Monday
The team toured Charity and Faith Mission’s ministries. The counseling center does HIV testing and counseling, pre-marital and relationship counseling as well as trauma. It was very insightful about how they deal with the issues of HIV/AIDS.
The orphanage is for children whose parents have died from HIV/AIDS. It was a very organized and provides a loving environment for the children.
Disabled children’s home is a day care for children with special needs so the families can maintain a somewhat normal life. Local university students volunteer to do specialized therapies. Joe really connected with one little girl with severe autism.
During the visit at the pre-school the children sang for us and we got lots of hugs and high fives.
The tour guides really highlighted many of the challenges that people of Johannesburg face and gave us much greater insight into the culture and ideas of things we might consider for Saddleback Johannesburg.
Tuesday
We held a Celebrate Recovery introduction seminar at Charity and Faith Mission church. Leaders of neighboring churches and the community were also there. Those attending were really impacted by how CR could help them and the members of their churches. They are looking forward to the 4-day training scheduled for January so they can learn how to start their own ministries. As God divinely planned, each of the testimonies shared impacted different people and ministered to their personal needs. It gave many people hope to know there is a Christ centered program to help them work through some of the issues in their lives.
Please pray for the families that so generously hosted us even though they have many needs of their own, they graciously opened their homes and their lives to us. Pray for divine appointments as we go out in the communities. Pray for wisdom and discernment as we meet local pastors. Pray for our SHAPE seminar tomorrow evening. Please pray for the details to be worked out for our meetings in Cape Town with existing CRs this weekend.
Team,
ReplyDeleteSorry for not catching up with you all sooner! What a great journey you are on! Amazing how God uses each of you in a unique way to connect with someone for the first time and then to realize that you will be forever changed by how God shows you the needs of others. I am grateful for each of you and for the way in which you are gifted to be able to "see with your hearts" how much there is to do.
In my devotional this morning from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young - here is what it says... "When you approach Me in stillnes and in trust, you are strengthened. You need a buffer zone of silence around you in order to focus on things that are unseen. Since I am invisible, you must not let your senses dominate your thinking. The curse of this age is overstimulation of the senses, which blocks out awareness of the unseen world. The tangible world still reflects My Glory, to those who have eyes that see and ears that hear. Spending time alone with Me is the best way to develop seeing eyes and hearing ears. The goal is to be aware of unseen things even as you live out your life in the visible world."
2 Cor 4:16-18 MSG;
Psalm 130:5 MSG
We are praying for you all and for your continued strength that can only come from our loving Father. We are praying for the weekend seminar for the existing CR's in the Cape Town area that you will see what needs to take place as the day rolls out.
I love Pastor Rick's message of "...Fast, Fluid and Flexible..." comes to mind - FAST - quick to adjust and adapt to every situation that our Father presents - FLUID - even though there will be obstacles that you will need to overcome, follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and you will get through - FLEXIBLE - Bend, don't break; Let The Father be in control and listen to His voice as you make your daily plans.
Looking forward to seeing you all upon your return and to see the pictures and hearing the stories that go with them.
God bless you all in all you "get to" do this day,
John Brennan