In South Africa
It seems like this could be my only opportunity to use the Internet while I am here, so I will let you know everything I do at this point.
I am in South Africa leading a group from Christ the King, and we are here visiting Dana Mahan, a missionary we support. Dana is not the typical missionary. He graduated from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on fundraising. Now, in South Africa, his objective is to connect the indigenous African Christian ministries with the abundant resources in the US. He spends his time meeting leaders from different groups and seeing how their ministry is run, then he helps them to prepare formal support requests and information packets. Another big part of his job us using short term missionaries to provide labor for these various ministries, and hopefully develop partnerships with them when they go back to the US.
This week we are working with New Covenant Baptist Church and helping with their home care/community feeding programs. Each morning, a group of volunteers from the church visit the homes of those who are sick and dying in the local township. Many of these people have aids, and few have the financial means to buy food or medication. In the afternoon, the church opens its doors to the dozens of orphans living on their own within the township. Most of them come from homes where the parents have died or abandoned them, and they have been forced to provide for themselves in a Child run household. Since most of them are too young to work, this is nearly impossible without the help of the local church. While we are here, we will accompany the home care volunteers, cook meals at lunch time, play with the children, and help them with their school work.
So far, the trip has been exciting. 12 people and one shower has been a challenge, but we seem to be getting along alright after one night. Please pray that the Lord will give me what I need to be a spiritual leader for a diverse group, and pray that each person on the trip will grow in their relationship with the Lord as they minister to others and spend time in the word. Tonight we will begin our bible study on the speeches in Acts and talk about how we can better share the gospel in different contexts.
I am in South Africa leading a group from Christ the King, and we are here visiting Dana Mahan, a missionary we support. Dana is not the typical missionary. He graduated from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on fundraising. Now, in South Africa, his objective is to connect the indigenous African Christian ministries with the abundant resources in the US. He spends his time meeting leaders from different groups and seeing how their ministry is run, then he helps them to prepare formal support requests and information packets. Another big part of his job us using short term missionaries to provide labor for these various ministries, and hopefully develop partnerships with them when they go back to the US.
This week we are working with New Covenant Baptist Church and helping with their home care/community feeding programs. Each morning, a group of volunteers from the church visit the homes of those who are sick and dying in the local township. Many of these people have aids, and few have the financial means to buy food or medication. In the afternoon, the church opens its doors to the dozens of orphans living on their own within the township. Most of them come from homes where the parents have died or abandoned them, and they have been forced to provide for themselves in a Child run household. Since most of them are too young to work, this is nearly impossible without the help of the local church. While we are here, we will accompany the home care volunteers, cook meals at lunch time, play with the children, and help them with their school work.
So far, the trip has been exciting. 12 people and one shower has been a challenge, but we seem to be getting along alright after one night. Please pray that the Lord will give me what I need to be a spiritual leader for a diverse group, and pray that each person on the trip will grow in their relationship with the Lord as they minister to others and spend time in the word. Tonight we will begin our bible study on the speeches in Acts and talk about how we can better share the gospel in different contexts.
