A Powerful & Emotion Filled Day
(Wednesday, March 15th)

After breakfast Wendy, Mike, Ryan and Nick walked the kids to school. This 40-minute walk was a great time to get to know the kids and “walk in their shoes.” It amazed me the distance a child as young as 4 years old needs to walk each morning. When we returned to the village Brian, Wendy, Becky and Mike continued to work on our construction projects on the dinning/worship hall and bathroom and Ryan, Nick, and Pastor Welcome practiced worship songs.

Pastor Welcome arranged for our team to visit a local high school during their lunch break. When we arrived students were waiting for us in one of the classrooms. As we entered the room these students sang songs to us in Zulu. Soon after Ryan started the first worship song, all remaining space in the classroom was filled with students, dancing, jumping and clapping to the music. The power of the Lord in the room was truly amazing. Once the room was filled past capacity students gathered 3 rows deep at the windows and some climbed trees to get a view! The worship team sang songs in English (Dance in the River, Glory, Glory, Glory) and Zulu (Jesus is Mine, He Lifts Me Up). Nick presented an awesome message about need to save sex for marriage and how to grow closer to Jesus. The principle of the school invited us to his office as we were preparing to leave. He asked us to pray for 2 sick ladies and 2 staff members that were in his office. We all gathered around these women and laid hands on them and prayed for healing and strength. As we left the school one of the students shouted from an open window “I want to dance in the river” in English. We all want to go back again.

Our next visit was the pre-school that is next door to the high school. Our team sang the same songs to the children. After worship we spent time playing with the children on the playground. As we left many of the children followed us along the school fence shouting in Zulu “We have learned so much from you.”

In the evening we all walked to a local Bible study. After worship songs (lead by Ryan, Nick and Pastor Welcome) Mike, Becky and Wendy shared their testimonies. We finished our day by walking home in the dark with the full moon proving light and the stars of the southern hemisphere shining bright. A few of us got a chance to talk with Zamhani, the oldest orphan at the age of 18. He was brought to the village in December with 9 of his siblings and cousins. Zahmanispoke of his desires to someday become a Pastor and preach the word of God. He says that he tries to talk to his friends at school about Jesus, but it is sometimes tough. We assured him that the Lord was going to use him to spread the love of Jesus. He was so excited about this and could not stop smiling. The team can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for us tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Candace! Nick LOVES & MISSES YOU!

*submitted by Mike