, the students were even telling other team members how much they learned in the authority class! It just shows that our God loves us so much. These students are such a blessing and my heart is filled with so much joy being back with them. So far this trip has been amazing and I can't wait to see the other ways that God is going to amaze and impress us. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and responses. It means the world to us to hear from everyone back home. Oh, and August team members that are reading this, I saw Eddie in Sweet Home yesterday. He's just as rambunctious as ever!! Thanks for all the love from everyone! We miss you!
Tanya
*~*~*
Siobahnne here.
As you can see, it's been an amazing day for us today. By the end of yesterday we were feeling worn down. In our debrief time, we shared a lot of concerns about specific groups and kids and then really spent time praying as a group and on our own for a change. Already, these children have stolen pieces of our hearts, and we want to see them succeed and take to heart the purpose God has for them. Classes today seemed to go a lot better for everyone which was a true answer to prayer.
We also will have a bit of a treat for you when we get home. Today was the day that Jennifer and I taught a class on Poetry in the afternoon. I spent time putting together a packet of information on Biblical and Classical poetry forms as well as writing tips, but I also wanted to share some poetry with the kids. I picked four that really spoke to me and prayed the kids could see the beauty in them as well.
Each class was different. What ended up being so unexpected was the way that Jennifer and I reacted to the class. We've found in a lot of cases that the best way to get the kids to open up is to be willing to share things about yourself. As we went line by line through some of the poetry and what it means, it meant really opening up and sharing with the kids. There's a poem by John Donne about forgiveness. It talks of exposing layer after layer of sin, always waiting to hit upon the one sin where God just finally can't forgive us anymore. It required a lot of honesty, but the kids really understood and shared in that with us. It was incredible.
Each of the kids was then given a number that corresponded with what topic they would write about. They were given about 20 minutes at the end of the class to write a poem about a time they were angry at God, a time they praised God, a time they were in awe of God or a time they questioned God. The kids really opened up in their poetry and it was incredible the insight and the reflection we saw within their words. Their hearts are so amazingly big. While many of this kids kept their poems due to their personal nature, some willingly gave them to us to share with the team and to bring home to share with you. I know they will be treasured.
I think we all learned a lot about the kids today. There was so much laughter and so much joy... but we also learned of the pain behind the smile. Also, our Group One students wrote a poem they wanted to share with you!
We Love it Here at Bridges
We love it here where everyone smiles
Where the green grass goes on for miles
We love it because we get to swim
We also like to play in the gym
We can play on the trampoline with friends
The fun here never ends!
- Group One: Onele, Zimkhitha, Zintle, Nontando, Nomfundo, Zenande, Nongamso, and Asemahle.
Pretty awesome, right?
Thank you so much for all your prayers!
As always, keep praying to keep the spiders away! Pray for continued endurance and for God to reveal himself even more. We saw a lot of God in these kids today and I know we all ache to be even closer to our Heavenly Father. He's stretching us and growing us, so please pray that we are taking care and resting when we need to. Pray for health and please pray for these kids! They all have to go back home for the weekend on Friday, and we're praying they return safely on Monday to start their official first day back at school. Thank you for being our prayer warriors! You've helped bless us so much!
Monday, January 10, 2011
And the first day of academy is in the books! Mykl here, filling you in after a long and tremendous day at the academy. We started our day off at the Sweet Home township, and then concluded our teachings and group activities at the academy.
One thing that really made an impression on me today was our morning visit to Sweet Home. It was amazing to see the way God was working through the township and to actually feel the hope that was present through out the township. As we were walking to our cars to go back to the academy, we noticed two young boys no older then the age of 8, playing with some pieces of cardboard and having the time of the their life. It really got at me seeing how these kids could have nothing and still yet be filled with joy and hope. It is definitely something that humbled me and made me think about the blessings that God has already placed in my life. On a side note, with this lack of communication thing I am really hoping my mother is reading this so she knows that I am alive and loving South Africa. I love you mom! :) I can't wait to see how God continues to show up and use the team here to make an impact on these kids lives.
P.S. How about them Seahawks?????? :)
*~*~*
Wood Here.
Just want to say how much I miss my beautiful 5 month old baby and wife. I brought a bunch of pictures with me and they help, but I miss his giggles and laughs. It was a long day today. We went to Sweet Home first thing in the morning as the rest of the staff went to pick up the kids for camp. We met some of them when we picked up Sisande, our CHE leader in Sweet Home. She drove with us the rest of the way into Sweet Home. We got to tour the new creche (pre-school), the kids come back this weekend from holidays so it was mostly empty, and the new St. Barnabus church. The old creche buildings, the only real brick buildings in the entire township, are now vacant just next door.
Please pray for the local political leader/mayor/prefect that he can work to better conditions of all the residents and use the resources for the community instead of personal gain. That said, the new plot behind it is just as functional as the old one and now includes a church. I had seen some early pictures of the church and it looked like and empty shell of a makeshift building. I don't know what I was expecting, but walking into it I felt a calming peace come over me. A large cross painted on the far wall, a single pew against the back wall with a rainbow and kids hand prints on the back wall. Prayer cards nailed to the barely 7 foot ceiling framing holding up a hodge podge of corrugated metal for the roof. A small "building" only about 12 feet across and 20 feet long. In the center, two small kids sleeping on small pieces of egg crate foam reminded me of my own baby at home. This was a holy place....This was a holy place.
As we left the creche, we passed three young men at 9am in the morning carrying three very large bottles of beer. We said hi as they passed and our way back to the car down the dirt road filled with glass and debris. I prayed a prayer of thanks for this place of peace in the middle of brokenness.
On the leadership side, tons and tons of schedule changes and unexpected duties. The principal at the academy is in transition and things are in a state of flux. We don't have the facilities we expected and there are a lot of extra duties we had not planned for. Add to that a few tons of unknown and welcome to Africa. We are getting through just fine, but please pray for the academy during this time of transition and pray for our team to have extra strength to power through the next two weeks. The first day is always the hardest and this was no different. Everyone is tired, everyone is in great spirits, no one is sick (except me and my sinuses are getting better...hopefully...please pray), everyone is looking forward to what God has planned for tomorrow.
I'm teaching about Sex and Marriage as I have done on all my previous 3 trips to Africa. I talk with the guys and my teaching partner Mykl is spending the group time with the girls. I left my students with Proverbs 5:3-14. The perfect verse, for the perfect moment. Amazing how a few lines of text can teach a life time of wisdom. God is great.
*~*~*
Siobahnne here to sign us off for the day.
Today was a big day for us as Wood and Mykl addressed. We hit the ground running, but a lot of new and interesting (and by interesting I mean somewhat stressful and confounding) hurdles have been tossed in our way. There's been confusion, exhaustion and a little bit of chaos too.
We definitely could use some more prayer:
There's been a lot going on in all of our minds and I pray we look beyond the internal battle to God's truth.
Let our team respond to every moment, good or bad, by turning it over to the Lord.
Tomorrow is another day, and its fast encroaching on this side of the world! Thank you again for all the comments, love and prayer.
One thing that really made an impression on me today was our morning visit to Sweet Home. It was amazing to see the way God was working through the township and to actually feel the hope that was present through out the township. As we were walking to our cars to go back to the academy, we noticed two young boys no older then the age of 8, playing with some pieces of cardboard and having the time of the their life. It really got at me seeing how these kids could have nothing and still yet be filled with joy and hope. It is definitely something that humbled me and made me think about the blessings that God has already placed in my life. On a side note, with this lack of communication thing I am really hoping my mother is reading this so she knows that I am alive and loving South Africa. I love you mom! :) I can't wait to see how God continues to show up and use the team here to make an impact on these kids lives.
P.S. How about them Seahawks?????? :)
*~*~*
Wood Here.
Just want to say how much I miss my beautiful 5 month old baby and wife. I brought a bunch of pictures with me and they help, but I miss his giggles and laughs. It was a long day today. We went to Sweet Home first thing in the morning as the rest of the staff went to pick up the kids for camp. We met some of them when we picked up Sisande, our CHE leader in Sweet Home. She drove with us the rest of the way into Sweet Home. We got to tour the new creche (pre-school), the kids come back this weekend from holidays so it was mostly empty, and the new St. Barnabus church. The old creche buildings, the only real brick buildings in the entire township, are now vacant just next door.
Please pray for the local political leader/mayor/prefect that he can work to better conditions of all the residents and use the resources for the community instead of personal gain. That said, the new plot behind it is just as functional as the old one and now includes a church. I had seen some early pictures of the church and it looked like and empty shell of a makeshift building. I don't know what I was expecting, but walking into it I felt a calming peace come over me. A large cross painted on the far wall, a single pew against the back wall with a rainbow and kids hand prints on the back wall. Prayer cards nailed to the barely 7 foot ceiling framing holding up a hodge podge of corrugated metal for the roof. A small "building" only about 12 feet across and 20 feet long. In the center, two small kids sleeping on small pieces of egg crate foam reminded me of my own baby at home. This was a holy place....This was a holy place.
As we left the creche, we passed three young men at 9am in the morning carrying three very large bottles of beer. We said hi as they passed and our way back to the car down the dirt road filled with glass and debris. I prayed a prayer of thanks for this place of peace in the middle of brokenness.
On the leadership side, tons and tons of schedule changes and unexpected duties. The principal at the academy is in transition and things are in a state of flux. We don't have the facilities we expected and there are a lot of extra duties we had not planned for. Add to that a few tons of unknown and welcome to Africa. We are getting through just fine, but please pray for the academy during this time of transition and pray for our team to have extra strength to power through the next two weeks. The first day is always the hardest and this was no different. Everyone is tired, everyone is in great spirits, no one is sick (except me and my sinuses are getting better...hopefully...please pray), everyone is looking forward to what God has planned for tomorrow.
I'm teaching about Sex and Marriage as I have done on all my previous 3 trips to Africa. I talk with the guys and my teaching partner Mykl is spending the group time with the girls. I left my students with Proverbs 5:3-14. The perfect verse, for the perfect moment. Amazing how a few lines of text can teach a life time of wisdom. God is great.
*~*~*
Siobahnne here to sign us off for the day.
Today was a big day for us as Wood and Mykl addressed. We hit the ground running, but a lot of new and interesting (and by interesting I mean somewhat stressful and confounding) hurdles have been tossed in our way. There's been confusion, exhaustion and a little bit of chaos too.
We definitely could use some more prayer:
Emily, please continue to be on spider duty.
The kids need a lot of prayer. Coming back to all these transitions has been tough, and they seem restless and are pushing boundaries. Pray for adjustment and peace. Also pray for relationship and honesty. The curriculum we're working through with them addresses some heavy topics, and they are topics that can't really be properly handled without a lot of blatant honesty and a willingness to discuss.
Pray for the Academy. This have been really up in the air and crazy, and the folks here could use the prayer support. Pray that good decisions are made, and the energy and heart is there in everyone to move forward and persevere.
Pray for the team. We're already feeling tired and a bit emotionally drained. It's been a rough day for a few and we could really use prayer for patience and endurance. We're been truly learning the meaning of the "best laid plans of mice and men," and could use some peace and purpose in the chaos.
There's been a lot going on in all of our minds and I pray we look beyond the internal battle to God's truth.
If my first thought is
"I'm weary"
Let my second be
"God sustains"
If I think for an instant
"I'm weak"
Let me remember
"God is strong"
If, even for a moment, I hear
"I can't do this"
May I pray that
"God's will be done"
And when I kneel in awe
"How wonderful"
Let me be thankful because
"You've already won"
Let our team respond to every moment, good or bad, by turning it over to the Lord.
Tomorrow is another day, and its fast encroaching on this side of the world! Thank you again for all the comments, love and prayer.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
We made it!!!
Siobahnne here!
Wow. Just, wow. I don't think it became real for many of us until we saw that stamp in our passport. The million hours worth of flight time (slight exaggeration), the plane food, the airports, the cramped seating and long bathroom lines... none of it felt real until we actually got here.
But we're here. We landed safely around 8am this morning, went through customs easily (except Jared, who was detained without us knowing at first... but he's okay!) and were greeted by the friendly staff from Bridges ready to help us wheel our luggage to the vans and head to the Academy.
We want to thank you all for your prayers for safe travel and all the support you've offered us. Our team is really bonding. The long flights and just the feeling of being so out of our natural element have helped to cement our bond as a team. It's been such a blessing to watch us all further get to know one another, share in inside jokes we weren't even aware we had yet, and laugh over the absurdity of being THIS tired.
We got to the Academy, were shown our rooms and given an hour to freshen up. I've never seen so many women sharing one bathroom at a time, but you'd be happy to know it was well handled and we even had to deal with our first spider! We made sandwiches for lunch and sat down to orientation. Many yawns later, some wonderful prayer, and accidentally using dish soap in the dishwasher instead of the dishwasher stuff (oops...), we're now resting in some shape way or form. Many are napping, reading and journaling. Some of us that were still awake got to tour the school facilities as well!
We're excited. Tomorrow begins all the craziness and we're praying for the strength and wisdom to get through it all. Please check back with the blog often and leave comments for us to enjoy. You can help by praying too!
Pray for...
...The team, the staff and the kids: may our hearts be in the right place and our hands firmly reaching for God in all that we do.
...Health, both physical and mental. We're already a bit tired, and we're bound to get more tired. Emotions may run high and stress can get to us all. Pray that we handle it well and support each other in all of this.
...Our spiritual relationships. We're all seeking to be closer to God in everything that we do, and I know many of us our yearning for a deeper closeness with our Heavenly Father on this trip.
...The people we are going to meet and the opportunities that will present themselves.
We're really here friends. And God is with us. And so starts a beautiful journey.
Much love and blessings,
The January 2011 South Africa Team
Wow. Just, wow. I don't think it became real for many of us until we saw that stamp in our passport. The million hours worth of flight time (slight exaggeration), the plane food, the airports, the cramped seating and long bathroom lines... none of it felt real until we actually got here.
But we're here. We landed safely around 8am this morning, went through customs easily (except Jared, who was detained without us knowing at first... but he's okay!) and were greeted by the friendly staff from Bridges ready to help us wheel our luggage to the vans and head to the Academy.
We want to thank you all for your prayers for safe travel and all the support you've offered us. Our team is really bonding. The long flights and just the feeling of being so out of our natural element have helped to cement our bond as a team. It's been such a blessing to watch us all further get to know one another, share in inside jokes we weren't even aware we had yet, and laugh over the absurdity of being THIS tired.
We got to the Academy, were shown our rooms and given an hour to freshen up. I've never seen so many women sharing one bathroom at a time, but you'd be happy to know it was well handled and we even had to deal with our first spider! We made sandwiches for lunch and sat down to orientation. Many yawns later, some wonderful prayer, and accidentally using dish soap in the dishwasher instead of the dishwasher stuff (oops...), we're now resting in some shape way or form. Many are napping, reading and journaling. Some of us that were still awake got to tour the school facilities as well!
We're excited. Tomorrow begins all the craziness and we're praying for the strength and wisdom to get through it all. Please check back with the blog often and leave comments for us to enjoy. You can help by praying too!
Pray for...
...The team, the staff and the kids: may our hearts be in the right place and our hands firmly reaching for God in all that we do.
...Health, both physical and mental. We're already a bit tired, and we're bound to get more tired. Emotions may run high and stress can get to us all. Pray that we handle it well and support each other in all of this.
...Our spiritual relationships. We're all seeking to be closer to God in everything that we do, and I know many of us our yearning for a deeper closeness with our Heavenly Father on this trip.
...The people we are going to meet and the opportunities that will present themselves.
We're really here friends. And God is with us. And so starts a beautiful journey.
Much love and blessings,
The January 2011 South Africa Team
Friday, January 7, 2011
And they are off...
Tonight we gathered at LAX to send off our January team! Here they are packed and ready! Pray for them as they fly off to this amazing adventure ahead!
Team leaving today
Today the team leaves from LAX at 8:35 pm. We fly to London and have a 6 hour lay over, they fly directly to Cape Town. It's a long long flight so don't expect a quick blog update, but we'll try and post something when we arrive.
See you in two weeks!
See you in two weeks!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Community meeting - Prayer event
The South Africa community at ROCKHarbor met tonight for our monthly event. Keira hosted the event in the ROCKHarbor Library at 3080 Airway. She created this prayer calendar for the month of January which will give you specific items to pray for as the team is in country.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Packing Supplies
We had our final training and packing event today. It's always hectic as we gather all the supplies together and separate them into everyone's bags. We then regroup all the supplies when we arrive. We also went over last minute trip details, lead a devotion, prayed and discussed fears and doubts. Everyone is ready, the supply bags are packed and we just have to get on the plane at this point. Just a few more days.
This verse came up for the second time (Pastor Todd at Watts, and the devotion) so we've decided to use it as our team verse.
This verse came up for the second time (Pastor Todd at Watts, and the devotion) so we've decided to use it as our team verse.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
January Team Commissioning
The January team was commissioned tonight at Third Wednesday tonight. This is a monthly gathering for prayer at ROCKHarbor. The congregation gathers to pray for issues at the church, the local community and in this case the global teams that are leaving in January. Here are some pictures of the team (not everyone) as they were praying.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Final January Team Training
We had our final training today. This was not originally on the schedule, but there were a lot of loose ends in the plan and the team rallied to get as much done as possible before we leave.
We gathered as a team to talk about last minute logistics, then broke into different groups for 40 minute planning sessions. These groups were for the Leadership academy we are teaching for the first week. The OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) support group camp the second week, then the Sweet Home informal school and sewing business groups.
Our final training, the packing party, will be just before we leave. It looks like things are coming together very nicely and the team is going to be ready for anything.
We gathered as a team to talk about last minute logistics, then broke into different groups for 40 minute planning sessions. These groups were for the Leadership academy we are teaching for the first week. The OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) support group camp the second week, then the Sweet Home informal school and sewing business groups.
Our final training, the packing party, will be just before we leave. It looks like things are coming together very nicely and the team is going to be ready for anything.
Friday, December 10, 2010
January Team Social
We gathered as a team and the Andre's house. This is a great time to get to know everyone a little better. In fact, this was a pajama party and everyone was in the Christmas best. Lots of great food, cookies and time to socialize and pray for the upcoming trip.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Prayer, Pizza and Purchase night
The South Africa community at ROCKHarbor gathered for our monthly event tonight. It was a prayer night where we gathered to pray for issues at the Academy, for the students to do well, for the staff at the academy, for Sweet Home and the CHEs who are working in Sweet Home and for the OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) in Sweet Home.
Afterwards we had Pizza then attended the ROCKHarbor event that allowed all of our global partners to sell items made in the communities where we work. Market of Hope was there to represent South Africa, specifically Phillipi and Sweet home have the beading business and the sewing business that has been slowly evolving in Sweet Home. The event was very well attended and Market Of Hope was very happy with the results and many people were able to help others while getting some very unique Christmas gifts.
Here are some pictures from the event.
Afterwards we had Pizza then attended the ROCKHarbor event that allowed all of our global partners to sell items made in the communities where we work. Market of Hope was there to represent South Africa, specifically Phillipi and Sweet home have the beading business and the sewing business that has been slowly evolving in Sweet Home. The event was very well attended and Market Of Hope was very happy with the results and many people were able to help others while getting some very unique Christmas gifts.
Here are some pictures from the event.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
January Training #4
We had one of our final trainings today. We spent a lot of time talking about the difference between relief and development. We did a couple of CHE (Community Health Evangelist) lessons to learn more about the model that Bridges Of Hope uses in Sweet Home. We gathered in our various teams to prepare for the events we will be leading. These include a Leadership week for the students at the academy as they prepare to return to school after the holiday break. An OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) support group camp we will run the second week. Then the work with the informal school that leaders in Sweet Home are trying to start, and the on going work with the Sewing business. There was a ton to cover as usual and the team is coming together nicely.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Watts serve day
We served as a team together in Watts today. This is a great opportunity to learn about the team dynamic and to make a difference in a local community as well. We partner with Powerhouse Church and Pastor Todd Grant who went on our summer 2010 trip. Some of us helped with Sunday School, some lead worship, some worked in the kitchen, some walked the streets to invite the neighborhood, most of us helped server lunch and everyone had a great day.
Pastor Todd was amazing today. He was talking about boasting and it was heavy on his heart that he caught himself bragging about his education. He proceeded to open each of his diplomas and tear them in half. It was very very powerful. He is an amazing Pastor and we are lucky to serve alongside him in Watts.
Pastor Todd was amazing today. He was talking about boasting and it was heavy on his heart that he caught himself bragging about his education. He proceeded to open each of his diplomas and tear them in half. It was very very powerful. He is an amazing Pastor and we are lucky to serve alongside him in Watts.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
It’ll All Make Perfect Sense Someday
Siobahnne here. I have to say, I’m excited to share about the ways that this trip to South Africa is changing my life. We’ve already finished 2 training days and our first social and January is encroaching on the horizon! Every time I meet with these amazing people, as a group or one on one, I learn more about our Heavenly Father.
God is so much bigger than we are. He is infinitely smarter, more creative and more caring than we can comprehend. And yet sometimes the hardest thing to do, is trust that He, in his omniscience, really does have everything taken care of.
About a month and a half ago, myself and 10 other people all got a phone call inviting us to join the Rock Harbor Mission Team, and to go to South Africa. The opportunity arose, the community responded and out of all the applicants we were the ones chosen to go. A team of people, mostly strangers, pulled together for a common cause: serving God and his people.
After the phone call, on my way into work for the night, I was floating on a cloud. My heart had attached itself to the South Africa cause the moment I heard of it. There has been so much going on in the last year, so many different personal trials, and so much of God’s faithfulness, that when I got the phone call it was like all these little puzzle pieces fitting together. This is what God had been building me up for: he had been building me in spirit, in knowledge and in heart one step at a time to send me out into the world.
It felt so right. So much of my life has been in chaos, but I found myself in absolute peace about being sent across the ocean with a group of people I had yet to meet.
So many people joke that they fear giving themselves 100 percent to the Lord because He might ask them to go to Africa; I gave myself to God and prayed He’d send me to the ends of the earth for Him.
I didn’t really start to feel nervous until that first meeting. I’m not always very good with meeting new people. I tend to get nervous, and the larger the group, the more I’ll sweat it out. People take work and sometime I’d much rather just bury myself in a pile of broken equipment I can fix. This is something God has really been working on in me. He’s walked me into opportunity after opportunity to deal with these types of situations and it was slowly getting easier. It wasn’t until this first meeting though that a revelation really began to hit me.
There are no strangers in God’s family. Maybe a few wacky relatives we’ve yet to meet, but no strangers. Walking into the room with the team, I was awash with the same sense of peace that settled my nerves the first time I met my life group: that sense that God had it all in hand.
The Africa leaders prayed for us, much as Jesus prayed for the Apostles. They prayed for a team of people to come together to serve, and we were the answer to that prayer. The people in this room weren’t just random people, but fellow brothers and sisters.
Even then, a part of me wondered how I fit into it all. There were so many things presented to us to worry about: the money, the immunizations, the paperwork, the time off, or the things that could happen while there. Instead, I fell prey to worrying that I couldn’t possibly fit in this group of awesome people. I can be a bit of an oddball, and after years of not ever fitting in everywhere, it still amazes me how much acceptance and love I’ve found in the community of Rock Harbor.
This was one of those moments where I needed to be reminded that just because it doesn’t make sense now, doesn’t mean it isn’t part of God’s bigger picture. So I took it to prayer and prayed to trust God to be in control and to know that there was a reason I’m supposed to be there.
Every time we’ve met as a team since, I’ve been blessed with insight as to how this team came together. We’re a unique group of people: teachers, coaches, business folks, fashion folks, and entertainment people to name a few. Outside of this cause, we may have never met, let alone ever have become friends, but God brought us together because as a team we have the ability to serve.
We met for our first “Social Event” this past Friday, and it was so much fun! Monica and Wood graciously hosted it at their house with their adorable dog there to greet us(and entertain us, especially Claire). Baby Brandon quickly went down to sleep, and soon it was just the team. We shared delicious foods, chatted and bonded, and shared defining moments that further opened my eyes to God’s greater purpose. While on the surface I may never have found anything in common with these people, as I dig deeper and get to know them, I find common threads among us that are slowly being woven together to create the bigger picture. I’ve been finding an amazing sense of joy in seeing how the team will fit together, and in seeing how I fit in with the team.
One of the things we talked about that Friday was an ability to trust in God. Many of our defining moments recounted events in which we learned that God is faithful. Many of us are in transitional periods of our lives. This is one of those God things. We come together, trusting God to light the way and lead us to South Africa.
I look forward to further training, serve days and socials. I look forward to seeing how God weaves our teams tapestry, our threads intertwining and blending. We may not understand it all yet, we may not know quite what God has called us out for, but every time we place our trust in him, the bigger picture becomes a little bit clearer.
My prayer for our team is this:
I pray for strength, for health and for heart.
I pray for wisdom, compassion and trust.
I pray for closeness.
I pray for purpose.
I pray that we continue to grow together and raise each other up to the Lord.
May we be a source of support and comfort to each other and the people we are going to serve.
May we rest assured that God is faithful and loving and does not lead us to be lost.
I thank God for this opportunity to grow, to get to know more of this amazing Godly family, and to see him at work in other parts of the world.
I thank God for his love, for his truth, and for his light. I thank Him for every member of the team and what we have to learn from each other.
This time before our trip can be one of great vulnerability. I pray we stand strong against the enemy and find peace in the Lord.
How lucky are we to serve our amazing Lord? Sometimes, the best place to be is at our Lords feet, not quite knowing what is going to happen, but willing to put our faith in Him to make sense of it all.
God Bless!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Team Social
We met at the Harter's for a team social. Everyone brought some food and we had time to just sit, relax and get to know each other. Each member of the team shared their testimony and we had a great time getting to know each other.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Community Gathering - Game Night
Keira put together a super fun community gathering this month with a game night. It was a Jeopardy style quiz show where there were 6 teams, each with a buzzer and a jeopardy screen projected on the wall. The winners were Emily and Nicole. Great prizes and great fun. At the end we spent some time in prayer for Bridges Academy as there are a lot of issues they are facing right now and asked us for specific prayer requests. If you could please spend some time for the protection of the Academy, the staff and the students they would greatly appreciate it.
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