Africa 1/12/09

As I write this all of my other team members are in the air returning back home, pray for their safe travel and for rest as they travel. I will attempt to recapture our last 2 days at Bethesda as a full team and will try to keep you updated when able to my extended stay. On Saturday we were allowed to go to an open market in Hartbeesport which is in a NW Provence one hour away. The drive went fast as we were able to experience the changing landscape of the open meadows and tall grass to rolling hills covered with a green grass and dotted with trees. In the distance a mountian range was approaching. At the market there were many shops under one roof. The merchants expect buyers to barder so we all had fun with this. There was much to see, hear, feel, and smell in the open market. We stayed there about 2-2 1/2 hours which even went fast for the non-shoppers. From there we headed about another hour NW in to Pilanesberg where we went to Manyane Gate Pilanesberg National Park. We did a game drive for 3 hours and was blessed with beautiful terrane and the sighting of a rhino, dazzel (herd) of Zebras playing with wildebeast. A herd of 6 elephants, Many groupings of spring buck and impalas. We saw about 5 hippo's lazily floating in a lake. Many different kinds if birds, wart hogs and we were greated by 6 babbooms as we first entered. In the distance we heard a lion roar, Our guide took us around the lake to hopefully spot it but we were not able to see it. As we were heading back to the game lodge God blessed us with the sighting of a male giraffe eating leaves from the top of a tree. After watching him for a while he gracefully strolled off. We were also blessed with a beautiful sun set as we left the park. The sun was setting behing two mountains and as it lowered between the two it shown colors of red, orange purple, blue and violet. Most spectacular. Sunday we were able to go to another African church service that was lead by one of the house parents. It was a great experience worshiping with the body of Christ. They have a 1/2 hour of innerscory prayer, 1/2 hour of bible study, 1/2 hour of worship and 1 1/2 hour of service time for the message. The South African's have no inhibitions when they Praise the Lord. There was singing, clapping, dancing and hugging through out the entire time of worship. What a site to see and hear and be a part of. At 3:30 all of the families came to the team center and gave us a farewell service. It was very moving. They thanked us for the part of our spirit that we left with them. The encouragement and love that we showed them. For us we will all come back changed. For me it has been a great journey of experiencing God, feeling his Grace, His love, His protection, His faithfulness. As we are all on a journey of salvation the changes that take place on mission trips makes major steps towards are walk with Christ and experiencing the body of Christ oceans apart. May we uphold and incourage one another for the Glory of God. In Christ, Sandy