From Soweto to Safari & Beyond
Kee Poh Li & Lynnette Wong:
The POR teams reunited at Cape Town, South Africa's 3rd largest city! With expectant hearts, we look forward to learn more about this city on our final leg of the journey. The POR team have heard that Cape Town, also known as 'The Mother City', is renowned for its natural beauty and is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, majestic landscapes and limitless oceans. We will also visit King of Kings Baptist Church, Masiphumelele Baptist Church, Living Hope Ministry and reside at the Team House.
Norina Ng:
Day 6 marked the end of our safari dream (Sob sob...Missing it already). We kicked off the day with our group devotion on Titus 3 and God's presence was strongly felt amongst us as different individuals reflected on how this chapter spoke to them. I am encouraged and challenged as I heard some of the Peacemakers shared on how God spoke to them about including the children of Africa into their daily prayer list after our encounters with the children at Soweto and Acres of Love. Not just to pray for them today or tomorrow, but to uphold them in prayers regularly. Following that, we had a hearty and sumptuous breakfast before we hit the road. The food just got better each day, maybe a ploy to make us want to stay longer for more. Today we had honey baked ham that tasted real good! Not forgetting the desserts which were always a delight!
The hosts were also very hospitable to pack lunch bags for us to eat on our 6 hour bus journey to Johannesburg airport as we will be taking the domestic flight to Cape Town to meet up with the rest of the POR team. Our bus driver, Andrew shared with us this story while we were on the way to the airport. He woke up in the middle of his sleep at 4am and got this strong feeling that he needed to check on our coach. It was a good 20 minutes drive out as the coach was not allowed into the safari site. When he reached the coach, he found out that the coach's battery had died. He had to ask the rangers for help and ended up fixing the battery until 8.30am, just in time for breakfast before our departure. I believe that God was the one who alerted him to check on the battery in the wee hours of the morning. If not, we would not have reached the airport in time for our flight to Cape Town.
The last words from Andrew before we bade our farewell was that he was thankful that he had us as his passengers. Although he caused us to be lost for 2 hours while on our way to the Safari, we did not get angry with him but treated him very nicely and included him for all meals in Kirkman's Kamp. He also joined us for our group devotion. He said that he was a believer although not a strong one but felt there were changes in his heart after spending two days with us. He asked us to keep that spirit within us going. God is just so amazing as he allowed us to touch people anywhere and anytime. You will never know what kind of impact you can leave in people's lives.
It was a bittersweet moment when we left Kirkman's Kamp as the wholesafari experience was just out of the world. To describe the whole experience as WOW would be an understatement. Indeed, it was something money cannot buy. It was so awesome that we are able to see, taste and feel God's creation. If given the chance, I would want to go back for more! We are already suffering from Safari withdrawal symptoms!
We arrived at Cape Town safely after 2 hours of flight and were exhausted with all the travelling but we want to be ready for God's Word tomorrow! Thank you to all who have been following our blogs and for praying for us. Please continue to uphold us in prayer! See you guys in 5 days' time!
Maureen Ng:
It has been a most amazing experience at the Safari! I experienced the South African style restroom in the bush during our breakfast time after the morning game drive. In the evening, I even joined in the traditional cultural dance during the BBQ dinner. All of us had such a wonderful time!
Through the group devotion, we are reminded of God's goodness and grace. We also learnt to be contented and to submit to authority.
Acres of Love has the mission to save as many children as possible, one child at a time and we are to do likewise to do our part for God with the best we can for whatever God speaks to us to do. We were given a healthy packed lunch for our journey on the coach. All of us were exhausted after the coach ride and we had to take an internal domestic flight to Cape Town. Our hearts were however filled with excitement for the new journey ahead at Cape Town!
Ivy Tan:
The POR team that proceeded straight to Cape Town had a night's stay in a little cottage lookalike place called Wellwood Lodge. We spent time as a group for devotion, reflections and prayers. It was insightful and inspirational. We were urged to continue to do the good works and point others to God as the group studied from the book of Titus. Also, it was interesting to visit the cheetah outreach at Spier where we were free to explore the outreach facility and enjoyed a personal encounter with one of the adult ambassador cheetah.
It was also important to help ensure the survival of Africa's most endangered big cat by adhering to the rules to make the visit more pleasureable and for the safety of animals.
Lunch at the farmer's market at Oude Liberatas had a very different feel to it. It was shopping time! They were selling clothes, accessories, snacks, fruits, souvenir, Indian food and Chinese noodles as well. Thank God for the beautiful weather as the sky was cloudy and provided shade for the day. Along the way as we were travelling to the Team House in the evening, the journey was just so cooling. And when we finally reached the team house, it was cosy and food served in that evening was so superb. Thanks to the team house chef for preparing a healthy sumptuous meal spread for us!
Connie Wong:
Before I start to write this blog, I want to say a big thank you to Evangel Family Church for organising this POR to South Africa. This is
my first mission trip to South Africa and I want to thank my siblings for supporting me in terms of finance for the trip. God is good and
he has blessed me with so many things.
Acts 20:35 says that 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'. I want to be a channel of blessings to others, especially to the children. Thank God for seeing me through these six days and for blessing me with good health during the trip. Praise God! I am in Cape
Town now with the rest of the team who proceeded there earlier and the scenery is beautiful. The Team House is cosy and the food they prepared is simply delicious!
While in the bus, Clynton, the team house manager introduced the various places in Cape Town to us. Throughout the journey I think of God's goodness in Psalms 23:6. 'Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' I have heard of Cape Town but have never seen it, now it is right before my eyes and it is so beautiful. I want to thank God for helping me to adapt to the places and food in Cape Town. To God be the glory. Amen!
