Mandela Park

good night...evening...afternoon...morning...
whenever and wherever this note finds you in your day...
well today was a really amazing day. we had breakfast together with the JAM staff and our team and just got to hang out some more. Then the JAM staff shared their vision and dreams and hopes and plans...prayers and along with some challenges with us, it was really cool to hear more of their heart and just passion for Africa, for South Africa. Their statement and just desire is the "cross of Jesus for the cross of Africa" such an amazing dream, a dream that is becoming a reality in so many different ways, the work that they are doing is incredible.
One of the things that they shared with us is just how its a Kingdom vision, not to glorify anyone but God, and that was just really cool to hear their heart and their passion to reach the youth in South Africa and then like a ripple affect to have it spread throughout all of Africa.
We went to this place today called a squatter camp, or Mandela Park, or Inazama Yethu...I don't know exactly how to pronounce that but thats what its called. We got a chance to just walk around and see the community, these are really poor communities where they are reaching out and working with the youth there.
One story that I was just touched by and blown away...
I met this lady named Agnus (who you can pray for) but she had a stroke awhile back and now her whole left side is paralyzed. But the cool thing was that she makes jewelry, scarves and hats. WITH ONE HAND! she uses her paralyzed hand just to stabilize, today she showed me how she crochets with her right hand. she lifts up her left hand places it on the scarf and then crochets...its incredible...beyond words...
later that night we went back to the missions conference where my dad spoke, and he really challenged the youth to follow Christ with everything they are and have, really cool...challenged me too...how much God desires for me to call on him wholeheartedly!
okay i know this is long...but i'll give you a couple prayer requests...
thank you for your prayers already and for lifting us up in your daily prayers and thoughts...
continual prayer for safety, for our team, just open hearts and eyes to what God is doing here. for the JAM staff, support and encouragement for them...for their vision that as they seek God they would continue to see BIG things happen...for the hearts of these students that as they go out they would remain in Christ, but also for the people their going to talk with.
for me personally...(Natalie)...just for my heart, that God would speak to me, I'm not really sure yet what I'm hearing...what God is teaching me...but that I would be open and faithful and trusting...i would really appreciate you prayers in that...
much love to all of you!
love ambs and nat






































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