African Leadership - South Africa Mission Trip '09 from steve citerin on Vimeo.

CLICK HERE to see some photos. These trips were offered through African Leadership.

Prologue - Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sequels. Typically they disappoint. Perhaps because the first experience is so rich and overwhelming that all other attempts to recapture it are doomed to fail. Yet, this doesn’t stop us from trying. Sequels exist because of a desire for more…and that’s what this trip is to me.

Headed back to South Africa - sixteen months after my first trip - and frankly, I didn’t think I’d be back. I wrote last time that I’d hoped that a bit of myself was left in Africa, and that hopefully it was deposited in me. A naïve hope at the time, but seeing as how a 17 hour flight awaits, maybe it came true.

Over a year has passed, yet Africa remains on my mind. I remember glorious skies, vast plains, and mountainous peaks….physical exhaustion and mental refreshment….curious looks, helpful hands and infectious smiles. It’s a culture unlike mine, and therein lies its appeal. A big smile comes over me as I walk onto the plane. It is the joy of putting aside the norm and embracing chance. This is it, my sequel has begun.

The dilemma of the post-mission trip experience is keeping it alive. I’m not sure how I’ve fared in this. I settled back into my routines as another year passed. I did share my experience with people…who I met, what I did, why the need exists and how to get involved. I tried to inspire. Not sure if it stuck with others, but here’s what I know…I discovered God’s work being done by loving people with humble hearts in challenging circumstances. The more you experience this, the more changed you become.

So despite my skepticism that I would return, here I go. Fire away.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Day one in Cape Town. We hit the floor running and in many ways it’s like I never left. Up early for breakfast & devotions, then we drive to a grade school in Khayelitsha to teach a few classes. Oh yeah, I’m the chauffer…driving on the opposite side of the road on the opposite side of the car. Thankfully, it’s not stick!

What joy, about forty 5th graders packed into a classroom, fixed on what we have to say! Introductions are made, Linda, Sujan, Marg, Kyung, and I give our “molo” welcomes as Pastor Mfunso translates. Then some hokey pokey, a Gospel message q&a, the story of Joseph and his brothers, then a q&a about America. Such questions: do we know Beyonce, did we go to Michael Jackson’s funeral, what food do you eat, do you know kung fu (for my new Korean friends), is it safe there, will I get harmed in America, are you all rich? Some trivial, some cut to the core of us. To these kids our main export is movies, music and gang-related imagery, coupled with the belief that we are haves, they are have nots. How do you argue with this? Impossible, we are guilty. We attempt to turn this into a teachable moment about it’s not about what you have, but what you do with it that is a truer sign of richness and character (Mark 12:41-44).

Afternoon. We go to a preschool, begin some renovation work (replacing dry wall, framing walls, painting, roofing, etc.), then it’s time to round up kids for children’s church. Local guides Zolani and Zyanda traverse us through the township letting all know it’s time. We meet with the other team at the preschool where 15 kids have grown into 100+ in a matter of minutes. More songs, more lessons, more q&a…this is a restless crowd. Some paying attention, some not. We conclude with a prayer and hand out oranges to eager hands. Sabonana - see you soon!

Its feels good to be back, eerily familiar, like I’m more than my true sophomore status. Pastor Ohm gives me more credit than I deserve, assuming I know the where’s and when’s of our itinerary as I’m supposed to manage the team. But I’m somewhat in the dark, doing what I can. My new team is great! Wonderful people who welcomed me in the moment I met them. I’m grateful for such giving people, so generous with their hearts, time, and resources. I knew they’d be cool because anyone willing to put aside their own pursuits at home in order to submit to God’s will for their life in the mission field of Africa (regardless of how long) are my kind of people! Lord, you bless me in my acquaintances yet again. I can’t wait to see who I meet tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Busy, busy day. We spent the morning at a preschool newly painted by a recent Mocha Club team. Entering the door, thirty kids have found their new playmates, or jungle gyms is more like it. Climbing all over us, the tickle monster appears to their delight and we play games and sing. The kids enjoy coloring the paper with taped crosses we gave them.

Lunch at the new mechanics school (a great Malawian chicken & rice meal), then off to the Mat Factory school for a full afternoon of rehab. Kids’ church and Kyung and I do Jonah & the Whale (over-acted with a blue blanket for the sea and a sleeping bag as the whale). The kids are enthralled. We hand out paper whales for them to color, give each a candy treat and day 2 is concluded. We’re beat, a lethal dose of entertaining dozens of pre-schoolers for hours plus construction has some of us sleeping on the drive home. Tomorrow is an early rise to climb Table Mountain at 6:30AM, what a sight to behold…but again, that seems to be the norm here with African Leadership.

Pastor Ohm talks to us tonight about the kingdom perspective on how it’s not your position in life that is of God, but your function…and how because of society’s unprecedented interconnectivity, we now can truly change the world (one person at a time). He also shares with me his plans of expanding African Leadership throughout southern Africa…Mozambique, Madagascar (where he says he wants me to visit next) in addition to bringing the children’s church model to Johannesburg (the epicenter of influence in South Africa). Ambitious, yet achievable plans.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

It’s 6:30AM and the team is scaling Table Mountain, the signature mountain hovering over the city. It’s a damp, foggy morning as we ascend the massive rock. Marg races ahead, followed by Priscilla, Tobi, Lisa, Glory and myself (with the others even further behind). We wait at the top, but unable to enjoy the view because of the fog. The climb is challenging, but not impossible. Maybe 1.5 hours to do so, not sure…who checks their watch at moments like this?

At the top we settle into the café for coffee and hot chocolate as we are all freezing. A cable car takes us down, then off to downtown Cape Town for breakfast and some shopping at the market. “Sir, I give you special price,” “my first customer of the day,” “you want a mask, right?” “See the craftsmanship,” “we negotiate, yes?”…it all surrounds us as the merchants spot the tourists. Some fun haggling and we leave with our goods.

Afternoon back at the pre-school. More drywall, border creation and up to the roof for Lucky, Zolani, Pastor Ohm and I for some roof repair. Exhausting, but the gathering throng of 80+ kids waiting for children’s church energizes us all. Marg does the Joseph story, some coloring of multi-colored coat handout, and refereeing the mad swap of crayons among the kids. They all leave with the obvious pride of their creations plus the knowledge of God’s protection and forgiveness. Lord, may the hopeful seeds within these Old Testament stories stay within them as they age and go through trials I can only imagine.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Today is our last day at the school. I spend the morning up on the roof with Lucky and Zolani repairing some fire damage, a zinc panel and covering nail holes that are causing leaks. Below, Tobi and Kyung finish up the walls and frames as the women perfect their “simple” artwork on the walls. It’s wonderful! So colorful with designs of plants, deserts, sunshine, animals and more in reminder of the stories we taught throughout the week (Jonah & the whale, David & Goliath, David & his brothers, Gladys Knight & the Pips. Ok, one of these we didn’t teach). We conclude our last children’s church and say our goodbyes as the kids who know our names shout them out. Does it get any better than this?

We head off the watch a bit of the soccer ministry. Locals Wonga and Larry (from my last trip) play and we meet Chris who heads up the ministry. Team SAM gives him a travel notebook as a gift and his overwhelming excitement and gratitude uplifts us all.

Back at the mission house, Pastor Ohm talks about the perspective of having eternal life. This assurance should align our life’s priorities regarding what’s important vs. petty and how in the light of everlasting life, relationships take on added weight and longevity.

Lights out. I reflect on the construction work we completed. Refurbishing something existing has a different feel than the fresh construction of my last trip. It’s a sense of renewal instead of creation. You don’t walk away from it visually recognizing that something now stands where it once did not. Instead, it is like you’ve given life to something weathered and worn. It’s reborn. The parallels to the our faith are obvious…whether it be saving the lost or encouraging the faithful -- both have purpose, both have reward.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Off to Africa Theological College. Our group of “experts” are to teach a 3 hour session with local pre-school leaders. About ten of these leaders, ages 14-18, have voluntarily given up part of their Saturday to hear from us…wow.

What to say? Hmm. I offer a short sermon of encouragement for these leaders among children - so young, yet so admired for their commitment. I conclude with I Timothy 4:12 to encourage them to do great things for God despite the youths they are. They are polite and attentive…hopefully taking it to heart.

We then move onto how to choose and teach Bible stories that engage children. We demonstrate a boring Jonah & the whale and another animated version. The group is broken up and they get to pick and act out their own stories. We bestow upon them the Hokey Pokey and Duck, Duck, Goose as activities the kids have enjoyed. Pastor Charlton wraps it up by sharing about living in and through faith. I get a chance to talk to Chicken, the young man leading this group. He’s so engaging and likeable with a humble spirit as he thanks us profusely for sharing.

It rains heavily in the afternoon, so our activities are cancelled. We prepare for an early morning tomorrow as we’ll drive for 12 hours to Transkei, South Africa. Anticipation builds as the prospect of seeing a new part of this beautiful country, evangelizing hut to hut, and briefly living a rustic experience in this remote and historic Xhosa region.