Just A Little Over A Month!

Hey guys! Here's an update on our team! :)

With Father's Day being June 20, we took a break from our normal meetings. Instead, Danielle hosted a movie night for all who could make it. Lisa, Peter, and I went over at 5 to eat some delicious food (jalapeno mac and cheese!) and watch Tsotsi. The movie was about a gang member in South Africa. It depicted how he got into the life of violence and crime and how events led to redemption and hope for him in the end. We have talked a lot about Africa, but it was very informative and interesting to get to see the landscape of where we are going. It was much different than what I expected! But the movie made me even more excited to go.

This week, we met at my place because Danielle had other committments. Janet and Dianne couldn't make it either, but the rest of us met to continue our reading of The Hole in Our Gospel by Rich Stearns. Lisa led us through a chapter-by-chapter discussion on chapters 11-14. The main points we talked about were how the poor have lost hope because they face so much, including hunger, thirst, sickness, malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS/HIV, no clothing or money, illiteracy, and no equality. Each of us were touched differently by the above, speaking to us all differently, but we were all united in our desire to do something to help. There's a story in chapter 14 that sums it up well:

One early morning, after a fierce storm had hit the coast, I strolled to the beach for my morning walk. Horrified, I saw that tens of thousands of starfish had been washed up on the beach by the winds and waves. I was saddened by the realization that all of them would die, stranded on the shore, away from the life-giving water. Despairing that there was nothing I could do, I sat down and put my head in my hands.
But then I heard a sound, and I lifted my eyes. There, in the distance, I saw a man bending down and then standing up, bending down and standing up. Curious, I rose and walked toward him. I saw that he was picking up the starfish, one at a time, and throwing them back into the sea.
"What are you doing?" I yelled.
"Saving the starfish," he replied.
"But don't you see, man, that there are tens of thousands of them?" I asked, incredulous. "Nothing you can do will make a difference.
He did not answer me but instead bent down, picked up another starfish, and cast it back into the water. He smiled, looked me in the eye, and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

I love that story because that's often how we feel when it comes to helping the suffering and the poor of this world. But God calls us out to be the "salt and light" of this world (Matthew 5:13-14).

Of course, we can only do that with the help of our supporters. Please continue to pray for us as our trip draws ever closer! Financially, our team has a long way to go, so pray that the Lord will provide. As for donations, we have already collected so much we need to see if we even need to collect anymore! Praise the Lord! Also, please pray for the hearts of the people in Africa and the team that we all be open to what God has in store for us. Thank you so much for all your support!

Posted by Jen

9AM!

Hello Friends!

The South African Team is currently meeting at Newsong Church at this moment working on support letter updates, thank you letters, and etc.

All of our team members have been paired up with ministry leaders/staff from South Africa so that we could start praying for them! We haven't even met them yet but we have started to communicate them through Facebook and email!

Also, Happy Fathers Day everyone! As you are going to spend your time with your fathers celebrating all the great things they have done for you, please remember the children in South Africa who are orphans without fathers. Please keep them in your prayers!

In terms of donations, more than just financial support, we will also be collecting art and class materials, and toys! So if you have any that you want to donate, please let us know!

Continue to keep our team in your prayers, as August 6th is approaching soon!

Elliot Kim

Update by Danielle

Hi guys, here is a long overdue update:

Things are going well with team building and preparation for our trip. We have been meeting weekly on Sundays, with the exceptions of holidays. I think I speak for everyone when I say how excited we are to head out! I can’t believe its 2 months away! The upcoming weeks are going to fly by. Susan, our events planner, and I are working on a surprise trip for the team. I can't wait to share this when it happens! For now, it's still a secret.

On a personal front, I took a leap of faith and did what I have wanted to do for the past few years…book an extra week to stay by myself!! My team leaves on August 21 and I will stay behind and depart the following Saturday, on August 28. I’m really excited about this personal time I’ll have to further build relationships with the South Africans that I’ve gotten to know over the last 3 years and spend more time in ministries.

This Sunday, June 6, is commissioning Sunday at NewSong. I’m not really sure what will happen in the service but I know we’ll be introduced as a team and prayed for by our church community. Come out if you get a chance! We’ll be part of all 3 services. Pastor Dave will be speaking, and he is always so impactful with his messages so it will be a great service overall.

Many of you have asked about our prayer requests. Here are my personal requests:
• Continued team bonding and growth beyond the superficial layer into the uncomfortable layer prior to departing
• Financial support: I’m 50% there but have quite a bit more to go
• The Monte Christo Staff as they prepare for us and as they go about “usual business” within their daily encounters with the communities
• The communities we will be serving: Are they ready for all this love we are bringing!??!
• Donations: we are collecting some requested supplies to take with us to give to the communities
• A new experience: I’ve been three times before and I’m looking forward to the “new” things I’ll see and encounter this year. I feel like a big lesson waits.

I appreciate so much how all of you have somehow partnered in this journey (donations, moral support, financial support, spiritual guidance/support). I was just saying to some friends that I love how missions, when done right, can form a strong community of people from very different walks and backgrounds. It is a game in which everyone plays from the Agnostic to the strongest of believers. It is simply beautiful.

For more information on how you can support , or further support, this journey, please email me!

With much love and appreciation,
Danielle Jones, Team Leader