Wednesday - Gold Mine, Apartheid Museum, Van & Dog Bathes, Hanging Out

Today was not a programed ministry day. Yet, we loaded our pockets with a minimum of three tracts each and headed out to Gold Reef City. South Africa was really built on the gold mines which are the most prevelant around Johannesburg. It is what established the city. We went down into a gold mine and saw how it is mined, and refined and poured into bars. We got to touch a bar of gold that is worth more than 2 million rand. We ate lunch in the amusement park and enjoyed some rides. Then we went into the Apartheid Museum. It really helped to understand the history of this culture and its' people. The democracy and freedom for all races is young in this place - just since 1993. Today, Johannesburg is still a mining city - coal, gems, gold and other ore. Back at home, the vans and dogs needed bathes and dinner had to be put out and cleaned up. Then we hung out, swam, played and will do de-briefing, sharing about our contacts today, planning for Thursday & Friday and pray soon. Tomorrow will be another non-programmed ministry day. And, then Friday and Saturday it will be back to the scheduled ministry stuff. Keep praying for us, the missionaries, and the people of South Africa. God bless you, all! "..the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also then honey.." Psalm 19:9-10

Tuesday - Day 2 at the Safe House

What a privilege to return to the House of Safety. We are beginning to understand the importance of the missionaries establishing the relationships and returning time after time to the same places. We are also grasping the importance of God's Word - it is there when we are not and it never comes back void! Our students helped to lead motions to the worship songs, Julia and Allie gave their testimonies, Justin and Sarah did a new drama, and all lead groups in games and teaching times with the Resurrection Eggs.

They led a new team building game with sticks that in the words of our students didn't go well. John Page had planned it on purpose. He knew it wasn't going to go well, but had planned it that the children would realize the difficulty they have trusting each other and working together and that could be a springboard into teaching and working with them today. This was a new concept for us...to use games in order to give insight and teaching.

Some of the girls set up a nail salon station...the teenage girls loved this and it gave lots of opportunity for conversations with them. Cheney, Darren, Julien and Trevor did balloon animals for the kids...it was a blow-out of a time. Gia and Josh decorated many of the faces with beautiful painted designs. Opportunities to bring smiles in the name of Jesus and have conversations that lifted Jesus high abounded.

Jon Naz and Virginia led professional development seminars for the workers of the Safe House on Speaking the Truth in Love, Respect, Gaming / Camping, Active/Reflective Listening, Self-Injury and Suicide. Try covering those topics in three hours or less! God was good to allow us to prepare even with limited resources. The workers were so receptive. Virginia was asked to do counseling sessions with individual students, but there was really only time for one with Issy (Bella). Pray for her to cling to Christ and to be able to have hope for life and not be overwhelmed.

Pray for all the children and workers who have heard the gospel multiple times in the past two days that we were there. Pray for protection of those seeds that have been planted and for the twenty or more who indicated that they have recieved Christ. Pray for the WOL missionaries that will go back in every 4-6 weeks to do followup. Pray for those who are Christians to grow and be faithful to reading their Bibles.

Keep in mind that this facility is a government owned and run place! How ironic! The freedoms here so outdo those in America, the home of the free and the brave. Pray for all of us as Americans can continue to grow in our bravery and obedience with every opening and opportunity to witness to these very spiritually open and hungry people in this very free land. We also got to spend a couple hours at a very modern mall in the evening. And, it was the official "call home" night for all those who didn't call on Sunday. It is always good to hear the voices of you, our loved ones!

Pray I Corinthians 16:13-14 TLB for all of us on Wednesday (your Tuesday night) as we will have a day to tour a Gold Mine, an Apartheid Museum, and an amusement park. It so easily become an "off" day ministry wise...but we know that God has divine appointments already set up for each of us. Thank you for your faithful support, encouragment and prayers! Have a beautiful day with Jesus and some his people wherever in the world you are!

We'll post the pictures from Tuesday and Wednesday when we return to the house tonight.

Monday in Mandela Township

Whoa...this township really puts life in perspective. The mud brick building that had 6 rooms; three of them with tenants living in them. A few benches and two tables for furntiture; a dirt yard full of ants and bits of glass; a privy hole in a corner of the back yard or an official outhouse 3 doors down on the side of the pastor's home. Harriet now seventeen years old; last year as a sixteen year old had started the Bible club for the children of the township to keep them off the streets. After she had accepted Christ, she was given a Bible and now a quiet time journal which she has faithfully completed everyday since December. The youth began pouring in and filling the yard. Two walking down the road carrying chairs from their home to the building. A six year old carrying his little brother on his hip. The number of households in these places headed by children because of the deaths of their parents due to AIDS is amazing. At first we noticed the dirt, the ants, the small spaces, the numbers of youth, the "wierd" games and activities that we were asked to participate in and lead. But, within minutes, all that faded as we saw the faces, the eyes, the hunger (physical and spiritual) of those that were entrusted to us for the day. Our students really stepped up to the plate. They led teams through games; Allie with 25 toddlers by herself. We are learning the ways of net ball - a big South African joy. They did the drama and dance in a cramped dirty hard floored room in the heat of the day and un-airconditioned place. The message of God's grace and salvation was presented even with Cheney's nose bleed and Julia's bruised hip! We served lunch - viennas (hot dogs), chips and juice - to a stream of people. Julien gave his testimony before all those there. Allie and Darren led the gospel presentation of the cube. Our new friend, Chris who is a Seminary student here, preached. All of the students led discussion groups talking through personal quiet time devotions and discipleship. By the end of the day, what we remembered were the faces and the presence and spirit of God. It was a draining, very, very good day. "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5

Easter Sunday - SA Calvary Baptist Church

He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Easter Sunday 2009 found us at the Calvary Baptist Church in Orange Farm. We arrived at 9:30 and greeted the children, did some active songs with them while we waited for others to be picked up and brought to church. Our students divided the 80 or so children into four groups and taught Sunday School using the Ressurrection Eggs. The first hour of the chuch service was testimony and song time. Many of the Africans gave wonderful testimonies and even more amazing song times. Members from our team did the drama, the praise dance, Julia sang "My Redeemer Lives" as a solo, Justin and Julia led in a couple of choruses, Sara explained the meaning of the salvation colors on the bracelets, and Julien and Justin gave their testimonies. The next hour and half of the service was preaching. Our team went with the crew who took the children outside to play games and eat sandwiches that we had prepared. We returned for the conclusion of the service. The congregation, all made up of people who walked to church this morning and live in the township houses that you see in the pictures, took up three offerings: one for the tithe, one for John Paige (the missionary), and one for the transport fund. At the invitation time, 8 adults and 18-20 kids cam forward to accept Christ! Praise the Lord! At the conclusion of the service, our team was asked to stand at the front and be introduced. The Africians were amazed that there are Americans who look like them. They were ready to do match making and arrange a marriage for AdeZ'sa. They were also amazed to hear them talk and not have the African/English accent on their words. All those who attended the service went out for one big group picture. We'll post that one soon. We were able to hang out and have conversations with small groups and individuals for about an hour and half while the vans transported others home. Some even prayed with the groups. We loaded all our stuff - the lunch coolers and supplies, the supplies for games and Sunday School, drama and dance stuff into the trailer that we pull behind the van everyday. We pulled out about 4:30pm. It was a great celebration of our Savior's resurrection. In the evening, we went to another missionaries house for a traditional American Easter Dinner. There were three missionary families, a couple who lives on the same property as one of the missionaries and us. Hallelujah! He Lives - Salvation to impart! You are in our thoughts and prayers. Keep praying for God to work in the lives of the Africans that we meet and in our own hearts growing and stretching us! Thanks for your encouraging comments...we all love reading them!

Check all the Entries Out

There were five new entries posted today...be sure to check them all out. Click on the titles to the left for ones not on your front page.

Specific Prayer Requests

There are many...but here are a few specific prayer requests for you to bring to God's throne on our behalf.

Pray for two that we met on the plane. They have college graduation ceremonies soon and will move on to other things. Pray for them as the seek truth and peace in their lives.

Pray for us; the missionaries; the pastor and regular volunteers as we co-ordinate Easter Sunday's Sunday School and church service. Our students will be teaching all of the Sunday School classes - using the ressurrection eggs. It all has to remain flexible...but we are prepared for the ladies to do their praise dance, the drama crew to do the skit, Justin and Julien to give their testimonies, Julia to sing a solo and Justin & Julia to led a couple of worship songs. Also, the two Africian girls and Julia will sing their piece. The pastor will preach. We will be feeding all the children lunch after the services (which won't end until 1 or 1:30). Pray that we will have enough food. There will be between 85 and 120 children to feed. Afterwards we will play games with them for awhile.

Pray for Tuesday when we return to the same Safe House we were in on Friday. We will do a program again, have small groups and more individual mingling. We will also have the face painting station, a nail salon and a drama clinic - teaching the students to do the drama that we have done for them. Virginia has been asked to counsel a couple of the older girls. Pray for her with the cultural and language barrier issues. While the kids are doing games, etc...Jon Naz & Virginia will lead some training seminars for the workers as well. Pray for this. They need to be professional and beneficial for the people. The administrator of the facility has wanted training for his workers, but has never been able to get it approved. He feels that if this is beneficial; then future trainings could be approved. Jon will lead sessions on games and "camping" activities. Virginia will lead some sessions on counseling issues such as cutting and suicide. All this with no materials here!

Pray for Dolly and several others from Calvary Baptist. Pray for the older girls at the Safe house and one of the worker men who were very interested in the gospel message.

Always, pray for safety, stamina, joy, wisdom, spiritual eyes as we work in these places.

Thanks for the prayers and your support!