SNAPshot a day: funeral traditions

Today, we went with friends to go visit their father who recently lost his wife.

Some traditions I've observed surrounding death:

1. Someone sits on a mattress in a room from the time of death till the time of burial which can easily be over a week. Not allowed to leave except to use the toilet.

2. A candle sits beside the bed and must be lit at all times for the spirit of the person.

3. The night before the funeral there is an all night vigil with singing and praying. The body is brought into the room for the night.

4. Most people are part of a burial society where people must come and give money to you upon someone's death.

5. Family must go through a mourning process for a month after the death. This usually includes wearing clothing that signifies that one is mourning.

6. Everyone is invited to the funeral.

SNAPshot a day: leaders

It always gets me excited to see my fellow believers in Christ preaching the Word. Pray for God to call men to lead the churches in Snake Park, Dobsonville and Lehae.

Zakhele preaching from James 4

SNAPshot a day: soccer saturdays

We went out to play soccer with some kids in Dobsonville where Zach is currently ministering. The kids went through drills and then played a game with a Bible story at halftime. I decided to hang around on the sidelines and play with the smaller children.

Zanele is known for being a handful but we have had a breakthrough in our relationship and are now the best of friends. Love her!

We handed out little flyers with information about Dobsonville Baptist Church and told the boys to give them to their parents. Praise God that on the way home Zach received a phone call from a mother of one of these children!

Pray that these boys and their families would understand of God's love for them and put their faith in Him.

SNAPshot a day: guitar

Guitar Lessons

SNAPshot a day: raise up a child

In discipleship we are currently studying women of the Bible. It has been great learning from these women of the faith and being able to relate to situations they faced. This week we discussed the birth mother of Moses and his adoptive mother, the Pharaoh's daughter. Some of the discussion led to child rearing... Stephanie, Lori and I do not have children but we can share truths from the Bible regardless. I shared the verse Proverbs 22:16 which speaks about raising up a child in the way he should go and that when he is older he will not depart from it. This verse speaks to me because it is true within my own life. My parents raised me up in the way I should go and I walked away from God for a time but returned to what I knew was the truth.

It was awesome to hear Sibongile say that she wanted her son, Kabelo, to grow up to be a God fearing man. And Thembane said that she didn't want her daugther, Koki, to make the same mistakes that she did. Amen!!

Pray for Sibongile and Thembane as they raise their children up in the Lord.

SNAPshot a day: new friends

Making new friends.

SNAPshot a day: welcome hands on

Finally here to stay for 4 months :)

SNAPshot a day: girls club

I'm so excited that school is back in session after a month long holiday!! I am now in the process of contacting the 3 schools Lori, Stephanie and I will be working in doing Girls Club. No surprise... it has been difficult.

Thulani Secondary: (1) Went by but the principal was not there. Left a letter. (2) Called and made an appointment. (3) Came for appointment and principal was busy so he sent me to talk with another lady. This lady is going to offer Girls Club to the grade 8 and grade 9 girls and get a list of who is interested. Next step, come back on Friday to retrieve list.

Side note: I'm excited about working at this high school because I know many of the grade 9 girls from 2 years ago doing Girls Club at 3 primary schools in the area. Pray for me to be able to grow deeper in these already established relationships.

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

Dr. Mary Primary: (1) Dropped in and no principal. (2) Phoned and left message with secretary who said principal would call back. (3) Called again and set up appointment for this week. Next step, meet with principal.

Pray that Stephanie, Lori and I will be able to begin next week with Girls Club. Pray teachers and principals who are helping will make this a priority and realize the value Girls Club can be for these girls. Pray for us as we prepare and make plans for what we will be teaching and doing.

We don't have much time... only 4 months... and some of that time will be holiday breaks and school events that prevent us from coming. That means we have at most 12 weeks to make an impact for Christ in these girls' lives!

SNAPshot a day: church location

Lehae Baptist Church

Faith Baptist Church

Dobsonville Baptist Church

All the churches that we are currently working with meet at schools for Sunday worship services. The monthly fee can be expensive for the use of school facilities therefore we have been through different avenues trying to find a plot of land but to no avail. We always hear the same answer... that there is no land available for a church.

Please pray that each of these churches would be able to find a plot of land to place an izozo (shack). Pray for members to "continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel" (Col 1:23).

SNAPshot a day: babysitting

Tonight I watched two different families' children so they could enjoy a dinner out with some Americans. A team of International World Changers leaders from America came to set up plans for a future mission trip to Soweto this summer (winter in SA).

We had the pleasure of having a team of 50 highschool/college aged kids come to SA during the World Cup to work. Another team of 100 will be returning this year to minister in Soweto again. Unfortunately, I will not be here this time!

Babysitting. Love it. Love children.

The hat is to mask the identity of this child for security purposes :)

SNAPshot a day: braai

What better way to enjoy my day off then by having a braai!

SNAPshot a day: go make disciples

It has been such a blessing to see Sibongile and Thembane grow in their knowledge and faith in Christ. We have met every Thursday morning for discipleship over the past year. We talked today how we will not be able to finish our whole study of women of the Bible together because I will be leaving in May. It is going to be so difficult to say goodbye to these two ladies who have become my best of friends!

Pray that Sibongile and Thembane would hunger for the Word of God. Pray that just as they have been discipled, that they will now go and make disciples. Pray for Thembane as she begins to help me lead a group of young ladies, Zanele and her friends.

SNAPshot a day: studying the Word

Zanele is one of the youth who attend Faith Baptist Church. She just recently lost her younger sister of 9 years to meningitis. People have been saying that the funeral went well and they are interested in coming to church now. Also, Zanele has been trying to get her parents to come to church and this past Sunday they did! Praise God!

Zanele and 4 of her friends are wanting to study the Bible. Thembane and I were able to meet with Zanele today and begin Bible storying, starting with the Creation story. She is supposed to share the story with the other girls who were not able to come.

Pray that these youth girls would continue to desire to learn more about God and put their complete trust in Him. Pray for Thembane and I as we lead and pour into these girls.

This is inside her home... the kitchen/living room which is where we met. There are two bedrooms and a toilet in the back.

SNAPshot a day: college fun

Today, we had more fun with Zach's driving debacle with an added bonus of Given's school situation. We ran into a wall with Zach but will try another driving center in hopes that they will allow him to apply to get a South African license.

We went with Given to a college in Joburg to find information about a business course. We had to stand in a long que to only find out that we needed to go to another que. We were waiting in the second que only to find out that the class was full. The man said that we should come back in 40 minutes after he talks to the board to decide whether they will allow more students. We came back and the man showed up 2 hours later only to tell us that they would not know until tomorrow whether they would open another class. Everyone walked away disappointed after a long day of waiting...

Sometimes it is helpful to be white... Given told me to go to the man and ask for his number because the man would not give it to him. Now I will be able to call in the morning to see if they would open another class; otherwise we would have to drive there only to wait and then be sent away. The man gave me his personal number which he said he doesn't do. One step closer...

Given and I supporting my two teams... Chelsea (thanks Nick!) and Duke (thanks to Dad).

SNAPshot a day: registration

It is quite difficult to register your children for schools in Soweto because of the high number of children and there not being enough schools. We went with my friend, Brenda, to help register her daughter for 3rd grade. Unfortunately, the three schools that we went to were all full. Her daughter was retained and no longer wants to go to school because of being made fun of. Pray for Kgomotso to get into a good school and be excited about learning again.

Afterwards, Zach met with Kenneth (right) for discipleship while I spent time with Sibongile and her husband Lebo (left). Then we had some fun with the camera. Yeah... I can't be serious, ever.

SNAPshot a day: for our good

I have two Hands On girls... Lori and Stephanie... who will be working with me for the remainder of my time here. I am so excited to have some teammates to help in ministering to the children, youth and young women of Soweto.

Please pray for them as they are attending orientation in Botswana for the next 10 days. Pray for God to be working in their hearts and preparing them for the next 4 1/2 months.

Sidenote: I just want to praise God for how He has sustained me during my time overseas. It has been challenging but so worth it! Lori (in picture above) came to visit me back in May 2010 and loved it. We joked about her coming back to serve and threw around the idea of Hands On (short term mission trip for 4 1/2 months). We thought nothing would come of it...

Well, little did I know that things would be changing drastically with my teammate leaving our team and me learning to work by myself. But God knew all this from the beginning and had worked it out for Lori to be accepted by Hands On! And then Stephanie was added to our team soon after! God sees the beginning and end and works all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of my time in South Africa!

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:5-8

SNAPshot a day: learners

Today we went to a driving center for Zach to write his learners exam (permit). He passed! If only I could explain to you how difficult it is to get your drivers license in South Africa. But I believe I am becoming more African and have learned to take sometimes frustrating situations in stride!

Please pray for Zach to pass his driving exam and receive his license in the next couple weeks. We would like to keep him around a little longer!

SNAPshot a day: paperwork

The not so fun part of my job... paperwork. But it's always easier with a cup of coffee, especially when said coffee comes from America (thanks mom)!

SNAPshot a day: lunch is served

Lunch is served

Samp (dried corn kernels) and Chicken (foot)

SNAPshot a day: toms

Christmas in January

With a special thanks to the Burchette Family for sending me a package.

If you don't know about TOMS, you should look it up. It's a worthy cause... for every pair you buy TOMS will give a pair to a child in need. One for One. They have even had drop offs in South Africa.

SNAPshot a day: home

The sweet face I came home too.

SNAPshot a day: garbage city

There is an area of Cairo that is known as Garbage City. The people who live there collect garbage from around the city and sort through it. In the same community, there is a recycling center that has been created to help children, youth and women make a living by using recycling products to make bags, quilts, paper cards and other goods to sell.

This woman is weaving on a loom to produce a hand made patchwork floor mat.

SNAPshot a day: shammy bread

Egyptian food is good... I could live here for sure!

Most meals are served with shammy bread used to eat many different dips... gebna wa tomatem (cheese and tomato) and baba ganoug (eggplant).

SNAPshot a day: mediterranean

We took a train ride to the city of Alexandria, located along the Mediterranean Sea, which was named after Alexander the Great who conquered the area. Alexandria was one of the most famous cities in the world during ancient times. It remained Egypt's capital for a thousand years until the Muslim conquest of Egypt.

So much history!

This is the Qaitbay Citadel which was built as defense against Turks who were threatening Egypt at one time.

SNAPshot a day: pyramids

No words needed.

SNAPshot a day: mountainside

We went to the Muqattam Cave Cathedral which is affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox Church. The church is located in the side of a mountain which is also home to 30,000 Christians who collect trash and sort out recycling for a living. Christians make up 13.5 percent of Egypt's population.

You will see Biblical stories etched into the mountain outside of the church, like the one below of Moses and the 10 commandments.

SNAPshot a day: sunset

Up on the roof top of an alabaster workshop and store (stone used by ancient pharaohs) overlooking the Egyptian sun setting over the famous mosque at Citadel.

SNAPshot a day: downtown cairo

After a few phone calls, some emails and a lot of miscommunication...

Our hotel in downtown Cairo, Egypt.

SNAPshot a day: layover

Oh the joy of a 7 hour layover!

SNAPshot a day: vacation

Headed on a much needed vacation... any guesses?

SNAPshot a day: begins

So... I thought I would have a little fun in 2011... For the month of January, I'm going to post a snapshot of the day with a small caption. What better way to begin...

Meet Mr. & Mrs. Eayrs

with

soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Philani Mjijwa after a proposal at midnight on 1 Jan 2011