South Africa Stories and Photos Wow, I have so many things to write about I hardly know where to begin. Before I start about South Africa though, I Have to put in a plug for the "currently reading" selection. I would highly recommend everyone read this book. I can't even give favorite quotes from it because I would have to write out the whole thing. You can't help coming away from this account of one woman's struggle toward Christlikeness, loving Christ not merely for what He has done, but for who He is. It will help you learn to see God's perfect will in everything that happens, great or small, and you will come away knowing that the Divine will is always loving and good regardless of whether it brings joy or sorrow to you personally. South Africa. How can I possibly put this experience into words? Just seeing how the Lord was working in orchestrating and providing for this whole trip was amazing. The "team" got along really well, and I couldn't have gone with a better group of people. After way too many hours in a plane, and some blessings from God in the form of human agents randomly striking up a conversation and praying for us during our layover at the airport in Amsterdam, we arrived in South Africa.We were partnering with Bethesda Outreach Ministries, working in their Children's Village about an hour outside of Johannesburg in Hammanskraal. Bethesda was established back in 2000 when a group from Evangelical Baptist Missions sent a team to South Africa to find out what options were available to provide aid in the midst of the orphan crisis caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A proposal was accepted to build a childrens village where orphaned children could be placed and raised by national Christian houseparents in an effort to train them up to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ as well as giving them the educational resources to one day be able to impact their society. There are currently five families residing on the Bethesda grounds, each caring for up to 9 children. One of the parents began just before we arrived and four orphan children were placed in their care while we were there. In the face of the devastating situation such efforts may seem minimal at best, but it has made a difference in the lives of those few children and the world will be greatly different because of it. Bethesda is meeting a huge need in South Africa. It really broke my heart to hear the full extent of the problem. In sub-Saharan Africa there are over 15 million AIDS orphans and that number is expected to increase to 25 million by the end of 2010. In the country of South Africa there are nearly a quarter of a million child headed households as the parents have died and the kids have no one to turn to in their need. I've felt for awhile that if the Lord ever leads me into the season of life of having a family of my own I would like to adopt. This experience served to reenforce that conviction. Really, what greater impact can we leave on the world then to make a difference in the life a child and lead some precious young soul into the moral foundations of learning to love its maker? Our time at the facilities was spent in repainting one of the original housing units. We also spent many precious hours playing with the kids, telling them stories, and getting to know the house parents over delicious dinners and wonderful conversation. It was a blessing to hear their stories of how God led them to serve in this ministry and devote their lives to raising up these orphaned kids in the discipline and admonition of the Lord. Such living examples of self-sacrifice is truly inspiring. A number of the house parents also serve as pastors in local churches. We were able to attend church with one of them on Sunday morning and it was neat to experience the love and unity that exists in the Body of Christ despite cultural differences. The national language of South Africa is English, so for the most part there wasn't any significant language barrier. But even when they sang/worshipped in their local tongue (Afrikaans or Tswana), it was a blessing to witness the name of Christ being praised "of every kindred and tribe and people and nation." During the service they provided opportunity for people to share a word of testimony. They requested someone from our group to share and I was nominated. I don't really remember what I said there on the spur of the moment, but I shared from the opening of the fifth chapter of the gospel of John. I thought it rather applicable as the passage deals with a healing that occurred at the pool of Bethesda. Here was a man who for 38 years had been suffering from some affliction, yet he didn't have a friend in the world caring enough, devoted enough, loving enough to be there with him and help into the waters when they were stirred by the angelic ministry. But Jesus, the example we are to imitate, comes to the man, has compassion on him and heals him. We had noted during orientation that whereas sympathy is nothing other than a feeling that may be invoked but does not always spur us to act, compassion takes action to relieve the oppressed and afflicted as is demonstrated in the example of the good samaritan. Jesus tells us that we are to go and do likewise, helping those who are in need. It was especially powerful to witness the extent of the manifest need. We didn't stay on the Bethesda grounds the whole time, but went out for tours of the surrounding areas and were given a brief history of the cultural backdrop we were working in. One day we went to a neighboring village to handout food to some of the orphans in that community who really have nowhere else to turn. In reflecting upon the experience later, I noted how I kind of expected this and wasn't experiencing a whole lot of culture shock because of the work I have done with the homeless in NYC. The comment was made that there is a huge difference though. Those homeless adults are typically there because of choices they have made, and they could choose to change their lifestyle. These kids didn't have a choice in the matter and have no other alternatives available to them. I appreciate the truth contained in those sentiments, and I don't wish to undermine the need for orphan care, but I had to disagree in some respects. Yes, perhaps those homeless guys did make choices that landed them in their situation. Maybe it is all their fault. But let us reflect for a moment upon that great hymn we often sing, Rescue the Perishing. "Weep ore the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus the mighty to save." When do we weep ore the erring? When does our heart break for the weak and the hopeless and the helpless? We look at the homeless beggar and dismiss them because it's all their fault. Well sure it's all their fault just as your sin is all your fault. But if God dealt with us in the way we so often deal with them, we would already be in hell! The Lord Jesus found you and me, not just with a few bad choices that led us to desperate straits, but with an entire life of total depravity and alienation from God. We were headed straight for the darkness a lost eternity. But Jesus comes and shows His compassion. How can we do any less? In reflecting upon the experience as a whole, the need over there for missions work is blatant. The cultural religious views are full of the darkness and superstition of false ancient tribal beliefs which is mixed with portions of Biblical theology resulting in a damning confusion of false doctrine. In combination with the desperate need for orphan care and AIDS relief work, there is great work to be done in reaching those people with the life changing message of the Gospel. True bastions of fundamental Bible believing organizations such as Bethesda are few and far between. Please continue to pray for their ministry. I came away from the trip with the feeling that though we do well in masking the needs in our society, covering things over and making it look well and good, the need for Christian ministry workers here at home is every bit as great. There, like here, that majority of the population, even in the most remote villages, has at some time heard the basic Gospel message. 80% of the population would consider themselves Christian. The need is for sound Biblical training and discipleship. But while most of the population still in lives in remote villages, the majority of the church resources and training opportunities are in the major cities. The solution would seem to lie along avenues of church planting, strengthening the churches that do exist to send out trained and qualified national pastors to fill pulpits in surrounding communities. It was sad to hear that many of the "missionaries" coming from the states are bringing with them the "health, wealth, and prosperity 'Gospel.'" Here in the states, the need isn't as obvious since we have churches on every street corner. The problem is many of the men (or perhaps women pending the denomination) filling those pulpits do not preach or teach the true and pure Gospel of Christ. It too is a mixture of false doctrines emphasizing hedonistic values that require little or no self denial and allows one to keep all of their old habits and sinful pleasures. "friendship with the world is enmity with God." The "Gospel" that is being proclaimed in our "christian" nation is only damning more and more people to hell. I am not sure what the Lord may have in store for the future, but I would appreciate your continued prayers as I continue to seek after and follow His will for my own life. Due to a number of circumstances that have occurred since my return and the promptings of the Spirit in speaking to my own heart, I am considering the possibility of full time ministry at some point here in the future. I have no idea what that may look like and whether it would be home or foreign missions, but in the mean time, as my Pastor reminded me in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "I will study and prepare, and someday my chance will come." I will be beginning correspondence courses this fall in an effort to finish an undergraduate degree (at the moment I am planning on working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology from Trinity College and Seminary). I am praying about the possibility of attending seminary after that, but I have mixed feelings about it. All I can do is be willing to follow my Master down what ever paths He may lead. These are not arranged in order of chronology, but enjoy the photos. The biggest plane I have ever been on. It was a 7 hour flight, a three hour layover, and an 11 hour flight. There were personal entertainment screens at each seat, but I was too busy reading, praying or sleeping to make use of it. 
Breakfast on the plane. Altogether, I had 7 meals during flights. 
Long story... (I wanted the group to be able to find me in Amsterdam) 
Here we are, exhausted from traveling, but excited to finally be in South Africa! 
The Bethesda Grounds 
This is the "team center" that we stayed in. 
I made good use of the kitchen... 
This photo doesn't do it justice. I am glad it didn't show up until after I left. 
One of the housing units 
The administrative building 
The girls were able to help teach in the school a couple of days since several of the teachers fell ill while we were there. 
This is the original homestead on the property (toward the right), which is what we painted. The team center is in the background on the left. 
Outside the team center 
A lemon tree 
A sweet fire pit 
I loved this covered patio. 
Enjoying some lunch 
Yummy!!! 
The local cemetery. They do 40 burials a month. It was sad to see on the graves items that were associated with the person while they were alive. They might bring a plate thinking the deceased is hungry, or a cup in case they are thirsty. Often you would find vials of medicine that they might have been using while they were still alive. They have little hope in their false religious views as they believe their loved ones may still be suffering from their earthly physical maladies even after death. 
Scenes from the car. There is quite a contrast in living conditions with the rich and poor right next to each other. 
Painting the house 
The back half of the room is done, the front half still needs painted. We were painting the walls "iced coffee" and the ceilings were getting a lighter white. 
Playing with the kids 
I was trying to draw her with the sidewalk chalk. My artistic abilities leave something to be desired. 
These are from playing with/singing/feeding lunch to some of the orphan children in the surrounding community... 
Fortunately their songs were 1-5 or 1-4-5, so just a matter of finding the right key to play along with them. 
Random scenery from a couple of excursions 
This restaurant was still under construction, but I snuck to snap a few photos. Some workers came while I was in the loft, and I had to hide behind a pillar for awhile until they left. 
We even got a private tour of "orlando stadium," one of the practice fields for the 2010 FIFA world cup. It too was still under construction, but one of the security guards let us in and gave us a private tour. That would never happen in the states. Too Cool! 
Here we are at a a restaurant for lunch that had business card decorating the walls. Some of us ate cow intestine here. It was so GROSS!!! 
There five other girls there serving as interns at the school and helping in administrative ways. Several of them stayed in the team center as well, and they would often go with us on our excursions.  '
I left my card. Haven't received any calls yet though 
For dinner we ate at Carnivores - South Africa's greatest eating experience 
The menu included zebra, crocodile, and several different antelope. Yes, I tried it all. 
These are from the game drive 
Playing checkers on the chess board 
On the safari truck 
I think you can figure this one out 
Most of the drive was after dark. You could see the animals in the truck spotlight, but it was hard to get pictures. Here are a few that sort of turned out. Some Zebra 
Wildebeests 
wildebeests again 
Rhino 
A fearsome beast! 
The moon had a cool circle around it but it's hard to see in the photo 
These last two heartbreakers are some of the most vivid images indelibly imprinted upon my mind from the trip. Please be praying for South Africa, the millions of orphan kids, and the ministries such as Bethesda who are attempting to reach these precious young souls giving them both physical and spiritual hope. 
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