Hello, my name is Johan Bruwer. I am on the brink of a 10-month journey where I will see and be a part of the establishment of God’s kingdom in the nations. I believe that the great commission is not an option to be considered, but it is a command to be obeyed. God called me for the nations in 2018. I chose the global challenge platform to pursue a God-seeking lifestyle. We live to love others like Jesus loves us and humbly serve as an expression of this love. In this way, through our testimony, we share the good...
Participant Blogs
Global Challenge Missions Blog Archive: These are real blogs, from real people, bringing real change...
"As Short as I could get it It was a while ago that I was standing in church and we sang the words “no matter what the cost, I’ll go…” and the words struck me. It is sang so easily, but is it easily met? No matter what it will cost us… will we go where He directs us? Words so easily spoken, “Lord, I am willing for anything… use me”, but what we don’t always understand is that God will take you seriously, even if you did not mean it seriously. ' God took that to the...
I am reminded of a song that starts with the following words: "Hide me now, under Your wings...." This had a very literal and real meaning for me while in China... Backpacking around the country, leaving messages about the Good News where ever we go, trusting only in God for our protection and guidance. Seeing people making a life changing decision to follow Jesus Christ, seeing people willing to listen to His word and seeing a man completely healed of a intense pain in his legs a few days ago (he would normally have to go for regular injections). ...
I always thought the words and then were a prelude to something wonderful. Like seeing a ship come in or finding a note in your letterbox, when you weren't expecting one. That swift, surprising transition from nothing to everything. And then . Two little words that hold a world of promise. And then the light pierced through the dark sky, and the rain stopped falling. And then I met you. Uganda, experiencing you was like being ten hears old again, scaling a tree with my eyes bright and skyward, wanting to get higher and higher...
We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place. We stay there even though we go away, and there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there. Kenya is such a place. It is truly like Narnia. There is something beautiful about Kenya that is thousands of years old. Too old to be truly captured by poems and songs. Loved by everyone, loved so very deeply. Kenya is everything real in a world of make believe. But even though I left some part of me behind, I also found...
'Come on,' they said, 'make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what happened to this man Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt (land of slavery).'... Then Aaron took all their gold, melted it down, and moulded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, 'O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt and slavery! " - Exodus 32 - This was written thousands of years ago and might seem ridiculous - how could people just decide to make...
"Be Still." Two words. Constant and always present. Having morning coffee, I hear it: "Be Still." Swimming in the clear blue ocean. Walking on snow white sand. Watching a Fiery red sunset. "Be Still." Fellowshipping with people who have become family. Listening to music, old and new. Feeling the presence of God. Be Still. Two very simple words, put together to speak chapters. Our time in Tanzania and especially Zanzibar has taught me a very important thing. And that is to practice the pause. When in doubt pause. When angry or irritated, pause. When tired or stressed, Pause. And when...
When I first laid my eyes on you and the rolling hills you sat upon. I thought what amazing luck I have that God had created such beautiful things and gave me the eyes to see them. I am forever changed by your existence. You are a place filled with so many stories and I feel so privileged to share some of these stories with you. I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again....
My parents, who are missionaries in Portugal, were also in Morocco for an outreach. We planned to work together in Tiznit with a contact they had. It was great to be able to join Explore Africa with my parents and we had a great time together! Their contact worked especially with children with physical and mental disabilities. Which meant we could help her visit some of the children's families to build relationships and play with the children. During this time we became friends with a young Muslim girl and her friend and finally had the opportunity to share...
While our first week in Nepal we focused on encouraging the churches, the second week we focused on adding to them. After a six hour bus ride to Pokhara we immediately started walking to unreached villages, sharing the truth with the people and handing out tracts written in Nepali. We had some great conversations and people were usually willing to listen to us. God really protected us there because after we got back Ben (The Nepali missionary we stayed with) told us that the people in those villages usually attack Christians and he had been too scared to go until now....
Step into the classroom thinking this is it. Leaving your books in your bag like you know what to expect. You’ve done this before so why would you bother expecting more. And so it begins. You do what needs to be done with the time that has been given to you. You continue as you always have believing lies and making them true because thats what happens when you believe a lie. You grow reluctant towards purpose as you wear the mask that everyone sees as true. As you continue on surviving you find deeper strength that shows...
Rewinding: Leaving Canzibe, Transkei, early on the morning of 18 February, in an over packed 'bakkie' type taxi, seemed as normal and innocent as any other morning.... But what came next was yet more proof that nothing in Global Challenge is ever as it seems, least of all normal or 'innocent'! Divided into teams of 5-6 people, each person received R200 in cash and a note that read 'Transkei Challenge', and what happened after that was as unpredictable as predicting the weather! Our group of 6 people starts our challenge without any clear clue of what to do. All we...
1 Corinthians 4:20 "For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."
Names are not always what they seem. For most of us it means identity and belonging. The identity that names give speak of description, which in most cases leave the negativity of prejudice and pride behind and also often leads us to form a stereotype. During my stay in Macedonia I was introduced with the thought that people and places are more than just a name. Macedonia for instance, may be known for it's rich history and important people, but for me Macedonia is like a good find in an antique store...timeless and...
Everything in and about India is incredible. The splendour of the landscape, the majesty of historic and modern buildings, the culture, the buzz of tuc-tucs and rickshaws, and everything in between. Incredible are the people, the sights, the smells and tastes. But just as everything is incredibly good and magnificent, so are those same things and experiences incredibly bad. India is a mixing pot of every imaginable sense – sight, taste, smell, feeling - a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences!
Our journey from Zinder to Abuja was mostly uneventful. We said our goodbyes to Niger, crossed to border to Northern Nigeria and watched as the desert was soon replaced by lush green surroundings. The extreme poverty also gave way to a sense of prosperity and big bustling cities. The first of which was major centre of Kano. The famous West African Peugeot taxi we were driving in did break down about half way to Abuja. But by now we were used to that happening and patiently waited in a random mechanic’s yard as they welded and grinded away at pieces...
God is so real. He is so present. He goes before me in every situation. He holds my heart in the palm of His mighty hand. What else can I do but worship the King of kings? ÂÂ Through Colombia, Peru and Chile I just realized again how much God loves me and how much He longs to be with me. I missed home more than ever in Colombia and Peru but after lots of prayer, God changed my heart. And I know now that God has something amazing instore for me in this last few days! ÂÂ I really...
There are no proper roads between Nigeria and Cameroon. At least none that we could find. The ‘main’ road between the two, at the Ekok/Ikom border post in the south has nothing ‘main’ about it. According to videos we saw and blogs we had read this piece of road was very, very bad. So we decided to take a less travelled route in the hopes of coming across a slightly easier route. No such luck. As we came closer and closer to the border with our two Peugeot’s, the canopy around us growing denser and denser, the road became increasingly...
Have you ever thought what your reaction would be if you were to live in biblical times, or if you were to meet up with someone from that time? For the last three weeks we have had the crazy privilege of spending time with an Ezekiel, a John of our times... and no, my reaction was not as "godly" as I thought it would be. my first thought was: "Are you serious? This guy?! Is this the amazing man of God? He looks crazy!!" :) And so this "crazy man" challenged everything I see as truth and asks me to...
(continued from A dream guides us ) In Kaffrine the World Vision guys dropped us of at the Catholic Mission saying we could try there for a place to sleep. I'm not a big fan of the Catholic Church, but one thing is sure, they have lots of infrastructure across the continent and they are usually very helpful. During my road accident a year earlier we ended up at a Roman Catholic hospital, in Marrakesh they spoiled us with a meal, in St. Louis we got free accommodation and now once again in Kaffrine they gave us a...
After an excruciating two days of travel by bus and train and hanging out at various interesting stop over stations, we arrived in Macedonia in the middle of the night - tired, dirty and hungry. Our moods were immediately lifted when we were welcomed by our friendly hosts who received us at the train station with big smiles and joyful hearts. They treated us to a midnight feast of the biggest hamburgers we have ever seen and it was not long before realized that Macedonia, like the Middle East has a very late night culture. Nothing happens before 10 in...
Our bus ride to Niamey didn’t start well. It was overbooked and since we weren’t that adapt at squeezing into small spaces and rushing to open seats most of the team found themselves squeezed onto the back seat. I found myself sitting in the front of the aisle next to the driver. In West Africa they sell water in sealed-of plastic bags as opposed to bottles. It was extremely hot and we were sucking those bags dry in the dozens, our bodies seeming to slurp up every drop of moisture available. Finally, late in the afternoon we arrived in...
I do not think there are many words to express the beauty and magnificence of Morocco, nor can it be fully explained to someone who has not seen or experienced it for themselves. I do however believe words have a lot of power when it is used in the right way. Words can change even the smallest perspective and I believe we are the ones who can say them. I will attempt to give you but a glimpse of what I experienced here, not only of God's love for us but His adoration for the people who have not...
We stood for no less than 10 minutes when a big 18 wheeler truck pulled up. That first day in Kaffrine things were looking tough for us but now it was happening fast! We ran over to the truck and the driver was more than pleased to give us a lift. In fact he wanted to buy us breakfast as well. We couldn't believe it. A lift and food- truly a miracle. We sat at a roadside café enjoying a traditional African breakfast: very sweet tea and some white bread with butter. Of course a truck is...
You never know what you can live without until you have to carry everything in one bag on your back -JS This week has been the craziest and probably most frustrating time of my entire life, we didn't get our Macedonia visas and had to come to Israel earlier. I have never felt the need to make notes of what happens to me until I experienced this week and knew I had to tell you guys all about it. I am currently sitting in my tent and decided I HAVE to write. Everything I am using now fits into my...
Canada We are now in Canadian air space and as we look down we see no snow what so ever!! BIG disappointment as in our minds Canada “is” snow. After n little speed bump at customs we were picked up and drove to Ignite Camp and Retreat Center the place we would call home for the next month and a half. After all “formalities” were done and over with we got settled in, and we were overjoyed at all the freedom we had. We stayed in our own cabin hidden in the “woods”, in the kitchen we had a...
After two weeks in Malaysia, I can honestly say that if anyone were to tell me the rest of the year's program has been cancelled and that we had to stay there until the end of the journey, I would not have minded! My heart is full of praise as sit here and try to put in words what I am currently feeling, so instead of giving a low down on our daily activities, I thought of sharing a bit of where my heart is at...
3:00am the alarm went off. Lord what is happening?? 2 hours of sleep and emotions bigger than the 20kg bag of luggage. I'm scared? Lord, this is taking a blind step of faith.. This is leaving my family behind. This is stepping into the unknown. This is frightening.. This is EXCITING!! Predestined for greatness. This is just the beginning! My heart bursts with excitement, not even my tiredness can hold it back. This is madness! Reality is too real for the moment. Should I pinch myself? 8 months of faith building. 8 months of seeking God. 8 months of discovering...
Five days, five countries… We travelled from Guatemala to Costa Rica, passing through El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. God really surprised me and it was such a joy to truly trust God and go wherever He had prepared for us. I had found myself laughing at the situations and places we were in because I really experienced the promises of God so practically. In Psalms 91 God says ‘If you say the Lord is my refuge and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent for He will command...
After spending more or less 3 weeks in both Turkey and Israel, it almost seemed a bit of a steal to only spend 10 days in Russia, but what a full 10 days it was. After spending the whole day practicing our drama in the Ben Gurion airport in Israel and waking up at 3:30am to check in at the airline counter, it's needless to say we were far from fully functioning by the time we landed in Moscow that afternoon. Two busses and 3 trains later, we arrived at the hosts house to be greeted by the information...
