One last update from ZA!

**South Africa team will arrive at LAX in the afternoon at 1:oo PM on Sunday August 21rst!**


Hey everyone! Meghan here...Brent and I just wanted to each have one last update from ZA! I want to thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and Support while we have been in South Africa. It has been so encouraging every night during our debrief to read your comments, scriptures and love from across the ocean.

Please continue to pray today as it will be an emotional day for us. We will be having one last morning devo as a team and then cleaning the retreat center along with the grade 9s and 10s [Bridges has an amazing program of community service with each of the grades- today is the day for community service where they serve around their local area- the 9s and 10s are helping us today!]

Then we will be having a closing time with the Academy kids. We have been so blessed and have learned so much from these students. It is beyond word and description.

Please pray for safe travels and rest along our journey. Thank you again for EVERYTHING.

Brent here, my official last blog update from South Africa. I think I can speak for everyone and say that we can't believe it's already our last day here! We hit the ground running and time just seemed to fly by here! The retreat center is currently busy with everyone packing their bags, showering one last time, and cleaning cleaning cleaning. We're getting ready for our last devotion then for our last lunch with the students.

We have a photo slide show planned (from of our AMAZING team photographer Jess! We easily have over 1,000+ photos to choose from!) Following, we will say our final goodbyes with the students and head to Cape Town International airport where we will depart for Heathrow.

Please pray for our travels and that the team could get some much needed rest on the planes.

We want to thank everyone for all of your encouraging comments, commitments to prayer, and for everyone's support for the team before and during this trip. YOU ALL are one of the biggest reasons we are here and we feel so blessed and privileged to have your support.

I know we are all looking forward to see all of our family and friends and sharing with them all of our stories, pictures, and memories from what has been the trip of a lifetime!

Goodbye South Africa! You have made a lasting impression in our minds and in our hearts. We hope to see you someday again!

Our Last Full Day in South Africa

Melody here---Wow, what a day today was at the Academy and what an awesome way to end our two week stay here in beautiful South Africa. Although the clouds were asphalt colored and they sprinkled bits of water every now and then, thankfully, the rain storm held off. Actually, after the morning tease of on and off sprinkling, we were blessed to see the most beautiful half-arc rainbow! Many of us stood in awe of the vibrant rainbow that seemed to embrace the Academy's property. Thank you Lord for Your creation and for letting us take such pleasure in it!

Today a group of our team went to Sweet Home for the final time of this trip and shared two lessons with the CHE's(math skills and book keeping)and also acted as human "jungle gyms" for the many, MANY, precious Sweet Home children. While some of our team was at Sweet Home, the rest of us were hanging out with the Academy kids and treasuring our final afternoon together. This afternoon and evening at the Academy was quite busy, but so unified. We had many crafts and activities and we also had a talent show, bonfire and an ice cream social.

There were so many amazing moments today and I think that even pictures would have a hard time doing justice in showing just how amazing those moments were, let alone my tired words. Today was a day of great joy, a day of praise, a day of reflection, a day of adoration, a day of humility, a day of awe, and of course, a day seeking the Lord and asking for more of Him, more of His love and less of ourselves,and less of our own will.

Tonight at debrief Luke 17:5-10 came up and I thought it was a beautiful capstone to our time here in South Africa. We were reminded once again of the beauty of faith and further, that we as servants of the Lord are not worthy of praise because we simply have indeed done the duty that the Lord compelled us to do. So awesome! :)
Praise the Lord for his faithfulness and for being the God of this continent and this country. Praise the Lord for His loving kindness and for being simply I AM.

See you soon friends and family. We love you and can't wait to see you! We are excited to share this experience with you and continue to declare the great works of the Lord Jesus Christ!

2 days to go!

Brent here... We can't believe it's only 2 days until we make the long journey home! Our time here has been incredible, filled with stories that we all are so anxious to share with our loved ones at home!


To all who were concerned about our team health... We did have a little stomach bug that seemed to affect 3 of our team members. HOWEVER, I am very excited to report that we are all feeling well and have all recovered. PTL! (Praise The Lord, that's how we do it in SA) Continued prayer for prolonged health is always appreciated in addition to finishing up our last two days here strong. Pray that we can make the most of the little time we have left here, continuing to pour into the students and children and CHE's at SweetHome.


Hello friends and family, Evelyn here. Today was Academy day for me. The team here had a morning of cleaning and organizing the Retreat Center. After lunch we had activities; some were in the shed for some more bead making which was fun for both male and female...really! The boys enjoyed it just as much as the girls. Others were on the field playing frisbee and other fun filled games. Then we all headed to the basketball court to cheer on the Academy boys in a game against a local team. It was a close call but they won 30-24. Go TEAM BRIDGES!! Later the other half of our team went to SPUR for dinner with some of the Academy kids who had earned the privilege of a special evening out based on good academics and behavior. We had a fun filled evening with lots of burgers, ribs, dessert and even some dancing in the aisles. :-) Miss you all. Love you lots.



Hi friends and family, Tammy here. It's been amazing. A trait of the Academy students that stands out to me is the way they give and share with each other. At meal times, they eagerly share food. At Arts & Craft time, they help each other develop their pieces. I am reminded of the verse: But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving. Tomorrow is the talent show. I expect to be blown away by this gifted and talented group of kids. I miss my family, but I have found family with the team and in my relationships with the kids. Yesterday, Vuyokazi and I took a walk, and we shared testimonies and dreams for the future. She gave me my Xhosa name: Nosandiso ("More Blessings to Come"). I guess this means there will be more mission trips to come.



Love 'ya.






Tammy and Vuyokazi eating at SPUR





Evelyn and the kids at Sweet Home

Word Pictures of South Africa

I can't believe it's already the 17th of August. Time has truly flown by. So much so, I've barely had time to stop and reflect. Seems like every break in the schedule has been used for drawing on the Lord for more strength and endurance. Maybe it will start to really sink in on the plane...how much the Lord has done here in such a short amount of time. There will be so many memorable highlights to ponder, but one stands out to me today. I have never enjoyed leading worship as much as I have for these kids at the academy. Words can't describe the powerful feeling I get when my hand strums the first chord of a song and 40 beautiful voices ring out boldly worshiping our God. I can't even hear myself sing over their glorious voices. Tonight we asked the kids to lead us in worship before devotions, acapella, as a treat for Kathi. It was indescribable and blessed us all so much!!!

~Garrick

I really do feel like a broken record by saying that time has just flown by so quickly.I just feel so blessed by this experience because truly I have changed tremendously. The kids are so loving and just being able to give them even more love and to hangout with them is such an honor. My connections with the kids are just growing even more and more and just conversing with them daily is so wonderful. I have been given the opportunity to tutor some of the academy kids in math ( they call it "maths" ) and I absolutely LOVE IT. To see the joy on their faces from getting a problem right and actually understanding a concept is so rewarding. Sometimes it can be challenging because you have to break down EVERY problem so simply, and even make up a story to go with the problem ( HA...). Honestly though, I love every minute of it because they are coming to understand and that alone just brings them joy and probably even more, me. Just as Garrick described, the worship that occurs between the kids is SO mind-blowing that I will never forget it. Their voices just sing out so loudly, and bring so much meaning.

Another aspect to this trip that I have been blessed with is to play basketball with the boys here. They love playing basketball and just have so much pride, but they know now that they can be beaten by a girl :) Everyday, we usually play a couple games of lighting/ knockout and then scrimmage 4-4 or depending on how many players it will vary. The competition is great, but in the end it all comes down to having fun and enjoying ourselves. God is good and I am so grateful.
Blessings to all!!!

~Jaleigh

Today was an awesome day, starting with a little "field trip" with 10 of the CHE's. We made the trip to the beautiful Table Mountain, a very popular tourist spot in Cape Town. We were going to take a cable car to the very top of the mountain, which overlooks the waterfront, ocean, and Robbin Island. However, things changed because of the winds so we decided to take some scenic photos and book it to the waterfront in Cape Town, pretty much one of the wealthiest spots around. We got down there and went to lunch at the amazing Spur Restaurant (oh yes, we went again!) And some of us will be going another time tomorrow night. It really is loved and cherished by the people here. We had some great conversations during lunch with the CHE's and really got to know them on a different level, outside of their typical environment. One of the CHE's said this was her first time seeing the ocean. So precious. We said our goodbyes and made it back to the academy. We had our last day of the HIV/AIDS training with Kathi and then started a really fun craft... magazine bead making! It really caught on with not only the kids but our team too! As a matter of fact, as I am typing this Ryan and Brent are in the room hard at work on their very own beads. Thanks so much for all your prayers and for thinking about us on this mission! So appreciate and we feel so loved.
Peace out,
Michelle

Prayer request UPDATE:
Hey everyone! There is still some sickness on the team. We are one woman down and have a couple of colds we are all fighting off. Please continue to pray that we will remain unified and strong as a team and that we will finish the last days WELL!
Thank you for EVERYTHING! Here are some pictures of the last couple of days!



Michelle and Jess B. on the field with the Academy students


All of the boys playing soccer! Hanging out in the goal



This is what heaven will sound like... worshiping with the Academy Students



Table Mountain in the background with the CHE's

Rachel here...

Rachel here. The trip has been incredible so far, so many memories have been made and lives are being changed. Yesterday we went into Sweet Home and spent another day with the kids. These kids have truly stolen my heart. It continues to amaze me that even though there is a language barrier we are able to love and spend a day full of joy together. It was also our last day of VBS, and even though it was chaotic, with kids of every age running in and out, God was there. We made salvation bracelets with the kids and the CHEs and I truly believe that some of the kids invited Christ into their lives. I feel so blessed and honored to be apart of God's greater plan. Continue to pray for Sweet Home and the children there.

Once back at the academy we had a little time and then half of the team headed off to Spur, with some of the 8th grade girls who were able to go as a treat for good behavior/good grades. The experience was so fun. The night was full of laughter, dancing in the aisles with the waiters, and taking silly pictures. These students have become friends, and I love spending time with them.

Thank you for all your prayers! They truly mean a lot!

A Beautifully, gorgeous day in South Africa!

Hey Jessica here-so excited about updating you all on our fabulous expiriences here in South Africa. Today was a packed day! For those of you that know me back home know my little obsession with the show "Hoarders" well I was able to put my organizational cleaning to practice with my fabulous teammates. We cleaned and organized the Miriam room for the staff here at Bridges:) What a accomplishment. Then my beautiful girlfriend Jessica taught us all how to tie dye bandannas with the academy kids.

We continued our day with our wonderful teacher Kathi on HIV/AIDS awareness. We had a great question and answer session and let me tell you-wow-the questions that these kids ask are great. They really want to learn and be able to help educate on this terrible disease.

We ended the night with a trip to Spur. Spur to us at home is a cross between well Red Robin meets Denny's meets some kinda random native american restaurant that everyone's dances in the aisle. Let's just say if you ever come out to South Africa it's a must to visit spur and yes it's in your local mall:) The students here had to earn there way to Spur tonight by good grades and great attitudes. As staff we felt very privileged to join them in their great accomplishments.

Family and friends-Jaleigh and I are doing great. I am a very proud mom watching my daughter everyday grow with these kids and love all over them. Thank you for all your prayers and please continue to pray for us. Please tell my precious angel (Jolon) at home mommy misses you very much.







Love to you all...
Jessica Belles

Prayer Request Update

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Thank you for bringing the Word to our team! Just a quick update: We got word from Mama Lulu that it was safe to go to Sweet Home today and the team was very excited. We got to love on the creche kids, have an amazing time with the CHE's and HIV Support group, and share the story of salvation with the children and CHE's at VBS. Praise God!!!

Please keep praying for peace and order in the townships. Also keep praying for health, strength and endurance as our bodies are growing weary, but our spirits are strong. May we all finish well, enjoy these lasting moments as a team with the kids at the Academy and Sweet Home.

Thank you! We love and appreciate you all and even though there are parts of us that want to stay here, we are excited to see each of you and share what God has done in us and through us.

With lots of love and appreciation, Lailanie

Important Prayer Requests

First of all, we want to thank everyone for their prayers and comments that encourage and uplift us daily. We'd like to share 2 important prayer requests with you, as we know you are being faithful in supporting this trip and team through prayer.

* 3 team members have been hit hard with sickness that have had them out of commission for days at a time. The other 2 are back and healthy, but we are one man down because of the sickness. Please pray for complete healing and that it won't spread to anyone else.

* As the team was headed out to Sweet Home, we received a call that there was some civil unrest in the townships. The local leaders we work with strongly recommended that we turn around. The team returned to Bridges, and ended up having a productive and blessed day serving at the Academy and being part of the first day of our HIV/AIDS education program- which in the end we believe was part of God's plan for today, as intimate conversations took place. Please pray for the townships- for safety, order, and peace. Please also pray for the local and team leaders to have good discernment as to what the next days look like. We do not want the enemy to have his way and disrupt the work and blessings that have been taking place in Sweet Home through the workshops, VBS, and loving on the precious children. But please know that if there is any reason at all that it is not safe for us to go, we will not take the chance and make sure everyone's safety is of utmost importance. Prayers are most, most appreciated.

A Surprise Visit From a Special Person

Hey everyone, Lailanie here, doing my due diligence and writing on the blog even though I am not fond of writing at all!:) The special visitor actually came to Bridges yesterday, but time and schedule got away from me and I haven't had a chance to write until tonight...

One of the best things about coming to South Africa is by far the relationships we are able to build with the students at the Academy and the kids and CHE's in Sweet Home. Having had the privilege of serving in South Africa the last 5 years, I feel so blessed to have made true connections and friends on the other side of the world. Being here honestly feels like home.

Last Sunday after the amazing church service, I was in my room when one of the team members yells, "Lailanie, you have to come out here and see who's outside, NOW!" As I run to the front of the retreat center, I see Sinethemba standing in the hallway. I happily let out an excited scream and give him a big hug.

Sinethemba graduated from Bridges Academy in December of 2009 and is now attending the prestigious University of Cape Town. I met him on my 2008 trip and have seen him ever year since. He comes back to the Academy often, wanting to visit and give back to the school that gave him a second chance. We spent the afternoon catching up, sharing stories from about students and teams from years past, and just had a great time hanging out. It meant so much that he took the time to meet the team and encourage the current students, when I know he had a a lot of school work to do.

It was also so inspirational to have him around, to know his background as a orphaned township boy who got the incredible opportunity to get a quality, Christian education at Bridges Academy, and is living out his faith as he goes to college. Anyone who has ever come in contact with Sinethemba knows how intelligent, driven, and funny he is, and we all have no doubt he is going to go far and do great things for the Kingdom.

As we have 1 more week here in South Africa, I look around at the kids here at the Academy and I am so grateful God has chosen each one to bless with this opportunity. Yes, these kids as orphans have had struggles and will continue to struggle, but we have faith that God is in control, loves them more than we ever could, and will take care of each one. I also have the hope and dream that one day, the little ones in Sweet Home that we hold, play with, and hug each day will also have the same opportunity...

God is so much bigger than I can ever comprehend and I have full trust and faith that He has good plans for each one.

.....

Hey everyone! Brennan here, wrapping up the blog with some updates on our time with the kids at Bridges today!

Today was such a great day at the academy! We started off our after school program with our first day of HIV/AIDS education with our special guest Kathi Winters. We are so blessed to have such an amazing woman of God here along side with us during our ministry here. We have outlined our week with the kids to focus on three aspects of living with or knowing someone with the virus/syndrome. The three sides of the topic we are focusing on the Body, Mind, and Soul.

Today we kicked off with talking about the Body and how the virus/syndrome affects the human body, including ways of transmission, as well as some facts and information regarding transmission and some myths/stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS. Our academy team performed a powerful drama which incorporated the facts about transmission in a dramatic visual way for the kids to see. In addition to the drama, we had several of our team members share testimonies about their lives, specifically areas of their lives where they found themselves in a sinful life, becoming vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, and the power of repentance and finding the welcoming love from the Father when one turns from sin and chooses God. The story of the Prodigal Son was shared, and God spoke to the kids so clearly through this story.

Overall, in our two hour session with the kids today, God showed up in a BIG way. Not only was truth spoken about HIV/AIDS, confronting lifetimes of lies and stigmas, but the healing and saving power of Jesus Christ and his love for us was echoing throughout our time with the kids. Super powerful. Super God filled time. Praise the Lord for this opportunity to educate the students here.

Thank you all for your prayers and love. We totally feel the support from all around the world! Please continue to pray for the kids, the team, and the education on HIV/AIDS. Pray that the kids hearts and minds are opened wide as we teach them and share with them.

God is truly doing an amazing work here, and it is such a privilege to see it happen right here right now in the lives of these kids. We love you so much! Thanks for everything!

Sunday - Not So Much a Day of Rest

Hello everyone, this is Trent.

As is almost everyday here in SA, today was a very full day. We began today with our Rock Harbor led church service here at the academy with the theme "More than Conquerors". It was a very special service as the team lead worship, a couple of us shared a message and testimony and then we closed with communion. Several of the students joined the praise team as we worshiped. There is something about hearing all of their voices so freely praising the Lord that is just so pure and joyous.

The afternoon was filled with some intense games of "Do You Love Your Neighbor?" (sort of a SA version of musical chairs that included 50 people), Bridges of Hope vs. Rock Harbor World Cup Soccer Game, several crafts and then the ever famous Capture the Flag...which the winner is still being debated. To close the free time we had a great Photo Scavenger Hunt that all the kids loved.

Then tonight we kicked off our HIV/AIDS education and awareness week by watching "Beat the Drum". It is a movie based in South Africa that follows one child's journey to understand what is killing off his village. It was very powerful and moving and as we closed the night we invited all the kids to anonymously write any questions or comments they may have pertaining to HIV/AIDS and drop them into a "Dear God..." box. Over the course of the week we will spend time answering these questions, as best we can, and at the same time discussing that there are some that we just have to take to the Lord and trust Him to answer in His timing. While reviewing the questions we immediately began to pray as so many were spiritual questions, probing much deeper than even the practical prevention questions. We are so thankful that all of you are praying for our time here and ask now that you add to your list these questions that we know will be opening up conversations that only the Lord can lead us to answer wisely.

We close this very busy weekend looking forward to starting another week here in SA as some of us head back to Sweet Home tomorrow to continue that work and as we dig deeper into our HIV/AIDS discussions. There is no doubt the Lord is opening doors here at Bridges and we are all motivated to continue His good work! With love from all of us to you.

A Generally Ordinary Day Becomes Extraordinary

Saturdays here at the Academy are not generally filled with 20 people from America running games like three different variations of dodgeball, five different groups of jump roping, more dodgeball, crafts, basketball court games & five on five matches, more games and much laughter, not only from the Academy students but also from the Rock Harbor team! In short, Bridges Academy allows Rock Harbor teams to take over a good portion of the weekend for the students not only to allow the RH team to minister to the kids through fun and games but also to give the Bridges staff a bit of a rest. It is our joy to step in with a whole heart in this way because the staff here need rest from their "work" just as you and I need rest from our work. The students are happy to step away from the peers they see everyday in order to engage with the RH team and other visiting teams alike. Pray that the students would not only show cooperation and respect to the short-term teams who come to visit, but also to their teachers and peers who they see and interact with on a daily basis.

With all numbers and games aside, everyone took a break from activities today around midday to continue a "talk" that the students have been having with two of the resident staff, Wade & Tara, husband and wife. Wade has been meeting with the boys and Tara with the girls to discuss a very serious topic and a topic which has been and is currently affecting the lives of many students here at the Academy. The topic of discussion is that of sexual sin and lust. For boys, questions like, "How are things like sexual thoughts and addictions dealt with on a daily basis, in a Biblical manner? What does it mean to respect a girl and her body?" And for girls, "How does the way you act and dress affect those around you? How might you cause a boy to stumble?" The discussion with both groups is very open and raw and who better to lead it than a married couple whose relationship is firmly planted in the root of God's tender love and mercy, and today, with the help of the RH team. Pray that God would use Wade & Tara's boldness to influence the students here in radical ways.

The day came to a close with the traditional Rock Harbor girls & guys night. This is generally a more passive time where the RH men can simply spend time with the boys of the Academy and the RH women can simply spend time with the girls of the Academy. A beautiful time to connect and shine the light of Christ to the kids. Pray that the RH team would continue to connect with the Bridges students, not for our glory but for the Lord's.

Congratulations to those on the RH team who participated in an early morning 5K run with a handful of the students this morning in a nearby town. Such a unique way to build relationships with some of the students, showing them that we are all one, on the same path, at the same time, in the same country. That we all have two lungs and a beating heart. That we all have been uniquely made, with some of us going slower, some going faster, some of us seeing what another does not, some of us hurting our knees or having to walk... "For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." Ephesians 4:4-6

We thank you all dearly for your comments and prayers and we ask that you would keep them coming!! Please continue specifically praying Ephesians 1-4 over our team and the remainder of our time here.

I would like to personally thank those who commented with birthday wishes...so, thank you! Though I love everything about sharing this day with the students, RH team, and South Africa, I am very much looking forward to celebrating with friends and family upon return.

Finally, as you can now read, a generally ordinary day for us all, team and students alike...became extraordinary.