Participant Blogs

What rhymes with Panama?  Mama. And what rhymes with mama? Snacks and toiletries.    139 days after hugging our moms goodbye at OR Tambo, it was finally time for them (unfortunately not all of them) to hop on a plane and fly half way across the world to spend time with the team. They came to visit the one child that they sent out but left with 10 new children that they will welcome home as their own.    Two days in Panama City and five days in Boquete offered many opportunities for our moms to get to know the...

Staying only a few meters away from the Panama Canal, unlimited mangoes, breath taking nature and all sorts of parrots flying over my head. How can one get more beautiful days like that? How can one get a more beautiful and creative God than that? The time in Panama was full of adventures, laughter, traveling, learning and spending amazing time with my mom (who came with the parents visits).    Here's just a glimpse of our adventures: 

Australia was a different type of good for our team. We were separated a whole lot and had a lot of new influential additions to the team, so I would say we grew a lot, individually.    We all saw how one could be a witness in the work place and how Jesus type behavior, inspires us to become more like Jesus. The Willersdorfs invested in our lives and made themselves vulnerable so that we could totally become part of their family. And family we were. We were treated like kings!   Because we weren't really together through the week...

A fearless warrior runs into battle with nothing to lose. His armor and sword are always at the ready with no weak spots or blemishes because he understands that he needs protection and takes care to ensure he has it. He gives everything he has and is completely committed to the battle. He has counted the cost and is obedient, never questioning the mission. His mind, body and spirit are all focused on fighting till the battle is won. Even if warriors fall next to him, never to stand up again, he continues fighting. No personal comforts or desires matter...

Australia was suppose to be the half way country pit stop where we have a break from crazy cultures and just work with some sheep. I could not wait to get my hands dirty and have some fun. In true global fashion it was 6weeks not knowing what I was doing or what was going to happen next. It was suppose to be easy but it wasn't... For the first week I got to relax and catch up with some friends, learning from them and serving where I could. We also had a camp with the youth from the church...

  For 12 days we stayed in a church in Gamboa, across the panama canal. One of our verses for the year is Isaiah 55:5 'Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you.' Everyday, huge ships travel through the Panama canal from the other side of the world and we got to watch them sail past. They didn't exactly come running but instead these nations came slowly sailing past us. It was Gods word spoken in the beginning and we got to see it being fulfilled and that's exactly...

Kosovo Another unplanned country but it was the most liberating time I've had in sometime. Not working to hard physically so I had time to work on my mental state, like where I was with God and what's going on my life that I need to look at with his help, I found a book that I had as a youngling and it was about living for the kingdom after we die and how the stuff of earth is worthless. The fear of God is what I'm striving for ! I didn't know but in this country God started a...

Macedonia What a magnificent place ! Macedonia is so wonderful, not only to the eye but also the colorful people ! It was such a surprise to go there and not to China! I was so excited for China but I actually got so much from this place (Macedonia) than I thought I would ! Just seeing the open space and snowy mountains and green landscape blew my mind ! I didn't think you could get such a beautiful picture without Google or photoshop. Being apart of the volunteers at the boarder was really special we get to mingle with...

So before coming to Australia Louw told us sheep farming is so fun... the first week is awesome something funny and new (You put sheep in a cradle and cut of their tails and ass skin...) then the next week feels like it never wants to end... so it was hard work, but I enjoyed it. Working with sheep isn't as easy as you think. They are stubborn and stupid creatures... no jokes, mirenos are the worst !    But they teach you something about patience  especially when they kick you in the face and balls... remember we are not...

  I don't really know how to start or how to write this blog. How does one explain 6 countries done living by faith for one month just a few sentences... I'll try my best to just give you a glimpse of my experiences of our  time in central America. It's been a complete faith journey the whole time. Have you ever wondered how life would be like if you put your trust 100% in God?    Well... He might just ask you to pioneer Mexico and do your Luke 10 from Cancun, Mexico to Guatemala for 10days. But that...