The EV Free Church “A” team has come home from South Africa as the “E” team. We are all EXHAUSTED! This team worked so hard and yes we played too. The SS. Simon and Jude team from Phoenix, Arizona, led by Jen Pitera were awesome. When our team was departing from the Johannesburg Airport Saturday evening we stood in a long line because "Don’t Expect Luggage To Arrive" - DELTA computers were down. When the SS. Simon and Jude’s arrived a huge round of applause and whoops went up. Everyone in the airport stopped in their tracks because it was so loud. You could tell what they were thinking, “what’s that all about?” What it’s all about is exactly what we should all be doing as Christians, stopping people in their tracks and making them think, “Hey, look what those people are doing! I want to know.”
What a week; so much living, seeing, hearing and interacting. Amor Ministries is incredible. Scott Congdon, staying home and coordinating Amor’s website so thousands all over could see and hear what we were doing - as we were doing it! Thank you Scott! This was the most promoted Amor project ever, and for good reason – the future of hope and reconciliation, which God has been working on and planning for all along. We are all so blessed to be part of it.
So many stories to talk about. So many people to thank God for. Let’s start by thanking Humphrey Birkenstock and Rainbow 90.7 FM for making so many wonderful things happen for us in South Africa; the meals out, SOWETO, the tented-church service, the buses, the historical information and the Lion Park, he along with his beautiful family, Anita, Raymond and Jerod accompanied us every step of the way in love. Thank you Sir Humphrey! “Amor,” what can we say about Amor Ministries who worked so hard to make this happened. The ones who are seen and the ones behind the scenes. Thank you Steve Horrex, Luke Makwakwa, Forest & Carrie Fowler, Scott & Gayla Congdon and all of their unbelievable staff. You are AWESOME MAN!
How can I sum this trip up? God did it for me last night at the airport. Understand, we left on Saturday and some of us (thanks to DELTA) didn’t get home until Monday, meaning many of us spent Father’s Day traveling and in airports. To be honest, my brain is fried! It is like mashed potatoes, but God has sustained me. We had numerous groups coming in at different times because DELTA split us all up in Atlanta instead of holding our flight for ten minutes. Sure, they did what man does when the opportunity arises; they resold all of our tickets at three times the price to their line-up of standbys, even though at every stage I spoke to DELTA asking them not to do just that. They told me it would never happen; they said we would make our connecting flight in Atlanta no matter what. By the end of this trip, I could only think $(#&@ DELTA - So, I hung out at the Sacramento airport waiting for our final group to arrive (and of course much of our luggage was missing… again). I was “Dog Tired.” I fell asleep right where the passengers come down the escalator, hoping the last group would see me. As I sat there in what has become known as the “Lou Diaz Deep State of Prayer” – head bowed down, eyes closed, looking to be in prayer, but actually in a deep sleep, I felt tapping on my leg. I opened my dreary eyes, he was a blur at first; I then realized it was my son Sean! who couldn’t join us in going to South Africa because he recently took a job with HP. Sean learned Dad was sitting at the airport all by himself and he came down to wish me a “Happy Father’s Day.” It was the best Father’s Day Gift I ever received. I stood up and hugged him. Then I heard a voice, “Hey Dan! Dan Irving!” Hearing voices on this trip is something I’m come accustomed to. I looked around and just saw a blur of people. But the voice would not go away, it was persistent and was coming from above and it was getting louder, “Hey, Dan Irving, Up Here!” I looked up and right above me was Bryce Lundberg, his wife Jill and some of the infamous Lundberg clan (they were returning from a family visit in Seattle). “Hey Bryce, how are you!?”
Now for God’s loving and welcoming story! When I first went on the EV Free Amor Mission Trip I started calling Bryce “My Main Man” because of something he did, something from his heart which made me think twice. On that trip in Mexico our campsite was hit with a nasty, tent shattering, rain & mud producing Pacific storm. It was a horrendous night. You couldn’t even go out in it to help others whose tents were being blown apart. It sounded like a war zone; girls were screaming, crying and calling out for help. You’d couldn’t walk in the 60 mph winds and there was no footing in the slick, snot like mud. When a window of opportunity finally opened there was lots of work to do. Kids were shattered, wet and cold, covered in mud. Bryce went out, got a bucket of water and a wash cloth and set up his station where he knelt and washed everyone’s muddy, cold wet feet. Two of those feet belonged to Allan Fleming. As I watched Bryce, I could only think of Jesus washing His disciples feet. That’s when I started calling Bryce, “My Main Man!” That was the voice calling out to me at the airport, and the voice behind that voice is the One who is calling out to all of us.
Then I saw a familiar face in the crowd, it was Steve Raley who had driven down to help transport our last arrivals. Then I heard another voice, I turned around and there was Eleanor Southwick with a group of her family, lots of teenagers all holding up signs that read, “Building Hope, one Home at a Time. Amor. Welcome Home Amor South Africa. EV Free Chico, We love U! Welcome Uncle Brett and Happy Father’s Day – Harlo!” There they stood at the bottom of the escalator with a gift box for the last group of arrivals. When Pastor Lou, Laura Diaz, Rich Willman, Dave Newquist, and the last of our group appeared, another loud round of applause went up and everyone at the airport stopped in their tracks, looked and listened for the moment. When they kinda figured out was happening you could see heart-warming smiles everywhere. So no matter how difficult our travel was, no matter how tired we were, no matter what a pain in the @$$ Delta was, there God was with us every step of way, making this A Trip of a Lifetime!
Now, before I forget, (I’m going to do it right now, after I finish this blog) I’m going to write a check and send it to Amor Ministries and on the memo line I’m going to write: “You are Awesome!” I pray you will too, because God’s ministry needs that kind of help.
We all made it back and we are HOME. It is good to be home, even though we left part of our hearts back in South Africa. God Bless you Amor Ministries. God Bless you Humphrey Birkenstock and Rainbow 90.7 FM. God Bless you SS. Simon and Jude’s God Bless our team leaders: Pastor Lou Diaz, Dave Newquist, Jim O’Bannon, Rich Willman. God Bless the EV Free Church of Chico California and God Bless all the hard workers who came on this trip. God Bless you all!
Dan Irving
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
SOUTH AFRICA UPDATE- THE LONG ROAD HOME
By now the Amor South Africa teams from Chico EV Free Church and SS Simon and Jude Cathedral are either at the airport in Johannesburg or in-flight heading back home at last. This will be the final blog post on this trip while the team is actually still in South Africa. The Chico EV Free team had a long day on Friday having completed their final work day (#5), checked into the Sunnyside Park Hotel, and attended a special dinner celebration at Sunnyside Park Hotel. The photos below show some of the completed homes they put their hearts into building this past week. What a fantastic testimony of how God's children can share His love around the world!! Well done good and faithful servants!!
Friday, June 19, 2009
SOUTH AFRICA FINAL WORK DAY PHOTOS- DAY 5
South Africa sunrise on the last day of work.
It's oh so cold here in South Africa but we were charged to work on our last day of our "labor of love".
Finishing touches on the roof of a new home.
A finished housed. Home sweet home.
More roof work.
The roof boards are up and all we need is this last day to put on the roofing.
The rising African sun is a welcome arrival as we finished breakfast and head to work sore, yet enthusiastic to finish our work on this, our final day of work.
Its time to head to dinner in Johannesburg at the Sunnyside Hotel and check into our rooms and get hot showers!!
Its time for to celebrate our work of service with the famous group photo.
Look at all those happy faces. See anyone you know?
Even after all that work, the group has energy to horse around. Or should we say "zebra" around.
Forrest Fowler, of Amor Ministries.....he's our hero!!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
SOUTH AFRICA JUNE TRIP 2009 VIDEOS
Our South Africa partner in ministry, Rainbow FM 90.7, in Johannesburg, has posted videos of our teams at the Amor Ministries work sites this week. Click the picture below and go to the Rainbow FM 90.7 page with 7 short, but fun videos to watch:
SOUTH AFRICA TRIP UPDATE- WORK DAY 4
Dan Irving, group leader from Chico EV Free Church/Amor Ministries sends a great update from South Africa detailing their WORK DAY # 4:
"Ladies & Gentlemen, Saints & Sinners, lend me you ears, your eyes, your minds, your hearts and if you can send a check ($) to Amor Ministries will do a lot of good. What is happening here is nothing short of God's love and His plan; His Story is taking place. I truly believe that God has planned all along for this to take place and it is getting ready to take a quantum leap forward in South Africa, where the needs are so great; where there is so much poverty, suffering, AIDS, unemployment and homelessness. Amor Ministries has been working on this for years, laying down the infra-structure, making connections, building relationships-Godly relationships-and the pieces of this puzzle are coming together in an unbelievable way. No! The pieces are coming together in a most believable way.
This is an amazing Mission Trip and yesterday I said to Steve Horrex, "Steve, is it possible that this is too good!?" I spoke too soon, because of course there are problems. What is happening here is BIG and Satan is really upset, and doing whatever evil can do to rock the boat, tip us over, even drown us in our desire to help each other. God is not going to let that happen, not here, not now, not anymore, where the suffering has been going on for so long in South Africa. This is a turning point in time, in History. Apartheid (separation) has ended and reconciliation is hard at work. Now is South Africa's time and it is always the right time to do what is right. Gandhi said, "Be the change you what to see in the world." The Pastor E. V. Hill said, "If God can get through to you, He will get it to you."
OK, down to giving "THE NEWS," which will only be a highlight of what is going on, because so much is happening here with the hundreds and hundreds of stories, interactions, and most importantly the relationships being built by the ones who are blessed to be here.
Yesterday, Steve Horrex and Luke Makwakwa met with fourteen Pastors from Delmas, an agricultural area where Amor Ministries will go from building ten houses at Ebenezer's Community Center to building hundreds, then thousands, then God only knows... how many homes. These Pastors, mostly Black, have the poorest of the poor ministries. They are meeting in a yard, a home, a metal shack and working at bringing the Gospel to their people. They watched and listened closely as Steve Horrex explained what Amor does, how these homes can be built and how Amor works with the local pastors who are the ones who will determine who will get the homes. Amor's only condition is that the family has ownership in the land so nobody can take it away from them. Amor's vision is that this will spread throughout South Africa and to all the other countries in Africa. It is not dream, it is visionary and we hope and pray it will be like a virus that will not go away, impacting everyone.
Ebenezer's Care Center was founded 22 years ago by Pastor Thomas Mirime and his wife Shirley who were both raised as orphans. They have been married for thirty-two years and their hearts and their faith are a work in action. Shirley has become known as the "Mother Teresa of Ennerdale." Eighteen months ago Tommy said he was a "Doubting Thomas." He told me was amazed by houses being built in five days with unskilled labor. He said he didn't believe it was possible. But it happened and Thomas then said we could do more to help and change South Africa by teaching the youth how to build these houses than anything else in the world; that by educating the South African youth how to build these homes they will gain confidence and hope in their lives and they will think that they can do anything. Praise God! Thomas Merime says he has changed his name to "Tommy" and he is no longer a doubting Thomas.
The Delmas area and the surrounding three communities has a population of 150,000. The
unemployment rate is 60%. Amor plans in the next 4-5 years to build every family in the four communities, those with the greatest needs a home. A good solid home, with a solid foundation, a good roof, insulation for the cold of winter and the heat of summer, and it will be impervious to termites and insects. But the most important thing about these homes is what Gayla Congdon, who co-founded Amor Ministries with her husband Scott said, "By building a family a home you are helping to keep families together."
The most incredible thing is how the surrounding community is catching on fire with this Amor building concept. We have had government officials, church pastors, local school kids, local Muslims and community leaders visiting the work site every day and they walk away saying, "I cannot believe this, this is amazing, we want to help - Thank God, Praise God!" I've learned that everyone truly wants to give, yet we usually give in a way that makes us feel good. And yes, of course, it is in giving that we receive But it really helps if there is a plan to our giving; a plan of what to do with it, how best to put it to use. Experience, perseverance and faithfulness is at work here through Amor Ministries with thirty years of experience building thousands upon thousand of homes in Mexico. Steve Horrex and I did the math. How many homes have been built through Amor Ministries? How many volunteers has it taken to build those homes? How many family members have been impacted by these homes? We stopped when we hit one million. We stopped when we realized only God knows.
This South Africa Amor Mission has been launched and is ready to move into the next phase. To everyone reading this blog, listening to the podcasts and seeing the pictures, please keep on praying for us and please give to Amor Ministries, so they can do more... And oh yes, we are having a blast; we are having the time of our life!"
"Ladies & Gentlemen, Saints & Sinners, lend me you ears, your eyes, your minds, your hearts and if you can send a check ($) to Amor Ministries will do a lot of good. What is happening here is nothing short of God's love and His plan; His Story is taking place. I truly believe that God has planned all along for this to take place and it is getting ready to take a quantum leap forward in South Africa, where the needs are so great; where there is so much poverty, suffering, AIDS, unemployment and homelessness. Amor Ministries has been working on this for years, laying down the infra-structure, making connections, building relationships-Godly relationships-and the pieces of this puzzle are coming together in an unbelievable way. No! The pieces are coming together in a most believable way.
This is an amazing Mission Trip and yesterday I said to Steve Horrex, "Steve, is it possible that this is too good!?" I spoke too soon, because of course there are problems. What is happening here is BIG and Satan is really upset, and doing whatever evil can do to rock the boat, tip us over, even drown us in our desire to help each other. God is not going to let that happen, not here, not now, not anymore, where the suffering has been going on for so long in South Africa. This is a turning point in time, in History. Apartheid (separation) has ended and reconciliation is hard at work. Now is South Africa's time and it is always the right time to do what is right. Gandhi said, "Be the change you what to see in the world." The Pastor E. V. Hill said, "If God can get through to you, He will get it to you."
OK, down to giving "THE NEWS," which will only be a highlight of what is going on, because so much is happening here with the hundreds and hundreds of stories, interactions, and most importantly the relationships being built by the ones who are blessed to be here.
Yesterday, Steve Horrex and Luke Makwakwa met with fourteen Pastors from Delmas, an agricultural area where Amor Ministries will go from building ten houses at Ebenezer's Community Center to building hundreds, then thousands, then God only knows... how many homes. These Pastors, mostly Black, have the poorest of the poor ministries. They are meeting in a yard, a home, a metal shack and working at bringing the Gospel to their people. They watched and listened closely as Steve Horrex explained what Amor does, how these homes can be built and how Amor works with the local pastors who are the ones who will determine who will get the homes. Amor's only condition is that the family has ownership in the land so nobody can take it away from them. Amor's vision is that this will spread throughout South Africa and to all the other countries in Africa. It is not dream, it is visionary and we hope and pray it will be like a virus that will not go away, impacting everyone.
Ebenezer's Care Center was founded 22 years ago by Pastor Thomas Mirime and his wife Shirley who were both raised as orphans. They have been married for thirty-two years and their hearts and their faith are a work in action. Shirley has become known as the "Mother Teresa of Ennerdale." Eighteen months ago Tommy said he was a "Doubting Thomas." He told me was amazed by houses being built in five days with unskilled labor. He said he didn't believe it was possible. But it happened and Thomas then said we could do more to help and change South Africa by teaching the youth how to build these houses than anything else in the world; that by educating the South African youth how to build these homes they will gain confidence and hope in their lives and they will think that they can do anything. Praise God! Thomas Merime says he has changed his name to "Tommy" and he is no longer a doubting Thomas.
The Delmas area and the surrounding three communities has a population of 150,000. The
unemployment rate is 60%. Amor plans in the next 4-5 years to build every family in the four communities, those with the greatest needs a home. A good solid home, with a solid foundation, a good roof, insulation for the cold of winter and the heat of summer, and it will be impervious to termites and insects. But the most important thing about these homes is what Gayla Congdon, who co-founded Amor Ministries with her husband Scott said, "By building a family a home you are helping to keep families together."
The most incredible thing is how the surrounding community is catching on fire with this Amor building concept. We have had government officials, church pastors, local school kids, local Muslims and community leaders visiting the work site every day and they walk away saying, "I cannot believe this, this is amazing, we want to help - Thank God, Praise God!" I've learned that everyone truly wants to give, yet we usually give in a way that makes us feel good. And yes, of course, it is in giving that we receive But it really helps if there is a plan to our giving; a plan of what to do with it, how best to put it to use. Experience, perseverance and faithfulness is at work here through Amor Ministries with thirty years of experience building thousands upon thousand of homes in Mexico. Steve Horrex and I did the math. How many homes have been built through Amor Ministries? How many volunteers has it taken to build those homes? How many family members have been impacted by these homes? We stopped when we hit one million. We stopped when we realized only God knows.
This South Africa Amor Mission has been launched and is ready to move into the next phase. To everyone reading this blog, listening to the podcasts and seeing the pictures, please keep on praying for us and please give to Amor Ministries, so they can do more... And oh yes, we are having a blast; we are having the time of our life!"
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
SOUTH AFRICA TRIP UPDATE- WORK DAY 3!
Pastor Lou Diaz from EV Free Church of Chico just sent this from the Amor Camp in Johannesburg updating us on their third work day there:
"This was an incredible day! Dan Irving, Jessica Lundberg, and Erin Gulbrandsen from the Evangelical Free Church group with Amor Ministries left at 5:30 am to be interviewed by Humphrey Birkenstock on Rainbow Radio 90.7 FM. They shared about how the love of the Lord is their motivation for service and told something about their lives. When Erinn told about how she has organized volunteers from churches to mentor High School students, the radio station received a number of calls from teachers who want to come out to meet her to hear more about this program! Jessica Lundberg told about her work as an executive with Lundberg Farms that provides rice and rice products around the world. After the interview, there was enough time to stop by at a grocery store to see if rice from Lundberg Farms was being sold in South Africa, and sure enough, Jessica was thrilled to find Lundberg Farms Rice here! She bought it and donated it to the Ebenezer Care Center and Orphanage.
The rest of the Ev Free Team and the Arizona Team began work at 8 am. Shovels were flying, wheel barrows were rolling, trowels were spreading and texturing, and styrofoam "Lego" blocks were being attached. In one day, the three existing houses had stucco inside and outside that was textured to a smooth surface and two of them had roof frames in place while the double-wide house went from one layer of cement-filled styrofoam blocks to five layers, now over six feet high, complete with windows and doors.
The EV Free group had a tour of the Ebenezer Care Center. There wasn't a dry eye among the group as they saw the orphans for whom they are building the homes and heard stories from Shirley, who with her husband Tommy, founded Ebenezer's twenty years ago. Among the stories was of a day-old baby that was left outside - the police brought the baby to Shirley and she named the baby "Grace" because God allowed her to be found and brought to them. This baby had a condition that spread poison throughout her body, but thanks to medical care and nurture from Shirley, she is now healthy - you can imagine the joy the group had to see Grace in person as she was smiling, healthy, and sitting in a stroller. The older children looked so sharp in their uniforms to go to school. Tommy and Shirley make sure they do chores in order to learn responsibility and that they get a good education and learn about the Lord. One of the Amor volunteers said through her tears, "I needed to see that what I was doing is making a big difference!"
The bakery on the campus feeds the 260 children and adults and senior adults - which includes refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Ghana. Shirley told how they pray for God to supply their needs and that she and Tommy don't eat until everyone has food. Sometimes they have to wait on the Lord for a few days. But God is faithful and takes care of them. What the Amor Team is building will be called Amor Village and will house these orphans.
Dan Irving witnessed a meeting between Steve Horrex, Vice President of Amor Ministries, Luke Makwakwa, who is training to be the Director of Operations for Amor South Africa, and eleven South Africa pastors to explain to these pastors how Amor works through the local church to build houses for those in need. The pastors were overjoyed when they heard of Amor's approach and vision to have nationals and Christians from around the world help eradicate poverty in South Africa. The representatives for these pastors will be coming to the work site tomorrow to see the homes. Already the hope that these initial homes would become "Model Homes" for pastors and church leaders to see and to work with Amor Ministries to replicate is being realized. How much more will be the ripple effect when pastors from all over the continent of Africa see the model homes next year after the Soccer (Futbol) World Cup here in Johannesburg in 2010! The youth group from a local church that was here on Monday came again today to help. This is the vision of Amor Ministries International: South African Christians and Christians from around the world working side-by-side to build hope, one house at a time.
Meanwhile, back at the work site, children were laughing and playing with the Amor Team as relationships are deepening. One Volunteer said that it will be difficult to go home and leave them. Another said that he wasn't going to go home! (Don't worry - we'll bring everyone back). Pray for the Amor Team tomorrow as we are determined to complete as much as possible by Friday. Also, pray for Dave Newquist and Heidi McCune as they are to be interviewed on the radio tomorrow. After the interview, Dave, a Fire Captain from the Yuba City (CA) Fire Department, will visit a fire station and exchange Fire fighter shirts, which is the fire fighters' tradition. Good will is being built with community leaders and civil servants that all may work together for the sake of those in need. To God be the glory! "
"This was an incredible day! Dan Irving, Jessica Lundberg, and Erin Gulbrandsen from the Evangelical Free Church group with Amor Ministries left at 5:30 am to be interviewed by Humphrey Birkenstock on Rainbow Radio 90.7 FM. They shared about how the love of the Lord is their motivation for service and told something about their lives. When Erinn told about how she has organized volunteers from churches to mentor High School students, the radio station received a number of calls from teachers who want to come out to meet her to hear more about this program! Jessica Lundberg told about her work as an executive with Lundberg Farms that provides rice and rice products around the world. After the interview, there was enough time to stop by at a grocery store to see if rice from Lundberg Farms was being sold in South Africa, and sure enough, Jessica was thrilled to find Lundberg Farms Rice here! She bought it and donated it to the Ebenezer Care Center and Orphanage.
The rest of the Ev Free Team and the Arizona Team began work at 8 am. Shovels were flying, wheel barrows were rolling, trowels were spreading and texturing, and styrofoam "Lego" blocks were being attached. In one day, the three existing houses had stucco inside and outside that was textured to a smooth surface and two of them had roof frames in place while the double-wide house went from one layer of cement-filled styrofoam blocks to five layers, now over six feet high, complete with windows and doors.
The EV Free group had a tour of the Ebenezer Care Center. There wasn't a dry eye among the group as they saw the orphans for whom they are building the homes and heard stories from Shirley, who with her husband Tommy, founded Ebenezer's twenty years ago. Among the stories was of a day-old baby that was left outside - the police brought the baby to Shirley and she named the baby "Grace" because God allowed her to be found and brought to them. This baby had a condition that spread poison throughout her body, but thanks to medical care and nurture from Shirley, she is now healthy - you can imagine the joy the group had to see Grace in person as she was smiling, healthy, and sitting in a stroller. The older children looked so sharp in their uniforms to go to school. Tommy and Shirley make sure they do chores in order to learn responsibility and that they get a good education and learn about the Lord. One of the Amor volunteers said through her tears, "I needed to see that what I was doing is making a big difference!"
The bakery on the campus feeds the 260 children and adults and senior adults - which includes refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Ghana. Shirley told how they pray for God to supply their needs and that she and Tommy don't eat until everyone has food. Sometimes they have to wait on the Lord for a few days. But God is faithful and takes care of them. What the Amor Team is building will be called Amor Village and will house these orphans.
Dan Irving witnessed a meeting between Steve Horrex, Vice President of Amor Ministries, Luke Makwakwa, who is training to be the Director of Operations for Amor South Africa, and eleven South Africa pastors to explain to these pastors how Amor works through the local church to build houses for those in need. The pastors were overjoyed when they heard of Amor's approach and vision to have nationals and Christians from around the world help eradicate poverty in South Africa. The representatives for these pastors will be coming to the work site tomorrow to see the homes. Already the hope that these initial homes would become "Model Homes" for pastors and church leaders to see and to work with Amor Ministries to replicate is being realized. How much more will be the ripple effect when pastors from all over the continent of Africa see the model homes next year after the Soccer (Futbol) World Cup here in Johannesburg in 2010! The youth group from a local church that was here on Monday came again today to help. This is the vision of Amor Ministries International: South African Christians and Christians from around the world working side-by-side to build hope, one house at a time.
Meanwhile, back at the work site, children were laughing and playing with the Amor Team as relationships are deepening. One Volunteer said that it will be difficult to go home and leave them. Another said that he wasn't going to go home! (Don't worry - we'll bring everyone back). Pray for the Amor Team tomorrow as we are determined to complete as much as possible by Friday. Also, pray for Dave Newquist and Heidi McCune as they are to be interviewed on the radio tomorrow. After the interview, Dave, a Fire Captain from the Yuba City (CA) Fire Department, will visit a fire station and exchange Fire fighter shirts, which is the fire fighters' tradition. Good will is being built with community leaders and civil servants that all may work together for the sake of those in need. To God be the glory! "
SOUTH AFRICA WORK DAY THREE- MORE PHOTOS
The photos below were take on work day 3 when the Amor staff met with eleven South Africa pastors to discuss and plan the future work and ministry of Amor in Johannesburg and South Africa. Pastor Lou Diaz from Chico EV Free church captured the excitement and enthusiasm of this historical moment:
"Dan Irving witnessed a meeting between Steve Horrex, Vice President of Amor Ministries, Luke Makwakwa, who is training to be the Director of Operations for Amor South Africa, and eleven South Africa pastors to explain to these pastors how Amor works through the local church to build houses for those in need. The pastors were overjoyed when they heard of Amor's approach and vision to have nationals and Christians from around the world help eradicate poverty in South Africa. The representatives for these pastors will be coming to the work site tomorrow to see the homes. Already the hope that these initial homes would become "Model Homes" for pastors and church leaders to see and to work with Amor Ministries to replicate is being realized. How much more will be the ripple effect when pastors from all over the continent of Africa see the model homes next year after the Soccer (Futbol) World Cup here in Johannesburg in 2010! The youth group from a local church that was here on Monday came again today to help. This is the vision of Amor Ministries International: South African Christians and Christians from around the world working side-by-side to build hope, one house at a time."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
DAY 2 WORKING IN SOUTH AFRICA COMMENTARY
Last evening the group of SS. Simon and Jude and the Evangelical Free Church of Chico got together where each person stood up and introduced themselves and spoke about why they were here and what they were experiencing. These are two incredible groups with lots of Amor Mexico experience between them; that's lots to say. Many testified how Amor Mexico had changed their life and how it was the best thing they looked forward to and to be able to come to Amor South Africa is a "trip of a life-time!" We all love Amor and what they are doing here.
From my perspective what God has accomplished here through Amor is nothing short of His Amazing Grace and a complete transformation of what I saw when I first arrived 18 months ago. Then Ebenezer's Care Center was crumbling. It had been serving many in need but wasn't going any where. Both Tommy and Shirley's, the Care Center's Directors, faces carried the weight of the world with what they were doing. Today, they both look twenty years younger. A light is shining through their faces with how this place has been transformed. Monday Ebenezer's was Grand Central Station. We needed a traffic cop to direct the traffic coming through. Many from the surrounding community were coming to see what was going on, including about 25 youths who joined in the work. Their pastor has invited us all to their church for dinner. Then another group showed with about 75 blankets for the center. Later that day another group who looked Hindu arrived with another 50 new blankets. They had heard that the Americans were cold in the South African winter and wanted to contribute to help keep us warm.
Today, Steve Horrex looked out our office window and said, "Oh my, I wondering what this is." There was about 25 Muslims arriving, mostly in Black, many with turbans. Their group had come by the orphanage, to guess what? To deliver more blankets. They all came to our construction site to see what we were doing. They couldn't believe it. I spoke with them and one of their woman said, "You have woman working?!" My response was "Of course." Her response again was, "You have woman working!" I said, again, "Of course, what do you expect, we have to keep them working to keep them out of trouble." She laughed while one of the men's eyes grew wider and wider. I said, "there is my wife over there and my daughter is over there. C'mon I'll introduce you to them." About 8 of them followed me over. I introduced them and they asked Jessica many questions. They were amazed to hear that this is how she was spending her vacation time and that she had paid her own way (through sponsorship of her family and work and her own funds of which she took a second weekend job to be here) to come here. When I asked her if she knew what Amor meant she said, "of course, it means love." Soon these visitors were catching the attention of all and we all mingled, then took a group photo. The Muslims were so happy to see what we were doing. We joked with each other and spoke how if we could get rid of most of the politicians and religious leaders who keep us apart we could come and work together in love.
One of the more humorous moments was when they walked past Dave Newquest who was teaching a group of African children American football. One of the Muslims asked what he was doing and Dave enthusiastically and proudly said, "I'm teaching them American football!" The visitor said, "American football is a wimpy sport." Dave laughed and the Muslim laughed, at each other. We need to do more of that. After they left David continued with his American football lesson and every time one of the kids didn't do it the way he explained, he made them get down and do push ups; of course Dave did it with them. Then the skies opened up with a complete downpour of rain. Most everyone kept doing their work, cement, foundation, stucco, roofing and their was Dave teaching the kids - American football! Then someone said, the African skies are crying because the Americans are teaching us American Football!
As I sit here and blog there is music to my ears with the sound of hammers and the work pounding away from the work site. Children are nearby with some of our workers; they are in a circle singing, beautiful African songs, they are dancing, jumping up and down and they are laughing; there is joy in the air here.
Amor has changed this place! And those changes along with the help of Humphrey Birkenstock have become infectious in the surrounding community. People want to help each other and here you can see it in action.
Please enjoy the some 40 pictures we uploaded after this blog called "South Africa Work Day 2".
Note: Written by Dan Irving of EV Free Chico from the Amor Camp in Johannesburg and edited by Scotty in San Diego, Californa.
From my perspective what God has accomplished here through Amor is nothing short of His Amazing Grace and a complete transformation of what I saw when I first arrived 18 months ago. Then Ebenezer's Care Center was crumbling. It had been serving many in need but wasn't going any where. Both Tommy and Shirley's, the Care Center's Directors, faces carried the weight of the world with what they were doing. Today, they both look twenty years younger. A light is shining through their faces with how this place has been transformed. Monday Ebenezer's was Grand Central Station. We needed a traffic cop to direct the traffic coming through. Many from the surrounding community were coming to see what was going on, including about 25 youths who joined in the work. Their pastor has invited us all to their church for dinner. Then another group showed with about 75 blankets for the center. Later that day another group who looked Hindu arrived with another 50 new blankets. They had heard that the Americans were cold in the South African winter and wanted to contribute to help keep us warm.
Today, Steve Horrex looked out our office window and said, "Oh my, I wondering what this is." There was about 25 Muslims arriving, mostly in Black, many with turbans. Their group had come by the orphanage, to guess what? To deliver more blankets. They all came to our construction site to see what we were doing. They couldn't believe it. I spoke with them and one of their woman said, "You have woman working?!" My response was "Of course." Her response again was, "You have woman working!" I said, again, "Of course, what do you expect, we have to keep them working to keep them out of trouble." She laughed while one of the men's eyes grew wider and wider. I said, "there is my wife over there and my daughter is over there. C'mon I'll introduce you to them." About 8 of them followed me over. I introduced them and they asked Jessica many questions. They were amazed to hear that this is how she was spending her vacation time and that she had paid her own way (through sponsorship of her family and work and her own funds of which she took a second weekend job to be here) to come here. When I asked her if she knew what Amor meant she said, "of course, it means love." Soon these visitors were catching the attention of all and we all mingled, then took a group photo. The Muslims were so happy to see what we were doing. We joked with each other and spoke how if we could get rid of most of the politicians and religious leaders who keep us apart we could come and work together in love.
One of the more humorous moments was when they walked past Dave Newquest who was teaching a group of African children American football. One of the Muslims asked what he was doing and Dave enthusiastically and proudly said, "I'm teaching them American football!" The visitor said, "American football is a wimpy sport." Dave laughed and the Muslim laughed, at each other. We need to do more of that. After they left David continued with his American football lesson and every time one of the kids didn't do it the way he explained, he made them get down and do push ups; of course Dave did it with them. Then the skies opened up with a complete downpour of rain. Most everyone kept doing their work, cement, foundation, stucco, roofing and their was Dave teaching the kids - American football! Then someone said, the African skies are crying because the Americans are teaching us American Football!
As I sit here and blog there is music to my ears with the sound of hammers and the work pounding away from the work site. Children are nearby with some of our workers; they are in a circle singing, beautiful African songs, they are dancing, jumping up and down and they are laughing; there is joy in the air here.
Amor has changed this place! And those changes along with the help of Humphrey Birkenstock have become infectious in the surrounding community. People want to help each other and here you can see it in action.
Please enjoy the some 40 pictures we uploaded after this blog called "South Africa Work Day 2".
Note: Written by Dan Irving of EV Free Chico from the Amor Camp in Johannesburg and edited by Scotty in San Diego, Californa.
Monday, June 15, 2009
FIRST WORKDAY- REFLECTIONS BY A TRIP LEADER
As everyone probably knows, the Chico EV Free Church/Amor team arrived all without our luggage. Ouch! Why would that happen? God only knows. The next night we all went back to the airport and a Doctor heard our excitement when our luggage arrived, we screamed. He said he just arrived with thousands of dollars of medicine and was hoping to find someone to give it to. He gave it to us. Had we not been there it would not have happened. The next day Humphrey Birkenstock of Rainbow FM 90.7 took us to an world's famous AIDS Center, Ekosi Haven.
Working at the Amor housebuilding worksite in Johannesburg.
When we arrived at the Amor Camp at the Ebenezer Care Center we noticed that from when we first arrived 18 months ago the place was crumbling and not going anywhere. They were just trying to maintain. Today, with what Amor has done it is a bustling center of activity. It is truly amazing. The traffic, the people, Humphrey, the building, Wow! God is truly amazing and this is his plan.
We started the day with meetings. Steve Horrex from Amor Ministries did a great job explaining what we are doing and the vision for the future, especially getting South Africa churches involved and it is happening. It happened today. Churches, youth workers from the surrounding area were coming out of the woodwork. Smiles on their faces, stucco in hand and working away. We all are working in God's day here. There must have been 70 of us out there today. Forest was stressed to get us all going and Steve had his headache going. We kicked it into gear and away we went. Building, stuccoing, foundation, scraping... drink water, stay hydrated. It's going up. Amor housing.
What Amor is accomplishing here is incredible and It Is Happening. People are excited! Shirley and Tommy, the Care Center's Directors, have smiles from ear to ear. The energy here is going up, up and up. I can hardly believe it.
Here in South Africa where the problems are so huge between the poor, the unemployed, the diseased and those that have so much. We are helping to change that, and not by just building houses. By changing lives. By changing attitudes. By God being at work in our lives. By us opening that door and saying "yes." We have said yes to being here with Amor, the EV Free Church of Chico and SS. Simon's and Jude's from Phoenix, Arizona. This has to be God's A team with Amor and Rainbow 90.7.
Everybody is having an amazing time experiencing and being loved by the people of South Africa. We are being treated like Gold, South Africa Gold. Everyone seems to be having the trip of a lifetime and we just started. The stories are already incredible. People will come home with more love, more understanding in their hearts. Hey, loosing our stuff was a tremendous thing. We were so worried about our stuff. We can't live without our stuff, but our stuff often, so often gets in the way. It made us realize what is important: God, Jesus Christ in our lives. Remember what God the Father has told us; "If you want to know me, know my Son", "Follow Him." We are trying to do that.
EV Free and SS. Simon and Jude are so blessed to be here with Amor on this pilot program. These volunteers are mostly all Amor veterans. Even though we are using different building styles, we know the rhythm and what the goal is. They are a great group of young, medium, and even old folks (I'm tired, can't you tell.)
Everyone is saying they love being here. Thank you for your prayers, thank your for your support which is so needed and so much is being done here with it. We know we are being used by God and we are so happy to be chosen to be here (hey, I'm preaching South African style) Hallelujah! Yes, hallelujah to our Pastor Lou and hallelujah to Jen Pitera. Hallelujah to Amor and Rainbow FM.
The team is laying the ground work for the cement foundation for a new home.
Amor Ministry's Luke Makwakwa (on right with white t-shirt)
helping the team rendering the interior walls of the new home.
Pastor Lou Diaz, EV Free Church of Chico, keeping a watchful
eye on everything. "Watching" for people to praise and encourage!!
Note: Thanks to Dan Irving from Chico EV Free Church for writing the body of the text for this blog post. Dan, you were oh so tired and still managed to capture a wonderful snapshot of the first day of work and all the adventures surrounding it!! To say you are deeply appreciated would understate all of our feelings immensely.
Working at the Amor housebuilding worksite in Johannesburg.
When we arrived at the Amor Camp at the Ebenezer Care Center we noticed that from when we first arrived 18 months ago the place was crumbling and not going anywhere. They were just trying to maintain. Today, with what Amor has done it is a bustling center of activity. It is truly amazing. The traffic, the people, Humphrey, the building, Wow! God is truly amazing and this is his plan.
We started the day with meetings. Steve Horrex from Amor Ministries did a great job explaining what we are doing and the vision for the future, especially getting South Africa churches involved and it is happening. It happened today. Churches, youth workers from the surrounding area were coming out of the woodwork. Smiles on their faces, stucco in hand and working away. We all are working in God's day here. There must have been 70 of us out there today. Forest was stressed to get us all going and Steve had his headache going. We kicked it into gear and away we went. Building, stuccoing, foundation, scraping... drink water, stay hydrated. It's going up. Amor housing.
What Amor is accomplishing here is incredible and It Is Happening. People are excited! Shirley and Tommy, the Care Center's Directors, have smiles from ear to ear. The energy here is going up, up and up. I can hardly believe it.
Here in South Africa where the problems are so huge between the poor, the unemployed, the diseased and those that have so much. We are helping to change that, and not by just building houses. By changing lives. By changing attitudes. By God being at work in our lives. By us opening that door and saying "yes." We have said yes to being here with Amor, the EV Free Church of Chico and SS. Simon's and Jude's from Phoenix, Arizona. This has to be God's A team with Amor and Rainbow 90.7.
Everybody is having an amazing time experiencing and being loved by the people of South Africa. We are being treated like Gold, South Africa Gold. Everyone seems to be having the trip of a lifetime and we just started. The stories are already incredible. People will come home with more love, more understanding in their hearts. Hey, loosing our stuff was a tremendous thing. We were so worried about our stuff. We can't live without our stuff, but our stuff often, so often gets in the way. It made us realize what is important: God, Jesus Christ in our lives. Remember what God the Father has told us; "If you want to know me, know my Son", "Follow Him." We are trying to do that.
EV Free and SS. Simon and Jude are so blessed to be here with Amor on this pilot program. These volunteers are mostly all Amor veterans. Even though we are using different building styles, we know the rhythm and what the goal is. They are a great group of young, medium, and even old folks (I'm tired, can't you tell.)
Everyone is saying they love being here. Thank you for your prayers, thank your for your support which is so needed and so much is being done here with it. We know we are being used by God and we are so happy to be chosen to be here (hey, I'm preaching South African style) Hallelujah! Yes, hallelujah to our Pastor Lou and hallelujah to Jen Pitera. Hallelujah to Amor and Rainbow FM.
The team is laying the ground work for the cement foundation for a new home.
Amor Ministry's Luke Makwakwa (on right with white t-shirt)
helping the team rendering the interior walls of the new home.
Pastor Lou Diaz, EV Free Church of Chico, keeping a watchful
eye on everything. "Watching" for people to praise and encourage!!
Note: Thanks to Dan Irving from Chico EV Free Church for writing the body of the text for this blog post. Dan, you were oh so tired and still managed to capture a wonderful snapshot of the first day of work and all the adventures surrounding it!! To say you are deeply appreciated would understate all of our feelings immensely.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
VISIT TO APARTHEID MUSEUM IN JOHANNESBURG
Part of the tour on Sunday was to visit the Apartheid Memorial of the first child killed, Edgar Peterson which was the starting of the end of the apartheid years in South Africa. Tomorrow is the Holiday "Youth Day" in remembrance of how the youth of South Africa arose up against oppression and change the world they lived in.
As Amor Ministries starts to serve in South Africa it seems to me, we would like to serve here by being the catalyst of bringing about a new change. To once again ignite the passion of the youth of South Africa, to work together to bring about change for those in need throughout the country. Together we can all make a difference building one home at a time serving those in desperate need all around us.
As Amor Ministries starts to serve in South Africa it seems to me, we would like to serve here by being the catalyst of bringing about a new change. To once again ignite the passion of the youth of South Africa, to work together to bring about change for those in need throughout the country. Together we can all make a difference building one home at a time serving those in desperate need all around us.
AMOR CHICO EV FREE TEAM VISITS SOWETO CHURCH
The Amor team from Chico EV Free Church attended a church service in the famous Soweto community in Johannesburg on Sunday, June 14, 2009. It was a rocking service from the appropriately named church, the "Rock of Salvation- Baptist Church".
The Amor team had a great time of fellowshipping and sharing in God's love. After church they shared in a traditonal meal prepared by the women in the congregation. "It was great!"
Pastor Dan Irving sharing the pulpit with Pastor Humphrey Birkenstock
at the Rock of Salvation Church.
Pastor Dan telling funny sermon illustrations on Pastor Humphrey.
Pastor Dan sharing His-story.... God's story, that is!
Pastor Dan, "in closing........".
SOUTH AFRICA TRIP UPDATE- THE FOUND LUGGAGE
Pastor Lou Diaz from Chico EV Free Church who is with the Amor team in Johannesburg just wrote:
"Everyone except Shelby Ferrier got their luggage. Dan is meeting with Delta (D. E. L. T. A. = Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive) officials to track her's down for tomorrow's flight. We'll lend her stuff. Today was amazing! We worshiped and brought a Word of encouragement to the Rock of Salvation Baptist Church in Soweto. We were blessed by their energetic worship and the solid sermon from 2 Peter 1:1-10. They treated us to a chicken dinner and we met the other half of our team from Arizona, SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral.
We rode a coach bus and received a tour. When a 12 year old boy named Hector Peterson was shot to death on June 16, 1976, it began the unraveling of Apartheid. June 16 is a National Holiday called Youth Day - the start of the liberation from the death of Hector to the release of Nelson Mandela in 1994. Apartheid ended just 15 years ago! We are seeing freedom, property ownership, and integration like never imagined. Our wonderful host, Humphrey Birkenstock from Rainbow Radio 90.7 FM said that he and his wife were not going to have children until there was freedom - their son, Raymond, turned 15 yesterday!
We saw Mandela's house. Then we went to a flea market before heading back to the airport to claim our baggage. We stood for an hour while a hundred bags came out before ours did. Dave Newquist straightened every bag and we teased him that he will be hired by the airport. We cheered when Jessica Hyatt was the first person among us to get her bags! Thanks for your prayers. Here's the miracle of why our luggage was delayed: while waiting for our luggage, a doctor with a Native American Reservation in Montana gave us a duffel bag full of antibiotics for us to give to the orphans and refugees we will be serving! We would not have been at the airport at the same time were it not for this delay. God gets the glory for a plan better then ours. All the Red Sea Rules we have been learning are applying to this incredible missions experience. Brett Southwich safely arrived and looked as bleary eyed as we were yesterday. His dad, Harlo, was very happy to see him, and we gave him the official South African handshake and greeting from one of the eleven official languages.
PS: Apparently a strong wind at camp blew down our tents last night and they reinforced them for tonight. Pray for a good night's sleep and a productive day of work tomorrow from 8 am to 6 pm. Right now we are off to dinner! It's 7 :30 pm. What a day!"
"Everyone except Shelby Ferrier got their luggage. Dan is meeting with Delta (D. E. L. T. A. = Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive) officials to track her's down for tomorrow's flight. We'll lend her stuff. Today was amazing! We worshiped and brought a Word of encouragement to the Rock of Salvation Baptist Church in Soweto. We were blessed by their energetic worship and the solid sermon from 2 Peter 1:1-10. They treated us to a chicken dinner and we met the other half of our team from Arizona, SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral.
We rode a coach bus and received a tour. When a 12 year old boy named Hector Peterson was shot to death on June 16, 1976, it began the unraveling of Apartheid. June 16 is a National Holiday called Youth Day - the start of the liberation from the death of Hector to the release of Nelson Mandela in 1994. Apartheid ended just 15 years ago! We are seeing freedom, property ownership, and integration like never imagined. Our wonderful host, Humphrey Birkenstock from Rainbow Radio 90.7 FM said that he and his wife were not going to have children until there was freedom - their son, Raymond, turned 15 yesterday!
We saw Mandela's house. Then we went to a flea market before heading back to the airport to claim our baggage. We stood for an hour while a hundred bags came out before ours did. Dave Newquist straightened every bag and we teased him that he will be hired by the airport. We cheered when Jessica Hyatt was the first person among us to get her bags! Thanks for your prayers. Here's the miracle of why our luggage was delayed: while waiting for our luggage, a doctor with a Native American Reservation in Montana gave us a duffel bag full of antibiotics for us to give to the orphans and refugees we will be serving! We would not have been at the airport at the same time were it not for this delay. God gets the glory for a plan better then ours. All the Red Sea Rules we have been learning are applying to this incredible missions experience. Brett Southwich safely arrived and looked as bleary eyed as we were yesterday. His dad, Harlo, was very happy to see him, and we gave him the official South African handshake and greeting from one of the eleven official languages.
PS: Apparently a strong wind at camp blew down our tents last night and they reinforced them for tonight. Pray for a good night's sleep and a productive day of work tomorrow from 8 am to 6 pm. Right now we are off to dinner! It's 7 :30 pm. What a day!"
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