South Africa Mission Trip
Early Saturday morning June 24, members of our church headed to JFK in New York for connecting flights to Johannesburg, South Africa! Chris McLain, Kelly and James Voorhies, and Laura Cortez arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon. They were greeted by Richard Bosart, a church supported missionary, who coordinates mission work done by the Methodist Church in South Africa. The group is staying at the same orphanage our prior team of 26 stayed at two summers ago. The children's home is in Germiston, just outside of Johannesburg and provides a place to stay surrounded by children in need and the staff who work in the facilities.
The primary site of our mission team, however, is the Khanyisile Project, in particular the crèches or childcare centers. The Khanyisile project seeks a holistic approach to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Katoorus. The Katoorus community consists of three townships; Katlehong (where our team is working), Vosloorus and Thokoza, home to approximately one to four million people. The main emphasis of the project is to provide home based care for those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS, including counseling, care and encouragement. In addition, education and care of orphans, marginalized and vulnerable children is provided at 3 crèches and pre-school day care centers for orphans and vulnerable children.
Our team will travel to Katlehong to teach Vacation Bible School to the children including scripture, projects and most of all God’s love. They will help provide loving hands to help care for these children as well. Many of you helped purchase t-shirts and other offerings for these precious children. The theme of We are all the same will resonate the fact that each of us is God’s child and no barriers can prevent the connection we have to our Creator and to one another.
The team is scheduled to return home on July 13th. Please keep this group in your thoughts and prayers. Several people helped write devotionals for the team’s use while in SA. We will include updates as we receive them by email as well as an occasional devotional to help our connection remain strong.