Participant Blogs

  As humans we instinctively fear the dark and the unknown that comes with it. We often imagine monsters lurking in the shadows - watching us, waiting to attack. As children we have night-lights and soft toys to comfort and protect us against these monsters, with a graceful parent to check under the bed every now and then. Once we reach adulthood the monsters change into more realistic things to fear such as burglars or LEGO blocks on the floor, anything that could cause physical harm. Either way we still approach the dark with caution and heightened senses, ignoring the...

I'm lying on the floor, staring at the white ceiling of a plastic container, the commotion stopped, the little girl that brought me to her mother left, the laughs of miscommunication turned to silence and all I hear is the footsteps of people on grew mine rocks.  Jesus what am I really doing here? I was there, next to a far pregnant mother of four staring at her as she just fell asleep from exhaustion . Only in this silence I experience a little bit of the reality being a refugee, losing your husband, not always due to the war,...

  Macedonia - what a surreal country. On the one hand beautiful fairy tale landscapes with frozen-in-time villages, and on the other hand poor Roma (gypsy) communities and refugee camps. Our main focus for the country was serving and connecting with the refugees but of course we experienced so much more. With some experience in previous countries with the crises, I went out day one excited to make new friends and practice some of the Arabic I have learned. But this was not like our previous encounters. We drove 40min each day through the beautiful colourful countryside on the way...

  I have never experienced a unity such as this. There is so much love in our team and overflowing joy. The other day we had a full on glee musical moment! Possibly the moment I am alive for hahaha! Kosovo is so good for the team. Every Time we get, what we think is sidetracked, God has an amazing different plan for us. (We didn't get our Chinese visas) We dedicated our year to be servants of God and He is using us. So far every time this happened the people we 'end up with by default' mention that...

We have joy and peace because we know there is a reason and a good ending. The ending is already written down.. That there is no ending. Of this small life, yes, but of my soul no. So the reason people are unhappy is because they feel their stories are boring, they make no difference in the world, their future is unsure, fear of death. All of these things are fears. Perfect love casts out these fears, because perfect love had the grace upon us to open our eyes to see the big picture. It casts out fear because it...

Macedonia was beautiful. We were received with open South African arms and felt so at home, but the atmosphere changed when we entered the colorless Tavanoche camp. By the time we reached Macedonia most of the refugees had traveled on and it was only those without money or with children that were left. It was hard to lift spirits without even being able to communicate. So we fully relied on God. It was inspiring to see how people are obedient to God even if it was to their expense. We expected life for missionaries would be careless and fun. It...

So when the team traveled to Turkey and Macedonia I had to go back home because I lost my passport. Now in normal terms this should have been good? I mean food ,chocolates ,tv ,bed and sleep. Well to be honest I went through Hell, my identity was tested every day for 35 days. I tried to pray for people or do ministry, but I had no passion for it so for 35 days I questioned myself, because works without faith is dead... (James 2:14-20) So many other things piled up against me like this one. And I mean MANY,...

“If people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14   Morocco bursts with colour, flavour, sounds, people and culture. It catches you by surprise if you don’t prepare yourself, but is this a case of being careful not to judge a book by its covers? With statistics such as a 99% Muslim population and having laws prohibiting evangelising, makes one wonder what is going on in...

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13   Living without borders became a reality the day I entered the refugee camp at Tabanovce border post in the North of Macedonia. The Explore Africa Team was based for 3 weeks in the Capital of Macedonia called Skopje. Our South African hosts, Danie and Ester with their three children, made our stay in Macedonia an unforgettable one. While living next door to them in accommodation their neighbours, Godse and Betty provided,...

I'm still trying to figure out who this God of mine really is. Last night I found myself scolding God as if He were a little child. I felt like He wanted me to come on this journey. Knowing I don't have the funds. I felt like He must have known what He was doing but now it feels like He just doesn't care. After I spoke my mind for a good 30 min He simply asked me if I was done. A moment after someone walked in. Gave me all the answers I just asked God and walked out....