Breakfast Meeting

Before 8am, the cell phone rings. It’s our good friend Mike from African Encounter, a Christian tour company based in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and South Africa. Living Hope works with African Encounter to set up logistics (housing, transport, food, etc) for many of our short- and long-term international volunteers, including teams. I first met Mike almost exactly 6 years ago, when I first came to Cape Town on a trip with my church on a short-term team to learn about Living Hope. That team was Mike’s first on the job, and he was essentially our guide and go-to guy for the entire time. Since then we’ve gotten to know Mike better, each year we brought church teams out here ourselves. So not only is Mike a partner, he is a good friend, and a significant part of why Natasha and I took the step to be here full-time. Mike is calling so early because he wanted to see if we’re free for breakfast. He wants us to meet his business partner and founder of African Encounter while he is in town. Amazingly, the first part of the morning was free for us, so we said, sure! I’m so glad I met this guy, full of experiential wisdom and a lot of great insight into international short-term missions. It was great to get his take on what short-term missions looks like, where it came from, and where it could go from here. It made me think, most of all, confirmed Natasha and my desire to spread the word of hope of Jesus and opportunity to serve to our respective home countries. Yes, there are many not just in the U.S., but also in South Africa who haven’t really yet heard about what the Lord doing here. May what we’re doing and what we see and communicate be a beacon of hope and catalyst to move others to act.

Australia Represented

We spent much of the day getting to know a kind older gentleman from Australia. He was no stranger to Christian humanitarian work, after many years serving the homeless and others disadvantaged. We took him to visit Living Grace, Living Hope’s ministry to the homeless and those battling with substance abuse. He quickly took to John and Joan, the husband-and-wife overseers of the homeless ministry. We are hopeful that he can commit a portion of his planned 3-month stay in South Africa serving with us – and he seems keen to do so!

Volunteer Family Dinner

This evening we had dinner with the current short-term volunteers at their residence. It was great to share stories and ideas about our volunteer experience over a meal together, outside the hustle and bustle of what is missions work. I sat back and looked around: one volunteer is here for just 3 more days, another just two three more weeks, and yet another just arrived a few days ago. The environment is so transient, yet I firmly believe there is a community, and one worth investing into. It is so important to us to seize the moments we’re in here and now, and to make the most of them before they’re gone. Spending time chatting with and challenging each other, linked by a desire to make a difference in God’s name, is invaluable.

1st Registered Volunteer Nurse

Today we welcome a new long-term volunteer to Living Hope. Tracy came over with the team from South Carolina and will be staying with us for 5 months. Not only are we excited to add another long-term volunteer to our community, but we are doubly excited as Tracy will be the first full-time volunteer nurse running a shift in the Health Care Centre. She jumped through all the hoops to get certified in South Africa as a registered nurse, which allows her to practice. If she did not get certified, she would only be allowed to accompany our Home-based Carers, So we are extremely grateful for Tracy and look forward to seeing what God is going to do in and through her here!