We’ve been in Heidelberg, South Africa for 6 weeks now, and will be here until March 6th. Our hosts Phil and Tanya have opened their home to us for these 2 months. They started a church here in Heidelberg called Langeburg Christian Fellowship, along with Charis Bible College, an extension of a school in Colorado.
Our ministry this month is not super structured, there is not a set schedule for each day, which has given us the freedom to make ministry where we see fit. Although it’s a little late, 6 weeks in, I wanted to give you all a look at what a week here in Heidelberg looks like!!
Josie and I have had the privilege to work in a safe home in the community. It was set up by a women in the church who felt the Lord calling her to love and care for the orphans. It’s designed to be a 90 day home, which means she takes babies newborn-2 years who have been taken from their parents. They ideally stay up to 90 days, until they find permanent arrangements for the baby. Unfortunately, because it is a safe home, I’m not able to take and share any pictures. But I will tell you, the 2 baby boys we have been working with are SUPER cute.
We are at the orphanage most of the week, but on Thursdays we get to partner with the Bible College. We listen to a message from one of the students, do communion, and then spend time at local hospitals and townships talking about Jesus. Alina and I had the chance to encourage the women at the hospital, and pray over newborn babies. Spending time in the township is always a highlight of my week. We go out in small groups and do door-door ministry, talking to whoever has a minute to talk. The Lord has been working in huge ways, lives being saved, and bodies being healed by Jesus. So cool.
Mondays and Tuesdays my team goes to a nearby High School, we play music, do skits, and give them space to ask us questions. They aren’t always engaged, and sometimes it honestly seems like a waste of time. It’s a reminder to me that our job is to plant seeds, we aren’t always the ones to water them, or see them grow. Each week we go and plant seeds, and it trust fully that the Lord will begin to water them in his timing, and it will be so so sweet for the group of people who will begin to see those seeds grow.
One of my favorite ministries is going to the Wimpy down the street in the middle of the night. Wimpy is a fast food restaurant 10 minutes from our house that is open 24/7. We take time to go visit and encouraged the ladies who are up all night. Doing our best to make them laugh a little, bring them something to fill their stomachs, and make it a little easier to stay awake all night. We’ve met the sweetest women, and it’s been super fun to go back week after week and sweet their faces light up as we walk in. (They also give us extra fries when we go to eat so that’s a win).
The Lord has been working in big ways the last few weeks, leaving will be hard but I am SO excited to me headed to the Philippines in 2 short weeks.
