Time to Reflect

It’s Kathleen here!  We miss you all at home and hope you are well!  Hard to believe we have passed the halfway point on this trip.  Today we took some time to assess our work and had a great conversation reflecting on what’s taken place so far.  It was really encouraging.  There have been so many good things that have happened and one of the main highlights took place yesterday during our church service yesterday. 

Ray lead worship and Jared preached.  They were a great team and the message Jared preached was powerful.  He spoke from the book of John and focused in on the life of Peter - the Apostle who walked on water with Jesus, drew the sword in Jesus defense and saw amazing miracles.  Peter came to see himself as bold and full of faith and at one point promised to never deny Christ.    Then, Peter discovered that, under enough pressure and fear, he was capable of something he never thought he would do – he did deny Christ.  Afterward, he was filled with remorse and regret.

Jared addressed that we are all capable of surprising ourselves, just like Peter did and even shared some stories from his own life.  I think it was really powerful for the Academy kids to hear this – to normalize failure.   Jared also talked about the power of confession.  When we can “name reality” and speak truth – no matter how bad it may seem – we are free.  We are no longer hiding.  And we can have confidence that our confession will be met with grace.

Jared went on to read from John 21.  This is when something really powerful happened.  Following Jesus’ resurrection, the apostles were in their boat fishing and had not caught anything.  They were heading back when they heard someone call out to them from shore telling them to lower their nets.  They followed his instructions and immediately caught more fish than they could handle.  When Peter realized it was Jesus…he jumped out the boat and into the water to meet him.  The same Peter that had blown it was the Peter who ran after Jesus with total abandon.  He knew that Jesus’ presence was the best place to be.  And when Peter met with Jesus, Jesus commissioned Peter to take care of the church (feed my sheep.)  Peter was forgiven and placed back in ministry.  Peter’s story had so many similarities to the ministry time between the 12^th grade students and the OVC’s.   So, the students “got it.”  They had seen that this is really how Jesus works.  He’s the one to forgive, the one to restore and the one to empower. 

At that point, Jared opened to service for a time of ministry.  Inviting students to come forward for prayer if they felt the need to “run to Jesus”  - to ask for forgiveness and restoration.  This was a HUGE risk on Jared’s part.  The Xhosa culture is not, typically, open or vulnerable about need or weakness.   So, he admitted he was a little concerned that no one would respond.  But – no joke – about 75% of the kids came forward for prayer and many of them turned and prayed for each other!  We were a little overwhelmed.  It was amazing!   

Afterward, one of our training teams, followed up with a powerful message on hope.   We all agreed that it was and incredible experience.  We loved being here to see it, but we are most excited to see the kids reaching out to one another, praying for each other and becoming closer as a “family.” 

We are really excited about this coming week!  We would love your prayers.  A bunch of us – including me – have gotten some kind of cold and we are losing our voices…which…makes teaching difficult!  So if you can join us in prayer we would really appreciate it!  Hope you all are well!  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Get out of the boat!

Hey there our faithful followers! Danielle and Allie (the official “weird” picture taking faces team) here again... We have had a busy day wrapping up with the CHEs, leading church, another spiritual retreat session with the students, and lots of prayer. We are all exhausted… so we have unanimously decided to give you all the details of our day tomorrow.  Heads up though: it was a GOOD day!! Tomorrow we have a day of rest, so please pray for filling up and rejuvenation. Also, unfortunately quite a few of us are still struggling through some colds and such! Please, please pray!

Here are a few snapshots...

Our greeter crew :)

Ray leading worship for church.

Jared bringing the Word!

Goodnight "y'all"!!

Morgan and Danielle here!

We are so thankful to all of our blog readers and prayer warriors. We read the comments posted every night at debrief and feel so loved by friends and family.

This morning we were blessed to have our first meal with the CHE’s. With full bellies and warm hearts we then divided the team and CHE’s up between girls and guys, so we could bless them individually. The guys headed into town for the CHE Leader’s first movie in a theater, which so happened to be a 3D movie. The boys from our team say that the CHE leaders were simply amazed by the technology they witnessed on the screen. Safety, rest, and peace, were the themes of their time together.

Back at the Retreat center, the ladies of our team treated the CHE’s to a spa day full of pampering. Our intention was to truly bless them and help them feel rejuvenated. While we gave them foot massages, pedicures, and facials, the ROCKHARBOR team was silently praying over these women that voluntarily work day in and day out to be lights to their community.  The CHE’s were served lunch and their children were taken care of by a few team members so they could have a truly restful morning and afternoon.

After lunch we provided the CHE’s with some words of wisdom based off Isaiah 43 led by the lovely Kathleen. This passage focused on the truth of who we are in Christ and Kathleen dove into the difference of knowing this in our head and knowing this in our heart.  With this reminder in our hearts, we headed into a time of prayer over the CHE leaders. This was such a precious time for us to pour into these incredible men and women’s lives and to speak truth over them. As prayer was winding down, one of the CHE women received a phone call that informed her of the tragic news that someone in her family committed suicide. When she hung up the phone, our team surrounded her with prayer and encouragement. The pain never seems to end for these men and women. Our team was so humbled by the mighty faith and trust in God of these men and women through constant trials.

At the same time as the CHE retreat, we also headed up a spiritual retreat for the Academy kids. It is so amazing to see how thirsty these students are for more of God, more of His Word and thus our retreat was based on Habbakuk 3:17-19. Our first session was led by Lindsay and Molly as they spoke to the students mainly about verse 17, praising God in our trials. At the end of their time, they called the students to write down a trial in their life and to lay it down at the feet of the cross. Much to our surprise, all the kids participated in laying down the trials in their lives.

The second part of this spiritual retreat was centered on forgiveness and led by Meredith, Allie, and Morgan. Meredith brought the house down as she talked to the kids about forgiveness, then we split the kids into smaller groups to help facilitate personal application. We emphasized in our discussion that forgiveness is not something that comes easily nor is it meant to discredit ones hurt or frustrations—rather forgiveness is meant to bring us great joy and to strengthen Christian community. After discussion Allie read Psalm 86 aloud then we encouraged silent prayer for the students to lean in to the people they may need to forgive. After we passed around bowls full of pebbles, and had the students pick up as many pebbles as people that God has put on their hearts to forgive. After they had their pebbles in hand, we encouraged them to go out on a walk around the track, have a personal talk with God, then to release those pebbles when they were ready to forgive. It was really cool to see some kids working through forgiveness as they walked around the track and even talking it through with a few students.

 

Overall, today was filled with fellowship, prayer, laughter, and even an impromptu jam fest in the dining room after dinner with the CHE’s. To end our day, we watched a movie, popped some popcorn and just enjoyed our time with the CHE’s and Academy students.

As we hit our half way point of this trip we ask for continued prayers that God uses us where He sees fit, and also specifically we would appreciate prayer for health as some of our team members are sick.

As it is now 1:30am our time, Danielle and I are now almost as exhausted as our good friend Cooms (pictured below). So now we must put away our goldfish crackers, Danielle's coloring, and say farewell to you our friends. 

Good night erryboday!!!

With Vulnerability comes Connection

This blog was written by April and Matt…

Hi Friends and Family!

This is April and I still can’t believe I’m here in South Africa!!! Today was another great day working with the Bridges Academy students.  It is wonderful how this academy houses and educates South African teenagers who have lost one or both parents.  The staff at the academy work very hard to educate, love and raise up these students to prepare them for a future where the students can affect a positive change in their communities. My heart goes out to the teachers, principals and all staff who have made sacrifices to work at the academy. It was my privilege to serve them during a Staff Appreciation Lunch by decorating the outdoor patio, serving them food & drink and clearing their dishes when they had finished. It was the least I could do to show my appreciation for all their hard work throughout the year. I am only here for two weeks, but they are here all year round and it must take great strength to go the long haul.  As Jared keeps telling us: we are the sprinters here for a short time but the Academy Staff are the marathon runners who keep on and on.

Throughout the week I have been moving through each group’s rotations taking photos and it has been wonderful to see my RockHarbor team members in action. God has created them with such unique gifts and talents that they get to share with the Academy students. I could write for a long while on how impressed I am with each team member and give you specifics on what they are doing here. Yet, I will spare everyone such a long blog. =) I will say that the Academy Students are enjoying the various experiences and have been connecting with the RockHarbor team during rotations and other meeting times. In my rotation I was able to share the skill of crocheting, something my grandma taught me when I was little. At first I was worried that not many of the students would be interested in learning this skill. However, I was surprised that several of them, even the boys, were really interested in learning! Some of the boys struggled, but they kept coming back to me, Lizzie or Ray asking us to check their progress and help them through it. =) Many of them made wrist bands and a few made some more complicated head bands. In the future, they could use this skill to make scarves, blankets and such a wide variety of goods. I am glad that my grandma could pass this skill on to me so that I could pass it on to the South African students. Thank you grandma. =) We also had a group activity for Spiritual Disciplines Prayer and Stewardship led by  Paul, Soccer led by Molly and assisted by Matt, and Line Dancing  led by Meredith, Chalane, Morgan, and Kira. The kids were so engaged for all the activities and it definitely makes our job a little bit easier.  A special class was held today on Prayer Training led by Kathlene, Danielle and Allie. 

It was Friday night and the students were ready for a fun Guys and Girls Night! The guys lit the campfire, sang songs in their native language Kosa and danced around with glow sticks. While the girls stayed warm inside, painted nails, did a photo shoot and shared with each other. We joined the guys around the campfire where Paul shared his story and it moved me to tears. He has had many hardships in this life, from losing his wife and sons in a car crash, holding his father’s & mother’s hands as they faced death, and even experiencing death himself after a heart attack. I watched the Academy Students as they intently listened to Paul’s story and you could see how they were moved to hear how God led Paul to know Christ through the experiences of great pain in his life.  The students were so moved by Paul’s testimony that they were rendered speechless.  Literally, only one student was able to respond during group time. However, after we commenced S’mores making, I saw Paul sitting a little distant from the fire, and slowly, one at a time or in pairs, students came to speak to him. I have no idea what they said to Paul, but I imagine that they finally found their voices and were able to speak about how his story touched their hearts or to share with him painful experiences of their own. All of the students at Bridges are familiar with the pain of losing a loved one and I am convinced that they developed a unique connection with Paul after he shared his story.  God moves in mysterious ways; he often uses the pain in our lives to draw us closer to Him and to each other. It’s strangely beautiful.  

And so goes another day here in South Africa!  Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

Bittersweet Goodbyes yet Smiling Faces

The blog tonight is written by Molly Cody…

Today had a lot of ends. The end of July. The end of our wonderful VBS for the OVC kiddos. The end of a 72 hour sprint filled with chalk dust, tears, sweat, and even some bubbles somehow. And unfortunately, the end to our last bag of “Romeo Delight” cookies. Although the day had a lot of ends, this was just the beginning. We had the beginning of the first day for five kids on their walk with Christ. We had the beginning of vulnerability set in with the Academy students. And we have the beginning of a weekend dedicated to serving those who raised some OVC kids and Academy students, the beautiful and marvelous Che’s, ahead of us.

With a sugar buzz and changed hearts, the OVC kids were able to make a reminder of their life in Christ. Our wonderful team members, Lizzie, Matt, Dana, April, and Kira, shared the Gospel with the kiddies and explained to them the significance of their life in the footsteps of the Lord. The kids made their symbolic bracelet of Black, Red, White, Green, Blue, and Yellow beads to represent evil and sin, purity, growth, and renewal that Christ offers those who choose to follow Him. Although the kids may not have completely understood what we were explaining to them, the ownership of that bracelet by the kids gives them a daily reminder of the life they can have one day with the Lord.

One of the boys who was prayed for last night changed my life today. I had an overwhelming sense of Christ shining out of him as he walked up to me today, took my hand, led me to the VBS room, grabbed me a spot on the wall, and sat silently and attentively as the Gospel was being taught today. His name is Edward. He is a Child of God and he desires love. He was constantly yearning for touch and someone to just smile with him and joke with him and tickle him. He wanted someone to constantly be cheering him on as he toe-punted the hardest soccer ball I have ever kicked before into the goal keeperless goal. I started today more tired than I had ever been and Edwards action of love and grace as he saw me strugglin’ through today pushed me to the end (which is why I am up writing this blog for y’all to enjoy!). The Edward of yesterday is gone and the Edward of today and from here on out is a completely changed, pure, and precious boy I will be praying for as the Lord protects him and the other OVC kids. 

We do not know what happens from here on out but the presence of the Lord and the light of His Work is being done and will be done until all His children are home and safe with Him.

OKAY, back to some more exciting news… The OVC kiddies departed safely (along with the rest of our cookies hehe) and it was back to the Academy students for some more ASP! I was blessed again by accompanying our worship leader (hey Ray – of sunshine) with his section of Worship and what it means to truly Worship. He did an amazing job sharing his story as to how he came to love Worship and we all sang a few songs together and we were even taught a song by them! Although we couldn’t necessarily say the words the right way, watching the community and fellowship these kids have with one another is beyond what words can describe. Worship is the one thing that is the harmony amongst these kids and allows for darkness to fade and the power and light of the Lord shine from all their smiling faces and tone-deaf voices (me included 110%). 

Our Matric we prayed for for today was the gentle Giant, Mphumzi. The second he stepped into the room, the word HUMBLE popped into my head and stayed with me until Paul snatched it right from my mind during prayer. The kindness and gentleness of this young man of God as he enters a room and cracks his first smile speaks volumes in my eyes and the teams eyes. Respect, confidence, strength, intelligence, and humility describe Mphumzi and anyone who encounters his presence is truly blessed by the life he truly brings out in others.

Now, onto the heavy stuff (at least for me): I was given the gracious opportunity to share my testimony tonight with the whole Academy. I am not exactly sure who reads this but some of you may know my story and others not know but I could not describe to you how full of encouragement and blessings I was. I was prayed over by the team and by my (the best) travel buddy, Kathleen, on our way over and the things they said over me and encouraged me with just hit right there on the top of my head. The presence of the Lord was stirring in that room and that was my biggest fear in sharing my testimony tonight. I was scared of my own light in sharing my story. I relate my story very much to Jeremiah 29:7 and Matthew 5:14-16, “You ARE the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before men…”

One of the most empowering moments in the discussion afterwards was the response a few boys had in that their stories were filled with too much regret and darkness for their own light to shine. Lindsay strongly encouraged them to remember they ARE the light of the world, not they can be.

The students of this Academy have amazing and incomprehensible stories to share and want their stories to be heard. They want to reach lives and shine the light of the Lord but feel it won’t mean much to people because it is filled with so much darkness. THAT IS WHERE THEY’RE WRONG! That is when it reaches the most people in various ways.

So in conclusion, we ask for prayer over these students and the OVC kids for protection and courage in their stories and vulnerability, our safety and health as a team, unity amongst us and the Academy students, guidance for the Che’s, and the Lords grace and protection over Sweet Home. 

THANKS AND MUCH LOVE FROM ZA (South Africa) !