Participant Blogs

Israel, the promised land, the country where Jesus walked, the place where God revealed so much of His character to us through the Israeli nation. Visiting this special place is an experience that can hardly be captured or described in mere words or pictures. It is seeing a piece of living history, a walk through the gospels. From Bethlehem where Jesus was born to Capernaum next to the sea of Galilea where Jesus ministered to Jerusalem, the city that Jesus loved. How strange and heartbreaking to see the same historic events being viewed so differently through the glasses of different...

From Biblical times until today, the Middle East has been a region subject to near constant unrest and war. Throughout the generations, the kingdom of Jordan has been a safe harbour offering refuge to countless people fleeing from war torn countries on all sides.  In an oasis like this, one finds many interesting people with inspiring stories. Stories of death, pain and destruction; stories of perseverance, courage and relief; stories of hope, love and a Saviour found. On top of that, one finds foreigners from every corner of the earth with the same heart who came to bring relief and...

During my stay in Jordan I have developed a new outlook on life.  As we disembarked, the name of this capital city of Jordan came to mind.  Amman means steadfastness and perseverance.  Now, looking back on our mission in Jordan, I realise that the people here are blessed with these two noble qualities.    We were welcomed with open arms by our hosts, their friendly hospitality made us feel completely at home. I felt humbled by these people who so unselfishly deliver humanitarian assistance to the hundreds of refugees fleeing from the war-torn Syria.  What a heart-rendering experience to see...

After two months of training and preparation the day finally arrived for the international leg of our Global Challenge journey to begin! It was with much excitement and expectation that our entire group of 36 students got on the midnight flight form Johannesburg to Dar Es Salam. On arrival we stepped out into the pressing humidity of an early morning in Tanzania. Everyone scurried about to pick up their bags and hurry off to catch the next mode of transport which would take us to our various destinations. When the commotion died down it became evident that my bag might...

Are you coming to the war? Where fire burns and fear is great. There is no means of escape. Where Death is like a lingering shadow tracing behind His victims. Horrible things have happened here. This is where life and death meet face to face, in a battle to see who will win. This is the birth place of chaos and destruction, this is war.  Today I saw a different life. A life filled with fear and anguish. A life that was consumed by flames. Today I saw true hopelessness. Today, I looked into the eyes of a war refugee. ...

Because Africa is my place of birth I have always loved the continent, it's culture and all who live there. Yet as our journey began in Zanzibar I saw a side of my continent that I have never even thought existed. The image I had in mind of white sandy beaches and fancy hotels did not last, when we got off the ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar the picture I saw infront of me was the total opposite. As we drove through the busy streets on our way to our hosts home, I came to realise that when...

As our plane touched down in Tanzania I was immediately humbled by the miracle  of God's creation.  From here we departed on the first challenge of our Global adventure. By way of ferry we travelled to Zanzibar, an island of the East African coast. Zanzibar's population is 99 persent Muslim and the spoken language is Swahili.  In spite of the exhausting humid heat and the barriers of language and tradition, the Lord helped us to communicate and reach out to the locals.  Wearing clothes according to Muslim tradition, we enjoyed working alongside people who in spite of their poverty are very...

  I learnt many new words while in Zanzibar. Amongst others, one that apparently describes me: "Mzungu". That's the Swahili word for Europeans, though quite derogatory. According to my new friend, Ussi, a venerable Zanzibari wiseman, the name comes from the "mzunguka", meaning "one who comes and goes", which was first used to describe the white explorers of earlier centuries, the likes of Vasco da Gama and David Livingstone. Today, the word is thrown around willy-nilly mostly by dala-dala drivers trying to make an extra couple thousand shillings off unsuspecting tourists who never stay long enough to know better.  Zanzibar,...

With a heart wild with expectancy, and eyes filled with wonder, I arrived at OR Tambo on the 4th of March. What to expect? I didn't know. All I knew is that I am about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, to live a life like no other. And all this, with Jesus as my compass and anchor. We boarded flight 202 headed to Dar es Salaam, and you could smell the excitement in the air. Our flight only jetted off at 23:20, and I soon found out that a dinner tray can also be used as a...

I remember the day I went to my first Leadership forum meeting.  I literally only knew one person and today, with a heart overflowing with thankfulness, I can say that strangers became family, brothers and sisters in Christ.  New things are just around the corner, but that doesn't mean forgetting.   After 7 weeks of being away from home, I got to go to church "one last time". Man, it was bittesweet.  I will forever hold every memory close to my heart.  Laughing, crying, dancing and singing.  Oase gemeente has left its mark in my life.  Jesus, Daddy, I celebrate...