Places, People, Progress...

Places, People, Progress…

So, I am really guilty of being so slack with writing more blogs (this is only my second one) and SO MUCH has taken place since my last post that it’s almost overwhelming with what to share and where to begin. (There’s a lesson in here I am sure) So here goes…

PLACES: We left sunny South Africa on 3 March 2016 and headed for Israel with such excitement. The Explore Africa Team vibe was electrifying and so full of joyous anticipation. Oh Israel… God’s beloved and chosen nation, what an absolute privilege and blessing it was to visit this precious place and particularly Old Jerusalem where we got to sleep on the rooftop terrace in our tents for a few nights, with panoramic views of the old city (this was a major highlight for me) waking up to beautiful sunsets and exploring the historical character of the Holy City remains, intact as it has been for thousands of years and to walk (physically) where Jesus walked was a truly special experience.

Some of the highlights and things that stood out for me in Jerusalem were the bustling markets with stores occupying every little ally way surrounded by high stone walls – especially in Old Jerusalem, stall upon stall of cheap leather products and then a rich beautiful abundance of fruits (the most delicious pomegranates like I’ve never seen before), nuts, dates, spices, freshly squeezed juice, olives and ‘French-style’ loaves of bread that seem to go on forever. It was hard to hold back… I wanted to try everything.

Other memorable experiences was the random lunch we got ‘invited’ to at a Palestinian family’s home on our way up hundreds of stairs in Mount of Olives – we were super hungry and couldn’t find a place to eat and whilst asking the locals in the area, we got pulled into a house and served a lunch, with olives of course, bread and tea – thinking it was a friendly ‘free’ lunch invitation we were served with an outrageously expensive ‘bill’ as they thought we were wealthy American or European tourists – luckily we negotiated the price down with the help of a translator over the phone. Visiting the Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem – I really encourage you to visit this excellent museum if you go to Jerusalem) – it was eye-opening and heart breaking at the same time, but also filled with nuggets of stories of hope. Then spending time at The House of Prayer in Jerusalem was such an uplifting and refreshing time with the Lord too. Finally we left our mark in Jerusalem (or so we thought so in our own little way) at the Wailing Wall where we danced and clapped our hands in unison with such joy in our hearts, just relishing in the knowledge of being sons and daughters of the Most High.

After 4 days in Israel, we headed for our next country – Macedonia… It was a long trip as we flew to Istanbul, Turkey, took a bus and then a long train ride through icy cold Bulgaria to get to Skopje Macedonia. Greeted by our host (Danie van Niekerk – ex South African) with our ‘turtle backs’ intact (huge duffel bags – between 16 and 22kg each – on the bodies of 10 Global Challengers attracts some strange intriguing looks).

We were based in Skopje Macedonia for three and half weeks where we were called to serve at the Tabanovce border refugee camp (for the thousands and thousands of ‘People of Nowhere’ - Syrians, Iraqis and Afghanistanians – trying to make their way to Germany (mainly) to seek asylum and hope for their future). Just as an FYI side note – you may be wondering why an expedition like Explore Africa would include a seemingly random non-African country like Macedonia (I am guilty and embarrassed of not even knowing where Macedonia was on the map just a few months ago), but Global Challenge felt lead to send all 3 Expeditions to Macedonia, even though we all have very different routes and continents to cover, to assist with serving the refugees at this particular border. There is a lot of ignorance and desensitised hearts about the current situation with a multitude of refugees – real ordinary human beings just like you and me – and I was certainly one of those hearts before I was provided with the privileged of being exposed to the situation.

There were many memorable experiences for me in Macedonia, to name a few… Going skiing for the first time (what??? – an Explore Africa Expedition Team going skiing in luscious thick snow – crazy!!!), it was so much fun and cheap as chips (under R200 for the day’s experience including the gear – 80’s throwback gear – but still it did the job). We also got to participate in a rather strange custom the Macedonians have on the 1^st of April where they dress up (kind of like Halloween without out the trick or treats) – we raided our host’s closets and put together random outfits that drew a lot of attention in the town square where we danced with the locals and just let down our hair. The unplanned root canal treatment at a dentist that doesn’t speak much English was also quite an experience I won’t easily forget. The food… oh how us humans love food… it can result in great pleasure but on the other hand it raises some rather contentious issues too (personally and as a group). I will certainly miss the Ajvar (a magnificent versatile red pepper sauce), Burek (sort of like a pastry pie thing), Donner (basically a really delicious shawarma which is a staple take-away food item in Eastern Europe it seems) and the profusion of varieties of cheap chocolate spread.

PEOPLE: Only a month in and we have been immeasurably fortunate enough to interact and connect with so many different nationalities, cultures, races and religions in just two countries (not to mention the ones we briefly spoke to when we passed through Turkey and Bulgaria), but the people we really interacted with, chatted to and served. Wow… people are just incredible, we all have stories – stories of brokenness, hurt and disappointment and stories of triumph, love and blessings. This blog will become way too long (it probably already is) if I had to mention all the individuals or even people groups that touched my life in even a small way or taught me something, so I will concentrate on the refugees… Before serving at Tabanovce I will ashamedly admit that I did not really give much thought to people from Islamic countries and I had certain preconceived ideas or ‘judgements’ against them especially influenced by the amount of pain and suffering that is being caused in the world today as a consequence of Islamic radicals or extremists…. After having spent time with the beautiful, gentle, kind, friendly, strong family orientated and dedicated people from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, these mind-sets were smashed and broken down and love grew inside. We all want the same thing and in my view we are all born with eternity in our hearts and we are on a search to fill the voids in our lives that I believe only Jesus Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can fulfil.

One particular 15 year old boy, Abubakar’s, situation certainly touched many of our lives when we discovered that he was travelling alone as his father, who was a guard, was killed in the war and his mother, who had lost both her legs due to a bomb, couldn’t travel with to seek asylum in Germany. It’s a story of bravery and courage and hope… I think what made him particularly precious was his willingness to help us serve tea, clean up and just engage with us every day with an infectious smile and always greeting us by name. There was something uniquely special about him and there is such a great confidence that he is going to have a bright influential future ahead of him.

PROGRESS: As I mentioned in my first blog (and that was only on training and a few weeks in), I cannot believe how different my life looks to just a few months ago where I spent the majority of my waking hours sitting behind a PC or engaged in a meeting and yearning to truly make a difference somehow and escape the ‘normalities’ of my life as I knew it (don’t get me wrong, I am not saying the I adventure I am on is for everyone, many are content and fulfilled in their own daily adventures and are making a difference in the ‘normalities’ of their lives) but I knew Jesus was talking to me about a shift coming and that my life would never be the same thereafter. Almost everything – spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally, has been altered in some shape or form and I am experiencing positive life transforming progress in many areas.

To expand on just a few…. Spiritually I have started to experience Jesus in such a beautifully different way than I have before and some teachings I have been listening to with the group and on my own (mainly the Indwelling Life sessions by Frank Viola) about really living by the Spirit, coupled with teachings from training, specifically about ‘dying to self’ (it’s not about me) and making much of Jesus in all we do, and really applying these words of wisdom to this adventure, have begun an exciting process of spiritual transformation in me that I will expand on in more depth in my next blog.

Emotionally, I get stretched and challenged at times with group dynamics, diverse personalities and very different living conditions. I had become so used to my independence, luxuries, comforts and control over my options for many years, that living on extremely tight budgets and in confined spaces with 9 other people has sure taught me a lot about myself.

I still feel so exceedingly privileged, honoured and grateful to be on this adventure of so much discovery, possibility, growth and FUN!

With great intentions, I plan for my blogs that follow to be more frequent and less wordy.

Till then, follow us on Facebook – Explore Africa 2016… check out our team blogs, updates, pics and videos.

Blessings,

Jan