Participant Blogs

Location: Mendoza Airport, Argentina. Destination: Lima, Peru. 6 days. 5000Kms. GO! With another night on a airport floor under our belts colour teams were given the above instructions, and with that we embraces the words, “this is NOT a race”, “have fun” and “go see the nations”... how exciting! Backpacking through South America, this is what dreams are made of! We head to a hostel in central Mendoza to begin our journey preparation. Reality strikes... we now have 5 ½ days to travel form Argentina to Peru via either Chile, Brazil, Bolivia or Paraguay with a very limited budget and...

*DEHLI* :) What a wonderful place... Really... it is as Jesus himself spilled this paint set onto a nation and they fabricated it all into bags and shiny objects... What a sight... you do, however, have to glance past the 'pee-pots' (outdoor urinals), the spitting locals, the dust, the smell and the dung om the rodes... but all that vanishes as bursts of cultur infactuate street dwellers... We braved a taxi today - this one had 4 wheels AND breaks... what a treat :) the airport was efficient enought yet our biltong went undertected... again, treat! the journey from Dubai...

In the beginning of the year I had a stirring in my heart to wash the feet of the orphans in Uganda and give them new shoes... This is not just a physical need of the orphans being met, but also a prophetic act to release something new in the spirit to them. Washing the feet is washing away all the hurt, trauma and pollution that the kingdom of darkness had put on them. Then, the clothing them with new shoes, is clothing them with Holy Spirit in their spiritual authority of belonging to Father God's family and the inheritance...

Explore Africa has been in Zanzibar for almost 3 weeks now and I've only lately started asking myself: "What is it about Zanzibar?" Why do thousands of tourists and honeymooners come to a place where the heat is almost unbearable, where Islam rules everything and where there is almost never electricity? What is it that keep the planes and ferries coming to this island filled with excited people? Is it the beaches? Is it the spices? Is it the cocktails? Of course we didn't come to Zanzibar for any of those things and neither do most workers for the Lord. ...

  I’m home… After halve an hour in a hot bath, I put on a Nicole Nordeman CD and pore a glass of Amarula cream. While supper is boiling on the stove I place my laptop on the granite kitchen counter top and as I glance at the Africa map against the wall my thoughts drift back… Back to the red dust and the beautiful African sunset, to the mountains of Burundi and the white beaches of Zanzibar. I remember the bumpy two day bus ride across the country of Tanzania, the live chickens that did not survive the baggage...

         My time in Peru has come and gone, and certain memories have lifetime status won! From Lima to Chiclayo (in which we began our stay), the Peruvians welcomed us in the most blessed of ways. The Groenewalds and pastors did everything they could to make us all comfy as real family would!   Then Touching Hearts course ran for 11 days- intensive ministry that challenged our ways. Translated from English to Spanish it took rather long but pressing on it broke even the 'strong'.     With much to process we took to the road, Incawasi in Andes...

It was with heavy hearts but a lot of excitement that we had to leave Jeffreys Bay on friday morning the first of March.   I wonder how many times this year I will still have to feel that feeling.  That feeling of being sad about what and who we are leaving behind, but incredibly excited of what lies ahead. I cant believe that training has already come to an end! It has been such an amazing experience and also an experience of "multiplication".  I have witnessed exponential growth in myself and so many of my fellow team members!  God...

  It has been almost four months ago that I had a very interesting and challenging conversation with one of my leaders during the training period for our journey at the beginning of the year. "I want to see big things from God! I want to see amazing miracles happen! Before I come back I want to see some really great things!" - I said to the lovely lady sitting in front of me. And she replied with much wisdom: "What if you don't? Will you still believe?"    That hit me really hard! What if I don't see and...

Not much has changed since we left South Africa for the first time on the 5th of March. Coffee is about R3.50 more expensive per 250g and the Stormsrivier toll gate has increased to R40. 26-inch mountain bikes are almost phased out completely, which means by this stage everyone has a 29-inch to brag with. Some people got married, others got engaged and the rest are still single. Some people have also been oversees, some got new jobs or a raise in their salary and a few have property on their name for the first time. But apart from these...

Some crazy things happen in Burkina Faso!!   Niger and The URN Project were definitely highlights of the year.   Beautiful Ghana...