Jen here, bringing you up to date of day four and five of our South Africa missions journey. We feel truly honored to be here, partnering with Living Hope and doing the Lord's work in the Cape Town townships of Red Hill, Masiphumelele(Masi), Capricorn, Oceanview and Overcome.
The construction team continues their work at Living Way, putting doors in place for life-skill building classrooms, building an overhang for an administrative building, installing new exhaust fans into rooms to protect workers making diapers and candles for a living, among other projects. They witnessed a devastating fire in Masi from their construction site, affecting 10 or more families. Please lift those families up in prayer...their well being, health, strength and hope as they attempt to salvage what little shelter, land and belongings they had.
A few of our team members held a health care retreat today for about 22 workers from the Healthcare Center at Living Hope. They traveled to Seal Island by boat, a first boat ride for many of the workers. The time of focus on spiritual growth, prayer, team building and communication skills left the health care workers feeling refreshed and it really seemed to lift their spirits.
This was day four of five for our "Boomerang Express" (Australian Outback-themed) vacation bible school. It's been an amazing experience all around, and we feel privileged to work alongside the life skill educators that work with these kids in regular afternoon programs. Their passion for God, His word and these kids is amazing and quite inspiring. Despite the circumstances the people in these townships live in, they are filled with so much joy, love and praise for the Lord. There is no doubt God is at work here. Both kids and volunteers have come to confess their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior this week. Even a blow-up Kangaroo, appropriately named "Joey," was able to lift the spirits of unexpecting pedestrians...draw smiles, waves and cheers...while leaning out of the passenger window of our van, as he made his way from Red Hill through Oceanview and into Masi.
Yesterday evening, we traveled into the Cape Town harbor waterfront or a relaxing evening of shopping and dining. It's quite a different experience from the areas we are working in on a daily basis. So hard to believe the amount of wealth and poverty here at the same time.
You can check out a couple more photos below. Please keep our team, the teams we're partnering with, and everyone God brings into our presence in your prayers as our missions journey wraps up in the coming days. And just continue to praise God for all he is doing here and pray that his work would only continue bringing people hope and transformation by belief in Him.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Day 5 in South Africa
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Day Three
Hello!
Casey writing here. So Cape Town is more beautiful than I had imagined. I thought it would be desert like but it's not at all. I have pictures below. Today was our 2nd day of VBS or "Holiday Club" as South Africans call it, and everything is going smoothly. Everyone who has been on a mission trip out of the country always comes back and says they don't have words to describe what they've seen. I totally understand now. For once in my life, I'm speechless. You hear about poverty in Africa and you've seen pictures of it. Nothing compares to experiencing it. Unbelievable. Entire families living in a one room shack that is smaller than most of our living rooms. The children see EVERYTHING that goes on in that house. They are exposed to things that are unfathomable.
What has been so humbling is attending a church service in a township called Masiphumelele where extreme poverty surrounds and hearing the congregation praise God. A woman gave her testimony and talked about all the great things God has done for her. She has nothing!! Made me feel so ungrateful.
On a lighter note we are having such a good time here. I'm loving bonding with new people and getting to know everyone better. We laugh a lot. The Team House manager, Clynton, has quite the opinion of Americans and gives us a hard time at any chance he can, got the van stuck in the sand. Who saved the day? "Stupid American girls :)" 
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday!
Greetings,
First day of VBS and Construction is complete and it was AWESOME! The VBS crew divided up in our teams this morning and went off to each of our townships. The construction team continued their improvements and new additions at the facilities of Living Way. We concluded our evening with a well deserved South African meal and a relaxing time of fellowship as we shared our daily experiences and also shared with the group how God called all of us in His own special way for this journey. God revealed incredible things to all of us today. It is amazing the joy expressed by the kids and families considering the poverty they endure every day. We all were encouraged and blown away by the Life Skill Educators (with Living Hope)we are working with. Each and everyone of these young men and women are truly a blessing to these kids and their families and we all should praise God for these remarkable leaders. Please contiuing praying for everyone involved with this journey asking Him to continuing leading us. Praise God!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
South Africa 2009- Sunday
We have spent two days here in South Africa absorbing the beauty of this country, meeting the people we will be working with, and getting to know each other better.
Yesterday both the construction and the VBS teams spent time with the phenomenal people here at Living Hope preparing for the upcoming week.
This morning we attended two incredible church services at King of Kings Baptist in Noordhoek and at Masiphumelele Baptist in the township of Masiphumelele. Both congregations welcomed us with open arms and ushered us into the presence of the Almighty in their own unique way. We experienced worship in three languages: English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa.
This afternoon we traveled to Green Market Square, Boulder Beach (Simons Town), Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope. As we rode around Cape Town sightseeing our bond as a team was stregthened by our time spend together.
Tomorrow the "real" work begins. Please pray for us as the Construction Team begins their work at Living Way and the VBS team takes the love of Jesus Christ to the children in five different townships.
We are so blessed to be here. Thank you for your prayers and support.
"Makanaka"= the Lord is Great!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The 2nd Great Day of Service for 2009!!!
Saturday - September 19, 2009
Almost 900 volunteers served at locations across Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, and Spring Hill! Volunteers cleaned, painted, trimmed trees, prayerwalked, played musical instruments, fed the homeless, visited with the elderly, packed food boxes, and so much more! The rain did not keep BBC members from serving on Saturday for our second Great Day of Service for 2009! Check out these stories:
The South Campus food drive was so successful that Publix ran out of peanut butter!
The group at Brightstone went to be a blessing but said, “I personally believed our group was more blessed by the purpose of Brightstone to the mentally challenged adults and how this service has given them joy in their lives.”
1,500 boxes were packed at Feed the Children – and that was just during the morning shift!
Here’s a report from the class that served at the homes of 2 widows, “It was so cool that when each of the volunteers left their homes in Franklin and Brentwood it was pouring down rain and when we got to our locations in Nashville the rain stopped. There’s the miracle of the rain stopping and the incredible faith of everyone that volunteered to leave their homes in the rain.”
Please check out this link to see the Fox 17 report that was done on a class that held a baby shower for World Relief. http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/wztv_vid_1457.shtml
From the group that served at Carestone: “The residents especially enjoyed the kids being there. I think for all of us it was an important reminder that even simple things like playing bingo or just visiting can make someone's day!”
“To our new friends at Brentwood Baptist Church, none of this would have been accomplished without your tremendous initiative!!! You are the best!!!” From the art specialist at Kenrose Elementary after a group came and worked outdoors in the mud and rain.
THANK YOU FOR SERVING!!!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Graceworks Food Drive Results!!!
Thanks to everyone who participated in Sunday’s BIG GIFT to the hungry of Williamson County.
1,994 people returned to the church in the 8 hour period to bring food.
Graceworks weighed the goods – all 24,000 pounds of it. They are eternally grateful.
Our people truly responded to the increased need in our community. Approximately 1,400 participated last year. So – we saw a 33% increase both in people involved and groceries provided.
Interesting fact – in past years, our gifts have kept the food pantry stocked well into December. However, with the increased demand, our increase in donations will still only last them TWO MONTHS. Keep Graceworks and the hungry in your prayers.
Thank you!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Stories from Brazil
Sunday was a rocky day for me. For no apparent reason my blood pressure was extremely low on the bus as we were going to church . I felt weak and spent the church service laying down in the church office. I felt bad all day. Let me add that I have never had blood pressure issues in my life. I slept very little Sunday night so I prayed essentially all night long.
I prayed that no health issues of any knid would take our focus off of what we came to Rio to do-to share the love of Christ.
I prayed that Satan would not be allowed any space3 in our week and that he would not be allowed to take away my joy. I felt that there was someone special I needed to witness to and I did not want to miss it.
The first paitent in the medical clinic was a 44 year old woman named Josefa carried in by her husband accompanied by her son. She had been wainting in line for hours and had almost passed out. She was also hyperventilating and physically distraught. Her blood pressure was 244/144. I spoke to her in a quiet voice telling her we were here because of the love of Jesus and we would take care of her and she did not need to be afraid.
We gave her a BP pill ahnd had her go lay down in a room across the hall for about an hour. When I rechecked her BP it had gone down some and she said that she felt better.
I asked her if she knew what it took to go to heaven and she answered doing good things for others and being good. I told her that I wanted to share with her about my friend Jesus. I then witnessed to her using the Evangecube.
I asked her if she was ready to accept the wonderful figt of salvation. She asked a lot of questions which I answered but then stated that she wanted to think about it. I told her that I had been praying for her since I first saw her this morning and then had my interpretor read to her my three favorite verses: John 3:16, John 16:33 and Romans 8:38-39. With tears in my eyes I told her I could not go thru life without Jesus and I wanted her to have Jesus in her life too. She then told me that she wanted to have Jesus. She and her husband Claudio and her son Claudio Jr. all prayed to receive Jesus. Tears streamed down both our cheeks - it was a glorious moment for me and an eternal moment for them.
-From Raja O'Brien
As I entered the room at th leprosy hospital there was a young lady staring at me from her bed. I walked over and began to talk with her. Ana had been in the hospital for 3 months and had been treated for over 5 years for leprosy. She has a very resistant illness. I took her hand and begin to ask her about her family. She looked at me and said that noone had been to visit her. Her family had abandoned her and the hospital administration was going to find a room for her on the grounds of the Leprosy Colony.
She said she had no one. As I leaned over her bed and held her scared hands I told her about the one who would never abandon her and loved her so very much and was preparing a home for her in a place where there would be no sicknes, pain or sorrow. Tears filled her eyes and dropped on her pillow. I asked her if she would like to meet the one who created her and loved her. She nodded her head and we prayed together..Now she has a family larger than she ever imagined!
How blessed we are to be a part what God is doing this week.
In His Blessed Service
Sharon Fairchild