From Fiction to Truth

Walkie Talkie

harmsenac — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:35:12 +0000

Chicken heads and feet are considered a delicacy within the Black culture

Chicken Feet

Chicken Head

Cleaning the feet

MES and the Community

harmsenac — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:17:03 +0000

To keep with our desire to resemble Christ to those around us, we volunteered at many different community service locations in Johannesburg. We mainly worked alongside and organization called M.E.S. (Metropolitan Evangelical Services) which placed us at a Creche (Preschool), an Elderly home, and a Factory. We also worked at a women’s shelter in which we again helped at the creche but also helped with cleaning and whatever else they needed extra hands for. It was a humbling experience to show Christ’s love in deeds to those who are surrounded everyday with the crime and injustice found in Johannesburg.

When cleaning at the Women’s shelter, a young lady was talking with me and said that she was so excited to have us there and couldn’t get over the fact that we wanted to be there to help in whatever way we could. She went on to say that she had never before seen a white person come to help! With that, I just think what a blessing it is to help break down racial barriers that still exist within this country while proclaiming Christ name!

Cutting up old billboards at a factory in order to recycle them.

This factory is where women are employed to use old billboards to make purses, handbags, furniture coverings, etc. to help provide for their families.

Although we enjoyed our time talking with the elderly it was hard to hear how much anger and hatred even many of them had towards the black community. Granted they grew up through the Apartheid era but they still hold strongly to their prejudices.

Playing at the Creche

Another experience we got was to work alongside the Campus Crusade’s sister ministry The Jesus Film. We traveled out to the south west area of Johannesburg, past Soweto, to a township and were able to share the Gospel through the film and then through one-on-one conversations afterwards.

Adults from the township

Children from the township

The children are always eager to teach us new games! (We don't always understand, but we do our best to play along :0)

Lion Park

harmsenac — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:47:48 +0000

Another weekend we traveled to a Lion Park. It’s more like a glorified zoo in many ways but it was still very neat to see lions up close and even get to pet the little cubs.

White lions

lionesses

White lions

Stretch break

Yawning

Catching some sleep eye in the sun

Lion cubs

Petting the cubs

Me and the sleepy cubs

Giraffe

Cheetah

Elephant Sanctuary

harmsenac — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:45:27 +0000

For one of our weekend activities we went to an elephant sanctuary where we learned all about elephants and got the chance to walk, feed, and even get kissed by an elephant :0)

Me and an elephant

Their trunks are really slimy in case you ever wondering

As you can imagine, their skin is very rough and their hair is very brittle and sharp (oh, and they kinda smell :0)

Marked by an elephant's kiss

Elephant greeting

Johannesburg Summer Project ’09

harmsenac — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:31:15 +0000

11 students from America came to Johannesburg this summer to work along side us STINTers at the campus of UJ. We shared 5 amazing weeks together and got to experience many things. Here are some highlight pictures.

We rented a 10 passenger seat van to get around and there was never a dull moment inside it :0)

The group outside the Apartheid Museum

Marly and Erika

Cameron and Kim

Tom and his Bambino ice cream

Botswana and Namibia

harmsenac — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:54:41 +0000

In the later half of June, my team traveled up through Botswana to visit one of the natural wonders of the world – Victoria Falls! The car ride was long and tiring, but the sights of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe were well worth it. Enjoy!

Elephants on the side of the road

Village in Botswana

Botswana money- called Pula

Impalila Island in Namibia

Namibian village

Namibian mother with child

Children from Namibian village

Better Choices

harmsenac — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:03:50 +0000

During our time off from University we are working more at BEAM and going through the Better Choices program with kids 12 and up. The Better Choices program educates children on HIV/ AIDS and the Lord’s love and offered hope in dealing with the disease.

My Birthday!!

harmsenac — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:58:17 +0000

For my birthday, the team went put-put golfing and then came back to the house for breakfast for dinner and a movie! Good times!

Birthday Braai

harmsenac — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:45:34 +0000

Esther, our friend from church, had her birthday on May 25th so we went to her surprise birthday braai. Esther and Riana are from the Netherlands working on the nursing practicals.

A day in the garage

harmsenac — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:21:03 +0000

These are just some goofy pictures we took one day while looking through some storage boxes in our garage. One man’s junk can be another’s treasure :0)

Kendra trying on a helmet

Kendra getting her head stuck in the helmet :0)