Memories from South Africa

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:16

My mission trip to South Africa began with a step of obedience and a leap of faith. In mid August I was informed by my friend that there was an opportunity to join the team with North Carolina Baptist’s on Missions to Johannesburg, South Africa. I had just enough money in my missions account to cover the cost. I debated asking for financial assistance but felt God was leading me to use the money I had. Every time I would pray for Him to provide He would say “I already have”. I was hesitant to use all my savings because I was comfortable with having that safety net when depósitos were required. I was obedient to God’s direction and made the commitment and deposit. As usual, God has been faithful and already replenishing my funds. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in praying for me and the teams as well as your financial support. I would be unable to answer God’s call to serve internationally without your support.

My previous post describes the first part of our week in South Africa working in Emaus with Pastor Musa. On Wednesday, we returned to Johannesburg to spend two days working on the property of Village of Hope. On our first day in Johannesburg, before we left for Emaus, we visited a baby house for Door of Hope Orphanage. Door of Hope was started in 1999 with a door and a box in a wall where babies could be left and cared for versus being abandoned on the streets to die. Since that time, around 1700 babies have been saved. Property has been purchased on the outskirts of Johannesburg to develop a village for the orphans that are not adopted.

The first day our team of 13 made bricks that will be used in constructing houses for the toddlers. Once we removed the forms from bricks previously poured, the forms were oiled so that the hardened concrete would be easily removed. I was on the oiling team. Afterwards, the forms were reassembled and concrete poured into them. It takes two days for the concrete to set and harden.

The second day, I had the opportunity to work in the vegetable garden with David, the Zimbabwean who works on the property. I enjoyed pulling weeds with Ashley and getting to know her better. We pulled weeds, prepped the beds and planted seeds for beets, corn and beans. After lunch, we gathered eggs and chased rabbits away from the garden. There are two rabbits that used to be pets but now run free. Sometimes they get in the vegetable garden and eat the plants. When our fellow teammates accused us of being mean chasing them, we responded it was “babies or bunnies.” They were eating the babies food. During the afternoon rain storm, David told us about holidays in South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as the recent political climate in Zimbabwe and the current political climate in South Africa.

Saturday, our team visited a wildlife park and we saw Impala, Wildebeest, Giraffe, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards and lions. I even got to pet a lion cub. That evening, there were intense thunderstorms all around. When we returned to the village, the thatch roof house on the next property was on fire due to a direct lightening strike. That night as I watched the vibrant lightening show, I marveled that the same God who was displaying His power in the storm is the same God who speaks to me quietly and loves me personally. Sunday, we worshipped with the members of Berea Baptist Church, the church that partners with Door of Hope. We sang hymns and worship music, all while many of the members worshipped with song and dance. As we sang the song with the wording “Our God defeats HIV-aids” and “Our God defeats Ebola”, you realize you are in a different country than America.

A few more memories:

• I never got used to driving on the left side of the road. Left turns were a bit unnerving. Seemed like we were destined for a head on collision.

In the tribal communities when a man wants to marry, he has to give the bride’s family a cow. During a conversation with Anesu, one of the workers at Village of Hope, he said (I presume jokingly) a good woman was worth 10 cows, to which I responded I would probably be worth only two. For the rest of the week, my new found friend would evaluate my worth. I believe I completed the trip with a worth of 7 cows.