I wish I could share every moment in South Africa with you. But since I can’t, I will do my best by sharing the greatest ministries and moments of the month [so far :)]. But a few things before I get to that…
As I mentioned in my previous blog, this month of ministry looks different than we expected. But it has been an amazing gift to our team.
Instead of working with orphans, we have worked in hard labor and cleaning projects to help prepare Erika and Louie’s ministry for the new year. This has included weeding, mixing cement, wheelbarrowing our freshly-made concrete, shoveling dirt and rocks, moving bricks, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, organizing school supplies, etc.
I love the way our Lord works. If I chose our first month’s ministry, I would have overlooked this incredible opportunity. This month is a wonderful reminder of who we are working for and how our work is for the Kingdom. I would not want this month to be any different.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24
Alright, now let’s get to the top 11 of this month:
(I had a picture for every moment but it takes so long here to load and internet time is limited maybe next time :/)
11. Washing dogs
No task is too small to “say yes” to serve Erika and Louie. Five stinky doggies to wash, dry, and groom. One tick removal later, we had happy dogs running all over the property.
10. Eating mangos the size of our heads.
It’s true. Here’s the evidence. On the way home from the airport, Erika, purchased some mangos on the side of the road. When we saw the size, we couldn’t believe our eyes.
9. Worship in our room.
We have very nice rooming quarters here. We were expecting to use our tents the first month, but there are bunk beds. We all stay together in one room. During our worship sessions, Colleen plays on her baby guitar and Melissa on her baby keyboard (mini versions of musical instruments on the world race are a must). I love praising God as a team; we couldn’t ask for more.
8. Moving the pile of 3,000 bricks
I am not exaggerating! At one point we started counting. We had to move the pile and sort through each brick. They will be used to build a circular amphitheater around an outdoor prayer area. We used pick axes to lift up bricks from an old patio floor so we would have enough for the structure.
7. Dinner as a family every night.
The rest of our squad is in Cape Town for the month. So this has been a precious time for our team to bond and grow together. We have electricity and a mini-fridge so we can get groceries from the market once a week and prepare our meals. Dinner is definitely the best time for laughter
6. Mixing cement into concrete.
This was a fun process and a great life skill to learn. We shoveled gravel, rocks, cement, and dark red sand into a mix. We added some water, then we wheelbarrowed it over to lay a foundation for the amphitheater-style seating area.
5. Praying with Mama Susan and Mama Maureen
Erika and Louie took us to Mamelodi (a township next to Pretoria) to pray for a few women. As we drove in, we could not ignore the poverty and brokenness of this community. We arrived at Grandma Maureen’s house to pray over her and water her plants. She is over 90 years old and she is hoping to moving to a different township in South Africa to be closer to her family.
4. Running with a sweet South African boy named Given.
We felt a lot less hardcore when he ran the whole way barefoot. His mother named him Given because he is a gift to her life. Sadly, she passed away in late 2012. He now works at this ministry with his father. He is in 4th grade, loves to dance, and he is full of so much energy.
3. Playing with children on the weekends
Erika and Louie are now partnering with a Saturday school program. Every other weekend they will go play with children that have struggled with drug addiction. We played with children as young as 7. While the circumstance was shocking, it was a joy to see their innocence be restored. We ate a lunch together, and for most of the children, this food will be their only meal for the day.
2. Church in Mamelodi.
This church building is made up of brick, tin, and cement. We sat in plastic chairs and worshipped on a red dirt floor. As we danced and sang in praise, a cloud of red dust rose into the air. Such a beautiful moment of worship.
1. Meeting Melissa & Spencer and Erika and Louie.
We were so blessed this month to be surrounded by two loving couples who live for the Lord. Melissa & Spencer are from the US and they have both a great heart for South Africa. These couples showed us a huge amount of encouragement and love during our time here. Our team sees how God brought these four people to minister to us as we minister to others.
