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.

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

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 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.

Training #2

We finished our second training. After worship and devotions which we always start with, we talked about the history of South Africa, the our special special guest Kathi Winter shared about HIV/AIDs in Orange County and we learned a lot about the disease, it's effects and the current treatments.  We talked about defining moments which everyone will be sharing at the next team social.  We split into groups and spent some time planning for the trip and also watch a clip from the movie Closer Walk.

Our next meeting is a team social on November 5th, then we will be serving together as a team at Powerhouse Church in Watts.

We finally got a team photo.

This week's memory verses.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1


For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

January 2011 Training #1

We had or first (formal) training this weekend.  We spent time in prayer and worship, had an ice breaker event, learned about our Core team of leaders and went over the team covenant.  Trip coaches and roles were assigned and discussed.  Everyone will need to return their skills assessments so we can begin to work with Bridges Of Hope on how to use each individual.  We also watched the movie Dear Francis and had some discussion.  Having spent time in Africa and having allowed kids to put questions in an anonymous box has always been heart breaking and extremely hard.  There are hard ships kids face that are heart breaking and unimaginable. This movie is a great example of how hard these trips can be emotionally and is a good way to prepare so our teams are a little less broken when things like these come up and more able to respond to the kids.

Our memorization verse for the next training week is.

Submit yourselves, then , to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8

First (unofficial) training

Since we are behind on the trainings due to the team selection process taking longer than expected we decided to have our first training for as many people who could make it and than meet individually for those who couldn't.

We covered immunizations, trip safety, travel plans, how much work is expected and did some ice breakers so people could get to know one another.  The first training is always a little overwhelming and this one was no different. Just a lot of information to get through and not necessarily a lot of fun.

Training # 3

We had training #3 for the July/August 2009 trip yesterday. Fund raising looks like it is going well and the team is really starting to bond. We spent time in prayer and worship and covered a great devotional on spiritual warfare. We then talked about testimonies and defining moments and everyone will be sharing theirs with the rest of the group over the coming weeks. These are good preparation and used often when meeting new people in a new culture so we like everyone to have one ready. We also learned more about how to create a lesson plan since some of our work could include teaching classes at the Bridges Academy. We did a "River Crossing" skit which is and early CHE lesson to discuss the difference between relief and development.

Dennis Wadley came and spoke to the whole team about Bridges of Hope and the model they have used (CHE - lifewind.org) in transforming Phillipe and what we have started in Sweet Home. It is always amazing to see how far they have come and how much more is possible.

The next training is a service day in Watts with Watt's Powerhouse Church. Serving there is always amazing and we really enjoy Pastor Todd Grant.

These are the two memory verses for the week.

1 Peter 5:8,9
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

James 4:7,8
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

First Team Training

We had our first team training for the July/August team today. It looks like it's going to be a great team.

Here is the memory verses to have memorized for the next training.

"If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except that You go with us? So we shale be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth." NKJV - Exodus 33:15,16