Outreach Season Kicks-off

The first mission team of the season arrived yesterday – a team of 14 from Bethesda church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They were a kick for me personally because I was able to get updates about the latest news and weather from home. We spent today with cultural and ministry training, followed by team building exercises among the obstacle and low ropes courses here on the mission base. Children’s ministry training will be tomorrow morning, and then a guided hike up Mt. Everest in the afternoon. These 2 days will help the team rest up, reenergize, and prepare for ministry in Intabazwe which begins on Monday. When teams go into the villages, they build relationships with the local families, doing what is called a Life Exchange. They ask questions about their lives and culture, share about themselves, and serve in love however needed such as with household chores, helping the sick, planting gardens, etc. The teams also conduct a children’s club in the afternoon. Our hope is to be the hands and feet of Christ, and to also connect families into the local church where they can continue to be nurtured, getting the help and hope they need.

Please pray for the teams as they minister in Intabazwe this week, for the leaders and interpreters, and for the families struggling with unemployment, poverty, and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Please also pray for Thrive Africa as well. As the outreach season kicks off, I am saddened that their full service Dining Room and Conference Center burned 2 years ago and finances are still needed for the reconstruction. In the meantime, the staff is doing an outstanding job serving the teams in a temporary dining hall, and other buildings for meetings and classes. Thanks for all your prayers, support and encouragement! I so much appreciate it!