South Africa: Wed / Thurs - Feb 17th & 18th - Container Ministries Conference

We were blessed to be invited to attend the Container Ministries Conference in Durban Feb 17th and 18th. 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. Part of that freight is donated goods and food 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 getting goods to Africa through the stories of different ministries that receive and distribute it. The start of the conference was some awesome worship led by GRC's worship team. The worship was both in english and zulu which was beautiful and powerful. There were some great presentations. We heard from people that clearly have such a compassion for the plight of the poor and sick around them and had to do something about it. Even though they felt the problems were overwhelming the did something about it by just asking God what they could do for today and ask Him again the next to show them the next thing to do. It made all of us introspective of how we might not do the Lord's work of loving his people because we may feel the problem is simply too big for us to make a difference. It 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 enslavement around the world. We were shocked at the number of people who have been taken captive and and are forced to work and/or have sex for those that are enslaving them. It was heartbreaking. We heard from those that run food distribution or feeding centers for those that would otherwise have nothing to eat but for those programs. We heard from those caring for HIV infected people and what is happening in the country to supply the antiviral drugs needed 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. Those that we heard from are truly heroes. They are not extraordinary. They simply heard God calling them to love their neighbors and obeyed knowing they can only do so much but also having the faith that it's the Lord that gives them the strength and resources to do much more. We were so blessed to have been able to attend and hear what God is doing here.

Wednesday night we stayed in a house made available by a family who are members of Grace Family Church. Their hospitality was another huge blessing for us. The house was right on the Indian Ocean and the beach was only 100 feet from the back door. We each made several new friends and contacts that God may use for his purposes. South Africa is a beautiful place with wonderful people. I'm sure every one of us feels a tug in our hearts for the people here.

Keep praying for us. God's love and your prayers sustain us.