The flight home was quite smooth and then we sailed through customs and baggage claim when we got back into the States.  I just love it when the Passport Control person looks me in the eye and says, “Welcome Home, Mrs. Garrard.”  Home sweet home.

Coming home from South Africa is always bittersweet.  We all have left a part of our heart across the ocean.  Our affections have been stirred by a hug, a service project, manual labor, friendships, worship, fellowship, children, creation….Jesus.  May we never be the same.  May these wrecked hearts live to bring glory and fame to the One we serve.  Faithful God.  Awesome Lord.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support.

Love,

Karla

Safe to Paris…

We are!

After a long, and can I say COLDEST FLIGHT EVER, we are safely settling into our 5 hour layover in the Paris airport.  Our flight here was uneventful, full of sleepy heads, long, and loaded with older men with the worst coughs we had ever heard.  (Click here for pictures of us BEFORE take off!)

We prayed for you guys back home to have an awesome day at In Focus.  You are always on our hearts.

Atlanta bound here soon.  Can’t wait to be home with you all.

Karla

Well, today is departure day.  (Last time for clicking here for pictures from today!)

We are packed up ready to head to the airport.  It’s a bittersweet departure as part of our hearts will be left here.  As always, our hearts are wrecked even more for this country, orphans, widows, and justice.  God is good and has shown Himself strong this week.

We ended our time here with service this morning at Every Nation Somerset West (ENSW).  Brent and I helped in leading worship and Brent preached.  It was an amazing time of extolling God…singing of His holiness and majesty.  I wanted to cry as I sang “with all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings.”  ENSW is like home to us and we love worshipping with God’s creation on this side of the globe.

Brent delivered a strong word regarding faith.  It was a moving time of worship in the Word.  He preached his face off, as always!    Service ended with a time of prayer ministry.  Our team was an encouraging presence to the congregation.  We are so proud of them.

Pray for us as we travel home.  We leave Cape Town at 7:35pm, fly to France and then on to Atlanta.  We are due to land at 2:30pm in Atlanta.

We can’t wait to hug you all and share of our experience here in SA.

See you on the other side.

K

p.s.  To raise some funds for Thembalitsha, Pastor Frank has called for the men of the church to grow out goofy mustaches for “MO-vember” (instead of November).  Our very own, Brent, Mark and Mitchell participated.  Check out the picture!

Greetings!  Me again…

Well, today was a different day.  We weren’t doing any labor.  We didn’t have a real agenda.  It was a “day of rest”, of sorts.  We try to end each trip with a day to just be together as a team.  Brent said to us this evening: “This place is like home to me…and I like showing it off. We had a chance to be in the culture.  It was a great day.  Different, but great.”

And here was today:  (Click here for updated photos!)

1.     We slept in til 8ish!

2.     We then went to exchange some money at the bank.

3.     We headed out to Cape Town.  All of us…in one van.  Squished and squashed…and HAPPY!

4.     We attempted to go to the top of Table Mountain, but because of wind and cold weather it was a “no-go”.  We still got to see the view from mid-altitude and it was gorgeous.

5.     We then drove BACK DOWN the mountain and headed to the Green Market.  What a wonderful place.  The colors and sights are so glorious.  We spent time purchasing souvenirs for you guys and also connecting with the people.  I even had a chance to pray for one of the sweet vendors.  Her name is Kristine and her baby is Faith.  I am believing God to do a big work in her life.

6.     After the market we headed back to Somerset West.  Squished and squashed again, almost all of us slept as we headed back ‘home’.

7.     A fish and chips dinner at the beach concluded our time out today.  Pastor Frank and his kids joined us for an ice cream treat.  One of my favorite things about coming to South Africa is building relationships and seeing those relationships grow year after year.  What a treasure.

8.     Lastly, we ended our day with prayer, worship (led by Caleb Judah!) and debriefing.  We are again reminded that God has done a great work in us.

Our God is so faithful.  We stand in awe of Him and the great things He has done.

Tomorrow is a new day.  Brent is preaching and we are both helping lead worship.  The team is ready to encourage and pray for anyone God calls us to minister to at church.  We are EXCITED!

We have reminded ourselves tonight that the enemy would love nothing more than to steal our joy.  We REFUSE to let him infiltrate our team.  We refuse to let him steal the work God has done in our hearts these 7 days.  Agree with us, if you will.

Glory be to God.

See you soon.

Love,

Karla

My goodness, what a team! Before we came here we prayed that our trip would be marked by encouragement, fun, relationship, God’s presence, divine appointment, and JOY! It has been just those things and more. As Brent reminded us tonight: “I live my life one step of obedience at a time. And trips like this are a part of that.” This team has lived an obedient 7 days…and because of that, our lives will never be the same.
This day was another one of scattered proportions. The photos will show some of the team’s amazing work (everyone is not necessarily photographed today since the camera was not at every location)

1. Brent, Caleb and I had a meeting in town this morning and then headed up to VOH to be with the team. Well, not Brent. He was sick…but after a day of rest and prayer, he was better. Miracle, truly.
2. Mitchell continued to lead the push on the tiling project. With sore backs and tired hands, we completed the project at just the right time. It was all hands on deck at the end as we grouted and cleaned, grouted and cleaned. The ladies at the clinic are so proud to have a nice floor in their common space to host their guests and care for their patients.
3. Holley, Aaron and Amanda spent the morning loading up trash from VOH and taking it to the city dump. Aaron said in our meeting tonight: “My highlight for today was this morning with Amanda and Holley. We just laughed so much. Going to the garbage dump 3 or 4 times, being overwhelmed by the smell…but we worked and we had fun doing it.”
4. Mark spent the afternoon weed eating a MASSIVE area around the VOH. He said about his day: “I said to myself, ‘There’s no way I am going to get all of this done. But, I did! After I showered and got ready, looked back over what I had done, and saw the cleaned up field, it was such a sense of accomplishment.’” What a blessing to serve Rob and Emily who serve others constantly.
5. The Soup Run!! The VOH staff serves the community every week in yet another way. They take the pick up truck, go to a local restaurant, pick up a vat of soup and head to the Iraq township to serve. Amanda, Aaron and Holley helped today. Here is what Holley said about this awesome experience: “I love the fact that they [VOH staff] do the same thing over and over…it is consistent for the kids in the townships. They expect it and it blesses my heart. We pulled up and the kids came running with their bowls and spoons. The kids knew their food was coming. It was awesome.”

We ended the day with a dinner at Moyo. It is always a fun time to celebrate a week of service. From African food – Ox tail, Ostrich, Springbok, etc. – to the indigenous music and entertainment, and fun face painting — it’s a blast. Mitchell got pulled up on stage to be a volunteer in an African dance off. It was HILARIOUS, and he was such a trooper about it.
We will spend tomorrow getting rested up for the trip. We will also spend time in Cape Town at a downtown market and then finish the day with a time of prayer and debriefing.
Thanks for your continued prayers. You are a blessing to us and we will SEE you soon.
Much love,
K

Guess who ?!?!  It’s me…Karla…the ‘late night mission trip blogger’!

It has been a terrific Thursday!  And there are more pictures to be seen… click here for an easy link.

This team just won’t quit!  They are working, serving, loving, laughing, playing laughing, etc etc – they are just precious.  Brent’s encouragement to them this evening was: “The wonderful attitudes have kept going all day long.  I am so proud of this team.  This day was multifaceted and diverse…and you got through it well.”

We can all hardly believe that tomorrow is our last day at VOH- this week has just blessed our hearts.

God is good.

Ok, today. Each morning we have met at the VOH for an 8:15am morning prayer and planning meeting.  After this morning’s sweet time around the big family dining table, the following took place:

1.     Mark/myself and Aaron/Amanda went down the mountain to ThembaCare Grabouw to meet the care givers and head out into the townships.  We all continue to be overwhelmed by the conditions surrounding us, yet the ‘beauty in the broken’ has inspired us.  Amanda shared the following in our debriefing this evening: “The lady I visited in the township remembered me from last year.  I was reminded that it’s about building community and fellowship.  I am not just a random girl coming here for a story…I continue to come back in obedience and Jesus uses that to bring hope.”  Well said, Amanda.

2.     Regan accompanied a VOH patient and care giver to the Red Cross hospital for an appointment they had there this afternoon.  Her heart is to see “real life” here in South Africa and she experienced just that.  A trip to Cape Town, the public hospital, a SA pharmacy, and a long car ride back with a very sweet kiddo.  Regan’s quote from the debriefing: “I saw Jesus all over this day.”  Amazing.  Watch out Project143, she’s coming back with VISION!

3.     Brent (‘I am in love with the weed eater’ Pastor) served the VOH managers today by clearing land for them.  He made trips to the city dump to unload massive amounts of junk that has piled up around the farm.  And, he also transported some of the team down to the clinic as we have taken on another project!

4.     That other project is being lead by Mitchell and supported by Tom, Mark and Holley.  After purchasing all of the supplies, the tiling project began with a vengeance that has left some sore backs and tired bodies in its wake.  Please pray for us!  The tiling is being done in the clinic that we have worked in since 2007.  This place is like home to us and we are honored to ‘fix it up’ a bit.

5.     We had some extra time today to love on the VOH kids.  Man, we all want to bring them home.  They are so special to us.  Caleb is really going to be missed by them.  He has made intense bonds with them.  He said, “I won’t be able to say goodbye so I will just say, ‘see you later.’” It is so God glorifying.

Well, after an afternoon tea planned by Rob and Emily House, VOH Project Managers, (but organized by Amanda and Karla…THAT was a comedy act of a grocery trip), we came into town for prayer and a leadership meeting.  It’s always so awesome to seek God with the body of Christ around the world.  Pastor Frank and his team ministered to us at the end of prayer and many of us received ministry that was spot on with where our lives are right now.  We left the meeting so very encouraged.

We ended our day with our debriefing meeting.  I must say this is a highlight of the trip for all of us.  We share our highlights and “lowlights” (as Brent calls it!) plus “The Light” moment of our day.  We also read the blog together and the comments you send us.  It is like water to the soul.

Off to sleep!  Keep praying…it’s fuel to us.

KG

Karla again!

Wow!  This has been a long, full and wonderful day.  I sit here at almost midnight and there’s just so much to tell!!  There will be some new pictures up on the site… (click here to see easily) but not as many as usual because there are certain places we are visiting where we have been asked to not photograph.  So, I will try to write so well that you will get a mental picture.  Ha!

We have just finished our debriefing for the day.  This team is so content.  Brent’s quote to the team tonight was: “It seems like God is extending the days…I guess coming out of the ‘sun stand still’ sermon series makes me think that God might actually be doing this for us!  I see you all doing whatever you are asked to do.  Everyone is jumping in and so willing.  I appreciate that.”

So…today was as follows:

1.     Visits into the townships: Mitchell and I were paired with a group of care workers and sent to the township called ‘Iraq’.  I did take video of this adventure and will try to attach it to the blog.  It was quite moving as we went from shack to shack ministering to the people.  Regan and Holley went out individually with care givers and were overwhelmed by seeing the face of Jesus everywhere.  Our God is the Defender of the widow and Fighter for the orphans.  He is the God of the broken and Friend of the weak.  We observed this today in a way like we hadn’t before.

2.     Land clearing/organization project:  Brent (Lover of the Weed Eater), Mark (Picture Poser Worker), Amanda (Most Flexible/Content Mission Tripper Ever), and Tom (Wise Sage and Lover of Prayer) worked hard clearing out an area we were asked to organize for construction materials.  When given this task on Monday, we thought it would take 3 days to complete.  Well, this Fantastic 4 knocked it out in a morning.  Pictures to prove it! They did come upon a snake however, Brent found it, Mark corralled it and Tom chopped it’s head off = teamwork!

3.     And, painting…What servants hearts: “Even when outside painting, I could hear the kids inside laughing— it reminded me that even though what we are doing may seem simple, it brings dignity and value to these kids.  We should care for their facility like it’s the house of Jesus.”

4.     Caleb worked hard today ministering to the children at the VOH.  He has made many friends.  Even one of the care workers told me today, “Is that your boy?  Caleb?  Ah…I like what I see in him.  He is a good boy.  So wonderful with the kids.”  Then this proud mom smiled from ear to ear!  The team appreciates Caleb’s attitude to do what he is able to do, even though he longs to do all the ‘manly manual labor’.  He is being super flexible.

5.     Sports clinics:  Tom joined the outing today and assisted in leading out in a Net Ball game with the township kids.  All smiles, he photographed, prayed, ministered, encouraged and spoke life over these kids.  He says, “Knowing the impact that the sports clinics have for the kingdom of God…it’s encouraging!”

6.     Service at ThembaCare Grabouw.  Amanda, Holley, Aaron, Mark and I gathered at the clinic with the care workers and volunteers for a time of encouragement.  The “roof lifted” as the ladies lead us in worship.  No instruments, no lights, no screens with words…just hearts ready to meet with Jesus (and singing voices that were quite incredible, I might add).  The presence of God was so tangible that I became overwhelmed to tears.  I then shared from Mark 2- Jesus, The Friends, and The Paralytic.  I see these careworkers as friends who are “making an opening” for the people they serve in the townships.  They are hands of healing in their community.  And I then encouraged their hearts with the gospel and Christ’s hands of healing towards them as He “makes an opening” for us, the paralytics in desperate need of a Savior.  It was a precious time of worship and the Word, one I will never forget.

Tomorrow is a new day!  One that has us once again ‘scattered’ into different places: a tiling project, more township visits, a day visit with a VOH child to the Red Cross in Cape Town, and more!

Thanks for praying.  We are so grateful.

Love,

KG

Well, hello there.  This is Karla!

Just wanted to recap our day for you all.  Don’t forget to check out all of the pictures that will “put a face to the blog”…click this link to view. We are having such full days that we can hardly believe we have only been “at work” for 2 days!  I can’t begin to tell you how much joy is marking this trip and this team.  We laugh ALL DAY LONG, as we work and serve alongside each other.  God is so faithful.  Brent’s quote to the team this evening: “I take great joy from this team in every facet.  I love seeing your reactions to Thembalitsha.  I love hearing your responses to what Karla and I, our church, is about.  Work, humility, sacrifice, laughter…I see that in you guys.”

We spent the day in many different places.

1.     A part of the team (those whose are here for the first time plus Brent) went to the School of Hope and Thembacare Athlone this morning.  They worshipped together, prayed together and witnessed first hand the hope God uses these Themba projects to instill.  A quote from one of us: “School of Hope!  These kids have come from gangs, drugs, whatever…and they have found hope at this school.  They now stand united in God, in ways they don’t even know yet.”  This trek was the highlight of many of the team members for today.

2.     Tom, Amanda, Caleb and myself accompanied the care workers from Thembacare Grabouw into the townships this morning and had a chance to minister to many of the patients as we checked on their medical care.  My Tuesday highlight was getting to pray for a young man with HIV.  As I laid hands on his head, tears filled my eyes as I extended my faith in prayer to BELIEVE God to cause the “sun to stand still” on this man’s behalf.  It was a tender moment and I believe God will be glorified in the lives of the patients we got to see today.

3.     We continued work on the Village of Hope projects.  Mark, Mitchell, Regan, Amanda and myself painted A TON of square footage to update and “clean up” the outside of the facility.  Mark and Mitchell were troopers as they lead this project.  I am amazed at their leadership and all we were able to accomplish.  God even made the paint go further than we thought possible.

4.     Brent, Tom, Aaron, Holley and Caleb lead the way to finish the land clearing project.  A very clear path is now secured in this large space where the VOH volunteers go to get eggs from the chicken coop!  But most importantly, clearing this land helps keep the snakes away from the kids unit and their playground. This was a massive undertaking that we can’t believe got done in 1.5 days of work.

5.     Aaron, Holley and Caleb assisted in the afternoon sports clinic today.  Hundereds of kids attend these events twice a week.  Pictures are uploaded from this fun time!  Check them out.

I continue to say, “God will take care of our business as we take care of His.”  He is proving Himself over and over down here.  What an honor to serve Him.

Tomorrow: VOH projects, another visit for some of us into the townships, a service at Thembacare Grabouw where I will share the gospel and the team will minister.

Pray for us…it’s the best thing you can do!

Love to each of you.

KG

This has been a great day! We truly have had such a incredible time together as a team. We just posted 48 new pictures as well, so check them out easily by clicking this link. By the way, thanks for all the accolades to Karla for writing the blogs, but it has been me (Brent) doing it, signed up under her name. 

We started the day off right by going to a brand new coffee shop here in Somerset West called Snobs to get some take-away (“to-go”) coffees. The owner was so glad to see so many new first time customers.  After that we made our way up and over the mountain to the town of Grabouw. We arrived and met our hosts (Emily and Melissa) at the Village of Hope. We also met some of the long-term team members and staff as well. The team settled into their accommodations at the Village of Hope and then Emily debriefed us about everything we needed to know from security codes, to what snakes and spiders to look out for while working. We promised to eradicate them from the earth if we saw any of them! We took a tour of the property and learned a little about some things they wanted our team to try and accomplish. We also met the house moms and children who are staying at the Village of Hope currently.

It was interesting how the projects we were given to work on this week lined up well with the skill sets we had on the team. We see this as God’s provision for our team. So by the time we did all of those things it was about 10:00 a.m. when we started working on a “land clearing” project. With two weed eaters, hoes, shovels, pitch forks and back strength we began to clear a piece of the property they wanted cleaned up. It was hard work but the team did so joyfully and with a lot of laughter.

The weather was not cooperating much as it was rainy and cold, and not at all what we thought “spring” would feel like, but we worked through it when possible and took breaks when the rain got too hard. By the end of the day however, we had cleared a lot of the area we were given to clean up. Mitchell and I “weed-ate” in every nook and cranny that any normal snake would be hiding but thankfully none of the team saw any “dangerous varmints.”

Some of the team members spent a good bit of time playing and interacting with the children, especially Caleb. It was so great to see our team holding them and loving them and extending God’s love to them. I loved Caleb’s inhibitions as he took time on his own volition to play with the children at the Village.

We also made our plans for the rest of the week with working (painting and clearing), and visiting the other projects (School of Hope, and ThembaCare Athlone). There will also be a team starting tomorrow morning that will go into the townships with the care workers from the clinic in Grabouw and check on some of their patients with them.

We end each evening with a debriefing where everyone shares something about his or her day. We talk about what brought us joy, what was junk (frustrating or annoying) and how we saw Jesus. It is such a good time that is encouraging and helpful to all of us. We then close in prayer. We are now heading off to sleep and look forward to another day of adventure tomorrow.