(Not) Final Farewells

Wow. What an incredible two weeks it has been. (Has it only been that long???)

Words fail as we try to adequately sum up our time here – what it meant to us, what it meant to the community, the nature of the relationships we made, and the unexpected ways that God worked in hearts and minds. We can assure you that we will be returning quite different people than we were when we left.

On our last evening, we took some time to look back over the trip and talk about how things changed from beginning to end – the ways our expectations evolved, the ways we grew, the ways our prayers were answered. The one thing we could all agree upon was that none of us had a clue that our time here would come to mean so much.

It’s going to be hard to get on a plane in a few hours, and to return to normal life. But on the plus side we get to tell all of you about our adventures, and spread the word about the amazing work the Bridges staff is doing in South Africa and around the world. (And who knows – maybe we’ll all meet up again one day!)

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us on this journey. We could not be more grateful. And thanks be to Him, who makes all things possible.

We love you guys.

See you soon,

The Rock Harbor Team

A Heart for the Poor

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" --1 John 3:17

Today a bunch of us went back into the townships of Philippi and Sweet Home in order to drop off some more food parcels and to continue filming.

It was blazing hot - nearing 100 degrees - and felt even hotter since we had to adhere to the dress code of long pants and closed-toed shoes. As we drove through the dilapidated streets, eyes watched us intently - some knew the Bridges of Hope logo on the outside of the van, while others were intrigued by the go-pro camera we had strapped to the front fender. And the interest was mutual - as we drove, my eyes were straining to take in every detail, to gain a better understanding of what life was like here.

Some of the sights:

--Heaps of trash, old furniture, rusted fences, puddles of murky water, stray dogs, and the occasional goat, rooster, or sheep

--Women with babies strapped to their chests by means of a thick blanket wrapped around them several times

--Children pushing rubber tires down the sidewalk

--Small huts selling food and tools

--Tall poles with speakers strapped to the top, which Dennis told us the government used during apartheid to control and pacify the people when protests broke out

Aside from filming, we got to briefly stop by the informal school and hang out with the little kids during their school session. The one-room classroom was shabby and hot, with only a few posters on the walls. The bathroom was in the form of a large bucket in a back corner. The children - all between the ages of 4 and 7, or so - were excited we were there, and loved it when we joined in on their songs and games.

We also stopped by the high school, where the kids were older and more distinguished-looking in their crisp school uniforms. One boy stood out, as he was not in uniform - we were told later that he was allowed to opt out as he had just returned from being circumcised. Apparently it's a rite of passage here - when a boy turns 18, he is taken into the wilderness and circumcised with a dull knife. He must endure this process without pain medication and he cannot cry. He then spends a month in the bush healing, and when he returns he's given a set of fancy clothes and has earned the respect of his community. (The boy we saw at the high school clearly had a bit of an extra spring in his step.)

After that we paid a visit to the home of a woman who was diagnosed with AIDS five years ago. Sisanda, one of Bridges' Community Health Evangelists (CHEs), talked with her and translated to us that she has been feeling much better lately and is looking for work. With these things in mind, we all held hands and prayed with her.

Note: Not that long ago, it would've been almost unthinkable for someone to admit that they had AIDS. The community has already come a long way in breaking down the stigma of disease, and much of it is thanks to the work of people like Sisanda and the rest of the Bridges crew.

As we drove home, we realized that the stark contrast between the townships and the surrounding wine country is almost unbelievable. It is near impossible to fathom that two totally different worlds such as these can coexist just minutes away from each other.

"For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor." --Deuteronomy 15:11

As we drove through the townships, I was overwhelmed with the unfairness of it all. Back in the day, White foreigners came to this country and took it away from the Blacks who were here first, and the results are still evident. The poverty and de facto segregation are simply appalling.

While no amount of progress can change all that's happened, we are at least moving slowly in the right direction. The other day, we asked one of the Bridges employees if he thought it was good that us Americans come and hang out with the people here, and he replied that it is indeed a good thing - "because," he said, "you guys [White people] come and you talk to us [Black people] like we're human beings."

That simple statement shows the heartbreaking reality here.

I feel extremely blessed to come from where I come from, but also to have the chance to be here and learn about all of this firsthand. There is so much need in this country, and all we can do is keep working, keep praying, and keep striving onward for better days. I'm thankful that there are people here working every day for justice, and that we have a Divine who loves us and wants every single soul to experience true peace.

Now on to a campfire devotional with the students :)

Liz

Rest // Highlights from the Week

"And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested." --Gensis 2:2

If God can rest, we can rest, right? ;)

Yesterday the team took a much-needed day off to relax and recharge for the remainder of the trip. It felt wonderful to pause and reflect on all that's happened while simultaneously enjoying a little more of Cape Town!

The students started school today, so we won't be with them until later this afternoon. But that doesn't mean we won't be staying busy - there's still a lot of work to be done around the retreat center, and we'll be making some more visits to the townships to talk and hang out with the people there.

Thanks to all for the prayers and good vibes you've been sending our way. We've got 3 days left and we're determined to make every last moment count!

Love to all,
The Rock Harbor team

Special

Today was a nice, relaxing day.

Well, it was relaxing for some of us. Our heroic editors were slaving away for hours, working tirelessly to take all the awesome footage from throughout the week and turn it into a meaningful final video. But while they were downing their fourth (or fifth) cups of coffee, the rest of us got to just relax and spend time with the kids we've come to know and love. We splashed around in the pool, braided each other's hair, played games, sang songs, and just enjoyed one another's company. As much as we've all loved our hectic schedule, it was during these unplanned, raw moments that we really connected with the students on a deeper level.

The evening marked the wrap-up of our week-long camp festivities, which of course meant that we had to go all out. We did the girls' makeup and helped them into nice dresses. It was amazing, seeing their faces light up. Then, when all the students were (FINALLY) ready, they proceeded to walk down the red carpet while us leaders danced around, taking their pictures and asking for autographs.

They loved it. The girls squealed with laughter, giggling and blushing at having their pictures taken. For just a little while, we got to make them feel special - and the joy it produced was contagious.

Once that was done we gathered together for the "world premiere" of our music video (the one we've been working on for days). Everyone snacked on popcorn as the lights went down and the kids finally got to behold the fruits of their labor. The video was "critiqued" (praised) by a panel of "judges" (staff members), all of whom gave it full marks. Then, each student was presented with a special award befitting of his or her personality.

We concluded the evening by gathering all the students into the middle of the room, where we laid hands on them, blessing and praying for them. Then there was more laughing, hugging, and, if you can believe it, dancing.

If there was ever any doubt that this week was full of growth, that doubt was washed away as we watched those kids on screen. Girls who'd begun the week quiet, shy, and removed from the group were suddenly glowing, expressing themselves with humor and wit. Showing interest in the film process. Singing about God. We got to witness them coming alive, and it was the coolest. thing. ever.

God is good. Through the hard times, the suffering, the stuff that's difficult to understand - He brings us together and gives us joy.


Blessings,
The Rock Harbor team

(P.S. More pictures to come!!!)

Fellowship

It's another serene evening here in Franschhoek. The crickets are chirping outside our window, and a cool night wind keeps rustling the trees. Inside the retreat center, the kids are happily watching a movie while our team edits video footage and prepares for our nightly debrief.

The internet connection, on the other hand, is not quite so serene, so we'll have to wait to post pictures 'til tomorrow. But we wanted to check in with all of you back home and let you know that we're alive and well!

Today was another day full of good company, beautiful weather, and lots and lots of laughter. In the morning we put on a makeshift church service, during which Peter and Nicole shared their testimonies, then we broke into our film groups and interviewed the kids about their experiences throughout the week.

Their answers were adorable as ever. They expressed their appreciation for music and their desire to do well in their studies this year. During one interview, 15-year-old Nontando said she loves Bridges of Hope because it brings people from different cultures together and lets them have fellowship with one another.

Let's just say our hearts have been sufficiently warmed.

We can't believe we have less than a week until we return home, and we pray God will work powerfully in every single heart during the time we have left here.

Blessings,
The Rock Harbor team

Just DANCE

"Let them praise His name with dancing"

--Psalm 149:3

Today we learned a very valuable lesson: the kids here are better dancers than we are.

Nay, scratch that -- the kids here are WAY better dancers than we are.

We really only had one thing on our agenda besides the morning devotional, and that was to begin filming the. most. epic. music. video. of. all. time.

In our minds, it was simple: these kids love music. And they love to dance. And we're teaching them about film. So what better way to combine all of the above?

So dance we did. Through tall grass. Around the swimming pool. On the jungle gym. Across the patio. Through the dirt and dust and weeds. On the trampoline. On the tables. Everywhere we COULD dance, we DID dance - danced 'til our faces were red and our feet were numb.

And then some.

"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way."

--Wayne Dyer

When I say these kids can dance, I mean they can DANCE. (I, on the other hand, tripped over a hole and twisted my ankle, and I can't keep a beat to save my life.)

But we all had fun, and that's what matters. And now it's high time for some well-deserved rest.

Until tomorrow,
Liz

P.S. Cheese, tomato, lettuce, and butter sandwiches are a thing. Apparently.

The Power of Stories

I can't believe it's already been four days -- and today was perhaps the most fun yet! Thanks to a full night's rest, we awoke refreshed and ready to dive headfirst into our long-awaited film camp activities.

After breakfast we divided the students up into smaller teams and had them create their very own videos. They rotated through the roles of director, sound manager, camera person, interviewer, and subject - then we all gathered in the big room to view the epic final products.

The result was tons of laughter and excitement as the kids got to see themselves and their friends on screen. They loved it, and their joy was infectious.

Throughout the day, we tried to impress upon them the fact that they don't need fancy equipment or years of experience in order to tell their story. They just need a desire to share and create. Slowly but surely, this idea seemed to take hold. "But I don't have a story!" turned into singing passionately, dancing joyfully, writing, doodling, and a variety of other ways of expressing themselves and communicating who they are.

And oh, to see these beautiful girls (and boy) come alive. To see the quieter ones crack a smile, to hear them sing songs about love and faith and perseverance through struggle. If we can convince these kids their stories are worth telling, we'll have done our job.

There is no doubt in my mind that each and every one of these students has a story that would captivate the world if they just had the desire, the courage, and the means to tell it. I see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices as they sing at the top of their lungs. They are sweet, and kind, and good - all despite the hardships they come from, the broken families, the abuse, and the deaths that have plagued their pasts.

I hope that at the end of it all, what they learn from us stays with them. The prayer in my heart today, and every day, is that each of them will realize the incredible journey God has planned for them and experience the remarkable power and importance of sharing their lives with others and with Him.

Liz

Worth the Wait

We rose before the sun – 5:30am – our bodies still weary from the exhausting day before. The choice: We could stay in bed for another two hours…or we could get up, walk outside, and sit in anticipation for the sun to rise. The joke was on us though, the sun doesn’t technically peek over the mountains until 6am. But we weren’t alone. One by one, Brandon, Brian, and Jeff joined us to capture the sunrise by various means – including a camera mounted on a soccer goal and a GoPro fitted to a drone buzzing around the sky. Although we could see it’s light, the sun hadn’t quite shone its face. It eluded us, and it seemed like it would never rise. We could have gone back to sleep. The thought crossed our minds. But we knew it was coming, so we waited.

And sure enough, it rose. Bright and blinding. And we will be back tomorrow. Maybe.

Today was full of anticipation in so many ways. We started the day by praying for the kids that we would meet this afternoon. The same kids we’ve waited to meet for the last few months. Whose names and faces we did not yet know. We prepared their rooms, helped move some things around in the school, and queued up “Cotton Eye Joe” for the dance party, of course. At around 3pm, two vans arrived full of 12 high school girls and 1 boy. Our nerves relaxed as we saw their beaming faces and vibrant personalities. The moment we’d anticipated for so long had finally arrived.

We spent the afternoon getting to know the kids, playing basketball and making bracelets. Talking about boys and plans for college. Jeff gave a great introduction on story telling, and the kids loved the RockHarbor videos that we used as examples. After this week, we hope the kids walk away knowing that their story is valuable, worth telling, and a part of the greater story God is writing. 

Just as we anticipate the rising sun and the week ahead with these kids, we’re reminded why we’re here. While we wait in eager anticipation for our coming King, He’s called us to do His work by loving and serving others and inviting them into His presence. Although we can’t yet see God’s face, we experience His light, and getting to meet the kids today was another reminder of His faithfulness. 

~Megs and Brooke