Greetings from the Abioduns!

Howdy ya'll! We are so excited to be in South Africa again! We are about to eat dinner and then we head to the church for the New Years party!! Wooo!!
This trip has already been such a blast filled with laughter, fellowship, service, dancing, singing, and praising our awesome God as one big family. We both feel so honored to be out here.
Today the Americans went to the lion and rhino park and saw so much of the beauty in South Africa up close. We were able to go to one of the local markets to get souvenirs! One of the marketers remembered us from last year which was really cool!
Basically, the whole trip has been absolutely fantastic and we're so grateful to be back out here again. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we go out to train for camp tomorrow!!! The time has come for CAMP!!!
Sending our love from South Africa,
Melina and Elyse

Day Four on an Amazing Adventure

Hello from South Africa!
It has been such a joy being here with so many brothers and sisters. A lot of people have asked me what has been the biggest difference here compared to the States, but honestly, I've been feeling like I'm just with good friends in another city. Don't get me wrong, it is a little strange driving on the opposite side of the road and paying in rand (I used a 10 rand bill for a water; that through me off a bit. Im still trying to remember that It's not equivalent to 10 US dollars). I've just been so taken care of by my host family and my SA friends that I feel right at home :)

We left the Iion park just now and it was so amazing! -Don't worry mom, no lion/tiger/cub mauled my face off. But it was so beautiful out there! Every day here I'm constanty reminded of the beauty in God's creation. Just being here is such a privilege and blessing. I've thanked God every day that I had the opportunity to see South Africa and the body of Christ here. I'm feeling his love in every hug I get when meeting a new brother or sister; it's AWESOME!

Now it's time to get ready for camp!! Thank you for all the prayers. With much love all the way from South Africa (missing you mom, dad, dee, and kev)

-Amber Heibeck

Praise About the Lion ark

The last few days have been extraordinary! My host family is awesome! In the past few days we have become closer than possible. In the mornings their toddler wakes us up with screams and lion roars. Today we are at the lion park where Gods glory is everywhere! From the rolling green hills to the majestic animals roaming the grassy plains. I never want this experience to end.

Alexa Sewell

A Little Perspective.

There are a thousand things I could talk about right now but our time in Diepsloot yesterday has by far had the greatest impact on me. This year our focus was on the change that each of us can make in the world. I was with the 8-9 year olds and only a few of the boys in my group actually spoke english- but we didn't realize this until we had finished our group discussion, thinking that they were just shy. After that, one of the South African  counselors started translating everything to Zulu and the boys all came alive! The change they hoped for wasn't an amazing job, college scholarships or any other ideals we all hope for in America,  but simple things like clean drinking water and a house to live in.

Each group was challenged to make a symbol or some sort of visual and a quick presentation to represent the discussions and what we did really moved me. Our group chose to make a house shape while singing a South African song "Shosholoza" which is a song about pushing forward. From the time we started practicing this, the boys finally began to smile and be more out f themselves and you could see walls coming down just by watching the body language.  All of the sudden, these boys who would not even give a reaction were laughing, running with me, holding my hand, and following my lead whether it was doing silly dancing or going around collecting trash. (I promise all of this is going somewhere!)

I know people always say love can break all barriers and actions can speak louder than words, but I don't think I've ever believed those things so strongly.  As we wrapped up our day all I could do was hug my boys tightly and hope that all of them would hold onto that pure joy that comes from having dreams for the way that they could all truly make a change in the harsh world that they know.

I'm extremely humbled and just reminded of what the world can really be like and how easy it is to give God's love with simple things like a smile, a few (translated) words of hope, and a hug. I can't wait to see what camp has in store because I already feel so inspired by my time here.

Much love to all of my friends and family reading this!
- Jacob

My love...My South Africa

Good morning!!
South Africa is so amazing! Everything about it screams beauty the land, the sky and so importantly the people. Yesterday went  to Diepsloot my heart will forever remember the beautiful hopeful children that I sang with danced with and loved. Now I understand why God loves his little children. Its amazing, the universal language, love.  I love them and they loved me. We didn't have to talk we just did.  The  children are now forever in my mind and my heart.  Leaving them yesterday was the hardest thing I had to do, but they taught me soo much like how to love, how to be grateful, selfless and lastly how to take care of people you love. Now I will have to depart to the amazing lion country so goodbye, I love you all!

Sincerely, Tiffany Ceasor

South African Adventures

Excited to be on our way to the Lion Park this morning! It was great to be able to finally sleep in SA time last night. But despite the previous lack of sleep, it has been incredible being able to meet and spend time with desciples on the other side of the world! It's so cool to meet teenagers different in culture and personality but to still have SO much in common because of Christ. We are excited to start camp soon and get to know even more South Africans!!

Sydney Reese

Kids Club

Today we ventured out to Deipsloot and visited the Kids Club. This is my favorite part of the trip! We talked with the kids about how they can change the world and it was inspiring. They are so confident in themselves which is something I really admire. I was with eight and nine year olds and as we were going around saying our names the kids began to declare what they wanted to be when they grow up...many said doctors, lawyers, and surgeons. I began to think of how in America we are given so many opportunities and I became so grateful for my education.  Along with that, the love and happiness these children radiate is incredible (even though we could not always speak the same language). This one girl would randomly run into me with her arms wide open and give me the biggest hug! I don't even think we exchanged words. It's incredible how much a little smile can impact someone so much! :) Needless to say we're having a great time! Much love from Africa!

Maddie Hunter

Joyful Celebration

Waking from the jetlag was a lttle difficult the first day. But ariving at the church you are instantly awaken with such a joyous tempo. The praise and worship is so genuine. The brothers and sisters are so grateful to be blessed enough to praise the one indivisible GOD. Truly they believe that it is a blessing to simply be a part of the church. The people have a heart for the church that is missing in the states. I think of when the bible talks about the joy behind having the privilidge
To belong to the kingdom of GOD. I know I will not want to return home though I do miss my friends and family. Try to imagine the true image of the bible and the church with Jesus as the head of the body the church. Then imagine having to leave what you can now call your family. My brothers and sisters can be assured I will be back. My family is not simply the people that are related to me or not even just the congregation of the church though they are my brothers and sisters in CHRIST. My family is the people of the world.  I am free and I shall set them all free.

Quinton Sanicola

Just landed!

We have just landed in south Africa.   Looking forward to an awesome time with all of my fellow campers.

Landon Johnson
Snellville, Ga

my first flight

My first flight was the off the chain! God's creation is so beautiful, just imagine what heaven is like!

Breathtaking

Flying over Africa and looking at the sights was amazing! But being here is a million times better! Everything is so green and fresh, its like stepping into a new world. However my excitement trumps all of that. I cant wait to meet my host family!

We made it!!!

Wow! I cant believe that we are actually back here! It seems like yesterday we were saying "only six more months" and  now we are here! God has answered all of our prayers and all of the parent's prayers as well! The weather is amazing! I am so happy to be back and ready to spread the word to the campers here.  And I am ready to build stronger relationships with  everyone! We here we go!!!!

Jason Tumelo Sheffield

Up up and away!!

Well here we are-about to embark on the journey of a lifetime! With a group of 55 of us maneuvering through the airport you can only imagine the chaos! We made it successfully through security and we are anxiously waiting at the gate to board! Parents, fear not, Sam and I will look after your children, they are safe in our care! :)

South Africa…Here We Come Again!

I am sitting here on Christmas Eve watching the clock cross the midnight mark into Christmas day and I can't believe in a couple of days we are heading to South Africa for our third and final time. If there were no reason for Christmas, there would have been no reason to go to there in 2011. And now that we have been there for last two years, there are numerous reasons and they all have names. I can't wait to see my friends and celebrate a New Year with them as I have done for the past two years. Though saddened by his death and yet immensely joyful for what Nelson Mandela chose his life to represent , I also can't wait to catch a part of the celebration that is going on in South Africa in his honor...I think it will add to the flavor of our visit. I bid all of you a wonderful Christmas. Much love, Jeff