Hey haven't had internet access in a while, for about a week and a half, and just wanted to update eceryone on how things have been going. ... "they are going well!" Hahaha, I promise, I'll put up a blog in the next couple of days!
See ya August 3....
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Ultimately In Control, Ultimately Sovereign, Utlimately Good
Lately God has been teaching us all of his goodness, and that He is ultimately Sovereign! This means a lot considering all the poverty we are seeing. Sometimes its discouraging, and it makes us not want to have to endure the sight of people suffering. More than ever, the one thing I'[m learning is that God is Sovereign, and has planned everything out before we could even think of it, and that everything he does is for a reason.
When it comes to lessons, I'm learning that I can do NOTHING in my own power. It is only in the power of God that things can be completed. It is in my weakness that His strength is perfected! I'm having to relinquish everything that I do to Him, and for someone who is usually delegating, it has been the task of now, but a lesson for forever.
When it comes to lessons, I'm learning that I can do NOTHING in my own power. It is only in the power of God that things can be completed. It is in my weakness that His strength is perfected! I'm having to relinquish everything that I do to Him, and for someone who is usually delegating, it has been the task of now, but a lesson for forever.
Its about 12:30 in the Afternoon
Well it's 6am American time, and Noon South African time. I find myself at home because I'm sick. So a little bed rest and a little bit of time with Jesus, and things will get better. There seems to be something going around, because most of us can't seem to hold our food, you eat and it seems to go right through you. So at this point, we're just praying that God would divinely intervene in whatever it is. I just wanted to get you guys updated.
We've been holding a holiday club, which is the equivalent of an American Vacation Bible School. It's been one of the greatest experiences. One the kids see the IMPACT truck on the street they start running for the holiday club site. I've never seen kids that excited and chasing after us to come and get a taste of Jesus for the day. We are doing this in conjuction with a group called Africa Jam! They are amazing, high energy, vocalists, entertainers, and young men and women who desire for the gospel to reach all.
Jesemiel and I are co-leading a small group of children. Now what we never a
anticipated is how much American culture impacts other countries. They wanted a name, but something that signifies the hip=hop culture. They were calling out things likt 2Pacs gang, or 3-6Mafia, and then G-Unit. Well we wanted to appease them. So we started thinking, how can we take something they like, and use it to take the gospel to the rest, how can we make an Impact on these kids individually? G-UNIT!!!!! Yes, we found it. When the team leaders, Jesimiel and I say G-UNIT! They say GOD's UNIT!!! This is something that will always play through their minds when they say G-UNIT!!! Yeah, mission accomplished. We came up with ways to rep, and the kids did a south African dance called cut the cake.... This joint is amazingThat's it for now....
For those of you desiring to see pictures, please refer to my facebook page, or Jesemiel's passbook page.
ONE South Africa! One body, New Perspective, and Eternal Life
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Pictures from Evangelism Events
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Day 1, 2, and 3 in South Africa
Hey Everyone. Greetings from South Africa. Thus far it has been the most amazing trip of my life.
DAY 1: Briefing and Preperation
As of July 3, I disappeared. I hadn't left the country, just gone into briefing mode. We spent the night in a hotel near Dulles. We did group bonding excercises, learned a little about what we were going to do, and spend some time in prayer.
At about 10 pm or so we were dismissed to do last minute packing and just socialize. But having been up so early, we were so tired. Around 11:30 or so Jesemiel wanted to find a place to split his belongings because his baggage was overweight. We wanted to suprise Jesimiel for his birthday, but he wanted to watch t.v. with us. So we made him leave, and acted like we were going to bed.
At the end of the night, we had no cake, no candles, and 4 bucks. We went down to the convenient store in the hotel and bought a bucket of cookie dough ice cream, went to his room and sang happy birthday really loud. Hotel security rushed up and sent us back to our rooms. But hey... we had fellowship and bonding time.
Day 2: All Day Plane Ride
The plane ride was a little over 20 hours. We took off from Washington Dulles International on South African Airways. We had a stopover in Dakar Senegal. Mind you, just to get to Dakar was a 91/2 hour flight. At the end of hour 3, was not a little bored, I was more than bored and tired at the same time. We sat on the plane for a little over an hour getting refueld and the changing of crews. Knowing our team, we were going to take advantage of every opportunity to make some noise. So at the stop, we played Around the World and the "if you could bring two things on a trip, what would it be" game that Jesimiel made up.
We watched the Pink Panther movie, which was absolutely hilarious. It's a must see!
Then another plane to Johannesburg, South Africa. Then we had to go through customs and recheck our baggage. A couple of airport porters helped us get our things together and teach us a bit of Zulu. "Son dote, ujama?" I can't really rememebr if that's right, but it means, "How are you?"
From then on a 2 hour flight to Cape Town, our final destination. By this time, everyone was ready to get off the plane. It had been the longest flight EVER! Everyones feet were swollen, people were hitting the walls, (i.e. at thier wits end).
FINALLY We reached Cape Town. It was soooo cold! Winter time, to the point where I wished I had more than a sweat shirt and gloves. When you get to South Africa, you expect to taste the heat of Africa, the true almost Saharn climate. Ignorantly, I ignored the advice of staff, thinking that I'm not a very cold person. At night the temperature drops to about 20/30 degrees. I sleep in sweat pants, two pairs of socks, gloves and a sweatshirt. Its crazy... who woulda thought that the climate would be so anti-african paradigmish.
It's been such a growing expereinece. Already there are certain sacrifices we've had to make.
Soon after, we made it to the guest house, which was absolutely beautiful. My roommates are Tiffany(UConn), Julie(U of Miami), and Sardee (Howard). There all amazing people. We each are different with different personalities. Tiffany is the cool, calm, and collective one. Julie, is the highly energetic and excited about everything. Sardee is the thinker. And I, I'm just me, loud, funny, and always hyper. At the airport, Britanne and Knetta dared me that I wouldn't speak for 10 WHOLE MINUTES! Well let's just say I love bets.
Today was an action packed day. We went to bed at like 1 pm, and woke up at like 7:30p.
DAY 1: Briefing and Preperation
As of July 3, I disappeared. I hadn't left the country, just gone into briefing mode. We spent the night in a hotel near Dulles. We did group bonding excercises, learned a little about what we were going to do, and spend some time in prayer.
At about 10 pm or so we were dismissed to do last minute packing and just socialize. But having been up so early, we were so tired. Around 11:30 or so Jesemiel wanted to find a place to split his belongings because his baggage was overweight. We wanted to suprise Jesimiel for his birthday, but he wanted to watch t.v. with us. So we made him leave, and acted like we were going to bed.
At the end of the night, we had no cake, no candles, and 4 bucks. We went down to the convenient store in the hotel and bought a bucket of cookie dough ice cream, went to his room and sang happy birthday really loud. Hotel security rushed up and sent us back to our rooms. But hey... we had fellowship and bonding time.
Day 2: All Day Plane Ride
The plane ride was a little over 20 hours. We took off from Washington Dulles International on South African Airways. We had a stopover in Dakar Senegal. Mind you, just to get to Dakar was a 91/2 hour flight. At the end of hour 3, was not a little bored, I was more than bored and tired at the same time. We sat on the plane for a little over an hour getting refueld and the changing of crews. Knowing our team, we were going to take advantage of every opportunity to make some noise. So at the stop, we played Around the World and the "if you could bring two things on a trip, what would it be" game that Jesimiel made up.
We watched the Pink Panther movie, which was absolutely hilarious. It's a must see!
Then another plane to Johannesburg, South Africa. Then we had to go through customs and recheck our baggage. A couple of airport porters helped us get our things together and teach us a bit of Zulu. "Son dote, ujama?" I can't really rememebr if that's right, but it means, "How are you?"
From then on a 2 hour flight to Cape Town, our final destination. By this time, everyone was ready to get off the plane. It had been the longest flight EVER! Everyones feet were swollen, people were hitting the walls, (i.e. at thier wits end).
FINALLY We reached Cape Town. It was soooo cold! Winter time, to the point where I wished I had more than a sweat shirt and gloves. When you get to South Africa, you expect to taste the heat of Africa, the true almost Saharn climate. Ignorantly, I ignored the advice of staff, thinking that I'm not a very cold person. At night the temperature drops to about 20/30 degrees. I sleep in sweat pants, two pairs of socks, gloves and a sweatshirt. Its crazy... who woulda thought that the climate would be so anti-african paradigmish.
It's been such a growing expereinece. Already there are certain sacrifices we've had to make.
Soon after, we made it to the guest house, which was absolutely beautiful. My roommates are Tiffany(UConn), Julie(U of Miami), and Sardee (Howard). There all amazing people. We each are different with different personalities. Tiffany is the cool, calm, and collective one. Julie, is the highly energetic and excited about everything. Sardee is the thinker. And I, I'm just me, loud, funny, and always hyper. At the airport, Britanne and Knetta dared me that I wouldn't speak for 10 WHOLE MINUTES! Well let's just say I love bets.
Today was an action packed day. We went to bed at like 1 pm, and woke up at like 7:30p.
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