On Saturday the team went to Pilanesberg for a game drive. We saw quite a few different animals and at one point we were completely surrounded by a herd of elephants.
On Sunday we went to a very lively (and very long!) African church service. It was an incredible service and the worship was amazing, complete with dancing and a conga line. I didn't get any pictures of the service, I'll have to ask if any one else took any. Here is a short video of the worship service. The quality isn't great, but it shows the enthusiasm!
Sunday afternoon we all went over to Derek and Rebecca's house for lunch. (Derek and Rebecca are the directors of YWAM Rustenburg.) After lunch some of the group played games while others just hung out and talked. It was a very nice and relaxing time, a much needed break for everyone! Thanks for having us all over Derek and Rebecca, we love you!!
Sunday evening we gathered under the lapa (an outdoor area covered by a thatch roof) around a fire and had a great time of worship and prayer.
Monday and Tuesday mornings were spent finishing up the community garden and shacks in Freedom Park and the afternoons were spent in Phokeng working with the orphans in the after school program.
The Freedom Park garden is now ready for planting after we've loosened the soil and mixed in manure and quality top soil.
We've made contact with a local farmer that is a professional agronomist. (Jenny here - For those of you, like me, who have no idea what "agronomist" means, here is a definition.) He is willing to supply seedlings which will have a better chance of survival than our seeds, and he can also advise the garden workers on the best plants to grow in that specific location. I'm excited to see the fruits of this labor over the next several months.
This morning in Freedom Park we handed over the shacks to the families we built them for. The families had been living in deplorable conditions and these new shacks will provide for them much safer, cleaner and healthier living conditions. (Freedom Park in an illegal squatter settlement, so we aren't able to build proper houses there.)
We were accompanied by the workers that oversee the orphans in Freedom Park. We were so honored to have them be part of us. As we walked between the three shacks that we built the ladies sang worship songs in their native language (videos below). It was a beautiful expression of thanks to God, I think it moved the whole team greatly.
We were also honored to have Mr. Khumalo, a local South African pastor, with us. Mr. Khumalo was able to pray in both English and Tswana so everyone could understand. It was very moving. The families were so very thankful to have a new home and it was an incredible experience for us to be able to serve them in this way.
~Lincoln and Jenny
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