We're HERE! (Day One) Sorry for the delay! WE made it!! After a 24 hour journey on two airplanes (see photos) and one car ride, we arrived at Toto's Guest House where Toto and his wife greeted us. After a much needed rest, we woke up for our first day of ministry which included visits to the Haven Orphanages and evangelism to downtown Jo'burg. What an amazing way to start the journey and the expectation for the rest of the week!
The Tale of Three Penny's (Day Two) - By: Mary Graham This morning our devotional included a story of Agnes, a young lady who approached a spiritual leader with a dream to start an orphanage and only three pennies. After so many years of perseverance, this dream was met at Agnes, otherwise known as Mother Teresa, believed that anything can happen with God's three pennies.
With three rand (South African currency) in our pocket we headed to evangelize with the His People downtown Pastor, Julius with prayerful expectation. One of many positive moments for today happened to Mary. When she came across Eric, a young homeless man, who was speaking with a Jehova's Witness. He told Mary that he was uncomfortable in the discussion because his questions were not being answered. Mary then proceeded to tell him about Jesus Christ, answering his questions, with patience, flexibility, compassion and ultimately the truth which comforted him enough that he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior!!!!! This was a breakthrough for Eric as well as Mary, who had never done street evangelism before! God is good!
Great Expectations (Day Three) - By: Kenya Morris
Wow! What an exciting time we had during day 3! The day began with a wonderful breakfast at Toto's and then the team headed off to His People Church for an inspiring service. It was a little taste of heaven experiencing worship in multiple languages, Zulu, Africans, and English to go along with a unique and powerful presentation from a Norwegian Gospel Choir of 72 voices. They absolutely blew us away! The service ended with a powerful sermon about Jesus' journey into Jeruseleum and his bold declaration as King.
We continued our day by heading to the Lion and Rhino reserve to view and interact with wildlife with children from the orphanage. What an amazing experience! We actually saw lions and cheetahs feeding on wild game only a few feet away from us. Not only that, but we had the opportunity to hold and pet baby lions & tigers. It was so awesome to not only have such a rare experience, but to share it with the little ones that we've had the opportunity to serve in South Africa.
The day ended with yet another wonderful meal at Toto's and group reflections. So excited to see what day 4 has to offer!
Pray for us as we... Continue evangelism in the streets of downtown Johannesburg. Please pray for wisdom, boldness and the power of the Holy Spirit to do the impossible. Continue our Vacation Bible School at our Haven Orphanages. Finish STRONG!!! We're still not used to the time change, so we're starting to get a little tired. Please ask for God to give us strength to not miss a moment.
Lord, Let Me Make A Difference (Day Four) - By: Kore Bendix
In David Brainerd's diary, Brainerd, a faithful missionary who spent years preaching the Scriptures among Native Americans reflects in his journal how utterly incapable he was in accomplishing the work to which he was called. He states, "Lord, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am". Today, this was my prayer.
Our day began on the streets of downtown Johannesburg on a bustling Monday morning. In the midst of the business and chaos that a city of commerce has to offer, our group was anticipating defining moments and conversations with people that God had picked for each of us. As I strolled by the bus stop, I saw a young man that intrigued me. After connecting briefly with Him through through the "The God Test", an evangelism tool that facilitates conversation and leads to a presentation of the Gospel, I genuinely and gently said, "Man, you have it going on. You've got the whole clean GQ thing down...I'm wondering if, in spite of how sharp you are on the outside you're dying on the inside?" In one moment, he began crying and admitted that two minutes before I approached him, he was considering trying to figure out a way that he could run away from this life of success he currently resided in, hoping that a "fresh start" would erase the hopelessness and guilt he had carried for so long.
David, a 25 year old architect who recently graduated from the University of Johannesburg, heard the story of Jesus, and the rescue mission He went on to purchase David in the filthiness of his sin, and did so with His own life. After discussing the hurt he has faced with the departure of his father at 16, the guilt he has carries due to his past, the confusion that defines him for his future, and the loneliness he can't shake, David chose to make Jesus Christ His Savior and Lord. He asked Jesus to forgive Him of his sin, and thanked Him for rescuing him from his sin and the death being produced in and through his life.
David happens to be an employee of South African airlines, and, as luck would have it, will be flying in to Dulles Airport outside of Washington DC in two weeks for a five day business trip!!! As a DC resident, I'm looking forward to spending time helping him with the foundations of his faith and have already discussed baptizing him ASAP!
It's so exciting and humbling to make a difference that is utterly disproportionate to who I am! Pray for us as we... Continue evangelism in the streets of downtown Johannesburg. This is our last day on the streets! Conclude our Vacation Bible School at our Haven Orphanages. Go to the next level! The spiritual climate and expectations of our group have been climbing each day. Please join us in believing for miracles, signs and wonders in these last few days.
Lord, Give Us Compassion (Day Five) - Nikki Burney Hello friends and family! Today marks Day 5 of our trip, can you believe it!!! Thank you so much for continuously keeping us in your thoughts. Your prayers and kind words have definitely kept us strengthened during this wonderful time. Your efforts in keeping us in mind have allowed God to really use us today.
Our day began with a daily devotion on Compassion lead by Jay to set the tone for our day. The Lord shared with us "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" (Matthew 9:35-38). This verse teaches us that we were all once fallen into a place of disease, sickness, sin, disgust,etc but we now know the true salvation in Christ. As we have been evangelizing in the streets to these individulas it is important to remind ourselves of this because it will help us to remember the Lords same Compassion upon us. Not just in Compassion in the sense that we want to love them. Compassion to share with them that their sins have been forgiven, they can freely live their lives for Christ, and they an equally achieve eternal life through our Christ Jesus. Kore Bendix said it best, "Compassion lays the groundwork for miracles." and miracles are definitely coming true here in South Africa. At least 20 lives so far have been lead to Christ and there are many more to come. Although some did not give their lives today, a seed has been planted. Today we also volunteered at Adler Haven, Child Haven and Baby Haven. The devotion about Compassion lead us to pray for each child individually and serve as a vessel for God to feed into their lives. God is faithful and we believe He is already doing amazing things into their lives and will continue to do them.
We hope all is well with you all in the states. We send our love and are ever grateful for your prayers. Love,Ten Days Johannesburg Team!
Lord, Give Me Power (Day Six) - By: Brienne Babcock
Today has been an incredible last day...however, we can't believe it's our last day! We're exhausted, challenged, missing home, but not ready to go all at the same time. This journey has been an enormous blessing, including our final mission around Johannesburg. We started off the day visiting a local government hospital, a settlement (a community of people with makeshift homes waiting for their government housing) clinic and enjoyed a few house visits.
We have experienced so many wonderful, God filled moments, but today at the hospital had to be my most blessed. As we arrived in the children's ward, three little girls ran up to me for hugs. They were so precious and exited to see the foreign visitors to change up the monotony of sitting in their large group rooms on their tiny beds all day. I so badly wanted to pray for each child, but these little girls (and a tiny little man joined us as well) would not leave my side. So, all five of us went from bed to bed, got on our knees, bowed our heads with folded hands and prayed for each child (there were probably about 20 kids.) After each prayer, they shouted AMEN and asked for a high five and "wa-hoo" from me! Every now and then I'd peek at them as they prayed and seeing these little ones in their hospital robes and slippers. I'd see them on bended knees, praying that their little friends would be healed, forgetting about their own illnesses. To me, it was like seeing heaven on earth.
It was one of many moments we'll never forget...we are forever ruined for the ordinary. Thank you so much for reading our blog, praying for us, joining our support teams and taking this journey with us! Please plan on joining us on April 22nd at 2pm, upstairs in the One Eighty room for our Team Jo'burg Share Event to learn all about our mission, see photos, ask questions and get inspired!
Signing off from South Africa,
Team Jo'burg
Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 4:54PM 
