South Africa
. Wow. It has been an incredible experience being in the country of our wonderful friends! A brief overview of what we have been up to lately…
There is a program called Beat the Drum. Bruce Wilkinson put this movie together to teach kids about AIDS awareness and also abstinence. So we have been working with schools (grade 8 kids) about this serious matter that is overtaking
Africa
.
We had the students write us letters speaking about anything that might be on their heart. I was utterly amazed at the responses we received back…
“I am a guy 14 years old. My parents are divorced and I feel that nobody ever loved me.”
“I am a boy. I am 15 years old. I was raped by a girl. Now I heard she has AIDS and I have to go for a test.”
“Is it true that you can talk to somebody if you are raped? undefined
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“After my mother and father both died, I felt like hurting myself. And I still think about it…”
“My step-dad yells at me all the time and I am really scared of him. My mom is afraid too. All I do is cry…”
“I am a girl and I am 15 years old. There is a cute boy that wants to have sex with me but I know its not right. But I really want him to like me…”
We wrote letters back to the kids and after one girl, Kelly, read her letter…she put her head on her desk and started crying. The bell soon rang and I went back and sat with her. She was the one who had the abusive step-dad. She told me that last night he had said sorry for being mean to her, but she kept thinking about all the other times when he had attacked her. This conversation led into talking about forgiveness and she gave her heart to Christ.
It was a great opportunity for us to really dive into their lives and spend time sharing the truth to them. undefined
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We gave each kid a cookie and told them they could do whatever they wanted to it. Rub it on their foot. Spit on it. Lick it. Wipe it across their nose. Whatever. And then pass it to someone else. We had them repeat this until their original cookie returned to them. Then we said… “ok…now eat it.” They died laughing in disgust. It helped them to see what happens when you sleep around and not really knowing what diseases you may get.
Today was our last day with one class and in the back of the book is a page that they can sign and commit to abstinence if they choose. Friske and I also made red and white bracelets to give them because in the movie, the one girl who chose to remain pure wears one. So as we gave the students the opportunity to decide for themselves, we ended up with a whole classroom of signed papers. So amazing!!
We also stayed in host homes while here. //
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undefined These people of the church who may not have much, but they have a heart full of the love of Christ and a desire to serve.
We have been so blessed by our host mom, Feila. Friske and I stayed with her, and she made us breakfast every morning and dinner every night.
She is the most precious lady ever and every night when we would go to bed…I would just sit in my room and think…this is really what life is about.
“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.” 2 Cor. 5:13-15.
I laughed after I read this scripture today because sometimes I wonder if we really are going crazy!
J
The things that have happened this year are pretty extreme…but our hearts are truly to give God the glory. Thank you all for your continued support and love! There are so many people that are being touched because of you…and I can’t wait to share more stories!
All my love…
(pictures from this week will be coming. they are on a separate memory card.)
and this picture of paul is because he lost a bet…my ohio state buckeyes beat his iowa hawkeyes so he has to wear “GO BUCKS” across his face all day today. and it just needs to be publicized.
