Saturday, October 30, 2010
Home
Just a quick update. After a 28+ hour door to door journey, team members are safe at home and adjusting to life on this side of the ocean and recovering from jet lag. All of us have much to process as we think back on our experiences of the last two weeks. Stay tuned to this blog in the coming weeks for updates on what we have experienced and learned as well as information on when you will be able to hear us give a full "debrief" on our trip.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday
Good evening from South Africa. It is the end of a bittersweet day – our final full day here at Bethesda.
Today we spent the day busily doing “last minute” type things. Some eagerly soaked up every last moment at the school with the children, others spent a few hours buying some souvenirs and experiencing just a little bit more of the South African culture.
Tonight the families of Bethesda joined us at the team center for a final meal together. Following the meal and some time playing with the children, we (the team) gathered in the Boma (fire ring) for a bon fire and time of singing together. Many of the children and some adults sang for the group and we enjoyed some of our new favorite African praise songs by singing with them.
Following the singing and times of testimony from several parents, staff and team members, we prayed and then the children flooded us to give hugs and say precious goodbyes.
Our time here has not been easily summed up by these short blog updates. These children and the ministry of Bethesda have touched the hearts of the entire team. It is with heavy hearts that we will be saying goodbye tomorrow afternoon and boarding the plane to take us away from this wonderful country and these beautiful children.
This will be our final update from this continent. Stay tuned in the coming days for pictures, videos and testimonies from members of our team. We will also be posting information on where you can meet with us and hear a full update on our trip.
Today we spent the day busily doing “last minute” type things. Some eagerly soaked up every last moment at the school with the children, others spent a few hours buying some souvenirs and experiencing just a little bit more of the South African culture.
Tonight the families of Bethesda joined us at the team center for a final meal together. Following the meal and some time playing with the children, we (the team) gathered in the Boma (fire ring) for a bon fire and time of singing together. Many of the children and some adults sang for the group and we enjoyed some of our new favorite African praise songs by singing with them.
Following the singing and times of testimony from several parents, staff and team members, we prayed and then the children flooded us to give hugs and say precious goodbyes.
Our time here has not been easily summed up by these short blog updates. These children and the ministry of Bethesda have touched the hearts of the entire team. It is with heavy hearts that we will be saying goodbye tomorrow afternoon and boarding the plane to take us away from this wonderful country and these beautiful children.
This will be our final update from this continent. Stay tuned in the coming days for pictures, videos and testimonies from members of our team. We will also be posting information on where you can meet with us and hear a full update on our trip.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Today the first member of our team left “Bethesda Island.” Due to a weekend speaking engagement, Bryan departed today and is on his way back to the USA.
Yesterday was an amazing day of adventure and experiencing God’s creation in Pilanesberg National Park. We spent several hours “on safari” searching for wild critters. We were excited to spot 3 of Africa’s “Big 5” (rhinos, elephants, and a leopard). How exciting (and a bit “National Geographic” like) it was to watch the big cat stalk and almost catch a heard of nearby zebra!
Today was “back to business.” We had a great morning leading chapel for Grade R (kindergarten) to Grade 2 students. Don Lambert helped the children comprehend running the Christian race without encumbrances. Bryan reminded them that while man looks on the outside, God looks at our hearts. The entire team enjoyed singing several lively songs with them.
Late morning found the bricklayers completely finishing up their project and others helped out at the school. The teachers have been appreciative of the extra hands to give special one-on-one attention to some students, many of whom have some significant educational gaps (incurred prior to arriving at Bethesda).
This afternoon, several team members went with a Bethesda staff member to visit a nearby cemetery. How sobering it was to see first-hand the effects of the AIDS pandemic on this country.
Dinner this evening was with the families, spending time with them in their homes. The team is now settled back in to the team center for the night. We just finished pitching in to help the teachers get caught up on a rather large stack of grading and are now relaxing before our final full day tomorrow. With the building project finished we are looking forward to spending as much time with the children as possible.
As we prepare for bed, the rumbles of thunder in the distance are coming closer, giving us hope that rain may be on the way for a land that so DESPERATELY needs it!
Yesterday was an amazing day of adventure and experiencing God’s creation in Pilanesberg National Park. We spent several hours “on safari” searching for wild critters. We were excited to spot 3 of Africa’s “Big 5” (rhinos, elephants, and a leopard). How exciting (and a bit “National Geographic” like) it was to watch the big cat stalk and almost catch a heard of nearby zebra!
Today was “back to business.” We had a great morning leading chapel for Grade R (kindergarten) to Grade 2 students. Don Lambert helped the children comprehend running the Christian race without encumbrances. Bryan reminded them that while man looks on the outside, God looks at our hearts. The entire team enjoyed singing several lively songs with them.
Late morning found the bricklayers completely finishing up their project and others helped out at the school. The teachers have been appreciative of the extra hands to give special one-on-one attention to some students, many of whom have some significant educational gaps (incurred prior to arriving at Bethesda).
This afternoon, several team members went with a Bethesda staff member to visit a nearby cemetery. How sobering it was to see first-hand the effects of the AIDS pandemic on this country.
Dinner this evening was with the families, spending time with them in their homes. The team is now settled back in to the team center for the night. We just finished pitching in to help the teachers get caught up on a rather large stack of grading and are now relaxing before our final full day tomorrow. With the building project finished we are looking forward to spending as much time with the children as possible.
As we prepare for bed, the rumbles of thunder in the distance are coming closer, giving us hope that rain may be on the way for a land that so DESPERATELY needs it!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday
We’re sorry, the missions team you are trying to blog with is not available. WE’RE ON SAFARI!
We’ll be back late and catch you up on the day’s events tomorrow - but here’s a thought from our devotions last night.
This is an unusual group. None of us would have picked out this exact team composition but here we are in Africa. A paraphrase from 1st Corinthians might help explain.
For in fact the body is not one member but many.
For if the brick layer should say, “ Because I am not teaching the children, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
And if the librarian should say, “Because I am not grading papers, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were making sidewalks, where would be the teaching? If the whole body was helping in the kitchen, where would be playing with the children?
But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as he pleased.
We’ll be back late and catch you up on the day’s events tomorrow - but here’s a thought from our devotions last night.
This is an unusual group. None of us would have picked out this exact team composition but here we are in Africa. A paraphrase from 1st Corinthians might help explain.
For in fact the body is not one member but many.
For if the brick layer should say, “ Because I am not teaching the children, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
And if the librarian should say, “Because I am not grading papers, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were making sidewalks, where would be the teaching? If the whole body was helping in the kitchen, where would be playing with the children?
But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as he pleased.
Monday
After a great day of worship yesterday, the team was refreshed and ready to head back to work at Bethesda.
Our bricklayers have completed 6 walkways. We pooled our quarters until we found one from Pennsylvania so we could imbed it in the mortar and leave our mark on the project. Part of the day was spent spreading “Death” and “Doom” (the South African brand names for herbicide and pesticide) this provided plenty of opportunities for various play-on-word jokes and one-liners.
Ruth spent today working one-on-one with several students that needed some extra attention. Papa George taught about negative numbers, Mama Jane taught science and Doris organized the library.
This evening several team members tutored students in fractions, trigonometry, and life science. Tonight we are relaxing after a hot day (temperatures in the 90’s) and gearing up for a day of adventure tomorrow. We will be doing some shopping at a craft market and enjoying a safari tomorrow.
Praying for our friends and family back home.
Our bricklayers have completed 6 walkways. We pooled our quarters until we found one from Pennsylvania so we could imbed it in the mortar and leave our mark on the project. Part of the day was spent spreading “Death” and “Doom” (the South African brand names for herbicide and pesticide) this provided plenty of opportunities for various play-on-word jokes and one-liners.
Ruth spent today working one-on-one with several students that needed some extra attention. Papa George taught about negative numbers, Mama Jane taught science and Doris organized the library.
This evening several team members tutored students in fractions, trigonometry, and life science. Tonight we are relaxing after a hot day (temperatures in the 90’s) and gearing up for a day of adventure tomorrow. We will be doing some shopping at a craft market and enjoying a safari tomorrow.
Praying for our friends and family back home.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
"We Felt the Rain Down in Africa"
Praying for rain - this is what the people from Bethesda and the surrounding community have been doing for months, and today those prayers were answered.
The team started today by visiting the church in the local township. The church is lead by several of the families of Bethesda. We enjoyed an exciting time of worship in a community alive and excited to be following Christ. We have made quite an impression on the people of this church. By now, they all know our favorite song that they sing, so they treated us by singing it for us at the end of the service. All of us where moved by the singing and preaching.
Following church, we drove directly to a local lodge for lunch and a short “game drive” in the local game reserve (which adjoins Bethesda). While eating lunch in the lodge lapa, thunder began rolling in the distance. Soon we were in the middle of a full-on African rain storm complete with hail. The rain seemed to pass through so we loaded up the Game Viewer (Land Rover) and went off for our drive. Soon after we departed the rains returned and several team members were soaked through. The shower was brief and after it ended we were treated to spectacular animal sightings. We saw giraffe, zebra, impala, warthogs, bless buck, wildebeest etc... We all agree the trip was worth the soaking.
We returned briefly to the team center to change and soon where on our way to Central Baptist Church in Pretoria. The service was quite typical of some of the larger, more traditional services in the US and provided a contrast to our mornings experience. Over all, while completely different, the service was still moving (though some of us were so tired, we struggled to stay awake).
We are all back at the team center, relaxing and preparing for bed after a LONG day. Tomorrow will be a full work day for us, some will be back laying bricks and others will be back at the school. We will all sleep well with sweet dreams of giraffes.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Saturday
Today was craft day!! Set up began last night, with bowls of beads and craft items on every table of the team center. The ladies were a little more excited about it than the men ;) The children arrived around 9:30 this morning, all very excited to start making their jewelry. Mama Janet, who led the craft making, started off by instructing the children on how to make the jewelry. Using this opportunity to learn how to manage money like a business, each child had to pay Auntie Michelle for the cost of their materials before starting. Like little entrepreneurs. Necklaces, bracelets, book marks, cards, and painted magnets were all made in hopes of making a profit- only to be saved so that they can make more!
About 30 kids arrived. Each and every piece made was unique and beautiful. Not only the girls enjoyed picking their beads and designing their items, but the boys also enjoyed using their hands and the tools.
After spending lunchtime with the children, the younger ones went home, leaving the older children to move on to more intricate and complicated crafts. More complex bracelets were made, the bookmarks were constructed, and magnets were painted with the African flag. Craft day lasted until 4pm. Afterwards, we spent time playing soccer and volleyball with the children, enjoying the weather and the conversation.
Tomorrow, the team is looking forward to 2 services at the local township church in the morning and the Mixons’ church. Also planned is an exciting game drive in the afternoon- NOT to be eaten this time!
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