training wheels
World Cup Fever
Don't ask...I just have World Cup fever and thought a SA colored mullet wig would help the fever...wrong...
Earlier today I tweeted..."Just finished our first discovery group in Bukwini. Kinda feels like getting on a bike for the first time. Shaky but excited for the future."
This is so true! When I was a kid, I learned to ride my bike rather quickly. However, I remember there being a time where I was shaky even with the training wheels on. Riding downhill, even with the nerdy training wheels felt so scary. I felt insecure and unsure of how to make a turn going that fast or how I would stop if I was moving too quickly. Sooner or later it was no problem to turn and stop with the geek wheels on, so then it was time for me to be a big boy. To take off the little wheels next to me and go for it without them any longer. I decided my first try would be down the big hill in Judah park behind my house in Maryville, MO. My dad proudly took off the training wheels and puffed up his chest as I stood at the top of the hill for the first time ready to make my first move without the wheels. I was brave and went for about 5 feet and got scared and fell on my side. No damage done, just to my pride. I quickly got up and tried again. I sailed down the hill like it was nothing and never looked back. Later that week I think I even built my first ramp and started jumping my bike.
Our journey in South Africa can be tied to this example time and time again. Whether it be cultural experiences or spiritual ones. There is an obvious difference here on African soil, yet a glaring sameness. God is still God and he will get us through.
Today we launched our first Discovery Bible Study in Bukwini. We have a lot to learn, but we will stay faithful to where He has called us. We feel more confident now in the method than ever before. To make disciples just like Jesus did. To meet people where they are, just like Jesus did.
So we will continue, on our training wheels. Not knowing how to turn or stop. Not even knowing where to turn except to Him. We are confident that one day we will ride without the geek wheels down the hill and He will be guiding us as we go fast!
hopeless?
Today was a day I won't forget in all of my life. Today Shea and I experienced hopelessness like I have never experienced before. We experienced heartache that we haven't experienced in a long time, if ever. We experienced something words can't explain. I experienced Africa. What life is really like here.
We are currently in the Transkei with a couple from Montana who is here to do some film work for the ministry and make videos to send back to America and anywhere else to help raise awareness of what is going on here.
We went to a school today that was full of orphans who borrow clothes from other kids and who literally only eat the soup that Oceans of Mercy supplies. The kids expressed their thankfulness to the American donors and were very happy to see us. The principal of the school introduced us to an orphan who doesn't even have a care taker. His parents have passed away from AIDS and have left him all alone.
Doesn't even have anyone to go home to at night. He was in sixth grade.
She asked the student to stand in front of the class so we could see that he didn't have clothes that were worth wearing. Our intentions were to just say hi and film the soup club. Those intentions only went so far because somewhere there was a communication breakdown and the school thought we were there with lots of funding to help their school and possibly all of the kids. If I could've bought all of the kids who had shabby clothes on new clothes, I would've on the spot. So the story goes on with her making it public that this child in particular was an orphan with no one to go home to at night and borrowed the clothes he had on. There were holes in his shoes and he was wearing a winter coat to cover the shirt underneath. Her intentions were good as well as she was trying to get this child taken care of. After the child sat back down he had tears streaming down his face. Tears of pain, lonliness, and heartache that I can't even begin to understand.
My heart broke. I wanted to freak out. I feel like I can't shake the look in his eyes.
After the class was over, Shea and I pulled the child aside in private and told him that we loved him and that we wanted to help him out. That we would make sure that he had shoes and clothes that were worth wearing. My heart is still broken. We still lay in bed crying and praying for him as he lays in a hut with no one.
I feel a bit hopeless and really helpless. I feel guilty for the things I have. I feel like screaming at God and getting really mad. I want to ask why this child? I know we can't save Africa even though I wish we could. I know we can't see change happen overnight, but I wish we could. I know that change can't happen here without leaders. I know now more than ever why we are here. I know that this blog and this ministry is not about Derek and Shea.
I know that change can't happen in Africa without Christ-centered leaders.
I know that the people here need the hope of a Savior. The only Savior, Father, and Friend that can save us, Jesus.
In our short time here I've seen that the native people are the only ones who can make that change. I've also seen that our role is to help and guide them. To give them someone to talk to and walk hand in hand with.
Today is over and tomorrow is a new day. Please pray for this child and many, many more like this one.
and we’re back
We arrived back in Grahamstown on Thursday evening and took Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to relax.
It has been nice to relax and get our minds ready, or as ready as possible, for what we came here to do. It's almost the same sense you have before you get married, or possibly before you have your first child...I wouldn't know what the second part of that is like...yet.
Before Shea and I got married, we read a book called "Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts." We met with Roy, the pastor of our church, and did as much as we could to get ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually ready for the transition we were about to make. But nothing seemed to make us feel like we 100% knew what we were doing. This feels somewhat the same. We've read books, training manuals, researched the web, and have been on our knees before God. I think we're probably as ready as we'll ever be, but there is still something that feels like there is no way you can ever 100% prepare yourself for this type of work.
For the stories we'll hear and be a part of...
For the lives we'll see change...for the good, and possibly the not-so-good...
For the students who will take their commitment with Jesus seriously...
For the students who might not...
Whatever happens in the time we are here, I know we were called here. For this time and for a purpose! Please pray for and with us. Please pray for transformation in the students lives.
only they can make the difference
Blogging has been extra hard at the JAM base camp because we don’t get service on our cell phones to blog on site. There are 30 other people to share one computer with, so blogging has been put on the backburner because of availability.
In this post, I just wanted to let everyone know that your support is going a long way.
In our time here at JAM, we have had the rare opportunity to walk alongside some guys and girls who have gone through the different legs of The Mercy Alliance. We have seen people who have had their lives change and flip upside down because of these programs. They are working!
We believe in developing leaders NOW more than ever!
The average age of Africa is 17: We don’t need to raise leaders for tomorrow; we need to raise leaders for today. Young people are the key to this lock. Young people are the ones who are already leaders of their households. They need guidance. They need someone to help them.
There is no one else who can make this change: This is why our work in the Eastern Cape Bible School is so vitally important. These young emerging leaders have to be that change. They have a lot of cultural baggage that they need to sort through. Right now, there is no one at the Bible School to mentor these young people who are busy learning so much every day. Peniel (their teacher) does a great job of doing EVERYTHING. He is worn out at the end of the day because of everything he handles. That is why us being here is going to be so vital to the success of these young people. They NEED mentors.
Former Bible School students have told us in our time here with JAM...they needed mentors. This is such an amazing link between what God has called us to do and the need that is so present here.
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