SUNDAY BEST

SHARA AND JULIA SHOWED UP TODAY IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST AND ARE SHOWN HERE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF HANS BEIER. THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES DRESSED IN THEIR HERITAGE CLOTHING. MANY CAME WITH BEADS AND TRADITIONAL ZULU SKIRTS, HATS AND JEWELRY BOTH YOUNG AND OLD. OUR ESTIMATES WERE SPOT ON, AS BOB RICKARDS WOULD SAY FOR THERE MUST HAVE BEEN FROM 300 TO 400 ATTENDING THE CHURCH SERVICE AND THE DEDICATION OF THE CRECHE. MANY PASTORS FROM ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA, PENNSYLVANIA USA AND OF COURSE PHOENIX USA TOOK PART IN THE CHURCH SERVICE THAT INCLUDED 2 BAPTISMS AND 2 CONFIRMATIONS. IT WAS THEN OFF TO THE CENTER WHERE THE GRANITE PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED AND SEVERAL SPEAKERS WISHED THE PROJECT WELL AND SPOKE ABOUT THE FUTURE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENTER. WE WERE ALSO BLESSED WITH NATIVE DANCING AND SINGING FROM THE CHILDREN.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS PACKED AND THE CROWD EXTENDED OUTSIDE AS IT DID DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE. COMMUNION WAS ALSO GIVEN DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE AND EVERY TIME THAT I WITNESS THE COMBINED SERVICE OF WHITE AND BLACK, I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONLY A SHORT 17 YEARS AGO THIS WAS NEVER POSSIBLE.
AFTER THE FORMALITIES, EVERYONE WENT BACK UP TO THE CHURCH WHERE THE LADIES HAD PREPARED LUNCH AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD TO THIS LARGE GROUP. THE CHURCH WAS USED AS A DINING HALL FOR EVERYONE.
ANOTHER TEAM HAS LEFT ITS MARK IN SOUTH AFRICA AND PREPARED A CENTER WHERE CHILDREN CAN BE SHELTERED, EDUCATED AND FED WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND THE WORD OF THE LORD. WE HAVE TOUCHED MANY LIVES BUT STILL ONLY A SMALL PART OF THIS LARGE COUNTRY. OUR WORK HERE IS FAR FROM OVER AND WE WILL HAVE TO RELY ON THE LORD TO LEAD US IN 2011 AS WE PREPARE THE TEAMS TO TRAVEL TO SHONGWENI.
TOMORROW BEGINS OUR TRAVEL HOME, FIRST TO JO-BERG THEN ON TO DAKAR TO DULLES TO DENVER TO PHOENIX. WHAT A JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN. HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED KEEPING UP WITH US. THE BLOG WILL CONTINUE WITH UPDATES.