We started out in the Transkei with a lot of uncertainty, and yet that is where God just loves to come and bless you with surprises!
From arriving and pitching our tents in the dark, we woke up to the most stunning view over Coffee bay!
It was amazing to experience how open the community was in lending us the tools we need for building the fence and jungle gym: pick axes, spades, wheelbarrows, "koevoet", pliers... Heaven's flood gates were really open!
Then the work started! A typical day would start with solo time at 06:00; breakfast at 07:00; D-groups at 07:30 followed by praise and worship. 09:30 we were on the playground doing our daily prayer walk around the school, as our final preparations for the day. We worked until 13:00, with a break for lunch and worked again until 17:00.
You would think after a full day's work
we would be tired, but that's when the kids from the school came along and we were just encouraged and re-energised by them. As part of our kids ministry, we played games and sang songs with them, taught the bible through dramas and shared in their lives. Our evenings always ended with praise, worship and prayers with the children. It's so amazing to feel the air come alive with their enthusiastic songs and then kneeling down next to a 4-year old, just praising God for who He is!
We started the fence from scratch; dug holes, planted poles, put up the wire and pig fence, and all the while just singing and enjoying the beautiful view over the bay. Every time your fingers felt sore from twisting the wire to keep it in place, you would just look around you and gain new energy through the breathtaking view! We started the fence on Saturday and finished on Thursday, before lunch way ahead of schedule. With some time to spare, we painted the biggest pole with some characteristics of God and claimed the
area as a light tower for God's glory. The extra support money given during the week was used to bless the school with a gate, which we put up with the fence.
In addition, we helped the Explore Africa team with their project by digging a sandput and making a full jungle gym, fitted with ladders and swings.
Having quite a few extra hands during the week, we could do more than originally planned. We also fixed the leaking roof of one classroom and the support beams of another classroom that was crooked from all the strong winds.
One afternoon we also washed the children's feet and gave them each a new pair of shoes. A few gave
their lives to Christ. Praise God!
Although it was a challenging 10 days, our time in the Transkei taught us that luxury is not seen in what you have, but in who you believe you are. God will use anyone who is willing to serve Him. We were blessed with so much traditional Xhosa food, acceptance and appreciation for the small things in life, and God's daily hand in our lives!
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