Pictures from The Africa Team

We haven't known how to put pictures in this blog until yesterday so I'm putting a bunch of them on now.  

Here we are on our way to SFO.  We did kareoke most of the way up.  Twyla's mom is quite good at this.

We start each day with devotion.  We need it where we go.

Bevvie and Joanne at the first of two high schools.  Debbie gave a powerful testimony here.

We stopped for lunch near White Mountain.

Twyla made a friend from one of the kids studying at the discipleship school at Midlands Christian Centre.

The girls teaching our African friends how to blow bubbles. 

South Africa: Wednesday - Feb 17th - Container Ministries Conference

We were blessed to be invited to attend the Container Ministries Conference in Durban. Durban is the largest port in all of Africa and the container ships are constantly coming in here to unload freight which is shipped throughout the continent. Donated goods and food are also shipped here which is the basis of the container ministries sponsored by Grace Family Church. The conference is to acknowledge and thank all of the people involved in providing the shipments, finding funding for the shipping and getting goods to Africa through the stories of different ministries that receive and distribute it. The start of the conference was some awesome worship by GFC church's worship team. The worship was both in english and zulu which was beautiful and powerful. We each made several new friends and contacts that God may use for his purposes. We heard about people just like us that had a great compassion for the plight of the poor and sick around them and did something. It made us all introspective of our own blinders to those around us that simply need a helping hand and confirmed our purpose for coming to Africa, to love God's people. We heard from International Justice Mission who investigate cases of child abuse and inslavement around the world. We were shocked at the number of people who have no freedom and and are forced to work and/or have sex for those that are inslaving them. It was heartbreaking. We heard from those that run food distribution or feeding centers for those that wouldn't have anything to eat but for those programs. We heard from those caring for HIV infected people and what is happening in the country to supply antiviral drugs needede to combat the disease. We heard how teenager girls are giving their bodies just to get a ride into town or to put more minutes on their cell phones. We heard of families in which both the father and the mother have died and one child is raising the others. All heart breaking stories that will stay with us. On top of the blessing of being able to attend the conference  we were blessed to be able to stay in a house right on the beach which was made available by a family who are members of Grace Family Church. What hospitality we have experienced here. Africa is a beautiful place with wonderful people. I'm sure every one of us feels a tug in our hearts for it's people. Keep praying for us. We feel you. God's love and your prayers sustain us.

South Africa: Monday February 15th - Hut to Hut and Heart to Heart

Sawubona from South Africa.
The team split into two groups today. One team went with Erlo and the other with Deli and Eugene. Erlo and Deli lead Hearts of Compassion outreach ministry and speak Zulu (easy for Deli because she is Zulu :). We worked with them to distribute food and a message of hope along with prayer and some gifts we brought with us. The cross pennies and gospel message beads that Guy brought were a big hit! We had a young man and his sister in law pray to receive Christ today. Halleluja! That makes everything coming here worth it all by itself but we just begun. We shared the gospel with lots of neighbors that seemed to just show up to find out what was happening at one house Hearts of Compassion supports with food. Jennifer and JoAnn utilized the avangecube to tell the story of Jesus to all of them with translation by Erlo (along with lots of zulu dialogue that he interjects to make it clear). Our 15 year old missionary Twyla Hawley shared some scripture at one of the huts and everyone was impressed with her bravery at such a young age. We ate lunch very late today but sat on a hill overlooking the community while we ate and were able to pray for more hearts to be opened and the continued blessing and effectiveness of the ministry there. Tomorrow we go to one of the High Schools before going back out for more hut to hut ministry. Keep praying for what is happening here. It helps tremendously and we do feel you with us.
More tomorrow. Have a great day in the Lord.

Sunday Feb 14th - The Team Has Landed!!

The South Africa team landed at Durban airport safe and sound albeit a little worse for wear at Sunday,Feb 14th.
We were traveling for approx 30 hours straight and are very glad to be off aircraft for the next two weeks! Erlo and a colleague picked us up in Durban and drove us the last leg to Midlalnds Christian Centre in Escourt, KwaZulu Natal. Shack had dinner and groceries waiting for us. God bless them. We slept well last night and will hit the ground running this morning doing hut to hut ministry in one of the nearby zulu areas. Thanks for your prayers and
support. We value them very much so keep them coming.

Team Haiti

Pastor Dan and Wayne have left for Haiti. They will be joining the container we shipped down when the quake had just happened. They will be helping a YWAM base distribute the food and set-up a relief center. Please pray for them as they are our hands and feet serving the victims of the earthquake.

* pray for safety
* pray for energy
* pray for God to use and stretch them in ways they never thought possible

They will be seeing and experiencing some things that will likely be heart-wrenching and mind-boggling. Please pray that God will help them make sense of these things and protect them mind, body and soul.

I can't wait to hear their stories!

South Africa Team Departs Feb 12th

The South Africa Team is packed and ready to get on the Plane. We depart from Gateway at 6PM tomorrow night and fly out approx 10:30PM for JFK and then on to Johannesburg and then Durban. We appreciate all your prayers and support.

Team Yap

GateWay currently has a team in Yap working with our missionaries, Dave and Joyce Owen. They are helping to build classrooms for the college. Internet access there is very sketchy and v-e-r-y slow, so updates will be sporadic.

Please pray for Jim, John, Jeremy and Kerry as they are traveling and building the Kingdom.