Youth Mission Teams - Update
17th January 2012 by MORE
On 5 January, 3 youth mission teams flew out to Kenya and Fiji to minister to the local communities of Ndula (Kenya) and Nadi and Saweni (Fiji). Here you can find weekly updates on how the teams are going, what they've been up to and stories of lives they have touched. The two Fiji teams arrive back on 24 January and the Kenya team on 23 January.
Kenya team update
Last Updated 20 January
The Kenya team are doing really well and are getting ready to leave here tomorrow night.
It's been a pretty rough week health-wise for the team with about 8 people getting quite sick for 48 hours each. Bu, God is the best healer of all and we're giving praise to Jesus for his full restoration in our team. Everyone is now well again!
We finished up at Ndula yesterday after another week of work. We spent most of the week painting and clearing ground for the new fence that has been installed. The church looks fantastic and we're looking forward to the photos doing a better job of explaining what the team have been up to. Due to the availability of resources this week we were unable to finish the job completely but I really believe that this is a blessing. For the last 2 weeks both local tradesman and the corps family have been all pitching in to get the job done so it's great that even after we leave that they're able to continue the great work.
Lasy Wednesday night we slept at Ndula (instead of travelling back to the hotel) on the floor of the church without mattresses or heating. It was a great chance for our team to try to understand what many Kenyans experience everyday. This is something we'll remember for a long time.
The team was really gutted to leave the corps yesterday as we've built such great relationships with the corps family and particularly the Corps Officers (Captain Patrick and Lieutenant Pauline). They showered us with blessing and we leave knowing that we've received far more than we've given.
Today we travelled toNairobivia Territorial Headquarters where we got the full tour before arriving at our hotel this afternoon. We're going to enjoy some debriefing time this evening before we spend tomorrow visiting theNairobiNational Park(trying to find some lions and giraffes) and also some shopping in theNairobimarket, then flying out tomorrow night.
We're immensely grateful for the prayer support that we've received from our family, corps, and friends back home. God has been doing an amazing work in our lives and none of us are returning home unchanged by the way God has worked throughKenyaand its people.
Please pray for travelling mercies on the journey home and that each of the team members will be open to hearing from God. I believe God is stirring amongst our team and that God is radically challenging people in regards to their lives back home.
Last updated 16 January
Work
We've seen great progress with work on the corps building. Everyone is working hard and learning heaps of new skills. We're painting the inside of the church, cement rendering some of the external walls, levelling the raised boundary line, constructing a new fence around the property and building a shower room behind the church.
Ministry
Our team are getting heaps of opportunities to minister with the Ndula community. Open airs are popular here. Each time we do one, another team member shares their testimony and preaches the word. It's awesome to see how God is equipping and empowering our young people to effectively bring God's truth on the other side of the world. Tomorrow we're at Thika Corps: firstly helping to run the open air before ministering in the main service. We're being blessed with heaps of opportunities to grow and be stretched in our faith. Last Thursday, our team went to the local slum area and went door to door, praying with families. It was such a powerful and confronting experience. We're thanking God that he's allowing us to see some parts of the world that really break his heart.
Other
We had the chance to go to a local tourist area called 14 Falls yesterday. It was an awesome team building time as we conquered some fears crossing the river. We're being super well fed by our hosts: heaps of rice, chicken and chapati.
Prayer points
*Continued health for the team, especially for those feeling the effects of the heat, work, and the change of diet.
*Strength to finish all the work by the end of next week.
*More opportunities to have our worldview challenged, stretched and developed.
*For God to continue revealing his plan for everyone. There are a few team members who are really seeking God's guidance for the future so please be praying that God will use this time in Kenya to reveal the next step.
*For many seeds to be planted through the evangelical ministry that we're engaging in. We believe that God is really using this team to accomplish great things and that he can use us to help build his kingdom in Kenya.
Last updated 8 January
It's 30 degrees everyday in Kenya and the team are really experiencing the rural parts of Kenya in Ndula, a village 30 minutes out of the nearest town, Thika. It's located up a long, dusty road with 25 buidlings and hundreds of people hanging out around the main market place.
There's a nearby slum and all the children have been coming up to meet the team and play games. The team brought some soccer balls with them and have been wearing the kids out!
There are hundreds of kids at the village who are really excited to have the team there.
So far the team have led 2 open air meetings (with a Salvation decision!), have helped run Sunday school and a worship service. They have preached, shared their testimonies and led songs.
Alongside their ministry work, the team have painted inside the church building and cement rendered the outside of the church. It was a big job as the building is 21m x 10m!
The team reports back that everybody is well and that they are loving it!
Nadi team update
Last Updated 20 January
So the end of another working week is done and we worked hard as! We smashed through painting the walls and then delicately took a few days to get the window details just right. We painted a mural on the wall of the alphabet, numbers and shapes and it looks great – all ready for the kids to start kindergarten next week. We've got the local council park mowed, painted and looking fantastic! We also spent an energetic afternoon playing sport, singing songs and hanging out with the kids during “joyhour” (or joy-two hour).
But this week hasn't been all work, we've had plenty of time to chillax, taking a day trip to Notadol – the most gorgeous beach. The Saweni team joined us for the day and we had a blast. Most of us came out a little redder than expected – not quite used to Fijian sun!
We've had a great week building relationships with some of the youth at the corps there. They’ve been working alongside us and just getting to know them more has been fantastic. They have taught us heaps of stuff, a few of the team are getting quite good at Fijian sayings, but we are still getting hammered in volleyball.
Last Thursday night we had a social night at the corps, it was a great night of worship, and a whole bunch of fun! Each family from the corps did an item, as well as our team. It was a blessing to be part of and also to realise how much we have grown to love our Fijian family.
Tomorrow we head out to Suva for a day trip. We have tickets to see the Rugby7's. We're looking forward to it!
Sunday we have a combined meeting with Saweni Corps and then at Lovu.
Monday and Tuesday we have debriefs, and then we are flying home ... if we can persuade all the team to board the flight. I think some of them might want to stay!
Last updated 15 January
Things are still running swimmingly for us in Nandi!
The painting project is almost complete and should be done by tomorrow. We'll also be starting work on the council park. The young guys attitude towards work is phenomenal!
We took Saturday off and visited a traditional Fijian village, which was good to see – a humbling experience for our group to see the chief and go through the welcoming ceremony. It was sweet too when Captain Villie negotiated with the chief that instead of paying $25 to visit the village, we only had to pay $10. It was a good day but a long day.
Today we lead the service at the corps and all the team were involved with testimonies, worship team and kid's time. Shout out to Conner the preacher man who preached up a storm with a great response to Jesus plus Nothing.
We've had some great moments of discipleship with these guys and they are really grasping kingdom concepts and finding freedom. It is good.
Last updated 12 January
The team in Nadi have been working very hard, scrubbing and water-blasting the hall and painting ... everything! Skirting boards, gaps between the bricks, the ceiling … they’ve painted places that haven’t been done in over 20 years. The team have given the kitchen a makeover too.
They’re working long hours every day but last Wednesday was the longest! On Wednesday the team worked from 8:45am-9:15pm! They remained positive throughout. It was an incredible day where Jesus was spectacular!
They’ve eaten many amazing curries prepared by their amazing hosts who also showed them how to crack open juice and make milk from the coconuts they bought from the markets.
The weather is hot, humid and steamy! They’ve enjoyed fellowship time together at the pool. They have also led the kids in sports ministry and games.
The Nadi & Saweni teams also combined together last Saturday to visit a local village and the Nadi team also led church the next day.
The team want their family and friends to know they are having a loads of fun and that Jesus is continuing to provide and disciple them in an incredible way.
Saweni team update
Last updated 19 January
Work
Recent work has included:
* Helping clear a large section of their corps' 'farm': pulling a huge number of weeds, turning the soil and planting Cassava: a local plant much like a sweet potato.
* Mowing, painting and visiting a Hindu settlement.
* Assisting with a 'Bathroom repair' which involved turning an outside 'shanty' with skewwed walls, a door and no roof into one with straight walls, no door and still no roof.
* Helping one corps member move house and another corps family move into that same house.
* Concrete repair on the verandah
Ministry
*We have run a youth program
*Two of the team attended an evening of Bible study with the corps officer and were challenged, inspired and encouraged by it.
*The team did a wonderful job leading the Sunday morning service. The corps officer was pleased by their efforts and believed it would encourage some of his youth to step up and be involved in leadership. People came streaming forward in the appeal time. The team were strongly encouraged and impacted by the day. It has been wonderful watching the team step up and take on challenging tasks that they haven't done before, as well as to see them making personal discoveries about themselves. Some have even experienced significant changes in their behaviour with no prompting other than that of the Spirit in their own lives.
Other
*We have enjoyed lots of time laughing at how bad we are at volleyball compared to our Fijian brothers & sisters.
*We are beginning to get a few minor illnesses, cuts, scratches & grazes, swollen feet, head lice, etc - but nothing serious.
*In the days ahead we will be joining with the team from Nadi, and some youth from both corps' for a beach picnic at what is apparently the 8th most beautiful beach in the world. On Friday we will be cleaning up our local beach and helping dig and cook a Lovo (hungie) for lunch, and in the evening we will be having a bonfire there with the young people.
Prayer Points
If you are sharing prayer points here's a few for us:
- Continuing good health (and quick recovery from the minor ailments some are experiencing)
- Wisdom the team leaders
- Strength to keep going
- Good, worthwhile sleep and rest for all
- Continued safety
- Thanks and praise for the wonderful people of this corps and especially their officer Geoffry who is a massive inspiration to everybody
- Praise for good weather all week this week
Last updated 10 January
Apart from some rain to start with, the weather has been typical Fiji, bright blue sunny skies, hot and humid.
They’ve spent quality time with the corps youth: mowing (with brush cutters and rakes) the grass for corps members in the village, enjoying the traditional New Year’s water fight and playing sport together. So far one the highlights is the significant relationships that have been forged with the people of the corps, especially the youth.
They led "Joy Hour" (3 hours long) for the children of the corps and the area, running games, craft, and songs.
In the days ahead the team are excited to prepare the ground for fresh crop at the corps "Youth Farm". They grow local produce to sell at the local markets to raise funds for youth activities. The team is very excited that they can contribute to such a worthwhile project and will be able to see a significant result for their efforts at the end of the job.
Team morale is high. They has been warmly embraced by the corps people and are thoroughly loving being here and sharing with these wonderful people.
Prayer would be appreciated for protection from the sun, good hydration, and the energy and strength to keep going on.
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Comments
Praise God! Thankyou for the updates from Nadi. We're really glad to know you are in good health and positive spirits. It sounds like you're making a real difference! We've prayed daily for you. Love and blessings, the Burkes :)
So proud of these guys! Love how God is using them.
We've been praying daily for you guys, so glad to know Jesus is overwhelming you with his love, protection and provision. Keep walking step by step with him. Enjoy His many Blessings..! Kev & Hev
great work they are doing cant wait to hear all about itso proud of them all
Great to see these young people are being used by God in these amazing places. Prayers & love are with them all.
Ever so proud of what tiuy are doing. We miss you all can't wait to here how God has used you over there.Will keep praying for you all a special hello to Whitney Salter love you mum.
So glad you guys are being a great witness and having fun too. Keep up the good work
It is soo ridiculously exciting to hear of all that they are achieving and of what God is clearly doing within them. So proud of them all. Who's stepping up for next teams?
What a wonderful work our young people are doing. We miss you so much but are also very proud of you and your obedience to God's calling on your lives. Thank you for the updates - it's great to be able to pray specifically for the team and the community they are serving. Love and continuing prayers are with you all.