South Africa was sooo Kiff!!!

Words can't describe…

Durban, South Africa

 

• Words can't describe what our team (unveiled pursuit) did during month 7.
• Words fail me when it comes to explaining our month in one little blog.
• Words cannot encompass the emotions, pain, growth, and joy our team and I experienced these past 30 days.
• South Africa brought forth so many new challenges, opportunities, and perspectives to our eye's.
• All I can say about it is…

I don't know what to write about??? 🙂

So I will do the best I can with the words that I know…

Higher Ground Ministries!

Higher Ground Camp Ministries- Higher Ground (H.G.) is a camp style ministry that was started around 2006 with Emma (our contact) and her American friend who now does the same thing on the east coast. H.G. takes all kinds of people with disabilities and gives them opportunities that society would normally limit them at. Emma lives here in South Africa and works with H.G. year round. Emma is not South African she is English by birth ( so here not South African accent confused me at first) but her amazing husband Kerneels is South African. They live in Durban, South Africa which is a lot like southern California. Very Chill and relaxed feel to the city with great people. The camps are not all conducted in the same place because of the variety of disabilities. The location change every time but they are always in areas around Durban, S.A. These camps give freedom to the campers who are both old and young. All the activities we created were custom to the disability and group of people. Camper numbers ranged from 10 to 25 people. 

 

I can't put into words how much of a blessing and an honor it was to work with Emma and Kerneels and Ella (their little girl) at Higher Ground!

Emma and Kerneels and Ella

All our contacts in ever country since the Dominican Republic have continuously gotten better and better. But this month was a new experience entirely. Emma and Kerneels easily blessed and loved our team and myself more than we could have ever asked for. Their hearts are solely for for the Lord and the calling they have answered directly brings glorious faith to so many. So many people in their lives young and old have turned to them not only for fun on a holiday but so much more. They bring the helpfulness and care that Jesus himself had for the lost and sick. ALL their camps and ministries reach these people. This is an excellent calling that more people in our world need to fulfill.

 

Week 1 Camp
Blind/ Partially Sited Campers

 Celebrations

• I celebrate their arrival to camp.
• All teenagers are the same around the world (even in Africa) they just want to fit in.
• It gave me a good idea of what it will be like when Im a youth pastor.
• It showed me how to not take my eye sight for granite everyday.
• Our team was able to share the Gospel with them in a real way all week.
• Many of them asked for prayer from us on the last day.
• We brought in Zorb Balls for an awesome day of fun.
• The nights around the camp fires brought up a lot of great conversation about God and what they believe about their ancestors. 
• I now know more about the Zulu people and culture here in Africa.

Challenges

• No personal quiet time all week.
• Getting them out of their comfort zone.
• Always having to watch them.
• Knowing I have perfect vision when they did not.
• Having them fully trust us.

Challenges

• It was a 24/7 job all week.
• We did not get much sleep.
• I had to wash Tim because he could not do anything himself.
• It was something I had never done before.
• These people that had gone through the most difficult situations still had stronger faith than anybody I know.
• Why did this happen to them and not me?
• Lots of challenges our team and I faced this week.