This really isn’t much of an update, but I have had a good
time the past week or so.
I left Swazi last Tuesday morning after getting to see both
SALT/LEGO team and the 61 Girls on Sunday and Monday respectively. As a “Squad” Leader, I really haven’t “led”
much since we’ve been in Africa, so it’s nice to get
into the “field” and feel like I’m doing something.
SALT/LEGO have been in the field doing awesome ministry
development work and the 61 Girls finally got settled into an already developed
orphan ministry that really is a model for what these things can be. Anyway, it was good to get to visit with all
of them.
As I mentioned, I flew out of Swaziland
last Tuesday and spent a couple nights in a hotel in Pretoria
(have credit card; will travel!). I got caught
up on internet and CNN and then joined the three C Squad Teams (AWAKEN, DOZ,
and CONCRETE) along with AGAPETOS at Alabanza.
They’ve been leading amazing Children’s camps in the Pretoria
area for the last 3 weeks. I also got to
see a couple buddies that work for StudentLife- the last week of camp was their
South African International ServantLife Mission Trip.
On Friday Jake drove me over to Rustenburg to spend a few
days with Ryan and the LO Team. They
welcomed me back like a long lost family member! We enjoyed some pretty good restaurant meals
and even went to the movies (Did I mention I spent a whole day going to the
movies on the front end of this little trip?
If you haven’t seen Amazing Grace, I recommend it!).
Team LO has had a great ministry in Rustenburg. They’ve had occasions to help in a variety of
ministries- even “serving” at a Wild Game
Park! How cool is that? Their everyday ministry though was perhaps
the coolest- there were about 30 orphan kids on-site, including newborn babies.
It wasn’t mass evangelism or deep
discipleship…not with the kids anyway.
It was mostly just sitting and holding, feeding, playing with and loving
kids that have no one except the workers at the center. Many of them already have AIDS. Aside from a miraculous touch from God they
won’t live long enough to have “old” memories…but their recent memories will be
filled with the lavish love of Jesus through Team LO.
I am in another hotel tonight (what can I say?). I’m flying back to Swazi first thing in the morning
and will hopefully wrap up some loose ends on the Export project.
