“Out of My Comfort Zone” – SA Reflections

One of my favorite parts of getting to be a leader on an mk2mk projects is how much we emphasize giving our teens the chance to lead and take ownership over the ministry we do. But that is never easy – it takes a lot of stepping out in faith, trusting God, and doing things that aren’t comfortable. But it is also so rewarding and encouraging to see how they experience God working through them. So here are some more comments from our students on their favorite memory moments.

“My favorite ministry moments were connecting with the safe play kids: building relationships with them over that week was the best interaction to the community + culture in general. Day by day, you would usually see a specific few really light up when they saw us, like we really impacted them personally. Even weeks really impacted them personally. Even weeks later when I saw a few at house visits they remembered me and immediately trusted me again.” –Lexe V.

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“Memories I Will Never Forget” – SA Reflections

As we wrapped up our last week of ministry in Port Shepstone, we took some time to reflect and hear about some of our team’s favorite moments throughout the trip. A big focus we have within the last few days is marking what God has done, both through us and in our own hearts. Here are some of the students responses to being asked what their favorite experience or moment in ministry was.

“Going to the care center yesterday, I got to see a patient I had talked to a few weeks before. We talked for almost two hours, and I gave her my teddy bear. She was crying, saying over and over “I love my teddy bear, now I have a brother.” It was such a blessing to talk to her and so hard to say goodbye.” –Rachel J.

Social Action Night In The Rainbow Nation

By Hannah Broadwell

Although the country of South Africa has experienced incredible growth over the years, it has a long history of hardship. During our last few weeks here, our team has gotten the opportunity to interact with South African culture in many different spheres. Hospice. School. Vacation Bible School. Youth Group. With the routine of ministry, it is easy to forget the painful past of this region. But, just this past weekend, our team got to gather and spend time looking at the issues this country still faces today.

Xtrack: When Moving Becomes a Reality

By Jessi Bullis

 

J, one of the teens helps his “child” make her passport

Over the course of the last two weeks we have had the opportunity to lead the kids in three different shaping and training simulations! 

The first was the Airport Simulation. This gave the kids a chance to experience what the travel process is to go overseas. They had to do everything from getting a medical examination and applying for visas, to exchanging their currency and going through customs control on the “other end.” The teens were each paired up with a preschooler to create their own little “family” units so that the preschoolers would have help throughout the process. We knew sending in a four year old to fill out a visa form on their own would not have been very effective! It was also exciting to see how this helped the teens take more ownership, seeing them step up and protect or provide for the younger students, while even giving them an extra challenge of keeping the kids calm while they waited to board their plane.  

Friendships Made- Speak Out

By Ben Babione

PC Tim Hepokoski

“Welcome to Speak Out!!!” The shout enthusiastically rung out across the courtyard as each camper came into the high school compound Monday morning. The Bosnian students made their way to the registration table, received a colored bandana representing which team they would be on for the week, and began to meet new people. This week was going to be about one major thing: friendship.

Mission Trip to KwaNzimakwe

By Hannah Broadwell

Unity. Three different groups, three different cultures but one mission, one God. Our team packed up for the week and left for a campsite about 45 minutes away. Our group of MKs would be combining with two youth groups for a short mission trip in a rural community called KwaNzimakwe. Both of these youth groups are a part of the church we partner with here in South Africa. Youth Worx due to its location, is composed of mostly white or Afrikaans high schoolers. While Youth Alive is mainly composed of Zulu young people. These two groups, because of their difference in location and culture don’t always get the chance to meet regularly. But, through this opportunity we got to combine the three groups and do ministry alongside one another.

Into the Streets

By Ben Babione

On Wednesday morning, our team made its way to the old cathedral located on the main walking street of Sarajevo. Excitement could be felt throughout the entire group in anticipation of the day ahead. Today was the day we would get to use our drama (the Everything Drama) as a way of presenting the gospel and sparking conversations with people passing by. Our hope was to use this five-minute, gospel-centered drama to prompt conversations with local Bosnians and interrupt their normal routines with the love of Christ.