So we have less than a week left, the Summer has flown by and God has been doing some really amazing things here. Last week our team went on a safari in the bush lands and it was pretty darn cool. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any Lions or Hyenas but we did see some Elephants, Giraffe, Zebras, Cape Buffalo and some other stuff. I think the Giraffes and Zebras were my favorite. They were so close to our truck I could touch them if it were allowed.
I've learned the best way to love people is telling them about Christ.
I spent Monday through Friday ministering on the University of Kwa-Zula Natal, Howard Campus. Their Campus Crusade movement is just starting so we basically did a bunch of sharing gathering contacts and telling people about the first big meeting of the term (their spring term started monday). God has brought a bunch of students to Christ this week through initiative evangelism and it has been awesome to see him working in the hearts of other students as we share with them. It is culturally common among the black studetns to be a christian, but probably close to 90% of them have no idea what that even means so it has been so cool to explain to them the true meaning of Christianity. Along with the black students there are equally as many indian students who are Hindu. It has been awesome sharing the Gospel with these students who've never heard before. Basically, God is moving in huge ways. We had the meeting yesterday and we had at least a 100 students show up. They are eager to hear about Jesus and I am so excited for how the Lord is going to use CRU on Howard's campus to bring people to Him. We have two days left on campus before we head back so keep our team in your prayers! We are planning to finish "fourth quarter strong!"
We're off to do a canopy tour today which I'm so excited for. It's like a 45 minute zip line tour above the canopy of the trees in the mountains! Last weekend here in Durban, I am sure going to miss this place!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Our Last Week in the Community
This past week has flown by, I only have two more weeks left in Africa. So last weekend I said I may go bungee jumping... it actually wasn't a bungee but a HUGE gorge swing. Our team went up to Oribi Gorge and about 15 of us took the leap off of a 165 m high cliff. That is about 600ft. It made me feel like I was flying, jumping off arms spread wide down into the beautiful gorge. That evening we watched the Sharks (Durban's Rugby team) defeat the Blue Bulls (defending champs)! The following day about half of the team went down to the beach. We even went in the water! It was a much needed refreshing weekend of experienceing God's presence out in His creation. I loved sitting in awe of Him.
This week we have worked at a few different places. Monday and Tuesday we partnered with a different AIDS Hospice, Highway Hospice and completed some jobs they needed finished. Wednesday we had an amazing opportunity to go into a High School in a local township and tell the students all about Jesus.
Monday we went to a Cresh, like a preschool, that the hospice supports. We painted the exterior of the buildings and planted a vegetable garden. They didn't need our whole team to finish those jobs so the other half of us spent time loving on the children. They have about 60 children in two classrooms that are just slightly larger than my bedroom. These children were the most joyful kids to play with. They were so happy and excited to recieve so much attention. None of them really understood english, but we still were able to teach them duck-duck-goose. Although, the first time someone was tagged as "goose" the entire cirlce got up to chase them!
Tuesday we split into 3 groups. My group stayed back and painted a room in the hospice center. Sometimes when we are completing a small task it's easy to get fooled into thinking we're having no impact, but God has really been showing me that every little act of service matters and he can really use anything to make an eternal impact on someone's life and bring himself glory.
Wednesday was probably my favorite day of service yet. We were given the opportunity to go into a public high school and preach the gospel. My group was placed in a classroom whose teacher did not show up for the day so we had an hour and a half to talk to them about whatever we wanted. We were able to share our testimonies and give a full out Gospel presentation. I sat down with a few girls to ask them about what we had said and see if they had any questions. Ancestor worship is so prevalent in the life of Zulus, pray that they will come to the understanding that Jesus is enough and no other sacrifice is needed. Over 200 students heard the Gospel yesterday. The Gospel does not return void, pray God continues to work in the hearts of the students we spoke to.
I am really excited for what God has planned next week. We are going on the University campuses in Durban to do some initiative evangelism sharing our faith. From the past two summer projects we've been told hearts are ripe and ready to hear about Jesus so I cannot wait to share the good news! We'll be on the campuses from here on out!
Blessings,
Lainey
This week we have worked at a few different places. Monday and Tuesday we partnered with a different AIDS Hospice, Highway Hospice and completed some jobs they needed finished. Wednesday we had an amazing opportunity to go into a High School in a local township and tell the students all about Jesus.
Monday we went to a Cresh, like a preschool, that the hospice supports. We painted the exterior of the buildings and planted a vegetable garden. They didn't need our whole team to finish those jobs so the other half of us spent time loving on the children. They have about 60 children in two classrooms that are just slightly larger than my bedroom. These children were the most joyful kids to play with. They were so happy and excited to recieve so much attention. None of them really understood english, but we still were able to teach them duck-duck-goose. Although, the first time someone was tagged as "goose" the entire cirlce got up to chase them!
Tuesday we split into 3 groups. My group stayed back and painted a room in the hospice center. Sometimes when we are completing a small task it's easy to get fooled into thinking we're having no impact, but God has really been showing me that every little act of service matters and he can really use anything to make an eternal impact on someone's life and bring himself glory.
Wednesday was probably my favorite day of service yet. We were given the opportunity to go into a public high school and preach the gospel. My group was placed in a classroom whose teacher did not show up for the day so we had an hour and a half to talk to them about whatever we wanted. We were able to share our testimonies and give a full out Gospel presentation. I sat down with a few girls to ask them about what we had said and see if they had any questions. Ancestor worship is so prevalent in the life of Zulus, pray that they will come to the understanding that Jesus is enough and no other sacrifice is needed. Over 200 students heard the Gospel yesterday. The Gospel does not return void, pray God continues to work in the hearts of the students we spoke to.
I am really excited for what God has planned next week. We are going on the University campuses in Durban to do some initiative evangelism sharing our faith. From the past two summer projects we've been told hearts are ripe and ready to hear about Jesus so I cannot wait to share the good news! We'll be on the campuses from here on out!
Blessings,
Lainey
Friday, July 16, 2010
2 weeks in: God is changing my heart
Some fun things I've done since my last update:
-watched a show of Zulu dancing
-attended a Zulu church service (luckily they translated most parts)
-ate at the most beautiful resaurant ever overlooking the "Valley of a Thousand Hills"
-watched the World Cup Final at a Fanpark
-ate some ostrich and kudu billtong (basically their version of beef jerky)
The Lord has really been working and showing up while we've been here. We finished up the Soccer and Netball clinic last week and have been working in an AIDS hospice center this week and also at a safe center for abandoned children.
On Sunday my team attended a Zulu church service in one of the townships nearby and it was one of the coolest experiences. We went in and they were singing worship songs at the top of their lungs in Zulu. It was beautiful. I feel like I got a glimpse of what Heaven will be like all singing praise to God in our own languages with all the Joy in the world.
I was beginning to think Durban was a normal touristy city with so much culture and vibrance and not a whole lot of poverty in sight, but I was wrong. Attending the service was the first time we'd traveled into the townships. A boy on my team mentioned "it looks like something out of a National Geographics Magazine, but in real life." The poverty is indescribable. I have never seen anything like it. The pain and suffering that we hear about Africa all the time becomes all the more real when it is staring you in the face. I am so thankful that church is a place of hope in such a dark place.
This week we've been working at Ukukhanya (translated to "a light in the darkness") AIDS hospice located in the township of Ntuzuma. Ntuzuma houses over 500,000 people and a 48% HIV infection rate. Basically one out of two people in Ntuzuma are infected with HIV. The mission of this home just amazes me. They take in people and children off the streets or whose families can no longer care for them and care for them with the most loving hearts. They truly are a light to these people. We've been helping rennovate the building, by painting the interior and exterior as well as tiling and picking up trash. When we are finished with all of the rennovations, the center will be able to house 28 people!
Yesterday my team visited a safe center for abandoned children, a place where children are housed for 6 months between being rescued and foster care or an orphanage. This is another amazing ministry. I really enjoyed loving on the kids and playing with them all. the staff are so awesome and they really do a great job in sharing Christ's love with the children. While both of these centers are hard places to work in because of all the hurt and pain, they are very hopeful places and the Lord is using them in such amazing ways, bringing people and children to Him.
Through my experiences at both centers the Lord has really just broken my heart for those who don't know him more than ever. He has shown me his heart for all people and nations. I have become more aware of my own need and everyone's need for a Savior. Please pray that the Lord will continue to use these experiences to change my heart and see the world and his people as he sees them, that it will be a lasting transformation. Please also be in prayer for the two centers, Ukukhanya and the Safe center, they have such amazing ministries who bring true light in darkness.
I'm not quite sure what is in store for next week, but I'm confident God will continue to show up. I do know as far as the weekend goes, we're going to a Sharks game (the local Durban Rugby team) and then possibly even some bungee jumping? We'll see.
Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement, I am so grateful!
Blessings,
Lainey
-watched a show of Zulu dancing
-attended a Zulu church service (luckily they translated most parts)
-ate at the most beautiful resaurant ever overlooking the "Valley of a Thousand Hills"
-watched the World Cup Final at a Fanpark
-ate some ostrich and kudu billtong (basically their version of beef jerky)
The Lord has really been working and showing up while we've been here. We finished up the Soccer and Netball clinic last week and have been working in an AIDS hospice center this week and also at a safe center for abandoned children.
On Sunday my team attended a Zulu church service in one of the townships nearby and it was one of the coolest experiences. We went in and they were singing worship songs at the top of their lungs in Zulu. It was beautiful. I feel like I got a glimpse of what Heaven will be like all singing praise to God in our own languages with all the Joy in the world.
I was beginning to think Durban was a normal touristy city with so much culture and vibrance and not a whole lot of poverty in sight, but I was wrong. Attending the service was the first time we'd traveled into the townships. A boy on my team mentioned "it looks like something out of a National Geographics Magazine, but in real life." The poverty is indescribable. I have never seen anything like it. The pain and suffering that we hear about Africa all the time becomes all the more real when it is staring you in the face. I am so thankful that church is a place of hope in such a dark place.
This week we've been working at Ukukhanya (translated to "a light in the darkness") AIDS hospice located in the township of Ntuzuma. Ntuzuma houses over 500,000 people and a 48% HIV infection rate. Basically one out of two people in Ntuzuma are infected with HIV. The mission of this home just amazes me. They take in people and children off the streets or whose families can no longer care for them and care for them with the most loving hearts. They truly are a light to these people. We've been helping rennovate the building, by painting the interior and exterior as well as tiling and picking up trash. When we are finished with all of the rennovations, the center will be able to house 28 people!
Yesterday my team visited a safe center for abandoned children, a place where children are housed for 6 months between being rescued and foster care or an orphanage. This is another amazing ministry. I really enjoyed loving on the kids and playing with them all. the staff are so awesome and they really do a great job in sharing Christ's love with the children. While both of these centers are hard places to work in because of all the hurt and pain, they are very hopeful places and the Lord is using them in such amazing ways, bringing people and children to Him.
Through my experiences at both centers the Lord has really just broken my heart for those who don't know him more than ever. He has shown me his heart for all people and nations. I have become more aware of my own need and everyone's need for a Savior. Please pray that the Lord will continue to use these experiences to change my heart and see the world and his people as he sees them, that it will be a lasting transformation. Please also be in prayer for the two centers, Ukukhanya and the Safe center, they have such amazing ministries who bring true light in darkness.
I'm not quite sure what is in store for next week, but I'm confident God will continue to show up. I do know as far as the weekend goes, we're going to a Sharks game (the local Durban Rugby team) and then possibly even some bungee jumping? We'll see.
Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement, I am so grateful!
Blessings,
Lainey
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Hello from Africa!
Sorry it has taken so long to update. We've pretty much been nonstop since stepping off the plane and internet access is hard to come by.
Fun facts about South Africa:
They love KFC here, so it is easy to explain to them where I am from and they get so excited! I'm pretty sure there are more KFCs here than in Kentucky.
Pedestrians don't ever really have the right of way, even when there is a green walk sign. I've already come close to getting hit a couple times.
They have grocery stores in their malls.
They call gas stations garages.
Hot dogs taste super funny, even for hot dogs.
Every child in town love Beyonce and Chris Brown.
It remains around 70 degrees even in the winter.
Waves at the beach are like 10 times larger than any I've seen on the east or west coast.
They have doughnuts that could compete with Krispy Kreme!
How we've spent our time here:
Along with all of the fun things I've learned about South Africa, the Lord has also taught be a lot about Himself and His love for all of the people here. We have spent this week running a soccer and netball clinic for the children in the city. Netball is a girls only sport (they said it would be super weird if a boy ever played) that is sort of a mix between ultimate and basketball. We have also had some training in the morning then we go to share our faith on the boardwalk with the people. From this I have learned a lot about the spiritual climate here in Durban. The religions here split pretty evenly between Hindu, Muslim, and "Christian", but most Christians here also take part in ancestor worship and do not have a very clear understanding of the Gospel at all. So far, we have come to recognize that so many people's hearts seem ready to here the gospel. Their openness and perception shows how the Lord is at work here. He is definitely calling people to himself. Please be in prayer for the people we are able to share and speak with!
On another note:
The city is BEAUTIFUL and I LOVE it here. I spent last night at the World Cup game. Okay, I wasn't really in the stadium, but I was right outside. About 10 people from our team were actually able to go into the game! The rest of us, walked down to the beach and watched the game at the FIFA Fan Fest! The excitement was insane, most people around us were from South Africa, but you would have thought they were Spaniards from how pumped the were. My experiences thus far have been unreal and I cannot wait to see what else is in store! I'll try and keep updating once a week!
Love and Blessings,
Lainey
Fun facts about South Africa:
They love KFC here, so it is easy to explain to them where I am from and they get so excited! I'm pretty sure there are more KFCs here than in Kentucky.
Pedestrians don't ever really have the right of way, even when there is a green walk sign. I've already come close to getting hit a couple times.
They have grocery stores in their malls.
They call gas stations garages.
Hot dogs taste super funny, even for hot dogs.
Every child in town love Beyonce and Chris Brown.
It remains around 70 degrees even in the winter.
Waves at the beach are like 10 times larger than any I've seen on the east or west coast.
They have doughnuts that could compete with Krispy Kreme!
How we've spent our time here:
Along with all of the fun things I've learned about South Africa, the Lord has also taught be a lot about Himself and His love for all of the people here. We have spent this week running a soccer and netball clinic for the children in the city. Netball is a girls only sport (they said it would be super weird if a boy ever played) that is sort of a mix between ultimate and basketball. We have also had some training in the morning then we go to share our faith on the boardwalk with the people. From this I have learned a lot about the spiritual climate here in Durban. The religions here split pretty evenly between Hindu, Muslim, and "Christian", but most Christians here also take part in ancestor worship and do not have a very clear understanding of the Gospel at all. So far, we have come to recognize that so many people's hearts seem ready to here the gospel. Their openness and perception shows how the Lord is at work here. He is definitely calling people to himself. Please be in prayer for the people we are able to share and speak with!
On another note:
The city is BEAUTIFUL and I LOVE it here. I spent last night at the World Cup game. Okay, I wasn't really in the stadium, but I was right outside. About 10 people from our team were actually able to go into the game! The rest of us, walked down to the beach and watched the game at the FIFA Fan Fest! The excitement was insane, most people around us were from South Africa, but you would have thought they were Spaniards from how pumped the were. My experiences thus far have been unreal and I cannot wait to see what else is in store! I'll try and keep updating once a week!
Love and Blessings,
Lainey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)