2 months in South Africa... So how was your trip?

It feels like it was just yesterday that Noah and I were sitting on our couch praying about whether we were going to leave our lives in Colorado  to travel half way across the world to take a load of students to Africa.  Little did we know that in the next 7 months God would invade our lives so strongly.  Our story of Africa is a story of the power of the Holy Spirit affecting the people we ministered to, the students on our team, and how he moved in our own lives.  

Belize

The Journey began with a few weeks and a beard trim in Belize, where we prepared the students to go to Africa.  It was a refreshing time of prayer and preparation for ourselves as well.

Games in the Township

Giving kids fruit in the township

Once in Africa we were able to work with many different ministries.  To get a recap of the different things we did you can look back at our old posts, or visit ywamdpinza.blogspot.com.


We blinked and suddenly we found ourselves in Johannesburg for our last few days before going home.  These last few days were spent de-briefing the team, which is a time for the students to look back at all of what God has done in their lives and look forward to figuring out what it will look like to incorporate their experience to their lives back home.

Hannah at the Orphanage

Joanie loving on the kiddos

Duck, Duck, Goose in the Township

It was incredible to walk along side these students and see how God challenged each and every one of them.  One by one we saw the students responding to God's challenges, encountering Him in the specific ways that God had designed.

Alicia getting her hair braided

The students overcame many issues that they brought to DTS with them.  Many of them grew up in Christian homes but had been taking steps away from God in their high school years.

Josh handing out Christmas gifts

For some of them, God was telling them how much he loves them and giving them His Truth of self-worth.  For others, he was showing them what it looks like to be faithful in everything, even when the circumstances don't seem to be very easy.  For all of them, God spoke in many ways they never had experienced. 

Xoli & Dani (Xoli's Name starts with a click)

The kids loved to climb on Bryden all day long

The students would agree when I say that they came home completely changed.  It is the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit; He changes us and makes us into his liking.  

Lane and Emily playing guitar while we evangelized

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

John 15:5

God healed many people through the students' prayers

The Bus Stop Skit 

Bryden and the Gang leveling the
ground for a future school

Here we are back in Colorado, processing everything we experienced.  We grew so used to having a bunch of boogers around (the students) that it is unbelievable that we actually have some quiet time to ourselves.  Tracy started working again last week, and I am currently taking classes at Liberty University Online for a bachelor in Religion and Biblical Studies.

Alicia, Joanie and Hannah pray for a Zulu woman

Sorting non-perishables at Food Bank of South Africa

 

This is still just another step in our journey.  We have big plans for our future, and we are just waiting for God to give us clear direction.  Until next time....