Friday – Talk about the Power of Prayer….today we had a prime example of that power. We had an assembly of the Estcourt Christian Academy and did our bible stories and a skit for them. We were then scheduled to head off to a new area not yet reached by Hearts of Compassion called Zwelisha. Apparently there is some strong ancestral worship that goes on there and several murders recently in this area. This is the area I felt was the key to all of the areas around Estcourt. If HOC could begin work here the word would spread quickly about the Lord. We’ve been traveling in two separate vehicles because there are so many of us and as the second vehicle was leaving the church compound the engine started racing. Eugene was able to figure out that the accelerator rod had bent below the pedal where it was welded to a hinge. He was able to keep his hand on the pedal and drive it back to the compound. All of us in the vehicle started praying and Eugene went to call Erlo to tell him what had happened to us. He went to the main church office and when he passed through he smelled a welder working on the property. This man came back with him and welded a support rod for us. It was fixed in 5 minutes. God overcame and we went on our way to Zwelisha where we had a great meeting with the new home based care workers in that area. Was this a coincidence? I don’t think it was. I think it was an answer to prayer. I think God was saying ‘if you are willing to go, I am willing to help you get there’. Later that night we went to the church’s youth gathering and had a blast with the kids as well as being able to pray with many of them.

Saturday – Today was a rest day. We were ready to roll at 5:45am and all went to Weenan Game Reserve where we saw lots of different buck and giraffe. We really wanted to see the black rhinos but could find any visible anywhere. We stopped at one of the picnic areas for a terrific breakfast that Auntie Shacks made for us.

She has been keeping us well fed and yesterday was no exception.  After we returned we had a traditional South African brai (BBQ) at her house yesterday and we had bit of a downpour and wind during the middle of it.  It didn’t dampen our spirits at all and we totally stuffed ourselves as Shacks kept prodding us to “eat more, eat more” as is her nature.  I think that is her way of showing love to us.  Her husband’s name is Tony and he works shift work at the Nestles Coffee factory here in town.  He was off at 8am in the morning and we come round at 5pm and stay until almost 9pm.  I feel so sorry for him to have to work as hard as he does but he says he is going to retire in two years so that is great.  They are of Indian descent (last name is Singh) and such great people you wouldn’t believe.