My journey started out with a great blessing and present from our Father. When we entered Egipt, I didn't have a visa to enter Cairo, and had a lot of difficulty at the passport control. Anita stayed with me while the rest of the team went out to explore Cairo. They sent us from the one to the other and we didn't know what was going on. The whole time, this song was in my head: "Strength will rise when you wait apon the Lord, wait apon the Lord..." so we waited. The only way to enter the city, was...
Participant Blogs
Global Challenge Missions Blog Archive: These are real blogs, from real people, bringing real change...
Uncertain future, certain God.
Our journey back to South Africa was undoubtedly paved by the hand of the Father. The moment we heard the seriousness of Corona, we as teams were called to meet together at a central place in Brazil - a house in the mountains near a very small town. ...
Led to Lead
I'm leading a team this year! In less than four years God has come and radically changed my life for the better. I believe that each and every single one of us are led to lead. In other words Christ leads us to lead others to him. What a privil...
Would you jump with me?
I remember standing at the edge of a cliff. Looking out at the big wide blue ocean. Looking down and seeing a beautiful scary blue unknown. My heart pounding in my chest like the sound of an epic climactic drum solo. Should I jump? Should i let go of...
Into the nations
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...
Discovering God
After finishing a blog on how God changed my mindset, about things I did not like doing and showing me other wise, I was not convinced that that was what I was supposed to share. After some amazing teachings this past few days and spending some...
"The land of smiles"
Thailand!! Wow it's an incredible place! Filled with beauties that only seeing in person can be understood! It definitely lives up to its phrase "the land of smiles" everyone here is just amazing. This country is special for me! We started in Bangkok...
Hidden World in The World
And just like that we were saying our good bye's and getting on a plane, watching South Africa disappear beneath us and bidding it farewell for the next 8 months. Hidden World is officially in the nations. It still seems unreal to us. 8 weeks ago we ...
Thanking food friends
An exciting update from the GLA eco campus construction site! We would like to give a shout out to the small businesses in Jeffrey's Bay- Beesland Slaghuis, Vyeboom Takeaway, RS Fruit and Veg (Croix Street) and Mengelmoes Kardoes We would like to th...
Break an Egg, Build a School!
The Global Challenge Expeditions Team of 2015 has created an initiative to increase financial support, called the Break an Egg, Build a School Challenge . This challenge is to create a video of you breaking an egg in a creative way and donate at www....
In the year we have had some up, down, left and right moments. I will share a few with you... If you are lonely a tree seems to be "someone" that you can open your heart to If this does not work there is always a Johan(n) to fill the gap :) Most of the time we struggle with finances and we have to look at cleaver ideas like ensuring we get the eggs that comes from chickens that date stamp their eggs Sometimes we are luck and get some veriety in our meal ooo even better we sometimes...
Hebrews 11:1
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
Kingdom of the world: “seeing is believing”
Kingdom of God:”Believing is seeing”
Where to start, what to say & what not to say?
It is difficult being back home, but that is what keeps life interesting. It is hard to tell other people what I have learned this year because I just see things in a deferent way. It was difficult to share at the beginning when I got home. Not shore where to start or what to say and what not to say....
The biggest thing I have learned is that God will create opportunities where I can share or do whatever the Spirit tells me what to do. I must not force the Gospel in anyone’s heart. I should place the Gospel on top of their hearts and let it sink in & let God do the rest. It’s so easy to scare certain people off; it’s all about listening to the voice of God.
But then again, It is amazing being back home, It is so exciting, I missed my family, my friends, Pretoria. It’s such an adventure to see how God uses me. It’s fun searching for a church where I feel like family, and to be challenged. It’s like God gave me this canvas that I can paint my life story on. It’s full of new challenges. God keeps it interesting by throwing in different colours that I have never used before. I know it will end well!
Be blessed.
Bernard Hollander
Sitting next to the road - Mauritania Being left beside the road by the taxi driver, all 8 of us. Let us start at the beginning. Crossing the river into Mauritania, we had to wait for 3 hours for a stamp. We got our visas in Niger, but we still had to wait. Then they wanted to deport one of the team members for allegedly forging a visa. We showed them our receipts, convinced them to phone the embassy and then only after being scolded in a language that I do not understand, we could continue. But...
"Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones." Words that kept playing over and over again in my mind as the lights of all the cities of Africa came alive to guide us to a place that feels like home. I finally understand why they say "Your home is where your heart is." Israel...A place where Jesus' presence screams : 'HERE I AM , COME FIND ME!" And boy did I find Him. Oh Israel, how I've longed to walk the streets of your ancient cities and gaze upon their splendor and beauty. How glorious the...
Davis, aka The Ambassador greeted us with his white smile and a dashing white suit on Sunday morning. He was ready for church. Marié and I ran some last errands, I all the while thinking how the heck is this guy going to keep his white suite white. Why would he even bother with one? It won't stay white, I could guarantee him that. Everything is dusty in Busia, Uganda. Even the tar road has a thick layer of dust making it unrecognizable – and we were far away from the tar road anyway. We were to go on The...
As I sit down at the computer I’m munching
on a delicious Thai snack. I’m not quite sure what it is, but it’s deep fried
and sugar coated which makes it divine! I’m motivated to dedicate this piece to
Thai food… Though, that would compel me to write blogs dedicated to Thai
people, Thai beaches, Thai culture, Thai markets, basically anything Thai. Yes,
I love
Changes and challenges of India As our train slowly leaves Kota station my heart fills with overwhelmed emotions. Leaving everyone behind that I've come to know the past 2 weeks was too much to bear. I never thought it was possible to grow so close to people in such a short time. Most of all, I've come to love them with my whole heart. A love that comes from God alone. This amazing people changed my life forever. People laying downs their lives for others, people facing persecution everyday of their lives, people taking care of the orphans and loving...
Hey everyone out there! we are doing great here back in J Bay had an amazing camp with other young people from around South Africa like for example 13TH Floor they were amazing guys to have met and spent time worshiping and praising God with. thought I was going to have a rest after that camp, Dont think so because I am right now helping in another camp of grade 7s and it is amazing what God is doing in their lives and in showing things in my life too. We have got two more weeks of training left and...
