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We want to once again thank all who supported us with prayers and finances. If you missed out on Sunday, you can listen to our Trip Report/Talk here.

In addition to the talk and testimonials, you can also view the the updated photo slideshow online.

God worked in such a powerful way!

Wow… after such a great trip and a 36 hour marathon journey home, we arrived in Modesto about 8 pm on Friday! There were so many experiences, so many great laughs, and much learned.

We will be sharing these stories and more with everyone tomorrow at Catalyst.  See you there, fanfare and all!

The weekend was a full one!  We spent Saturday playing with the kids at the Hope for the Children orphan center (BVG sponsored).  When we pulled up, we were met by a marching band and a parade welcome– not lying!  It was a tremendous fun playing with these precious children.  I’ll never forget children resisting me tying their balloons because they want to play with them later.  Life is different here!  

Sunday was spent in two church worship gatherings.  Gavin did a great job preaching during the morning service.  He taught on Ruth, hope, and remaining in the ‘land of God’.  I was very impressed!  During the evening teaching, I shared from Acts 16; Paul and Silas, imprisoned but free.  It was a long, emotional, yet transforming day for our team.

Monday was a free day due to a South African national holiday.  We took the opportunity to visit the lion park!  “Wow! I’m telling you!”  I can’t tell how majestic these beasts are.  They are so gentle and strong in appearance– and, yes, the windows stayed up during that drive.  It’s no wonder this animal is used to describe our Lord, the Lion of Judah.

And… we have just about all caught some South African throat shredding, cough inducing, skin-melting fevered cold. Well, at least I did.  I could almost swear my fever was 102, but I wanted to see the lions. Many others have similar symptoms, but I guess it’s just a common cold bug here in South Africa this winter.  So far Mallory and Tara haven’t been effected (lucky them, trust me!).

We will be sitting down tonight to talk about how we share the fullness of this experience during Catalyst on Sunday night.  There are so many stories, so many thoughts, so much emotion– and so little time. Pray for us as we decide what needs to pass through the funnel to clearly communicate what the Lord has been speaking to us while here.

… and yes you are all invited!

Tomorrow is food parcel packaging for orphans, Thursday is delivery and departure!

For updated photos… click here.  

PHOTO NOTE:  The colorful building with myself and John Thomsen, AFnet team member, teaching are pictures from the Amazing Grace Young Adult Rally at the Tswhane University of Technology.  Those were great moments to address about 200 college students on the topic of redemption, grace, purpose and purity.

Well, a lot has happened since our last post… as you can expect.  I apologize for the delay in news.  We were having trouble with the webpage and uploading, but that is resolved now (your patience greatly appreciated)!

In addition to web issues, It has been a whirlwind of a week!  As the dust has settled and I think back through it– we’ve visited quite a few orphan centers and day cares, 2 public schools, and had a 3-day Young Adult Rally at the local university.  Without exception, the most touching moments of the week have been at the Big Valley Grace sponsored orphan center. After seeing these blessed souls, it brings me great joy (and good pride) to know that Catalyst attendees are aiding heavily in this effort.  

Never in my life have I seen impoverished children so joyous and beautiful as these.  Their school uniforms would be considered Good Will questionable and their shoes are worn and ragged, but it’s their best. Knowing that they are without parents on the eve of Father’s day has been tough for me.  Yes, I know they have a Father much greater than I’ll ever be.  But either way, as one with children, I found myself wanting to adopt them all.

I just about broke down today when I realized the sores on the head of one little boy were the result of HIV/AIDS.  He is about 7 years old and I wonder if he’ll even make it to 8.  Real and present truths like this have overwhelmed me to the verge of tears so many times this week.  My emotions are like the tides; high and low.  But I fight off the tears in their presence.  What kind of hope is the “ugly cry of heartache” to a people so hungry for hope?  No, that’s what showers are for; washing off the dust of South Africa with the tears of brokenness for South Africa and it’s orphans.

The call of James about true religion being for the widowed and the orphan has real depth of meaning here.  No matter how sad these realizations have been, I can definitely see such great potential in these kids (that’s if they outlive their circumstances).

Oh, there is so much more… and not enough time!  The young adult rally was great (a lot of dancing– I’m telling you!), the sausage roll experience was amazingly unique (and good), and I’m convinced that the procession to the throne in heaven will be led by an African children’s choir (simply amazing!).  

Hope to have more soon… and I also hope to upload more pictures soon.  Transferring photos online is a considerable cost for AFnet, but Dan will be able to help me on Monday)!  God bless and keep praying!

Just a quick note, the website had an issue and with out the websites administrators available nobody was able to do anything about it. I was able to get in and temporarily fix the issue causing the errors. Until the administrators of the website come back from vacation the site forum and several other features are disabled. Good news is, we can post updates!

I just spoke with the Africa team (Mallory) on the phone. Everything is going well and Shawn is going to write an update and email it to me before they call it a night. It is currently 9:50pm there.

Mallory did say that many from the Africa team have been able to meet the children they have sponsored and others have sponsored. I personally can not wait for Mallory to come back home and tell me all about the two girls that we decided to sponsor.

Look forward to an updated later today, I will post it the second I receive it from Shawn.

Here are some other updates I found on Gavin’s blog to get you by until Shawn writes again.

http://gavinthayer.com/africa/?p=15
http://gavinthayer.com/africa/?p=14

Jerad Hill

We got our BAGS! We are missing one, but the missing one only has sheet and towels for AFnet. Johan had to pay off a baggage claims-man to get them though (yikes). Some gifts for AFnet were stolen from the bags, but not too significant a loss– praise God!

Sunday started enthusiastically in worship at the Celebration Christian Center in Sochanguve. There was more singing, dancing, and shouting than I’ve experienced at church in a long time. For a continent so plagued by hope ravishing circumstances, South Africans know how to celebrate.

During the service, I was able to share about how Heaven Came Down; through the Torah, the Person of Jesus, and the Power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (which is today on the church Calendar). Following a great fellowship lunch, we shared the story of Daniel and the veggies! It was a great opportunity to challenge young people to choose “not to defile” or compromise their purity in a world of great enticement.

Monday morning was a blast! William, Mallory, Tara, and Nichole all shared with students at the Sochanguve Technical High School. The concrete room was an echo chamber of Raggae music, shouts, and laughter. William shared from Daniel 3 and the Fiery Furnace– and did a great job! The ladies quickly followed up with real life testimonies and strategic application. It was a great experience!

Click here for a small slide show of trip photos. Stay tuned for more updates!

Today was a great day! We got up early and with little effort (due to wearing the same clothes), we were ready and off to the Pilansberg Game Reserve. We traveled in AFnet’s Combis, the traditional taxis of South Africa, with packed lunches in tow.

It wasn’t long before we passed the local townships and were faced with the utter poverty of mine-worker squater camps adjacent to the lucrative Platinum mines. Our team had their first look at the drastic differences in the social cultures of South Africa.

Pressing on we arrived at the game park to see the wonder of God’s landscape and animal world creativity. We witnessed real live warthogs, elephants, zebras (which were almost eating by a croc), hippos, kudu, rhinos, giraffes, baboons, and mischevious monkeys! What a treat! This place makes the zoo look silly!

We had a great time with the AFnet team and look forward to tomorrow at Church! It’ll will be a joy to worship with these kind people.

** By the way… no bags, and I got to drive today! (on the wrong side of the road– look out!)

I just have a few short minutes online…so I wanted to let everyone know that all 10 of us arrived safely in South Africa. 

Our luggage, on the other hand, is a whole different story.  Of the 19 bags we checked, only 3 of them arrived here with us.  We are hoping and praying they show up tomorrow.  PLEASE BE PRAYING for the lost luggage.  More than just having our stuff in it, we were bringing over a ton of items for AfNet.

On a fun note…we met the lead guitarist/singer from the Christian band Tree63 on our flight from JFK to South Africa.