happy thanksgiving!

We've had an amazing thanksgiving here in South Africa. After an awesome game drive on Wednesday where we saw giraffes, rhinos, zebras and many other animals, the team spent Thanksgiving day working with meals on wheels (yes, it does exist here) and enjoying at feast and fellowship at Ft. White.

In the morning we packed up the vehicles with food from the garden, and headed to the Meals on Wheels facility (using this term very loosely, since it is a tiny house with very few amenities) in Dimbaza, a local township. Part of the team prepared food for the afternoon, and others worked in the yard tearing down fences and clearing out the yard for a future garden.

Once the food was prepared, we gathered with those waiting to receive the meals for singing and prayer. Once those who came to the house had eaten, we piled the food in the truck and headed to a church up the street to distribute the remaining meals. For many of these people, the only meals they eat come from the 2x/week distribution from Meals on Wheels. More people came out for food than the anticipated amount. Once those who had registered for fed, the next to eat were those with the greatest need...and that is difficult to assess. It was hard to see such need, and it served as a great reminder of how much we have to be thankful for.

After this moving experience, we headed back to Ft. White for Thanksgiving meal. Becky prepared food for roughly 40 people attending this feast...it was amazing. After the meal, we spent the night talking around the fire outside and decompressing a day that illustrated how truly blessed we are.

school days...

We're still on the adventure of a lifetime. Tuesday saw us back to work at Ft. White doing various projects to get the space ready for future mission teams...everything from fixing walkways, prepping the fields and sorting out rock for the septic system. It was hot here today (roughly 90 degrees), but all of us enjoyed the summer treat in November!

After some projects at Ft. White, we headed back to Debe Nek school to paint and play with the kids. Roughly 92 kids were ready and waiting for the team. As you'll see the in picture the kids took quickly to the group, and are full of love and warm smiles to share. The first coat of paint is set, and the teachers are delighted. We were happy to see that the community that came together the day before to help us, had finished clearing the garden in between our visits. Maybe the motivation of our team has become contagious!

The team has grown very fond of Ft. White, with the outstanding hospitality of the Fudges. Ms. Becky is quite the cook, so don't worry, we're eating very well.

Today we're on a break and off to Inkwenkwezi for our game drive. Sure there will be a lot to report in the next blog.

We're here...hard at work

After almost 26 hours of travel, the team arrived in East London safe and sound. After a much needed night's sleep (by the way the sun rises at about 4:30 am here), the trip kicked off with a visit to Bethany Emmanuel for church where we were treated to warm hospitality and a great Christmas play by the kids at the school.

After changing out of our church clothes, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work at Ft. White. Projects included plowing a field for future crops, fixing a walkway, sorting out rock for a septic system and removing fences to be used later for the perimeter of the property (to keep the goats out of the crops).

Now we're finishing our second full day here and it was a treat. After some sorting of old school and dormitory furniture, we headed to Debenek, a local primary school (grades K-7) to help paint and prep their overgrown garden fields. We were greeted with song, dance and huge smiles as we drove up by the kids and teachers. It was a fantastic community event, working side-by-side with the people to help restore a valuable part of their community.

More updates to come...back to the school tomorrow for another great day of work.

How we'll be serving...

We have an exciting update as to the service we'll be doing over the next week. As those of us who've been to South Africa know, it's important to be fluid, as plans will likely shift. Our service will include painting and renovating schools in a nearby township, hosting a sports camps for the kids in the township (roughly 92 kids ranging from age K-7), community outreach promoting the Ft. White school that is coming and various renovation projects at Ft. White.

Included are some photos from the summer to 1) give you glimpse of Ft. White and 2) show you some of the smiles that this type of work brings to the kids in South Africa.

Keep us in your prayers as we travel. The group leaves Friday (11/20) morning and will be in East London on Saturday afternoon (11/21).

The Fudge family...

In this trip to South Africa, we'll be working with the Fudge family, an amazing family of 5 who are leading the charge in renovating the property and getting the school up and running. Some of us were blessed to spend time with the Fudges in July for a few days, and we know this trip will be amazing. To learn more about this family and their journey, you can visit: http://thefudgefive.wordpress.com/

The countdown is on. We're just over 1 week from leaving for this amazing trip! More details and photos to come over the next week. Keep praying for us as we prepare.

The Journey is headin' back to SA...

It's only been 3.5 months since our last trip, but The Journey is heading back to continue assisting with the renovations of Ft. White into a school. For a little history on Ft. White, please visit: http://www.servingafrica.com/fortwhite.htm

We'll be updating this blog while we're there, but please take the time to pray for the 15 of us who are making the trip back to South Africa. The excitement is growing as we're nearly 2 weeks away!

we're back...well, most of us

Today the majority of the group returned to New York. Trey and Sherry extended their trip in East London to do more service work, and Elizabeth headed to Mozambique to visit her friend in the Peace Corp. Pray for their safe return later this week.

Our trip ended with us not wanting to leave, but we finished with a bang. We closed out Friday's Holiday Club with 87 kids who each had a lot of energy. At recreation, we ended the week with water games...let's just say I walked away the wettest (thanks to Elizabeth turning her team game into "get Jeremy"). The week was a huge success in thanks to the fantastic partnership between the Journey and First City. Can't wait to hear about all of the great things that will continue to emerge afterwards.

Friday night we headed to the local rugby game, and then back to FCBC for a braai (a cookout for us Americans). We celebrated a week well done, and then prepared for our 24 hour journey back to the States.

Now that most of us are back safe and sound and ready to head to work tomorrow, we are grateful for the time spent, your support and the overall experience of the trip. We can't wait to see what God will do with the time and resources we've invested. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.

Man there are a LOT of kids here!

Yesterday our team had the privilege of visiting King's School--and seeing where some of the Journey's special offering was designated. We met with Tracy King, the visionary missionary who is serving the informal township up from her home. She and her family have literally transformed their own home and garages into school rooms to educate the children who live in the township. Since opening the schools, their family has expanded into two classrooms and has plans for many more.


They also have four infants (under the age of 9 months) who have been abandoned at their doorstep (these 4 are part of 16,000 abandoned children on the Eastern Cape of South Africa each year. To check out more about the King's ministry, go to: www.sponsoranangel.org It's truly amazing what they're doing. The picture below is of the newest schoolhouse on their property (partially funded by the Journey).


We also have been continuing our Holiday Bible Club, which has been increasing in number each day to reach more of the inner city kids. We're about to head out to survey the local community of Southernwood (a neighborhood in East London) about their greatest needs so First City Baptist Church has a good pulse on where they can serve the most. The photo is of the recreation time at HBC.



Finally, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEREMY---It was amazing to see the kids sing to Jerms in English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa.

Church and Cheetahs

That's right...Sunday was filled with spending time with the locals...people and animals. Sunday morning kicked off with us visiting Grace Community Baptist church-a traditional black African church. We were blown away and inspired by the worship and message in a very humble setting. The experience has strengthened the fire behind our team.




After church we headed to First City Baptist (our host church) to prepare for Holiday Bible Club (aka Vacation Bible School, VBS, in the States). While there we toured the local ministries the church offers, including the Sophumelela Centre (an AIDS clinic largely funded through the US gov't), a dignity house, Work for All (a professional skills program that serves the community) and Little Sparklers (a daycare and future school for children who are patients at the aforementioned Centre). All of these ministries have grown past expectations in their short time in existence, and there is still a lot of need. Pray that they will have the resources to continue to impact this community.






On Monday, after add'l prep for HBC, we had the privilege of heading out to Inkwenkwezi, a local game reserve, for lunch and an afternoon game drive. We were blown away by the site of impala (not the chevy), elephants, giraffes, lions and cheetahs. I (Jeremy) almost lost my shorts to an ostrich on the drive (I'll prove it to you on video when we return).

Today we kicked off HBC with 51 children...off to a great start, as they will bring their friends as the week goes on. We're off to lunch, and then headed to the local park in Southernwood for a cleanup project and playtime with local kids.

Photos of everything to be added soon...forgot the cord! Over and out, Anna, Jeremy and the rest of the team!

Fort White Rocks

For the first two days we were here, our crew did demolition work, painting, and organizing donations for a future school, clinic, and community center for local villages near East London. The site where we worked was called "Fort White" a former black theological college. We worked with an amazing missionary family, the Fudges (whose culinary skills were also quite appreciated) who has moved here from Texas to show God's love to the amazing people of their surrounding community--one whose unemployment rate reaches almost 80% and where AIDS affects 25-33% of the people. It will be awesome to come back and see the school and clinic open in January.

Here's two photos--one of Jeremy, Sherry and Trey with their demo gear on and one of the whole team in front of the school that was partially transformed in the inside (just like us so far).

New York Takes South Africa by Storm

This is the team that travelled 1/2 way around the world last Wednesday. 8 New Yorkers and 1 South Caroliner (yes, EM)

We got here safe and sound...only 17 hours from New York to Johannesburg...and 5 hours of laying over in Joburg 'til East London. Jeremy and I (Anna) hacked a bit...rest of the team rested so that we were ready to work as soon as we got here.

what we'll be up to!

With just over 2 weeks until we head out, the details of our trip are starting to take shape. After arriving on the 9th, we'll begin a construction/cleanup project with rural schools in the area. The next week we'll focus on our holiday club for the inner-city kids, and continue to do community outreach through play groups and survey work.

It's going to be an amazing 11 days, so keep praying for us to be flexible and patient as the schedule takes shape!

the 1 month countdown begins

It's hard to believe that in a month we'll be heading to East London. Based upon my amazing experience last year, words can't begin to describe the journey that lies ahead of us. Wanted to share just one of last year's experiences.

Last year we visited a shantytown, Gompo. We had the opportunity to do survey work and meet with families. Most of the homes were tiny; the walls were barely thick enough to hold themselves up; and the shacks did not have running water, electricity or heat. Despite these conditions, the children had huge smiles on their faces and the people were genuine.

One day during our survey work, a small group of kids (like those pictured below) began to follow us. I noticed that one of the kids had the outer part of a bicycle tire. Turning the tire into a mimic game, the kids got a kick out of simple playtime. After the tire, we heard the song “4 Minutes” by Madonna and Justin Timberlake. To the kids amusement and my amazement to hear this American pop song in the midst of a South African shantytown, I started to dance, and before you knew it we had a dance party.

The kids were happy because of what they had and the love they were receiving in that moment. A simple reminder…we have so much to be thankful for each and every day. I pray for these "simple" lessons and "huge" experiences as we prepare for this year's trip.

Welcome to the Journey's South Africa Trip

Welcome to the site which will follow us into an incredible journey to South Africa this summer. Our hope is that we'll be able to update with stories, photos and amazing evidence of God's work this summer in South Africa through our Journey team. To start, you can check out some of the pictures from last year.