Earlier this year our adult Thrive Trip brought people together to work alongside us in South Africa. Before the trip, the team members didn’t know each other, after spending two weeks working together to further the Kingdom, they have a lifelong bond.

Here’s what some of them had to say about the experience:

“It’s amazing what God will do when you make yourself vulnerable to His word. The trip has truly helped me to pray, obey, and allow Him to make a way…Everyone inspired me to push into the Lord’s will and seek to know him more.” -George Washington III

“That trip was amazing. My first mission trip. Our team was great and worked so well together. Which is so good since none of us know one another. The ministry was awesome; I loved the people, especially the locals! I definitely made lifetime friends and met people who will live in my heart forever.” -Mindy Miller

We still have spots open for 2010! The application deadline for December 15th. Interested? Why wait? We’ve even gone paperless, you can now complete the entire application online, apply here now.

We were blessed this month by a mission team of folks from Michigan and California.  They served in various areas of our ministry including several days of cultural exchange and relationship evangelism. It’s amazing how simply loving and serving others can open the door to talking about our need for Jesus Christ.

One of the ladies they met said she believes in God, but doesn’t go to church because she doesn’t believe God is actually in any of the churches. She didn’t have much hope. This gave the team a chance to talk about how big and wonderful God really is, and how He cares for her more than she’ll ever know.

As they talked and prayed together, she was encouraged. Please pray that both the physical and spiritual seeds planted that day grow into a wonderful harvest.

“I saw Jesus’ face many times these past couple of weeks, in the people of South Africa, as well as the people of Thrive Africa. It’s incredible to see the differences that are being made here and I’m so happy that we were able to be a small part of it.” – Sharon Fairbotham

Abram Moloi, our first (and longest) Basotho staff member, is an instrumental part of our Outreach program.  He trains and coaches interpreters, and works closely with the pastors of our local partnering churches.  Last month, Abram spent a week with a mission team ministering in Intabazwe.  It was a special treat for him and for the team, and this is what he shared:

“Mark 4:26-29 says ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like.  A man scatters seed on the ground.  Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed spouts and grows, though he does not know how.  All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’

Working with the Roberts mission team was really wonderful for me.  I enjoyed connecting with them, and working together to connect with the community in Intabazwe.  As we built relationships with the families, they were not afraid to be used by God.  I know they have planted many seeds in the community and have also learned a lot about African culture.  I know also that what they did was not for nothing – they will receive their reward in heaven one day.  God bless them.”

-Jill Marshall, Outreach Coordinator

Mission team members are often amazed at the mighty ways the Lord works through them as they share Christ with others– it’s also amazing to see how the Lord works in them. Team members learn so much about God, themselves, and His plan for their lives when they step away from their daily distractions and focus on Him. When asked “What is one lesson God taught you during this trip?” here is what some team members shared:

“God has taught me that there are many different ways to show the love of Christ. Each one of us possesses unique, God-given gifts and this week I have learned that when we rest in those gifts God can do an amazing work through us.”

“That joy does not come from money or possessions or even circumstances in our lives. We need to seek joy from God, make God most important, and then truly focus on sharing love with others. Relationships need to take precedence in our lives.”

“God really taught me the importance of spending time with Him every day in order to be closer to Him and to discover His plan for my life.”

“Mine would be that with all of the amazing things God has done this week he is much greater than at times I allow him to be.”

“God has taught me that I do not need to make this a 2 week mission trip. I hope to be more open and willing to share my faith with friends and co-workers at home. I’ve learned that all people are needy and have a desire to hear the truth, and I hope to be more prepared to share at home.”

As the Common Ground team arrived at New Life church to begin ministry in Intabazwe, they didn’t need to go far to build their first relationship. Abraham “just happened” to be walking by and decided to stop in.

Already a believer, Abraham was eager to share his faith, his struggles, and his many questions with the team. His home had just been damaged in a fire and it seemed he needed the encouragement, listening ear and compassionate heart of a fellow believer.

Abraham continued to stop by the church each morning to catch the team before they headed out. He also accepted their invitation to church that Sunday where he was welcomed with open arms. The team left South Africa encouraged and excited knowing he had found a new church family where he could love and be loved.

Recently team members from LifeChurch.tv met with a family where the parents were both Sangomas (also known as traditional healers).  The couple proudly showed their ceremonial items, and shared their cultural and spiritual beliefs.  Beliefs which included ancestral spirits as their source of healing power and communication channel to God.

With the couple unreceptive to the Gospel, the team spent the next few days with other families in the village.  Then during team prayer, they felt compelled to go back for another visit.

Only the adult daughter was home.  With her parents gone, she was eager to learn about Jesus Christ.  Together they shared the Gospel, studied the Bible, and talked about how to give up false gods and put your faith in Christ alone.   “After about an hour and a half of talking with her she said that her eyes had been opened…Right then and there she committed her life to Christ! It was so amazing to see God work.”

And it was amazing to see her at church that weekend.  Please pray with us that she continues to grow in her Christian faith and as a witness to her family.

It’s hard to believe, this being Africa and all, but it gets cold here. Cold enough that it has snowed twice this year!

The last time it snowed in Qwa Qwa there was enough on the ground for a mission team to get in a snow ball fight before beginning ministry for the day.

During one of the last days of ministry for Thrive Trip, a ministry group went to home after home and kept getting turned away. Some people were busy, others were just not interested. So, the team came back to lunch an hour early.

Not about to let them give up, they were encouraged that there was someone waiting for the group to come visit them and they were sent back out. After visiting 10 homes, a couple of teenagers welcomed them in. They talked for awhile and knew fairly quickly that this is where God wanted them for the day and that He was going to doing something amazing in their lives.

When they went back to the house after lunch, they not only led the two people there to Christ, but also shared the Gospel with a friend who had stopped by.

By the end of the day that began with such frustration, they led three people to the Lord!

What a great lesson in God’s timing—it’s definitely not the same as ours. It’s always amazing to see how much God teaches us about Him, when we allow ourselves to be used by Him.

When mission teams come to serve alongside us, they plant seeds. Literally.  One of the aspects of the ministry we do with mission teams is planting a garden and using that as an analogy for how God works in us.  During Thrive Trip, one of the groups spent a few days with a young woman:

“We spent four days there. We planted a garden. God spoke through Melissa (another team member), she didn’t know where it came from. At the end of the time there she (the girl they were spending time with) asked for prayer and asked Jesus into her heart.”

Sometimes when we plant seeds, we leave not knowing what the result would be. And sometimes, like this time, we are able to see the fruit of our labor. And it is oh-so-sweet!

Recently, a mission team discipled and encouraged a Believer, and helped her witness to her unbelieving family.  This is their story:

Today our team returned to a house that we had briefly stopped by the previous day.  Whereas the day before we only had time to pray with the family, today we were able to sit out on the sunny porch and look through God’s Word.  Victoria had a very ill husband and a young adult son that lived with her.  As the morning progressed, we learned she was a born again Christian, strong in her faith and diligent in her prayers and Bible studies.  But she was also very concerned about what was going to happen to her non-believing son and her sick husband.  She has tried to witness to them, but they don’t seem to listen.  Her frustration and heartache were evident.

Then as we spoke and shared scripture together, her son slowly came closer and eventually joined our discussion.  Perhaps hearing about Christ from new people peaked his interest.  And when we invited him to church and he agreed to come, Victoria was overjoyed.

I once heard leading a person to Christ described like links in a chain.  We may be the first link, the last link, or somewhere in the middle.  Each is equally important, and we pray that Victoria’s family will continue to see Christ in her and desire Him for themselves.