The team was quite slow to wake this morning at 06h30. This was the result of a late night because of a little night swimming… if you know what I mean. There are definitely advantages to being an all boys team. After the usual routine of quiet time, prayer and breakfast (2-minute noodles and coffee) we had a reflection session. De Necker urged the guys to go to their journals and to reflect on their expectations for the year. Which have come to pass and which are still to be dealt with? How have we grown, where are the areas...
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....
August 30th 2011
Hello everyone, i have that growing desire in my heart to share the daily adventures that are taking place in my life in this amazing community of Jeffreys Bay. Even though i have been staying in basically this one place for months now (which in itself is such a big challenge for me!), it's like i am still traveling and discovering every day. Facing new challenges, deepening relationships with the whole spectrum of people making this community alive: from the "Global guys" to the high school teenagers, the kids in the location, some of the surfing crowd, the homeless people and street kids and members of the local churches…and from carrying on building up on the several commitments i have taken at the Global Leadership Academy to the new projects and visions that are coming along the way.
Today was such a great example of what is happening on a daily basis.
I start the day by going to the teachers meeting at the High School, that takes place at 7.30 am. This morning i had the chance to share a few pictures i took during the "Great Trolley Race" that happened this past week-end at the Fountain Mall. The students had their weekly assembly meeting, which is the time for them to receive all the latest infos about the school and all the activities happening outside of the regular classes. It's also a good time and opportunity for the teachers to speak into their lives.
We then had scheduled a time together with PJ, we went for a coffee and the main purpose was to pray in pair for the homeless people we are seeing every Tuesday nights when we do "Church" together with them in the street. But this time with PJ this morning was actually our first time really spending time with one another after the 4 months i have been here. It's like we could never "connect" until today, but we had a lot to share and it was really uplifting for me. It seems like he went trough a lot of the same stuffs i am going through now and we also have a lot of similarities in our personalities, including a common passion for the youths and sports. But also a strong desire to share our Faith in non-religious and fun way, remaining authentic to who we are and how God made us to be.
Quoting my last blog: “Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.” Well, the heartbeat came. The heartbeat went. 8 years ago I attended a church service where someone stood up and said he feels there is people in the audience God is calling into Africa. Something struck my heart, but at the time I was studying Industrial Engineering and sort of just laughed the idea away. Those words did not return empty (Is 55:11). This year God has chosen me (what a privilege!) to shepherd the Explore Africa team through the Middle East and Africa. Training the 2 nd...
Our time in Israel has been so rich and the change in landscapes and scenery is incredible. This was one of my highlights, the Negev Desert. It is the biggest crater in the world caused by erosion.
Whats one thing I've overcome this year? This is the question I was faced with when preparing to leave Benin for Togo. Asking this question has caused me to look back at all the lessons I've learned though this years journey. Training ended with me learning that I can hear Gods voice and that He does talk to me. In China, Nepal and India I began learning how to spend time with God and rest in His presence, a lesson I am still now learning. In Thailand through going on a Luke 10 journey with nothing but the clothes on...
The time here in thailand has been the most amazing time in my life. I am really going to miss it soo much. I pray that god will alllow me if its his will to return here even live here, He has really grown me spiritually and physically here and it has been a real adventure here, and well on my to another one soon in the land of the forbidden kingdom known as China hehehhe. well I soo excited to see what is in store for me there. God has truly blessed me sooo much.
We’re at the end of the year, and thinking of the 1st half of our travels sends a fond feeling through my heart- sort of like a parent looking at a young child and enjoying what their becoming…
On the other side of the wall… As South Africans we are familiar with the concept of having a country within another country, but this did not prepare me for what I experienced crossing the ‘border’ into Palestine. Bethlehem is about 7,1km outside Jerusalem with a large 8m high wall dividing the one city from the other. Imagine a scene out of the Hunger Games with the towering wall, barbed wire everywhere and people with guns patrolling the area. And so we drove through this scene only to be met with gas bombs, tires burning and people with gas masks...
