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.

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.

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.

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.

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.