Participant Blogs

My dad gave me my first Bible when I went to Grade 1. On the first page he wrote Psalm 119:9. A verse that has since become one of my favourites: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:9-11 ESV I guess, if you are sitting here, that is one thing you have a desire for- to have a life...

Greetings my King.  Thinking back on the life changing things that happened during the year, mesmerized with the feeling of nostalgia as I project myself back to those beautiful places where life grasped me by the hand and tugged me into the divinity of His beautiful creation. I look back to the times where I learnt to appreciate the smell of fresh air, the sound of birds chirping, glorious white gold and feeling cold without an air con. Times like these.  Adventure and a lust for life developed within the deepest parts of my entire being. The passion of being...

Normal 0 Sorry to say that our second day wasn’t as eventful as the first one. Two of our team members, Marisa and Christine were sick in bed the better part of the afternoon (the rest of the team offered them moral support by also sleeping the afternoon).   The morning we were more productive though…Marisa, Elzet and Paul went to buy breakfast for the team, while Christine and Herman took care of the blog Orange team wanted to post. While buying breakfast Marisa and Elzet (they lost Paul somewhere along the road) met a man who gave them his...

Panama is definately one of my top countries that I wanted to re-visit after last years journey through Latin America.  I didn't think I would be able to come back so quickly but wow what a privilege. I can think of many reasons to rush back to Panama; the beautiful rainforrest of Gamboa, staying right on the Panama Canal, sloths, tucans, anteaters and iguanas roaming the streets but the real reason I wanted to go back was for the people of Gamboa Union Church especially Pastor Bill.     God did so much in my heart in Panama last year...

In the race of life, specifically this year of GCEX, we start off with so much excitement and enthusiasm. You’ve prepared for this as best as you could.   The trigger of blessings is pulled and you give your first step. Hey, this tempo is quite comfortable, even thought the route is not always so clearly indicated. While running, you get some forks in the road and make your choice. Sometimes you’re down, sometimes you go up. Sometimes, many times after a long downhill, you hit a dead end and all you can do is turn around – run back...

God is good!!! Praise HIS name!!! This week we had the most amazing time ever! We (the Yellow team) started to bond in a way that is only from God! He worked so awesome!!! I can not express it less!!!!! God worked with us this week in the Old Testament! So I read alot there, in Exodus, Leviticus etc. I was taught about the sacrifices, the specific ways in which God worked then, is the same way He works now!!! He is the SAME NOW, YESTERDAY< and FOREVER!!!!!!!! So it was awesome to learn new stuff, but why? Always why?...

During the last days in Peru, we were in a town named Ferrenafe. Because I was very sick, I had to separate from the group. Part of us went back to Ferrenafe, while the rest of the group stayed in the mountains a few days more. This time was very hard for me. I really wanted to stay with the group. It was very difficult to live in the realization that I did not have the strength to hike through the mountains and because of this, many lies started coming into my mind. During the second day there, I spoke...

Dear friends, The team have now succesfully distributed food to the total value of R80 000! And all of the target villages have been reached. We thank God for this miracle. Unfortunetly the team's time is up and they need to move on to catch their flight to Ethiopia. The fact of the matter is that there are still millions of people on the brink of starvation. I recently read this article http://m.news24.com/NEWS24/Africa/News/10m-in-need-of-food-aid-20100611 on News 24 which describes the emergency that Niger now finds itself in. We cannot ignore the pleas of the people, even though the team is not...

Totally God!!! Our time was blessed in Guatemala. We met the most incredible people, and God used them to richly bless our lives, to speak into our lives and to help raise us up as true Sons of God. Amen! Praise be to God. This is number 2 for me, in Guatemala. Now until now, for the past couple of months, I have been praying for a mentor, specifically for this year. It is truely difficult, but I wanted and needed one. I know God is my Father, and He fathers me, and therefor I have everything I need. But,...

As we Global Challengers continue on in our training all I can do is stop and sit in silence... I didn't know that so much could happen in such a small amount of time. That I could experience these emotions or could be challenged so quickly physically and spiritually. As I arrived in Jeffrey's Bay tired and without a bag I really didn't know what i was stepping into. During these couple of weeks we have done several things, all in which have stretched me in some way. We have done a local challenge which entailed, hitchhiking, playing with local...