Day 9 - Sunday of Hope

The Hope Baptist praise team rehearses before
the beginning of the Sunday service

"Salibonani Linjani!" We greet you in Ndebele which is a commonly spoken language in South Africa. If you were in the First Southern Scottsdale worship service this morning, this is the way we finished our live video Skype session with the church. What fun for us to see the beginning of the service from our side of the computer.

Rain greeted us this morning in Pretoria and it was very heavy at times – the streets of Sunnyside were quieter than we have seen all week. We don't know why God chose to bring the rain on a day when we were expecting many new faces but, we know God is in control and the rain was in His plan. Morning worship will be a lasting memory as we sang and prayed with our Hope family. Mitch McDonald brought the message 

The rain fell in Pretoria and the faithful came to church anyway

encouraging us all to let our lights shine in the dark worlds we live in. No matter how dark the darkness is, light always penetrates. Pastor Julius recognized a number of police officers who had joined the service with police Bibles we had brought from the States. He also graciously recognized Pastor Francois Smit who is the pastor from the Dutch Reformed church whose building Hope Baptist uses. Hope Baptist Church would be a very different church without Pastor Francois. He has broken down many barriers and has a purposeful relationship with Pastor Julius.

We said many goodbyes today as we will not see many of the church members again during our time here. Katie's friend Busi says "Even though parting is painful we part so we can meet. If we don't meet again here we will meet in glory."

Katie poses with some of the smiling members
of Hope Baptist, including her long-time friend
Busi who joined us from Zimbabwe

This afternoon has given us a much needed rest. After our Skype session with the congregation all 8 of us, Busi included, sat around a table and each shared a song that reflected our personal times here, along with a way God spoke to each of us during the past 9 days. None of us would have guessed the way God would have shown up in each of our lives. While we came to see how we might be a light to the African people, we were doubly blessed and know that the Lord allowed us to experience this trip for our own edification as well.  God is a personal God to all of us, smiling down -- we are the ones He desperately loves.
 
Tomorrow we will get up very early for a drive to a wild game preserve where we will see more of God’s creation and His creatures for our last full day here in South Africa.


Here are more pictures from today (click once on each to enlarge):

 

Pastor Mitch gives a short sermon on being light
in a dark world

Pastor Julius and sister Keni Matthews present special
 Bibles to Pretoria police officers in recognition
of their service.
 

Pastor Julius recognizes Pastor Francois Smit (right) for his
significant support of Hope Baptist Church and Keith
prepares to present a Bible to Francois.
 



The visiting Arizona team is recognized during the service.  The men
are given wooden Africa carvings and the women were lovingly
draped with South African flags.
 

 

The team gathers on Sunday evening in South Africa --
but Sunday morning in Scottsdale -- for a Skype session
with the Scottsdale congregation.