Participant Blogs

Fez is a beautiful city. It was found in 789 AD and is considered a holy city in Islam. In the old city, or Medina as it is called, the thousands upon thousands of little alleyways and tiny streets gives it a real medieval feeling. The streets are lined with shopkeepers, stalls, vendors and craftsmen of every kind. Most places the streets are so narrow that supplies need to be transported in on Donkeys. It's also very easy to get lost in them and I'm sure some of the team did! (You'll have to ask them for that story).  ...

Finally the time came for the three different expeditions to each depart on their own adventures. Our first destination was of course Casablanca, Morocco, from where we would start making our way down to Cameroon in Central Africa. Along the way we would make longer stops to serve missionaries in Senegal, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon.   From Nigeria we flew horizontally across Africa to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from where we continued on our southward journey to South Africa.   Our introduction into Morocco was hectic. After flying through the night we were looking forward to some rest at our...

As part of training however we decided to take all the expeditions to Egypt first. In 2009 there were only three expeditions: Explore Africa, Northbound (focusing more on Northern Hemisphere countries) and Southbound (focussing more on Southern Hemisphere countries). It was a good idea to conduct further training outside of South Africa. It helped me to get to know how my team reacts in a foreign country without the burden of logistics. I also had more personal time to adequately prepare myself spiritually for the year ahead.   However the cross-over from a few logistical responsibilities to the full brunt...

While praying and planning for EA 09 God was impressing on my heart that we had to cover the whole continent. While it wasn't possible to enter all 54 (South Sudan didn't exist yet) African nations in one year it did seem possible that we could enter at least one country in each area of the continent. In other words North, West, Central and East Africa.   The Cairo to Cape Town route was still very much at the forefront of my mind; but I soon realised that some of the other adventurers out there were talking about three possible...

It was a great 6 months. God did wonderful things as he prepared us for our next season in GCEX. We could probably write a book just on that time. God completely changed the way I thought about church and made me realise how crucial it was that church was a part of our mandate. I realised I wasn't only called for missions but for church, that the two is intertwined and that God's people is his church, not the brick-face on the corner. A township called Red Hill burned down and God used us to rebuild about 70 wooden...

I was going on a journey around the world but I didn't care so much about going to China or Thailand. I was looking forward to the adventure across the Sahara from Cairo to Cape Town. I even bought myself a map- of Africa. When we arrived for training at the Alabanza mission station in Pretoria (in that first year training basically consisted of a two week get-to-know each other and Anthony Jacobs drilling us in the rain with physical exercises) I constantly looked at my African map. I remember spreading my map out on a table in the barn...

If there's one thing a hate it's injustice. Our world is packed full of it. But there is one continent that is known for it: Africa.   On our beautiful continent you can pick and choose. Which cause do you want to champion? Which problem do you want to face? Which injustice do you want to be redeemed? It's all here. Every single one.   If you hate forests being destroyed, this is the right place. If you can't bear the afflictions of animals, come to Africa. But the one that trumps all is the injustice towards human beings.  ...

Ready for a high impact, short term, adventure of a life time?   Then join the India Impact expedition from the 3 rd to the 21 st of December 2011.   On this expedition you will travel to the legendary and well known orphanage in Kota in the Rajastan province. During which time you will be challenged and served by the love and dedication the children show towards Jesus. On the flip side you will also be challenged physically with the opportunity to serve them by repairing and maintaining the 3 story boys hostile .   This expedition is not...

  But I wouldn't want to pick up any rifle!   I don't want to get to that place of no return.   But then again, am I willing to fight for my country to become a country? The right kind of country. A real country.   There are many different ideas of what our country should be like. For some that idea excludes certain people groups in this country. For some certain “nations” within this nation have less of a say.   Others have personal motivations and hidden agendas which they cover with a front of patriotism and ideals....

A few thougths I wrote down last year after Eugene Terre'blanches murder. I played with the idea in my mind: what if civil war broke out in SA? Where would I stand? What do I do if I have to protect myself and my family? My country is not a country. My country has a name, a president, a capital city, it’s called a country, but it is not a country.   A country is place which contains one nation of people with a common goal. When the rest of the world stands against you, attacks you, then you as...