Well chances are you finished that title one of two ways, come from God or come to an end. Both are true. We are almost home, sitting in the Dallas airport, ready to be home, but thoroughly glad I went and got to be a part of what God did this week.
We saw over 20 kids pray to accept Jesus at VBS and sports camp, and then a few parents at family night. We got to pass out info about the church and share Jesus on the streets of Sunnyside around the church, and saw a few more people accept Jesus and gathered lots of info for Julius to follow up with people.
And on Friday morning before we left, we got to do what will probably become the first of the traditional team USA vs team South Africa game. It was awesome how many adults we had interested in playing. Definitely something we will have to look at more out for future trips.
There was also some safari and hyper aggressive market shopping that went down in there over the last couple days. It's been a great week and a half. It's both hard to think it was that long, and seems like it must have been longer than that, all at the same time. It was a great trip - with some really long flights - but absolutely worth it to see God at work.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
A Leap of Faith
Sometimes you have to just jump in with both feet, or in this case press the gas pedal with one foot and then remember to drive on the wrong side of the road. That's right I got to drive yesterday and actually it was awesome. It helps to be driving a nice new rental car as opposed to what I drove the last time I was out of the country, but that time at least I was on my normal side of the road. But driving in Pretoria is quite the adventure. Pastor Julius likes to tell us to drive like a South African, which is a lot like driving Peruvian style.
We also had the privilege of leading a teacher training and bible studies yesterday. The training was great, but getting to sit in on the "youth" bible study was really awesome for me. I used quotes on youth because when we started asking how old they were the answers were all like mid 20s, which I thoroughly enjoyed being with. We had some great discussion and one of the especially talkative young men had borrowed my bible. His name is Boris and I asked him if he had a bible, and he said just a small one, and indicated with his fingers that it was likely a small Gideon testament. So I offered him the one he had borrowed, since that was precisely why I brought that one. He lit up and had me fill out the front cover with him. He wanted all my contact information so he could keep in touch. It was a really great moment, so glad God let me be a part of it.
Today we head out into the neighborhood around the church to share our stories with people. Pray God gives us boldness to share and opens people's hearts to Him.
We also had the privilege of leading a teacher training and bible studies yesterday. The training was great, but getting to sit in on the "youth" bible study was really awesome for me. I used quotes on youth because when we started asking how old they were the answers were all like mid 20s, which I thoroughly enjoyed being with. We had some great discussion and one of the especially talkative young men had borrowed my bible. His name is Boris and I asked him if he had a bible, and he said just a small one, and indicated with his fingers that it was likely a small Gideon testament. So I offered him the one he had borrowed, since that was precisely why I brought that one. He lit up and had me fill out the front cover with him. He wanted all my contact information so he could keep in touch. It was a really great moment, so glad God let me be a part of it.
Today we head out into the neighborhood around the church to share our stories with people. Pray God gives us boldness to share and opens people's hearts to Him.
Monday, March 26, 2018
The Real Final Four
Today was our last day of sports camp, and it was incredible to watch how far they have come. We ran some skills competitions and then had a tournament. We ended up with 8 teams and had a great time. Our winning team named themselves the Pink Panthers. They were really starting to play well together. It was awesome to see.
This morning we also got to go to the Union Buildings where the president and Vice President have offices. Pastor Julius shares about their ministry and vision for Africa. It was really cool to listen to what God is doing, and very humbling to be a part of it.
One of the coolest things all week has been the adults that have gravitated around the basketball camp. After we finish with the kids we usually get a game going and I think they have enjoyed things even more than the kids.
It's been a great time. Camp is over but we've got plenty yet to come on this trip.
This morning we also got to go to the Union Buildings where the president and Vice President have offices. Pastor Julius shares about their ministry and vision for Africa. It was really cool to listen to what God is doing, and very humbling to be a part of it.
One of the coolest things all week has been the adults that have gravitated around the basketball camp. After we finish with the kids we usually get a game going and I think they have enjoyed things even more than the kids.
It's been a great time. Camp is over but we've got plenty yet to come on this trip.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Making memories
Our family has a joke about "making memories". It comes from this meteor shower we tried to watch once that was a total bust, but we made a memory. Today we made some memories in South Africa. We got a team member stuck on a balcony at church. A small child had an accident on our basketball court while the plan of salvation was being presented. I got to play barefoot for about an hour (although honestly that just made me fit in). I got to preach in a South African church. I got play the most intense game of pick up I've had in years. And I got to see some kids say they want to accept Christ as their Savior. It was a great day, a long day, and I can't wait to see what other memories I'll get to make this week.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
The real breakfast of champions
Wheaties may claim to be a great start to the day, but it has nothing on baptisms at 8am in an outdoor pool. First of all, of you weren't awake before you hit the water, you are after, but more importantly getting to celebrate new brothers and sisters publicly proclaiming their faith is an amazing way to kick off the day. It made all the lessons and conversations with kids about Jesus that much more special to have that reminder of what the seeds we are helping to plant can grow into.
We had a crazy day at camp. With the changes in our schedule we had to do 2 sessions today, with lunch in between. It made for a long day and some tired muscles, but it was great watching some of the things we've been working on start coming together. When some of our older girls hit an outlet pass, followed by a cross court pass to a cutter, for a perfect layup it was like winning the NBA finals, they were a lot of fun to watch today as we started them into some actual games.
Couple more days of that still to come plus worshipping with our brothers and sisters here in South Africa tomorrow morning. So great to be a part of what God is doing here.
We had a crazy day at camp. With the changes in our schedule we had to do 2 sessions today, with lunch in between. It made for a long day and some tired muscles, but it was great watching some of the things we've been working on start coming together. When some of our older girls hit an outlet pass, followed by a cross court pass to a cutter, for a perfect layup it was like winning the NBA finals, they were a lot of fun to watch today as we started them into some actual games.
Couple more days of that still to come plus worshipping with our brothers and sisters here in South Africa tomorrow morning. So great to be a part of what God is doing here.
Friday, March 23, 2018
OMC without the O
A children's minister I once worked with played a game called OMC which stood for Organized Mass Chaos.....today I felt like we were experiencing that phrase but without the O.
Don't get me wrong, we had a great day. We went and picked up two basketball goals, got set up in a new indoor location because until this afternoon it had not stopped raining since we got here. We only had time to get one goal set up and had an age range of about 2 to 15 when we finally tried to get started. Unfortunately all of our initial group was double booked today and had to leave for a rehearsal after we finished the first set of drills. So we got to play some pick-up games with the other adult leaders until we picked up some new kids. They were great, and we got to start into our devotionals with them, and then our big crew returned and the place went crazy again, but it's a great problem when all your kids want to shoot and play.
So it was a good first day, working through the unknown, but we've got the second goal ready and should have a bigger crew tomorrow. Also, before camp in the morning we get to be part of some baptisms over at a local swimming pool, so it should be an awesome day all around. Baptism and 2 rounds of sports camp....needless to say we will sleep good tomorrow.
Also, it is an absolute trip to wake up and watch the end of NCAA tournament games. Nothing like watching Kentucky lose first thing in the morning.
Don't get me wrong, we had a great day. We went and picked up two basketball goals, got set up in a new indoor location because until this afternoon it had not stopped raining since we got here. We only had time to get one goal set up and had an age range of about 2 to 15 when we finally tried to get started. Unfortunately all of our initial group was double booked today and had to leave for a rehearsal after we finished the first set of drills. So we got to play some pick-up games with the other adult leaders until we picked up some new kids. They were great, and we got to start into our devotionals with them, and then our big crew returned and the place went crazy again, but it's a great problem when all your kids want to shoot and play.
So it was a good first day, working through the unknown, but we've got the second goal ready and should have a bigger crew tomorrow. Also, before camp in the morning we get to be part of some baptisms over at a local swimming pool, so it should be an awesome day all around. Baptism and 2 rounds of sports camp....needless to say we will sleep good tomorrow.
Also, it is an absolute trip to wake up and watch the end of NCAA tournament games. Nothing like watching Kentucky lose first thing in the morning.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Greetings from Qatar
For those of you that know me well, you will not believe the following statement, but I promise it’s true - I had a vegetarian panini for dinner, or lunch, or whatever meal it is we were eating. After a 14 hour flight and moving across 8 time zones i’m not really sure what meal we were eating when we got here, but I know it was good. Egg plant, jalapeño, tomato, and some kind of goat/sheep milk based cheese that was all very good.
And if you’ve ever watched the movie Inception and felt lost, try adding in the fact that you are watching it in the middle of a red eye flight around the world and it was even more fun trying to keep up with whose dream you are in, not to mention wishing you were just dreaming yourself because you were sound asleep. But it was a great flight. Being on an airplane big enough that I can stand up and stretch my arms above my head is nothing short of a modern marvel in my book. Add in the huge video library available in the headrest in front of me and I feel like Paul is shaking his head at how spoiled we are on our missionary journey.
Spending the last several hours in the self proclaimed Gateway to the World airport in Qatar has been interesting, plenty of people from what feels like every tribe, tongue and nation, hardly ever heard English as I passed by people today, which has been fun. And yet in the middle of all of it, so many things that are familiar, from Burger King to Kit Kats, Star Wars to Disney Princesses - it was a great reminder that despite plenty of differences, we are also quite the same sometimes. Made me more excited to share life together with some new family members in Siuth Africanfor the next week.
Keep praying for our team, we are about to get on another flight....only like 9 hours this time....and we’ve had fun dealing with a couple of curveballs already, and there will certainly be more to come.
But we are all looking forward to joining God in what He is doing in Pretoria.
And if you’ve ever watched the movie Inception and felt lost, try adding in the fact that you are watching it in the middle of a red eye flight around the world and it was even more fun trying to keep up with whose dream you are in, not to mention wishing you were just dreaming yourself because you were sound asleep. But it was a great flight. Being on an airplane big enough that I can stand up and stretch my arms above my head is nothing short of a modern marvel in my book. Add in the huge video library available in the headrest in front of me and I feel like Paul is shaking his head at how spoiled we are on our missionary journey.
Spending the last several hours in the self proclaimed Gateway to the World airport in Qatar has been interesting, plenty of people from what feels like every tribe, tongue and nation, hardly ever heard English as I passed by people today, which has been fun. And yet in the middle of all of it, so many things that are familiar, from Burger King to Kit Kats, Star Wars to Disney Princesses - it was a great reminder that despite plenty of differences, we are also quite the same sometimes. Made me more excited to share life together with some new family members in Siuth Africanfor the next week.
Keep praying for our team, we are about to get on another flight....only like 9 hours this time....and we’ve had fun dealing with a couple of curveballs already, and there will certainly be more to come.
But we are all looking forward to joining God in what He is doing in Pretoria.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Strange Foreign Land
Well we've made it to our first stop, a foreign land, strange dialect, odd customs and dress, the locals call it Texas....it's like a whole different country.
But our whole team is finally together for the first time, no more Skype, now it's time for the really long flight - but the force is with me - literally, I've got 8 movies, locked and loaded, let the saga begin.
But our whole team is finally together for the first time, no more Skype, now it's time for the really long flight - but the force is with me - literally, I've got 8 movies, locked and loaded, let the saga begin.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
The Best Thing to Do
With only a week left, lots of people have been asking what they can do to help with my trip - the best answer is very simple - pray.
When the idea of going on this trip first came up I did the two things I always do when something like this comes up - I asked Joni about it and I talked to God about it.
When I first met with the other team leaders for the trip, our first meeting, we worked on a few things about the trip, but mostly, we just prayed.
Every meeting we have had since then has started and ended with prayer.
This Saturday our whole team, along with friends, family, prayer partners are getting together so that we can pray.
The team members that went last year shared a really cool story about when they first got to South Africa, and they left the airport and started driving and there was this giant billboard with John 3:16 on it, and it was such a good reminder for them that they weren't going to start something, they were joining God where He already was, and that has been a great reminder for me preparing for this trip, and is more and more needed the closer we get. God is already there, working, I get to join Him in His work.
So pray for what God is already doing as He brings things together for our time in Pretoria. He has already done so much of that - and I'm already amazed at the way He has brought our team together, provided things we needed, its been awesome to watch.
Pray for our travel - that's the one part of the trip itself that I am not looking forward to. It's going to be a long couple of days getting there, and another long couple of days getting back. Pray for safety and patience for our team.
But most of all - for me at least - pray for everything I am missing here at home while I'm gone. Pray for Joni and the kids as they have a week and a half of school, homework, practices, and all those normal things without me. God has brought such a peace, and brought so many things together for our trip that honestly I spend more time worrying that I don't have anything to worry about in regards to what I will be doing over there. But the closer it gets, the more the reality of not being at home for 11 days sets in, and the more I think about things I will be missing while I am gone. So pray for peace about those things for me. I know God brought me this opportunity, and I know I am supposed to go - my head knows that, my head knows that they will be just fine without me for a little while - but my heart needs reminding as the reality gets closer and closer. So pray for the same peace that I have about sports camp and all we will be doing in South Africa to cover all the things going on at home as well.
When the idea of going on this trip first came up I did the two things I always do when something like this comes up - I asked Joni about it and I talked to God about it.
When I first met with the other team leaders for the trip, our first meeting, we worked on a few things about the trip, but mostly, we just prayed.
Every meeting we have had since then has started and ended with prayer.
This Saturday our whole team, along with friends, family, prayer partners are getting together so that we can pray.
The team members that went last year shared a really cool story about when they first got to South Africa, and they left the airport and started driving and there was this giant billboard with John 3:16 on it, and it was such a good reminder for them that they weren't going to start something, they were joining God where He already was, and that has been a great reminder for me preparing for this trip, and is more and more needed the closer we get. God is already there, working, I get to join Him in His work.
So pray for what God is already doing as He brings things together for our time in Pretoria. He has already done so much of that - and I'm already amazed at the way He has brought our team together, provided things we needed, its been awesome to watch.
Pray for our travel - that's the one part of the trip itself that I am not looking forward to. It's going to be a long couple of days getting there, and another long couple of days getting back. Pray for safety and patience for our team.
But most of all - for me at least - pray for everything I am missing here at home while I'm gone. Pray for Joni and the kids as they have a week and a half of school, homework, practices, and all those normal things without me. God has brought such a peace, and brought so many things together for our trip that honestly I spend more time worrying that I don't have anything to worry about in regards to what I will be doing over there. But the closer it gets, the more the reality of not being at home for 11 days sets in, and the more I think about things I will be missing while I am gone. So pray for peace about those things for me. I know God brought me this opportunity, and I know I am supposed to go - my head knows that, my head knows that they will be just fine without me for a little while - but my heart needs reminding as the reality gets closer and closer. So pray for the same peace that I have about sports camp and all we will be doing in South Africa to cover all the things going on at home as well.
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