Written by Nathan

Hello brothers and sisters,

I just want to start by saying that from all of us we are beyond grateful for all the love, prayers and support that we have received before, during, and even after our return. This trip would have been impossible without them.

We wanted to give one final recap of how our trip ended as we have not been able to do that. In addition here is the link to our recap during service a couple of weeks ago.  Watch Clip from 25:00-37:55

Our Saturday began with us having our last breakfast together, which was always 

wonderful every single day. After that, with our serving alongside living hope coming to a close on Friday, we began to do some sightseeing around cape town, seeing all the wonders God had created around the area, as well as learning more about the history of the city.

We came across the museum called District Six, which went into great detail about the origins of Cape Town, and how it was the first out of the districts to begin to resist against the heavy segregation imposed at the time, where many Africans and "colored persons" were forced to live in closed off, and run-down areas, while foreigners lived in much better communities and situations. But the amazing thing is that this is not a point in history that Capetown tries to forget, but instead uses as a source of inspiration, and remembrance in order to bring about a future where these actions are not repeated again.

 After this, we then got to witness Adam bargain with the local people to purchase gifts to bring back to the U.S.. Let me tell you, that was truly a sight to behold!!! 

As for the sightseeing part of our weekend, we were unfortunately unable to visit table mountain for the entire weekend, as it was much too foggy at the top of the mountain both Saturday and Sunday. We will just have to trust Maggie and the Lord that the view is beyond beautiful! However, we were still able to take a trip to the edge of the Capetown peninsula, which is called Cape Point, and take some great pictures together, and just be able to soak in the stunning view overlooking the hillside, and into the sea. All in all we, had an amazing journey together, and we were able to drop off Pastor Jeremy to the airport to continue his mission trip to Nairobi. 

After a couple of days of sightseeing and fellowship with each other, we started our long journey back home. We’ve probably already seen and shared stories with many of you. Once again thank you all for the love, prayers and support, and we are forever grateful to the Lord and to you for partnering with us on our mission to serve Him :).

Written by Maggie

Today begins with devotions that I volunteered to lead at the Living Hope Health Center. I took the opportunity to use the devotions to speak encouragement to the healthcare team and pray the Lord’s blessings over them.  

It’s hard to believe our last official work day has come so quickly. Our work with the children finished yesterday; today would be farm work and tour for most of the team while I spent the morning at the Living Hope Health Center visiting, encouraging, and praying with patients. Just the day before I’d made my first patient visit, meeting a woman who had just received a diagnosis of spinal cancer with a likely poor expected outcome. She had no family to stand by her, and today we were able to talk again, pray and read the Bible together. I also talked with a lady who had tried to commit suicide the night before and who also was without family to support her.  These are conversations that are difficult to have but we found ourselves bound together by the Lord, with prayer,  the Word, and some deep conversation. Even though this type of work is challenging, I’m glad God prepared me with a history of many life challenges of my own to have conversations with others who are suffering.

From there, off to lunch at the NY Slice Pizza for yes - NY style Pizza! Chloe and I both enjoyed a little hometown-type food and the rest enjoyed it, too.

We made our last visit to the Recovery Program. Jeremy began this session with devotions followed by Chloe putting the finishing touches to the Kintsugi bowl project, helping to show program members how even when life is shattered, as we shattered those bowls earlier in the week, they can be remade, the Lord can heal and help us rebuild into something better. Much glue and gold sparkle dust later, we closed out the project with bowls reassembled and battle-scarred, with participants contemplating the message and its impact on their lives. We heard some awesome testimonies and affirmations when feedback was requested.  What a great way to close out the project!

The grand finale of this work day was taking the recovery team out for coffee and lunch at Tigers Milk where stories of triumphs, joy, and salvation journeys were exchanged; the perfect (emotional) ending to a beautiful day.

But tonight’s dinner was the topper. Our guest was Ramos Soko, the Team House director, mission team support agent, and any mission team’s best cheerleader. We were delighted to hear his personal story and his salvation testimony, but he then prompted us to each tell him about our own families and ministries, using that platform to encourage us and give us a Kingdom perspective of our own personal journeys and mission work. We left the table full of much more than dinner, contemplating the words of wisdom and encouragement that Ramos had imparted to each of us. What the Lord pours into Ramos through His spirit overflows into this team tonight!

And it’s time for bed once again, filled with beautiful memories and many emotions. It’s not done yet; we still have two days left and more discoveries to be made.

More about the farm by Nathan

We had a great experience at the farm today, as the four of us (Jeremy, Chloe, Adam and Nathan) were able to see all the different plants that living hope was producing that would later be distributed all across the western cape, and be available for purchase as well. We also got the opportunity to help prune lots of tomato plants along with some of the interns and students working at the living hope farm, who were very very welcoming to us. And as Jeremy said, our experience definitely helped all of us to understand John 15 better! 😂

Written by Adam

Groete uit Suid-Afrika!

Greetings from South Africa!

We have so much to share with you on our fourth day of Living Hope ministry in the communities of Overcome Heights and the Recovery Programme in the town of Muizenberg. We began our day with another hearty breakfast at Sacred Mountain, which is the location of our home base to start and finish our day. It is where we eat, sleep, shower, and repeat. The accommodations here are wonderful and the hospitality from Samantha, her mother, and her husband have been top-notch.

Once we arrived in the neighborhood of Overcome, we had an opportunity to get our day set up for the kids and greeted the gracious staff that had been helping with the holiday club for the past month.

The activities for the day included action songs which are Gospel song lyrics mixed with choreography. Chloe and Nathan organized a fun dance game where the kids lined up and had to recreate the dance moves that the person did previous to their position in the line. We also played a game of hot potato which was delightful for all involved. Maggie shared a Bible story of Peter trusting Jesus to cast his net on the right side of the boat to catch fish John 21:6 NIV. The story was followed by the group leaders teaching the kids a memory verse including hand motions to help make the scripture more interactive.

One part of our experience that is hard to express with words is how infectious the smiling, laughter, and joy from the kids are for us and how much it fills our hearts. Our time came to an end and saying goodbye to everyone was hard being that when love is shared in a way only God can design, it binds you together very quickly and powerfully. We do hope in some way they were as blessed as we were by the time that we spent united in Jesus.

Following our time with the children’s program, we transitioned to working with the adults enrolled in the substance abuse and recovery program. This is one outreach opportunity provided by Living Hope that is from a total of 54 others. I felt led to provide a four-part therapeutic approach for the participants: spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional. Being able to share my testimony and how Jesus transformed my life of alcoholism and hedonism to serving Him and loving others I pray was of benefit to someone that was there that maybe shared a similar experience as I did. Naturally, as a Physical Therapist, I then took them through a regimen of exercises with the hope of encouraging activity as part of an overall wellness program. The next step of the afternoon programming included guided meditation (Encounter Meditations) and 4-7-8 breathing (Video Link).

Our dinner for the evening included a visit from the director of Living Hope Victor Thomas, his wife Candace, and two children Caleb and Rebecca. They shared with us how they continue to make an impact in the community and what lies ahead for them in the years to come. It was wonderful to be able to share a meal and fellowship with them and we hope it won’t be our last time with them together.

Praying that all of you are well stateside and sending our love from the Southern Hemisphere!

Written by Chloe

Hey Everyone, 

We’re glad to share another update with you and pray each of you is doing well.  

Finding words to describe today’s experiences are quite a challenge. Our morning began with a devoted prayer alongside the healthcare team. Next, we met up with the children's team in Overcome Heights, an extremely impoverished community. Despite its small size and limited supply of worn-out toys, the Living Hope location there draws more children than other campuses. It’s amazing to witness the kids make the most of everything.

Nathan led the Bible story about Peter denying Jesus from Matthew 26:31-35; 69-75. The Big Idea of the day was “Jesus loves us and sees our sins and failings.” Nathan addressed the profound emotions of shame and guilt that burdened Peter while emphasizing the unwavering forgiveness and love of Jesus. We engaged the first group with several games including a mini obstacle course. In the case of the second group, Nathan and I joined a few team leaders on a quest to locate children from the local community. The journey led us through narrow passageways, where we came across cramped dwellings made of metal sheets, various discarded materials, and dirt paths. Despite the challenging circumstances and the presence of gangs in the area, every person we encountered exhibited kindness and respect toward us. 

We arrived with a substantial group of children…there were 72 kids in attendance. This posed a challenge in terms of available space, but by God's design, everything fell into place seamlessly. We decided to test the kid’s strength by challenging them to a wall sit, and to our astonishment, some of them seemed to have legs of steel.

What truly touched our hearts was witnessing the children fully engrossed in the story of Jesus and being so happy to be there. Some of the kids couldn't help but approach us for a hug, even though it wasn't technically allowed. Children often act on their natural inclinations, and as bearers of God's image, it is only fitting that these little ones pour out their love. Many of them come from lackluster environments devoid of any warm embraces, and this may be the only time they have the freedom to express themselves fully.

After serving with the Children’s Ministry, we had lunch with Avril at a fishing pier in Kalk Bay, which is favored by the locals for their daily catch. As we strolled along the pier, we were surprised to stumble upon seals napping right in the middle of the walking path and a few seals gracefully twirling in the ocean. It was an extraordinary sight!

After lunch, we made our way to Living Hope's main campus, which houses healthcare clinics, job placement programs, Bible studies, recovery programs, and an agricultural program with a fully functional farm. During our tour of the healthcare clinic, we were able to greet some patients and hear their testimonies. Additionally, we had the privilege of meeting some long-serving staff members who were genuinely thrilled and happy to not only provide healing but also share the Gospel with the people they serve. It's truly awe-inspiring to witness individuals striving to live their lives as closely to Jesus as possible.

Next, we joined a group distributing large container bins to residents of an area known as the wetlands in Masiphumelele. Originally not intended for residing, people have managed to make it their home. During the current winter season, which sees heavy rainfall, the area becomes severely flooded, with water levels rising several feet inside people's homes and becoming very muddy. Lacking proper infrastructure, they endure these conditions for days on end, on top of the already harsh living conditions. Similar to Overcome Heights, the homes in the wetlands are constructed from metal sheets, but they are densely packed together, and there are only 27 outdoor bathrooms and one water faucet for a community of 1000 people. 

The narrow pathways in the community prevent vehicles from entering, so we had to carry the bins on foot through what seemed like a maze. These bins serve as storage for clothes and blankets, protecting them from getting wet. The project leaders worked closely with the community leaders to ensure that every resident receives a bin. Though it was disheartening to witness their living conditions, we did encounter smiling faces and cheerful children who greeted and followed us along the way. 

It was a long day and in some moments it felt like we should and could be doing more, but sometimes our own thoughts can distract us from Jesus’ words. “I have overcome the world” John 16:33. His reminder encourages us to find peace and trust in His victory, even when we feel limited in our efforts.

We do have a prayer request for the residents of the Wetlands. During our visit, we observed many of them working hard to secure and protect their homes' roofs in anticipation of further rainfall. Our prayer is that the distributed bins prove useful for their homes and families and that more efficient systems and developments can offer long-term solutions to their challenges. 

We also request prayers for Sister Sheila, who recently lost her husband but continues to be a shining light to everyone in the healthcare facility.

Written by Jeremy

After a great night’s rest and a wonderful breakfast, we were able to start our day with devotions with a number of healthcare workers. We followed that up with some of the kid’s club workers that we began participating in today. We were able to serve with two kid’s clubs back to back; one for ages 3-8 followed by one for 9-12. Today’s lesson was from John 21 and the Big Idea was Jesus invites us into a full life with Him. Children’s ministry is not my wheelhouse but following Jesus means serving anyone He puts in front of you. Our team did a great job playing games and sharing with the kids. We were impressed with some of the young adults who were running the kid’s club.

Our afternoon was spent back at the Recovery Center.  Chloe and Maggie led our ministry with them doing a team-building exercise. The Men and women were active in participating and sharing what they learned and how they can apply that in their lives. Maggie and Chloe both shared powerfully how God has saved them and enabled them to overcome life challenges. I closed out our sharing time with my testimony of addiction and how recovery while a program is also a lifestyle. We are all in the process of recovery until we see Jesus. 

Before dinner with John and Avril Thomas, we were able to go to the beach. It’s winter here so no swimming for us but the view was spectacular. The beauty we see in creation reminds us how beautiful our God is. It’s hard to overdue praise on John and Avril Thomas who founded Living Hope. They are true gospel servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. They both shared stories about how a number of ministries and how Living Hope began. We were inspired and challenged by their integrity and compassion.

Thank you all who have been praying for us. We need God’s grace to empower and sustain us. 

Blessings,

Jeremy

Written by Nathan

Dear friends and family,

Our journey continues aboard Lufthansa Airlines, as we took off around 10:15 pm, embarking on an 11-hour flight where most of us were not able to get much rest.

But through the Lord’s provision, we were able to arrive safely in Capetown airport around 10:30 am, where we were met with open arms by Ramos, Avril, and the rest of the amazing Living Hope team. We were then shown to our rooms where we are staying for the week at Sacred Mountain Lodge, and it’s an understatement to say that the Lord has truly blessed us with our accommodations.

However, nothing comes close to the blessings He gave us through coming alongside Living Hope’s outreach ministries. Today, with Chloe leading the way, facilitated an art session for around 30 current struggling addicts as part of Living Hopes therapeutic activities Rehab program, where they performed an art form inspired by Japanese Kintsugi. The participants all received their own China bowl/plate, which they then proceeded to destroy, but only to have them put the pieces back together using glue, resin mix, and tape. As Chloe explained to them, this is done to represent how even though they may feel like their lives are broken at points in their life, there is someone who can help them put it back together and make them whole again, and His name is Jesus.

Though our time doing Kintsugi with the therapy program didn’t go exactly as planned today, we still had an amazing and fruitful time being there with them.

After getting a brief introduction about Living Hope and its background, we set out to meet with Avril, Nwabisa, and the rest of the children’s program team, and make final preparations to be ready to serve the kids to the best of our ability!

Our day now ends with a trip back to Sacred Mountain Lodge, where our hosts Samantha and her mother served us a delicious meal before we finally got to get some rest.

We thank you so much for your continued prayer and support, and we look forward to continuing to do His work here in Capetown starting tomorrow morning!!

Written by Adam

Family and Friends,

We. Are. Blessed. What our team anticipated would be a terrible inconvenience by being delayed one day of our scheduled trip to South Africa, actually ended up being a wonderful time of fellowship with Paul Hagelgans and his faithful workers serving in Germany. 

We had a delightful welcome from Paul and his colaborer Anton when we arrived to Frankfurt airport. They were gracious to have provided us transport to Bible Mission Global’s headquarters and upon arrival, we had a delicious breakfast prepared by the staff. We were offered an inspirational testimony by Paul and the work his organization is doing throughout Europe and Asia (14 and counting!). 

The Gospel is being preached and propagated throughout these regions and the effect is amazing in so many ways. BMG has been able to provide resources to widows and orphans in Afghanistan by courageously and fearfully using the power of Jesus to compromise with the Taliban leadership. In these circumstances, they are blessings to those in need that would otherwise have a life of hopelessness and despair. It is without doubt that people of this country and many others are hearing about and believing in The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

After a wholesome conversation with Paul, we retired to our rooms which allowed us some much-needed rest for several hours. It was later in the afternoon that we sat down for a meal with Niels and Mathias and heard more about the impact BMG is making, specifically in Pakistan. What would likely be inconceivable for most Americans to go to a country in opposition to Christianity has turned into an opportunity for BMG to bless the people of Pakistan with Eternal Hope. Both young men have felt called to lead a life led by Jesus and were an encouragement to us in the work that they are doing. 

They gave us a tour of the facility where the outreach efforts are centered and it is incredible that they have developed Russian Bibles through a collaborative effort for the people of countries like Bolivia and Paraguay where the language is spoken and written. To be able to see the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) in action blesses our spirits immeasurably and helps with the mission that lies ahead of us.

As of now, we are awaiting to board the plane to Cape Town and will hope to arrive by 10am, Monday. God’s blessing to you all and much love from the other side of the world!

Written by Maggie

Just as Jesus gives us another chance at life, Saturday would be a more forgiving day as well. Yesterday's disappointment in our canceled flight reminds us that evil may come against us but today's success reminds us that Jesus makes sure that what he wants done will get done.

We are on our way to Cape Town by way of Frankfurt, Germany, a different route than originally planned, successfully airborne full of hope and thankfulness. It's an almost full plane but what few seats that weren't taken are graciously empty next to each one of us so we're riding in comfort. Dinner has been served, and the lights are out, so we prepare to sleep in peace tonight; the gentle hum of a plane in progress is our lullaby.

Tomorrow will be an unplanned gift, meeting up with global partner Paul Hagelgans in Frankfurt for breakfast and refreshments. We feel your prayers and the love of a very awesome God.

Written by Chloe

Our journey to the airport began on a positive note. Pastor Jeremy and Nerissa graciously picked me up at 12:30 PM, and together we picked up Nathan while Eliezer drove Maggie and Adam to the airport. Our spirits were high as we anticipated our arrival in Cape Town tomorrow. However, just moments away from reaching the airport, we received notice that our flight from Chicago to Newark had been canceled…not delayed, but canceled due to "severe" weather conditions. And well, for the next two hours, we were hanging in the balance until we figured out our next steps.

Pastor Jeremy reached out to the travel agency while I patiently waited on hold with United Airlines. The booking agent informed us of the possibility of rebooking through KLM Airlines. The new itinerary involved flying to Amsterdam, with a relatively short layover, and ultimately arriving in Cape Town on Saturday night, just a few hours later than originally planned. The United agent informed me that our travel agent had already made the necessary adjustments to transfer us to the new flight. All we had to do was proceed to the ticket counter to obtain our reissued tickets. 💪🏾 Easy Peasy! Right?

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Wrong!

Unfortunately, things didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped. Upon reaching the ticket counter, the agent informed us that United Airlines could not accommodate us on another airline flight. Our only option was to be rebooked on their next available flight or to cancel our flights and rebook with a different airline, but this would significantly increase the expenses for our trip.

Left with limited choices, we decided to rebook our flights. Our new departure is set for tomorrow, Saturday, July 8th, at 2:40 PM. We will be heading to Frankfurt, Germany, where we will have a 16.5-hour layover before finally arriving in Cape Town on Monday at 9:55 AM—almost a day and a half later than planned. 

This outcome was far from what we had initially expected, as we had hoped to catch our connecting flight from Newark. As Pastor Drew so eloquently reminded us, "Maybe there will be a divine appointment on tomorrow's flight!" It is easy to feel discouraged and focus on the challenges this interruption has created, particularly, the lost days for building relationships. However, we can find solace in the midst of these obstacles.

So this was just a great rehearsal!

Tonight, we are grateful to be able to sleep in the comfort of our own beds and recharge ourselves for the two days of travel that lie ahead. 

We can choose to rest in the knowing that our footsteps are covered by His Holiness and the biggest and most important lesson for us to learn is to be present in the moment, to accept what is happening, and to find satisfaction in what has been handed to us...just like Jesus.  

While this unexpected turn of events may not align with our initial plans, we know the Lord has a purpose for everything. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned and connections to be made during our extended layover in Frankfurt. We trust that this detour will lead us to encounters and experiences that we would have otherwise missed.

We will try this again tomorrow! Until then, please continue to pray over our journey and safe arrival to Cape Town. ❤️

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Tomorrow our team will embark on a journey to Cape Town, all geared up to lend a helping hand to Living Hope. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who has generously contributed, prayed, and shown unwavering support towards our mission. With a full agenda ahead, we promise to keep you informed through our writings, photos (when it is allowed and suitable), and, who knows, maybe even some vlogs. Rest assured, we'll share regular updates with you, along with any special prayer requests that come our way.

At this moment, our utmost prayer is for the Lord to prepare the hearts of those we will be ministering to, so that they may either learn about or be reminded of the boundless love of Jesus. We also seek His guidance and protection as we travel to our destination. And finally, we request continued prayers for the remaining funds needed to cover our travel expenses. Once again, thank you!

With love from all of us. ❤️

Jeremy, Maggie, Adam, Nathan, & Chloe