On Saturday the Twenty4Seven interns and several staff members were given the opportunity to go rappelling off of Mount Everest.  It was a great time for team building, as well as bonding. The interns had a chance to overcome their fears, as well as a chance to try something new, while allowing the staff members to be an encouragement for them. Lucas, our guide, did a great job preparing everyone for the adventure!

Some of the interns even mentioned that having to trust Lucas and the equipment to keep them safe was much like having to trust God for protection and safety. Seeing God in even the littlest of ways, from the beauty of the mountain to the lesson in trust, made for an overall great experience.

Check out more pictures from the rappelling adventure here!

-Alaina, Twenty4Seven Intern

We had a great American Thanksgiving dinner today! It was a great opportunity to reminisce on all we’re thankful for and share a traditional Thanksgiving meal–complete with all the trimmings!

We hope you have a great Turkey Day!

Our Thrive Africa family spent yesterday celebrating all God has done throughout this year.

One of our interns, Katy, took the opportunity to be baptized in South Africa before she and the other interns leave in early December. Our staff and interns were honored to be able to share the experience with her.

It was a huge blessing to be able to cook-out, enjoy the water and spend quality time together!

I took a group of volunteers to minister a local hospital this week. A man we met, Phineas, has had Tuberculosis since 2007. He stays in the hospital for months at a time for treatment because he can’t afford to travel back and forth the 15km to the hospital from his home.

After talking to him more about God, we shared some verses about healing and he was so moved that he asked if we could write down the verses. The interpreter wrote them down on a small piece of paper and then handed it to Phineas.

When Phineas reached into his document pouch and put the piece of paper in his ID Book (the most secure place to keep something) it showed us how excited he was about what we’d shared! I told him we would return with a Bible, so he could continue to read and grow in the Lord. I am looking forward to visiting Phineas again to share more of the Gospel with him.

-Charlene Garrett, Human Resources Director

A group of our staff and interns were blessed recently by being invited to a women’s conference hosted by Show-Tell Bible Church, a long-term partner of Thrive Africa.  The theme of the weekend was Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can rejoice in the days to come.”

Reverend Pearl Kupe, also a long-time friend of Thrive Africa, gave a series of powerful messages about being anointed by God and balancing our anointing with the character of Christ.  Both are critical to effective Christian leadership.

The weekend was a wonderful opportunity to sow into our ministry team, to enjoy the fellowship of other Christian women, and to worship and celebrate together.  Individually and as a team, we were encouraged, inspired and refueled with fresh ideas and vision for the days to come.

Job at Thrive: LaunchPad Relations Specialist and Leadership Summit Coach Development Manager Assistant

Hometown: Severn, Maryland

What’s your favorite part of living in Africa? Africa is all about community and that’s what I love about living here. I love building relationships with all the different types of people that are around me because they are so desperate for love. When I build different relationships with the people they last for years.

Tell us the best part about your job. The best part of my job is that I know I am doing what I am called to do and what my heart has told me to do for years. I am working with people that are full of potential, full of passion and people that are changing Africa.

If you have a few hours free on a Saturday, what will we find you doing? I love sleeping so definitely catching up on some sleep. Hanging out with friends or just having a good time in general. I’m flexible and down for doing random things; I mean it is the weekend.

What’s your favorite African animal? I love Ostriches because they are so much like raptors it’s insane.

Share one of the most impactful moments you’ve had in South Africa. When I was teaching LaunchPad last year I had the chance to get close to a lot of my students not only through teaching but by building a close relationship. Just seeing personally how much we impact their lives and how our programs are changing so many lives in South Africa.

What do you miss most from home? I definitely miss my family and friends.  I am so close to all of them. I wish they could all move out here.

What’s playing on your iPod these days? Music is a big part of my life and I can’t say that I have one particular group. I listen to everything; except COUNTRY.

What’s a movie you can watch over and over? The movie Brown Sugar, it’s my favorite movie.

Share something unique about yourself. I love watching people dance and usually try to watch every type of dance show/movie. People would never guess that about me.

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.

Job at Thrive:

Outreach Coordinator

Hometown:

Birmingham, Michigan

What’s your favorite part of living in Africa?

It’s hard to choose – The people, the land and the animals are all so beautiful!

Tell us the best part about your job.

My first mission trip had a HUGE impact on my life, and each one since then has taught me more about God’s heart for the poor and how He wants to use us to help.  So I love equipping mission teams to serve in the villages, and am so excited to see them discover amazing things about God and themselves along the way.

If you have a few hours free on a Saturday, what will we find you doing?

Likely going for a long walk or hike.

What’s your favorite African animal?

Zebra

Share one of the most impactful moments you’ve had in South Africa.

Recently, it was a visit to the Manapo Hospital pediatrics ward.  It was a heartbreaking experience because some of the children were so sick and weak.  But at the same time it was a joyous occasion as our team loved on the kids – playing, praying and giving out gifts.  The hard-working nurses and overtired moms seemed encouraged as well.  The Lord blessed us all that day!

What do you miss most from home?

Besides my family and friends…my favorite TV shows like House, Bones, CSI and Fringe.  Sorry, I like the creepy dramas.

What’s playing on your iPod these days?

A bit of a mix.  Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flats, and some Disco and Funk favorites.

What’s a movie you can watch over and over?

Steel Magnolias

Share something unique about yourself.

I’ve had a lot of unique and memorable experiences traveling for work and missions trips…one that comes to mind is hiking up the Great Wall of China at sunrise.

Since we arrived for our yearlong internship in December, we’ve been so blessed to experience beautiful, hot, African weather. The sun has been warm and inviting, the mountains beckoning us to climb, the days have called to us to come play and bask in the beauty of God’s creation… until now. Yes, winter is upon us and suddenly the days no longer call us to come and play. Instead, they encourage us to stay inside next to a warm heater, curl up in a blanket and sip on some hot cocoa. The sun is sparse and gray skies are more frequent- but the beauty of God’s creation is in the cold and gray just as it was in the warm and blue. God’s beauty is always all around us, it’s just that now we get to enjoy it from the comfort of a windowsill.

~ Chelsea Ray, Twenty4Seven Intern

Job at Thrive: Administrative Assistant

Hometown: Forest City, IA & Orlando, FL

What’s your favorite part of living in Africa? It’s gorgeous. I’ve been really blessed to have visited some amazing places, but Southern Africa tops the list.

Tell us the best part about your job. It’s amazing to be part of something bigger than myself. I spent all this time working before, just for a paycheck-now, what I’m doing is having a Kingdom impact. It’s really humbling.

If you have a few hours free on a Saturday, what will we find you doing? I wish I could say something active like hiking or running. But, I’m a big couch potato-so probably watching tv.

What’s your favorite African animal? It’s a tie-elephants and leopards. But, African birds are pretty cool too.

Share one of the most impactful moments you’ve had in South Africa. Last summer, I was in Qwa Qwa and we had a really candid conversation with a woman about HIV & AIDS. I think moments like that make it all real. Suddenly, it becomes more than just numbers and statistics.

What do you miss most from home? Tijuana Flats, hands down.

What’s playing on your iPod these days? Charlie Hall, Phil Wickham, Marc Broussard, Duffy

What’s a movie you can watch over and over? The original Parent Trap

Share something unique about yourself. I like African birds, a lot. So, I’ve decided to take up birding (South African for bird watching).