As much as I prayed and prepared, nothing could have prepared me for the most amazing journey I have just experienced. First, let me say we had the BEST team in the world. Thank you to all who prayed and supported us through this journey. Our team brought to light Romans 15:5 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus".
So many beautiful memories of our new family in Christ. Will we ever forget our hosts? I know I won't. The welcome reception at Brenda and Barry's, getting to know our brothers and sisters at Gonubie Baptist Church, made us feel like we were right at home. The gratitude of every single person we encountered at the township made this experienced so memorable too. For me personally, the teenage girls and the hope for a better tomorrow as they begin to explore their walk with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Being able to listen to the concerns of the people and our host, my prayer is somehow we built a bridge between us. May God get the Glory! At our departure, Pastor David Lock read to us the scripture passage below and I can't think of a better way to sum up our journey:
Isaiah 58:6-9 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Thank you Lord for allowing us to represent you and your love for all!
Until ALL Have Heard,
Roxi
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Greetings from the HOPE Team!
Wow! Words are so very inadequate to express all that has occurred with our team! First off, let me tell you that everyone is well and having the time of their lives. I wish you could see all of the children gather around Heather Kalin as she dances, flips and does handstands with the children. It is as though she is a magnet and the children are naturally drawn to her. I wish you could see Cathy tell the story of Noah with unbelievable animation and enthusiasm. Roxi, Heather Parks, Kirk and I are boldly sharing Gods word of hope and love with the children, while Chris is beating us all hands-down on learning the language and culture. Everyone is using their gifts and talents and we are feeling used of God in a mighty way. The boldness and selflessness of this team are an amazing thing to watch as they love on children and share the good news of the love of Jesus Christ.
These children are truly starving ... starving for affection, starving for food and starving for hope, hope that they will only find in Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful thing to be able to share with them the hope that is there for them in Jesus. Children have come to us having been beaten by their loved ones, with shattered hearts from abuse, shattered hearts from the death of their parents. Our hearts have cried with them, loved on them ... there is so much love to give, which is exactly why I have to go now -- there are fields to lay seeds in, seeds to water and fruit to harvest. We are off to work. We chaps love and miss you all ... we have so much to share. :)
These children are truly starving ... starving for affection, starving for food and starving for hope, hope that they will only find in Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful thing to be able to share with them the hope that is there for them in Jesus. Children have come to us having been beaten by their loved ones, with shattered hearts from abuse, shattered hearts from the death of their parents. Our hearts have cried with them, loved on them ... there is so much love to give, which is exactly why I have to go now -- there are fields to lay seeds in, seeds to water and fruit to harvest. We are off to work. We chaps love and miss you all ... we have so much to share. :)
Medical Team Breaks Through
Greetings from Thomas in South Africa!!
We had a really great day today! The medical team devised a more efficient way to see more patients in the clinic. We brought in 30 patients and sat them all together. Lisa Wolff and a local preacher delivered the gospel message, and then we prayed with them. Then the 5 providers (Me, Sandy, Leili, Nicolette and Linda) spread out and spent a few minutes with each one. We were able to pray with most and prescribe them medication if necessary (this of course made Lori very busy in the pharmacy). All the patients were seen in about 30 minutes. It was fun, and we all grew spiritually. We are looking forward to employing this same technique tomorrow.
In the afternoon, we packed up and created 4 roaming medical units that went out into the community to see those patients who were too sick to come to the medical center. It was a great experience, and it enabled us to really connect with the community. Seeing their living conditions really reminded us of why we were there, but I will say that while walking through the very poor living conditions and trash, I only saw happy children and friendly people. These people are an inspiration to be thankful for what you have, whether a little or a lot.
I believe that God is really giving each of us a love for these people and their community. The opportunity to minister both physically and spirirtually seems endless. The children are beautiful and provide such a hope for the future.
The leaders of our teams, Heather, Lisa and Beth are adapting to changes everyday to make our mission more effective. Please pray for all 20 of us to keep up our strength and committment.
Thomas Waller
We had a really great day today! The medical team devised a more efficient way to see more patients in the clinic. We brought in 30 patients and sat them all together. Lisa Wolff and a local preacher delivered the gospel message, and then we prayed with them. Then the 5 providers (Me, Sandy, Leili, Nicolette and Linda) spread out and spent a few minutes with each one. We were able to pray with most and prescribe them medication if necessary (this of course made Lori very busy in the pharmacy). All the patients were seen in about 30 minutes. It was fun, and we all grew spiritually. We are looking forward to employing this same technique tomorrow.
In the afternoon, we packed up and created 4 roaming medical units that went out into the community to see those patients who were too sick to come to the medical center. It was a great experience, and it enabled us to really connect with the community. Seeing their living conditions really reminded us of why we were there, but I will say that while walking through the very poor living conditions and trash, I only saw happy children and friendly people. These people are an inspiration to be thankful for what you have, whether a little or a lot.
I believe that God is really giving each of us a love for these people and their community. The opportunity to minister both physically and spirirtually seems endless. The children are beautiful and provide such a hope for the future.
The leaders of our teams, Heather, Lisa and Beth are adapting to changes everyday to make our mission more effective. Please pray for all 20 of us to keep up our strength and committment.
Thomas Waller
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A few pictures
We're having difficulty getting the other posts and pics up...we'll try again tonight but here are a few of mine.
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Mzomomhle...DAY ONE!!!
Today was one of those days that can only have been the result of much prayer. It couldn't have gone better. God was in the big picture and in the details. It was a day made of moments stitched together by sacrifice, love, and prayer. First of all we were blessed with a beautiful, warm sunny day. To say the team was in high spirits would be an understatement. We began the day with the welcoming ceremony at the school. The sight of 800 Xhosa children singing to welcome us was enough to get the day started with a good amount of happy (and relieved) tears. We were so warmly welcomed by the community leaders and the teachers and staff.
We had the clinic up and running by 11 or so, and from then on it was full steam ahead for that awesome crew. We've decided to focus on quality rather than quantity, so each person is spending time praying and loving each patient. I wasn't in the clinic much so I'll let them tell their own story in another post, but they all looked beyond happy each time I stuck my head in.
We learned of a heartbreaking fact early this morning. I haven't had time to fact check, but it seems to be true on some level. Two of the teachers met with Beth and I to tell us that many of the older grade girls at the school are prostituting themselves. We know several of those girls, and it was hard news to hear and process. Hunger leads to desperation. Many of them are orphans. We do not judge. We know the problem is too large to tackle in a week but we have a plan to try and help a few of them, those who are showing initiative in school and who want to turn from that life. Watch this space and please pray for this latest addition to our mission this week.
The school team also had a winner of a day, but again, I'll let them tell their story in their own words. We caught up with them this afternoon at a daycare for orphans located in the squatter camp; it was a beautiful thing to see some of the lovely young ladies on that team with beaming orphans hanging all over them. Our team was so kind, gentle, and loving with the children, giving them the type of attention they've probably never experienced.
The "Rugby Team" as we've come to be known had a day of major excitement. The core Rugby Team consists of Jody, Chris K, David (our pastor), Vusumzi, and me. We were joined this afternoon by Chris E, Kirk, and Amber. As we were about to leave the clinic to start our home visits a woman came and asked if we could come to her house to see her daughter who was too sick to come to the clinic. We grabbed Amber (none of the rest of us are medical) and headed out. What we found was heartbreaking. A young girl of 18, was lying half naked on a filthy blanket in the dirt between two shacks. Her family told us that she'd been recently diagnosed (HIV) and that she had TB. She was severely dehydrated and malnourished, and her heart rate was through the roof. Amber felt that she needed to be taken to the hospital quickly so we made a quick plan and split the team. I thought I'd try my hand at driving (other side of the road here) this year. Little did I know I'd be hurtling a dangerously ill girl through the streets of East London lying on a table cloth on the back seat. We had to wear masks in the car (her TB was really contagious, Ana I know you'd be proud!). When we got to the government hospital they took one look at our masks and whisked her away onto a stretcher. Please pray for her, she's a sick girl. She couldn't speak so we didn't get her name, lets call her Janie. We'll go to see her family tomorrow.
While we were doing that the rest of the Rugby Team was having an experience that was really the event of our day. I know you all like a cliffhanger, so check back soon for that story which Jody will post. Really, it's a phenomenal story...good stuff!
So, we are all happy, we are all healthy, we are all still really enjoying each other :), our hosts, and the mission. God has been so good to open up the week with a BIG day in each of our lives. Please keep praying that we continue to see much fruit as the week progresses. Although with our human eyes we see much pain and sadness in this place, we know that we serve a God of hope, and that his hope isn't just for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. I think God's heart must break when he looks down, and sees the starving orphan, the teenage prostitute, or the ten year old drug addict. I just pray that some of what he's allowing us to do will touch many lives here and for eternity.
ps...pictures tomorrow, promise!
We had the clinic up and running by 11 or so, and from then on it was full steam ahead for that awesome crew. We've decided to focus on quality rather than quantity, so each person is spending time praying and loving each patient. I wasn't in the clinic much so I'll let them tell their own story in another post, but they all looked beyond happy each time I stuck my head in.
We learned of a heartbreaking fact early this morning. I haven't had time to fact check, but it seems to be true on some level. Two of the teachers met with Beth and I to tell us that many of the older grade girls at the school are prostituting themselves. We know several of those girls, and it was hard news to hear and process. Hunger leads to desperation. Many of them are orphans. We do not judge. We know the problem is too large to tackle in a week but we have a plan to try and help a few of them, those who are showing initiative in school and who want to turn from that life. Watch this space and please pray for this latest addition to our mission this week.
The school team also had a winner of a day, but again, I'll let them tell their story in their own words. We caught up with them this afternoon at a daycare for orphans located in the squatter camp; it was a beautiful thing to see some of the lovely young ladies on that team with beaming orphans hanging all over them. Our team was so kind, gentle, and loving with the children, giving them the type of attention they've probably never experienced.
The "Rugby Team" as we've come to be known had a day of major excitement. The core Rugby Team consists of Jody, Chris K, David (our pastor), Vusumzi, and me. We were joined this afternoon by Chris E, Kirk, and Amber. As we were about to leave the clinic to start our home visits a woman came and asked if we could come to her house to see her daughter who was too sick to come to the clinic. We grabbed Amber (none of the rest of us are medical) and headed out. What we found was heartbreaking. A young girl of 18, was lying half naked on a filthy blanket in the dirt between two shacks. Her family told us that she'd been recently diagnosed (HIV) and that she had TB. She was severely dehydrated and malnourished, and her heart rate was through the roof. Amber felt that she needed to be taken to the hospital quickly so we made a quick plan and split the team. I thought I'd try my hand at driving (other side of the road here) this year. Little did I know I'd be hurtling a dangerously ill girl through the streets of East London lying on a table cloth on the back seat. We had to wear masks in the car (her TB was really contagious, Ana I know you'd be proud!). When we got to the government hospital they took one look at our masks and whisked her away onto a stretcher. Please pray for her, she's a sick girl. She couldn't speak so we didn't get her name, lets call her Janie. We'll go to see her family tomorrow.
While we were doing that the rest of the Rugby Team was having an experience that was really the event of our day. I know you all like a cliffhanger, so check back soon for that story which Jody will post. Really, it's a phenomenal story...good stuff!
So, we are all happy, we are all healthy, we are all still really enjoying each other :), our hosts, and the mission. God has been so good to open up the week with a BIG day in each of our lives. Please keep praying that we continue to see much fruit as the week progresses. Although with our human eyes we see much pain and sadness in this place, we know that we serve a God of hope, and that his hope isn't just for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. I think God's heart must break when he looks down, and sees the starving orphan, the teenage prostitute, or the ten year old drug addict. I just pray that some of what he's allowing us to do will touch many lives here and for eternity.
Christ has no body on earth but yours,
No hands but yours, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ's
compassion for the world is to look out.
Yours are the feet with which he is to go
about doing good; and yours are the hands
with which he is to bless us now.
St Teresa of Avila.
ps...pictures tomorrow, promise!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Onward!
I'm constantly surprised by the number of people who actually care. Care enough to sacrifice emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially to go and love others they've never met. This is a great team of "carers". They are not the type of folks who sit around and wring their hands about poverty or injustice. You won't find most of them doing a lot of missions-speak. They are, instead, the best kind of missionaries, the kind who pray, and then GO! They are a get-'er-done group and in the next week will accomplish amazing things for God. Thanks for your interest and prayers. Please check back during the week for updates!
Chris E, Jody, Thomas,Dylan
Heather D, Lori, Linda, Rachel, Roxi, Beth, Cathy, Heather P.
Nicolette, Sandy, Amber, Heather K, Leili, Kirk
not pictured: Lisa and Chris K
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