It’s crazy to think this is our last country, last ministry, last month of this beautiful and crazy journey.
Our team is ending our World Race in Durban, South Africa and partnering with an organization called, LIV Ministries. The ministry is located on a 500 acre village consisting of 96 different houses to hold children, a school, a church, social work/ counseling offices, creative/art classes, health clinics, sport recreations, and much more. The kids are equipped with everything they could ever need to help them heal externally or internally from wherever they are coming from, and are able to receive a fresh start, in a community where they can experience the love of God first hand.
One of the therapy techniques they use for emotional healing on the village is equine therapy. When I found this out I almost cried with joy!
When leaving Swaziland I was a little salty hearing another team was placed at a location with horses. So I know God was laughing a little saying “what I have for you is always better than what you think you’re missing out on.”
Well ain’t that the truth! Thank you for this amazing gift God!
If you don’t know this about me I spent a ton of my time in high school and majority of college working with therapeutic riding barns and it’s been a dream of mine since I’m little to have my own riding facility that has a focus on therapeutic equine practices. So having the opportunity to work with a ministry that is doing that is a dream realized in itself.
I’ve been so fortunate to get to ride a few horses over the past 11 months however, it’s been nowhere near enough to satisfy my soul or make me stop missing my babes at home. But oh boy does our God deliver such blessings, since being here I’ve been able to ride almost everyday! Can you believe exercising horses is part of my ministry!? Ahhh I can’t!! (It’s also gave me a much better idea of how out of shape I am now, haha).
It’s been incredible for me to see how God’s been using Donna, the director of the equine program, to reveal His loving character to the kids through the horses. Her Kingdom perspective is so seamlessly incorporated with how she trains the horses and teaches the kids. Before the kids are allowed to start learning how to ride she teaches them about relationship, trust, and grace by doing ground work with the student and horse. It’s so beautiful to watch.
For the children’s protection we are not allowed to take photos or videos of them. So sadly, I don’t have any images or footage to share with you of the kids with the horses.
This ministry is absolutely incredible and what God is doing through them is amazing. I’m so thankful we get to end our Race with such a passionate organization that truly wants to make a difference in the next generation of the Zulu community. Here’s a video about LIV to give you a little more information about what they’re all about and doing here in South Africa!
