Wow I can't believe we are closing in on the end of our trip. I want to let all the parents know that if they have a student on this trip they should be very proud of them. The students have been doing a great job at all of our ministry sites. I have been very impressed with them. The band has been doing great dispite both Garrett and Carly almost losing their voices. VBS team has finally finished and did a great job adapting to the suprising number of kids and haveing to deal with the rain. The hospitals have been intense to see, but the team has done a great job with them.
The stuff we have seen during ministry has stunned me at points. For example a week or so we were at this Hospital and Allen and I watched a family greive at the loss of their mother and baby sister. Today we returned to that hospital and in the room that was once filled with sadness their was a mother and her now healthy child. When I saw that today I wondered if that mother new the pain that had been in that room only a week before.
So far I think the highlight of the trip for me has been the work we did on a soccer field just outside of this shanky town. we leveled the field and put up goal posts for a large group of kids in the community. As we started working the kids were just watching us, but as we came and went they started to realize what we were doing and seemed to want to be a part of it so they joined us and began helping us dig and level. It was as if the work gave them some sort of purpose for a time and maybe a sence of pride in their community.
The only thing I can ask is that you pray for rest, and health as the work gets hard, the nights get short, and the rain comes in. See you soon
Peace out
Ps Mom I chipped my tooth, so please make a dentist appt. for a couple of days after I get back.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Wow, we've done so much!
Hello from South Africa!
Wow, south Africa is definitely not what I was picturing it to be like. The weather is quite cold in the morning, but in the afternoon it warms up. At the current moment it is breakfast time and I am sitting with a large jacket on and a warm Benni, trying to type this.
Yesterday was a great day of ministry. In the morning, about 10:30, we arrived at the park/Field we had been working on for the last couple days. The day before we had set the goals (6" PVC pipe) in cement. So when we showed up, they were nice and dry. The last thing we had to do, was to fill the pipes with concrete. Now picture this, about 5 guys and 2 girls tyring to pour wet cement from a 5 gallon bucket into a 6" inch pipe that was sticking in the ground 10 feet into the air.... Can you picture that? (I really wish I could attach a picture, it was quite entertaining. Ha ha) Well after the first couple tries we found we were counting the outside of the pipe more the filling the inside. We had to find an easier way to do this, we had 4 more pipes to fill! Taking one of the buckets, we cut a hole in the bottom and placed it over the pipe. It kinda worked as a funnel which made it much easier to fill the pipes. After finishing filling it was great to play a game of soccer with the kids and see them enjoying their new soccer field.
I am part of the outreach/worship team, and I just want to say that we have had the privilege of doing some great events. Last Saturday we did a concert for a youth group at a church. Sunday, Brandon and I were invited to join their churches worship team on the bongos an percussion. Then every day this week we have been playing songs for the kids at VBS. The YWAM base asked us if we would lead worship for their community night, so last night we did that. Then tonight we will being doing some more worship for the youth group of the church I was talking about for the 4th of July party that they are doing for us. And we will also be leading worship this Sunday at the church. Wow, I just kinda scared myself.... we've still got alot ahead of us!
Alright, I have to go. I have been on this computer too long already. I hope every one is doing well!!! See you soon!
-Tim
Wow, south Africa is definitely not what I was picturing it to be like. The weather is quite cold in the morning, but in the afternoon it warms up. At the current moment it is breakfast time and I am sitting with a large jacket on and a warm Benni, trying to type this.
Yesterday was a great day of ministry. In the morning, about 10:30, we arrived at the park/Field we had been working on for the last couple days. The day before we had set the goals (6" PVC pipe) in cement. So when we showed up, they were nice and dry. The last thing we had to do, was to fill the pipes with concrete. Now picture this, about 5 guys and 2 girls tyring to pour wet cement from a 5 gallon bucket into a 6" inch pipe that was sticking in the ground 10 feet into the air.... Can you picture that? (I really wish I could attach a picture, it was quite entertaining. Ha ha) Well after the first couple tries we found we were counting the outside of the pipe more the filling the inside. We had to find an easier way to do this, we had 4 more pipes to fill! Taking one of the buckets, we cut a hole in the bottom and placed it over the pipe. It kinda worked as a funnel which made it much easier to fill the pipes. After finishing filling it was great to play a game of soccer with the kids and see them enjoying their new soccer field.
I am part of the outreach/worship team, and I just want to say that we have had the privilege of doing some great events. Last Saturday we did a concert for a youth group at a church. Sunday, Brandon and I were invited to join their churches worship team on the bongos an percussion. Then every day this week we have been playing songs for the kids at VBS. The YWAM base asked us if we would lead worship for their community night, so last night we did that. Then tonight we will being doing some more worship for the youth group of the church I was talking about for the 4th of July party that they are doing for us. And we will also be leading worship this Sunday at the church. Wow, I just kinda scared myself.... we've still got alot ahead of us!
Alright, I have to go. I have been on this computer too long already. I hope every one is doing well!!! See you soon!
-Tim
Mom, can I bring a kid or two home with me? (by Caitlin Taylor)
This morning after breakfast we read Philippians 2 for our devotional. It was encouraging, yet at the same time challenging. Paul challenged the church at Philippi to "do everything without complaining or arguing." Today, that was what motivated us to forget how sore we are from holding kids or shoveling or building, and to remember that we are called to "shine like stars".
We returned to the same field that has hopefully been mentioned in previous blogs to finish putting in goalposts. While five or six people worked on that, the rest of us played with the innumerable children fighting for our attention. I love having so many people to play with. We san songs like "A-roos-ta-sha" and "Boom-chicka-boom" and had piggy-back races. At one point I had four or five girls playing wih my hair, three sitting on my lap, and who knows how many boys running around me in circles. A few days ago this situation would have intimidated me, but now I just smile and start singing some random camp song.
When we came back for VBC, it was starting to look stormy, so we played outside for a little while and then went inside the church for the actual program. Lindsey and Meghan did an awesome job of keeping things organized and moving. The band is also amazing, but pray for them to not lose their voices. Becky, Kristin and I did a puppet skit, and then everyone made gospel bead bracelets. It never actually rained, so we went back outside to play for a little while longer. There are a few girls that I've been hanging out with for the past few days, and one of them, named Junitha, gave me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek.
We came back, started planning for tomorrow's Fourth of July celebration, and ate dinner. Soon we'll go over to Glory Hall for YWAM's community worship night.
Every time we say goodbye to the kids they all have their arms wrapped around and we're being pulled in every direction. The feeling is similar to being caught in a riptide at the beach, just a lot more loving. I wonder what it will be like tomorrow, when we say our final goodbye until heaven.
God has taught me a lot about love and self-sacrifice so far this trip. I don't know a whole lot about what others have been learning, but I can assure you that your support, financially or prayerfully, has not been wasted.
See you in a week,
Caitlin : )
We returned to the same field that has hopefully been mentioned in previous blogs to finish putting in goalposts. While five or six people worked on that, the rest of us played with the innumerable children fighting for our attention. I love having so many people to play with. We san songs like "A-roos-ta-sha" and "Boom-chicka-boom" and had piggy-back races. At one point I had four or five girls playing wih my hair, three sitting on my lap, and who knows how many boys running around me in circles. A few days ago this situation would have intimidated me, but now I just smile and start singing some random camp song.
When we came back for VBC, it was starting to look stormy, so we played outside for a little while and then went inside the church for the actual program. Lindsey and Meghan did an awesome job of keeping things organized and moving. The band is also amazing, but pray for them to not lose their voices. Becky, Kristin and I did a puppet skit, and then everyone made gospel bead bracelets. It never actually rained, so we went back outside to play for a little while longer. There are a few girls that I've been hanging out with for the past few days, and one of them, named Junitha, gave me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek.
We came back, started planning for tomorrow's Fourth of July celebration, and ate dinner. Soon we'll go over to Glory Hall for YWAM's community worship night.
Every time we say goodbye to the kids they all have their arms wrapped around and we're being pulled in every direction. The feeling is similar to being caught in a riptide at the beach, just a lot more loving. I wonder what it will be like tomorrow, when we say our final goodbye until heaven.
God has taught me a lot about love and self-sacrifice so far this trip. I don't know a whole lot about what others have been learning, but I can assure you that your support, financially or prayerfully, has not been wasted.
See you in a week,
Caitlin : )
The Difference - Daniel Halverson
South Africa is a different country. The government fancies itself to be first world, although in many ways it is just as third world as Mexico. There are mile (sorry, kilometer) long slums around every major city, and just like in India the government has the right to move or deport them anywhere it wants anywhere in the nation. Trash is everywhere. Many people don't really care wheather or not they just dump trash on the sidewalk. They don't really see a problem with it - after all, it's just one more bit of trash.
We've been helping to create a level soccer/rugby field here for the past few days, and it's coming along beautifully. Two days ago when we were packing up to leave for the night, I saw a young boy pushing a small toy truck along the ground. I didn't really notice anything odd about it until I realized that the two rear wheels were worn halfway down til they were semi-circles. So, that got me thinking: In America, if a kid's toy was worn down like that, it would simply be thrown away into a landfill where some green politician would attempt to pass an expensive bill to make toys more bio-degradable. Here, no one cares. I have only once seen a pair of parents watching thier kid(s) play with us. The parents simply tell thier kids to be back by dusk and assume that they will do anything else needed to survive here. Meanwhile the parents walk miles to get a single bundle of firewood or a peice of scrap metal that can be melted down for selling.
As I sit here typing this blog, I am filled with an oftentimes overwhelming sense of shame and guilt that people are actually allowed to live like this. Our team comes in here like paladins of light, crusading into here for the good of the poor South African. It takes courage to see the slums and shantytowns and not to cringe with horror at the living conditions of these people. One thing I do not want to do is to come back home and not be changed. It's often so easy after these trips to go back and realign myself with my old lifestyle and to forget the many things that happened while I was down here. The difference between changing things and being changed by things is to realize the difference. The numb-er you get to the rest of the world, the more the rest of the world is your world.
We've been helping to create a level soccer/rugby field here for the past few days, and it's coming along beautifully. Two days ago when we were packing up to leave for the night, I saw a young boy pushing a small toy truck along the ground. I didn't really notice anything odd about it until I realized that the two rear wheels were worn halfway down til they were semi-circles. So, that got me thinking: In America, if a kid's toy was worn down like that, it would simply be thrown away into a landfill where some green politician would attempt to pass an expensive bill to make toys more bio-degradable. Here, no one cares. I have only once seen a pair of parents watching thier kid(s) play with us. The parents simply tell thier kids to be back by dusk and assume that they will do anything else needed to survive here. Meanwhile the parents walk miles to get a single bundle of firewood or a peice of scrap metal that can be melted down for selling.
As I sit here typing this blog, I am filled with an oftentimes overwhelming sense of shame and guilt that people are actually allowed to live like this. Our team comes in here like paladins of light, crusading into here for the good of the poor South African. It takes courage to see the slums and shantytowns and not to cringe with horror at the living conditions of these people. One thing I do not want to do is to come back home and not be changed. It's often so easy after these trips to go back and realign myself with my old lifestyle and to forget the many things that happened while I was down here. The difference between changing things and being changed by things is to realize the difference. The numb-er you get to the rest of the world, the more the rest of the world is your world.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Ruined for the Ordinary by Lindsay
7/2/08
Another long day, and another early morning. Yesterday was our busiest day. We woke up at the normal time, grabbed some breakfest and then headed out on the field. We have been doing some things here and there; Sunday School, Youth Group, and one hospital trip, but yesterday really tested us. After breakfest, we went to a township where we will be making a roof to cover between one lady's house and a metal shipping container that 50-80 kids will sleep in at night. This convering will give the kids a place to play and protection from the elements. Another project that we are doing in that area is cleaning and leveling a field for the kids to play on. Sounds simple. Not really. You have to know the contition and the need for these kids. Broken glass-everywhere, and most are barefoot. Huge rocks stuck halfway in the ground. Holes and valleys-perfect for twisting an ankle. This is all they have, and they love it. A few soccer balls, bur their favorite one is completely flat with a hole the size of a tennis ball. They stick their hand into the hole to expand the ball all the way. But does that really matter? This is all they have and they have so much joy. We spent all morning there, playing (including the girls playing with and braiding our hair), working, loving them, and then came back to the base for lunch.
Heading back to the township, everyone was looking forward to seeing their new friend again. We were going to start our VBC program today and I know that I was very excited. We were expecting maybe 40-60 kids, but here you learn not to expect anything. One girl was with me constantly, Edwenia, and she was constantly holding my hand. The kids here respond more to physical touch than anything else. They get almost nothing from their parents. We did several songs, a craft and face paint. We ran out of the craft due to the fact that we were expecting so mant kids. Instead of having 40-60 kids, we have about 100-150 kids. All on the first day, and they say it will double each day-for four days. That's a lot of kids!
We're tired. We're cold. We're sore. We're still going strong no matter how we feel.
It's not to us, but to His name. Be the glory.
He is the hope of nations, and mighy to save.
Love ya'll!
Lindsay
(P.S. Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!)
Another long day, and another early morning. Yesterday was our busiest day. We woke up at the normal time, grabbed some breakfest and then headed out on the field. We have been doing some things here and there; Sunday School, Youth Group, and one hospital trip, but yesterday really tested us. After breakfest, we went to a township where we will be making a roof to cover between one lady's house and a metal shipping container that 50-80 kids will sleep in at night. This convering will give the kids a place to play and protection from the elements. Another project that we are doing in that area is cleaning and leveling a field for the kids to play on. Sounds simple. Not really. You have to know the contition and the need for these kids. Broken glass-everywhere, and most are barefoot. Huge rocks stuck halfway in the ground. Holes and valleys-perfect for twisting an ankle. This is all they have, and they love it. A few soccer balls, bur their favorite one is completely flat with a hole the size of a tennis ball. They stick their hand into the hole to expand the ball all the way. But does that really matter? This is all they have and they have so much joy. We spent all morning there, playing (including the girls playing with and braiding our hair), working, loving them, and then came back to the base for lunch.
Heading back to the township, everyone was looking forward to seeing their new friend again. We were going to start our VBC program today and I know that I was very excited. We were expecting maybe 40-60 kids, but here you learn not to expect anything. One girl was with me constantly, Edwenia, and she was constantly holding my hand. The kids here respond more to physical touch than anything else. They get almost nothing from their parents. We did several songs, a craft and face paint. We ran out of the craft due to the fact that we were expecting so mant kids. Instead of having 40-60 kids, we have about 100-150 kids. All on the first day, and they say it will double each day-for four days. That's a lot of kids!
We're tired. We're cold. We're sore. We're still going strong no matter how we feel.
It's not to us, but to His name. Be the glory.
He is the hope of nations, and mighy to save.
Love ya'll!
Lindsay
(P.S. Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!)
Amazingness!-kristin hayes
Hey everyone! This whole experience has already been so amazing. I thought it was going to be freezing here, but there has actually been some really warm days. Basically the weather is really confusing. The food is fine and yes I am having a great sleep each night. Today, we went to a village and started to help level and create a field where the kids could play on. As soon as we started working the kids flocked to us. They were so excited to help move rocks and pick up trash. Sometimes all they wanted was a hug. Just something so simple like a hug brought smiles to there faces. After we ate lunch (chicken nugget type sandwhich things) we went to do VBC at a church in the same village we were at earlir that day. I think we were only expecting about 75 kids, but about 150 showed up. God is so amazing. I played with the kids and they enjoyed playing with my hair. Many of them did not know what to call my hair color (BLONDE) and they found it so amusing. There was this one girl (who was about five) who would not let go of me and She would not let me out of her sight. It seemed like she did not get very much attention at home and all she wanted was to be loved. I am so glad God put her in my life.
After the VBC, I went back to help work on the field we were working at earlier that morning. I was able to get a little work done before I was swarmed by kids. Before we got back in the Van to go "home", I was surrounded by girls and boys wanting one last hug from me. When we were able to finally get into the van and stared going down the rode, the kids chased after the van, blowing us kissing and waving. I t was neat to see how much they appreciated us spending time with them and how much more time they wanted to spend with us. God works in amazing ways and is already changing my life. I better stop writing or else I might write a whole story. Love you mom, dad, and carter. Parents: Don't worry.....everyone is alive and fine.(maybe a little tired, but we're good). Thank you so much for your prayers. I have already seen God touch so many people's lives. SO thank you so much. See everyone when we get back....which is in I don't know how many more days.:-)
After the VBC, I went back to help work on the field we were working at earlier that morning. I was able to get a little work done before I was swarmed by kids. Before we got back in the Van to go "home", I was surrounded by girls and boys wanting one last hug from me. When we were able to finally get into the van and stared going down the rode, the kids chased after the van, blowing us kissing and waving. I t was neat to see how much they appreciated us spending time with them and how much more time they wanted to spend with us. God works in amazing ways and is already changing my life. I better stop writing or else I might write a whole story. Love you mom, dad, and carter. Parents: Don't worry.....everyone is alive and fine.(maybe a little tired, but we're good). Thank you so much for your prayers. I have already seen God touch so many people's lives. SO thank you so much. See everyone when we get back....which is in I don't know how many more days.:-)
Hair Styling by Amy
Hi everyone! Ok so today we went and helped level out a field and build a roof for a daycare center place. There were many children there all very excited to help out. Being the get builder and land leveler that I am, I played with the kids. :) The kids were very sweet and excited to play with anyone! In fact most of the time I was sitting on the ground and 3 or so girls and a few boys would be playing with my hair and kissing it. I did help dig out some rocks and use them to make a line and it was so cool to see how happy kids were to dig for rocks. I think we did a pretty good job there considering there was glass and trash everywhere when we first got there. Then after lunch we headed over to a church near the field we were clearing earlier in the day. That was a lot of fun because when we first got there we, the band people, were practing a few songs to sing and there was a very young boy there who came over and started singing with us. I think it is so neat to see how even in a place were kids walk around barefoot on glass and have barely anything to eat each day, can still sing joyfully to God. I dont think I mentioned before that we were doing VBC at the church. Anyway once children started coming to the church it was sweet to see that many of them were ones we saw earlier that day! I sat down with a few girls and also instantly they started braiding my hair and this time at least 5 were playing with my hair and a few were singing songs with me. I also got a chance to rap with a little boy, I dont think they liked it very much or they thought it was really funny. I think it went something like this, "I like swiss cheese on my toast in the morning! It taste so good and makes me really happy!". The day was very tiring and took a lot of energy out of us, but it was most definitely worth it! Tomorrow we are doing some similar things and maybe even going to the hospital again! Hi mom and dad. I hi sam and stevers hope you dont miss me too much!!!! Thanks for your prayers everyone!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Today's blog 6/30/08
This morning:
- We woke up at the usuall time from 6:30 to 7:15
-Once everyone was awake we went down to the dinig area
- We waited till everyone had come down to the dining area, once we had all got down to the dining area we went and got breakfast
- After breakfast Alen asked to spread out within and around the buiding and read Psalms 139
-Once we had read the passage we went to the DTS( disciple trainig program) where we spent some tme worshiping the Lord and talking about the passage the we had just read.
-After we were given till lunch to break out in our teams and prepare for the next coming week
-The out reach team spent the time working on songs, the hospital team spent that time preapring any last minute things for what was goig to come during the night
This Afternoon:
-We had lunch at one and then set out to go out to the streets and minister to the people of Cape Town
-We spent an hor going around and spreading the gospel to others
-After all of went to a fielding where we were split up into two groups
-One of the groups went over to one side of the field and played soccer, football, and rugby with some of the kids.
- The other half went over on the otherside of the park and sang songs, did skits and prayed with all of the famiies that were living on that field.
The Evening:
-We got back from the park and went to dinner
- After we had about ten minutes to go up to our rooms and get the stuff that we needed
- Once evetone had gotten their stuff we all loaded onto two combis and went to children's hospital,where we spent time with the families and pray for them
- We got to play with the kids that were there and also prayfor them
-Each team was given a couple of bracelets to give to the kids and we were also given a pupet so that we we interact with the younger kids that couldn't talk of if they had a disability.
-We came back and went to bead so that we could rest up for whats in store for tommorow.
-Brandon Ammon
- We woke up at the usuall time from 6:30 to 7:15
-Once everyone was awake we went down to the dinig area
- We waited till everyone had come down to the dining area, once we had all got down to the dining area we went and got breakfast
- After breakfast Alen asked to spread out within and around the buiding and read Psalms 139
-Once we had read the passage we went to the DTS( disciple trainig program) where we spent some tme worshiping the Lord and talking about the passage the we had just read.
-After we were given till lunch to break out in our teams and prepare for the next coming week
-The out reach team spent the time working on songs, the hospital team spent that time preapring any last minute things for what was goig to come during the night
This Afternoon:
-We had lunch at one and then set out to go out to the streets and minister to the people of Cape Town
-We spent an hor going around and spreading the gospel to others
-After all of went to a fielding where we were split up into two groups
-One of the groups went over to one side of the field and played soccer, football, and rugby with some of the kids.
- The other half went over on the otherside of the park and sang songs, did skits and prayed with all of the famiies that were living on that field.
The Evening:
-We got back from the park and went to dinner
- After we had about ten minutes to go up to our rooms and get the stuff that we needed
- Once evetone had gotten their stuff we all loaded onto two combis and went to children's hospital,where we spent time with the families and pray for them
- We got to play with the kids that were there and also prayfor them
-Each team was given a couple of bracelets to give to the kids and we were also given a pupet so that we we interact with the younger kids that couldn't talk of if they had a disability.
-We came back and went to bead so that we could rest up for whats in store for tommorow.
-Brandon Ammon
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Greetings from Africa by Meghan Kelly
yesterday was our first day of ministry. the VBS team, mattye, lindsay, tyler, jenni and myself, had the opportunity to host the sunday school for the local church. there were about 30-40 kids from 3 to 11 years old. everything went really smoothly. we played simon says, sang some songs, did a puppet show, a craft, and played aroostsha witch the kids loved. it amazing to see how excited the kids are to see us and how ready they are to learn . we were all very excited at how everything turned out. we had a wonderful interpreter who helped with the kids and was a joy to work with.
after church we went to the mall to have lunch and went to see The Hulk. its interesting to me how much the American culture effects South Africa. i would have never guessed walking out of the movie theater i was here.
South Africa is such a beautiful place. I'm so glad we all got this opportunity to come here and serve the people. i miss everyone back home but i know what I'm doing here is life changing.
see you all soon.
God Bless,
Meghan
after church we went to the mall to have lunch and went to see The Hulk. its interesting to me how much the American culture effects South Africa. i would have never guessed walking out of the movie theater i was here.
South Africa is such a beautiful place. I'm so glad we all got this opportunity to come here and serve the people. i miss everyone back home but i know what I'm doing here is life changing.
see you all soon.
God Bless,
Meghan
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