SNAPshot a day: norwegian

Not feeling the greatest so I needed a taste from home...

My dad makes tinapanakaga, Norwegian pancakes, once a year at Christmas. I have made it a few times while here in Africa because it makes me feel at home.

SNAPshot a day: godfirst

We attend a church on Sunday nights to have the chance to worship and hear a sermon in our heart language. godfirst is much like a church you would find in America and feels almost like The Summit. What I like the most is to see their desire to be a light in Johannesburg and reach all peoples with the love of Christ.

We meet in a comedy club at the local casino.

SNAPshot a day: football fun

More football fun. We went to watch the biggest rivals in South Africa's Premier Soccer League battle it out...

Amakhosi (Chiefs) vs. Amabhakabhaka (Pirates)

SNAPshot a day: waiting

Have you ever waited 9 hours to see a doctor?

We did. After going to a clinic who referred us to the hospital who then tried to refer us back to a clinic... we finally got to see a doctor. But what was awesome was to see God working... A man named George told us to go speak to a sister (nurse) and ask why we should go to another clinic. He helped us with getting an appointment to see the doctor. He called a sister who then put our papers near the top. The final verdict after all this was that our friend must come back on Monday. Welcome to South Africa.

SNAPshot a day: recycling collector

Men from Soweto travel all throughout the suburbs digging in rubbish bins to find recycling. They take the recycling found, place it in a huge bag on wheels and travel long distances to turn it in for a small amount of money. They work so hard for very little. I value that they are working hard and try to make it easier for them by placing all my recycling in a separate trash bag.

This man was outside our gate the night before trash pickup.

SNAPshot a day: HIV testing

As we drove through Snake Park today, there was a HIV Testing & Counseling booth set up...

Here are some disturbing facts about HIV/AIDS:

• 5.6 million people in South Africa are infected - the world's highest number.
• 22 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa with 1.5 million dying each year
• 33 million world wide with 2 million deaths per year

I know many people, some are close and dear friends, who are infected with HIV. Please pray for the people of Soweto... pray they would understand that they have an even more serious sickness... the disease of sin. Pray they would accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, only He can heal us both physically and spiritually.

Reminds me of Mark 2:1-12... four men carry their paralytic friend to Jesus to be healed. Once Jesus sees their faith, he says to the man "your sins are forgiven." Jesus dealt with the real issue first... that this man was spiritually sick... then Jesus healed him physically. Is there any obstacle in your life that you are asking God to handle but not realizing that what He wants is for you to be restored to Him above all else?

SNAPshot a day: questions

Here are some of the more serious questions we have been asked in Girls Club... so pray.

SNAPshot a day: my boyfriend

What an amazing boyfriend I have :)

SNAPshot a day: tuck shops

Tuck Shops. You can find a few of these on every street in Soweto. They sell fruit, veg, bread, snacks, sweeties, ect. Many of them also sell bottled drinks... you buy the glass bottle one time and then trade it in every time for a different kind of soda. Shops are made of wood and tarp, corrugated metal, or concrete. Some shops are in people's homes.

Tuck Shops are very convenient... you can walk a few houses down instead of having to take a taxi to a grocery store which is usually far away.

SNAPshot a day: lion cubs

Fun at the Lion Park...

As you can see, the lion cubs were not too interested in being played with. Which is probably why I got bit! He latched onto my chest for a few seconds... pretty painful and I have a nice mark to prove it. But how many people can say they were bit by a lion?

SNAPshot a day: hair did

Getting my hair did... while having some fun with Momo.

SNAPshot a day: adoption

This post is dedicated to the Allison's who are adopting from Rwanda. I'm wearing a shirt they made in order to raise money for their adoption. If you would like to donate, you can find out how on their blog.

I have a dream... Lori and I want to have an orphanage one day in Africa :) But this orphanage, will also be a safe haven for children and youth in the area. A place where children can come to have fun, get help with problems and just feel loved. This orphanage/safe haven will be focused on raising these children to love the Lord but also giving them life skills to make it in the world they live in. We hope through our orphanage many families in America will be able to adopt and provide a loving home for the many suffering children of Africa.

SNAPshot a day: cow leg

And now I have tried a leg of a cow...

SNAPshot a day: headlines

I always enjoy reading newspaper headlines on street posts in Soweto... whether it is true or not is another story.

SNAPshot a day: valentines

Happy Valentines Day!

But more importantly...

Happy 35th Anniversary Mom & Dad! Your godly marriage is such an example to me... I pray that I have that one day :)

I'm praying you make it another 35 years! Thanks for being such amazing parents. I love you both very much.

SNAPshot a day: baptism pool

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4

SNAPshot a day: cooking legs

I have yet to try this food... cow legs. As we were walking around today, passing out newspapers, we came upon this restaurant of sorts. Kenneth began to explain the process of cooking legs...

The cow legs are taken and chargrilled in order to burn the fur off. Afterwards, the legs are cleaned with water and soap and scrubbed till they are white. Lastly, they are boiled and eaten.

What is amazing to me is that I have been here for almost 2 years and still continue to learn a different aspect of culture everyday!!

SNAPshot a day: time with God

The most important part of my day is my time spent with God each morning. I enjoy reading His Word, journaling about what spoke to me, and praying for ministry, loved ones and His glory to be made known.

Without this time each day... I can do nothing... "I am the vine, you are the brances. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). If I am not spending time with God, how can I pour into the lives of others? Pray that I would desire spending time with Him above all else!!

What I am currently reading...

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

Jesus cried in agony and poured out his heart before God, His father. He prayed for the Father to take the cup of suffering that He would face on the cross... but after pleading, he said willingly, "yet not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). Jesus submitted to the Father even to the point of death. What are you submitting to... your own will and desires or to the Father and His will?

If Jesus submitted to His own desires... He would not have died on the cross, we would not have been saved from our sins and we would be spending eternity in hell without the presence of God. Thank you Jesus!!

Are we always so open and honest with God? This makes me question... when was the last time I cried out to the point of tears on behalf of a loved one who does not know Him? Or for someone who is sick and dying? Or even for my own situation? But after praying to the Father, we should leave it in His hands in reverent submission. That means when we are facing a trial and ask for deliverance, we must then be willing to say that His will be done, not ours. We can rest in the promises that He will never leave us, He knows what is best for us and He hears our cries for help. We must trust that His ways are higher than ours and His purpose alone will stand.

Jesus prayed. Submitted. Continued the Father's work.

SNAPshot a day: life orientation

We have the opportunity to teach Life Orientation (LO) at Dr. Mary Primary School on Thursdays and Fridays each week from 11:30-12:30pm.

LO is required for all South African students from grades 1-12. They cover topics such as health and sex education, human rights, self-esteem and much more.

Praise God that we were given this chance to teach these girls life skills based on God's Word!

SNAPshot a day: rubbish

You will find children and adults alike throwing rubbish on the ground without a second glance. People also put their rubbish in unoccupied areas creating illegal dumping sites. This can be dangerous and can affect people's health.

It's not unusual to find people, adults and children, sorting through these dumping sites to find food or other items of use. I have seen children gathering rubbish to fill a plastic bag in order to make a ball to play with or collecting cans for a favorite game. I have also seen adults sorting through the rubbish eating whatever leftovers they can find.

SNAPshot a day: girls club begins

Girls Club is finally here... Can't believe this is the 3rd school year that I have been at Hector Pieterson Primary. These girls were in grade 5 when I first began Girls Club. Today, they were excited that it was finally their turn.

We will be teaching True Love Waits for the first 5 weeks of Girls Club. This first week we had the girls role play two different family situations, one loving and one not so much. We then discussed what kind of qualities they wanted in their future family. We will be referring back to these skits to show the girls the importance of the choices they are making now and how it will affect what type of family they will have in the future.

If only at their age I had realized the scope of choices I was making and how they were going to affect my future in such a drastic way, whether positive or negative. Pray for the girls to be making wise choices now based on God's way.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

SNAPshot a day: every language

South Africa has 11 official languages... This makes it difficult to communicate in Soweto. With Girls Club, I try to have the girls memorize Bible verses in their home language.

We will find out what languages are spoken at home and include those but will currently memorize Romans 6:23 in isiZulu, Sesotho and English.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9

SNAPshot a day: a praise

Praise God! We had about 10 boys from soccer come to church!

SNAPshot a day: newspapers and soccer

We passed out Challenge Newspapers which are full of stories about how Jesus has changed people's lives. These boys followed us to the park to play some soccer and hear the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Praise God that 64 boys heard of the one true God who is alive!

Pray they would follow God and not the many false prophets you so easily find here in South Africa.

SNAPshot a day: P3 soccer

Today I was helping Philani with his P3 Soccer Academy proposal. His plan is to continue the soccer program that Zach and him were doing in the schools. He wants to continue coaching under 11 boys as well as teaching them how to live a godly life.

Pray for him as he presents his idea to a counselor and tries to find sponsors for this program. Pray that God would use Philani mightily in Soweto for His glory among these young boys!

SNAPshot a day: girls club

This is the third and hopefully last post about the process of getting Girls Club started... for the full story check out posts one and two.

Thulani Secondary: (5) Went to school and retrieved the list of grade 8 and grade 9 girls who are interested. We will be starting Girls Club on Wednesday after school.

Hector Pieterson Primary: (2) Called Assistant Principal and she said the girls are excited to start Girls Club as they saw us last year and have looked forward to their turn. We will start meeting on Tuesdays after school again.

Dr. Mary Primary: (6) Went to speak with Principal and he referred us to another teacher to talk about details. We will be teaching during two class periods of Life Orientation. We will meet with grade 6 girls on Thursdays from 11:30-12:30 and grade 7 girls on Friday same time.

Praise God!! What an answer to prayer to get all the schools lined up for next week. Continue to pray for us as we plan and begin ministering to these girls.

As we were sitting in the lobby of a school, this was posted on the wall. This cartoon is very disturbing and upsetting but shows what is going on in schools. Teacher says from his pants, "Warn you, those who listen to me do well" ... the girls lined up in the front are all pregnant.

Pray.

SNAPshot a day: carnivore

Fun times with friends at Carnivore...

Enjoying zebra, crocodile, kudu, sable as well as chicken, beef, pork and lamb.

SNAPshot a day: girls club

Update on Girls Club in the schools:

(check prior school post)

Thulani Secondary: (4) Went back to the school for list of girls but a teacher had recently died therefore she was unable to speak with the girls to see who was interested. Next step, go back on Wednesday for second attempt at retrieving the list.

Hector Pieterson Primary: (1) I already have an invitation to continue Girls Club for 3rd year! Next step, call and confirm.

Dr. Mary Primary: (4) Called and principal was in the hospital. Told to come back the following week. (5) Went to school and spoke with principal who said yes to Girls Club! He says he hasn't talked to others but he has the final say anyway. He told us he will find a classroom to meet in and find out which grade 6 and 7 girls are interested. Next step, go Thursday to work out and finalize the little details.

Continue to pray that we would get in the schools quickly and be able to start next week. Pray for us as we continue to plan and decide what to teach.