A Fine Day in Finetown

Whoa!

What. A. Day!

First and foremost, the FPC team is doing a spectacular job. FPC and all who have been praying for, supporting and following the trip so far would be so proud of this group of volunteers. Karl and Jenny Teichert are truly doing some wonderful work integrating the many ways God works through the people within and around Johannesburg.

The team began the day making their way to the Zenzele Education Center in Finetown for a “Zenzele Fun Day” morning. Finetown is a separate township from SOWETO, in actuality, and is one of the poorer informal settlements for the Johannesburg area.

 The Zenzele Center was started to feed, educate, protect and minister to the children and young adults of Finetown. Full time Caregivers and volunteers work to foster responsibility, independence and faith. They help with homework, give guidance on personal growth and problems, and also promote reading skills. Additionally, they work with both children and their parents (if not orphaned) to properly write resumès, budgets and save for the future.

The activities were designed as a VBS style, five-station rotation program.  Each team member paired up and were assigned to facilitate a station.  The stations consisted of: Bible story puppet shows;

crafts;

face painting;

games;

and fitness.

Each rotation was 20-minutes of fun and laughter and the morning flew by.  We had approximately 190 children for the program and at the conclusion helped distribute peanut butter sandwiches, chips, drinks, oranges and a treat to each child.  They were so excited.  Here are a few observations from the team:

• So impressed with how the older children helped the younger children learn the games with patience and compassion
• The children were so polite and respectful, participating with enthusiasm and joy.
• The children were engaged and entertained by the three Bible based stories
• They were so meticulous and proud to complete their craft; a coloring Bible flip card lesson
• And they were SO excited to select their individual face painting image (mustaches and all)

Pastor Wessie is a local pastor from an adjoining community called Ennerdale and several of our team members were able to visit his church after lunch to learn about the many community outreach programs that his church members conduct in the surrounding communities.  An outgoing, unique individual, Pastor Wessie is one active servant of God! – and we will have another opportunity again tomorrow to work with one of his outreach programs.  We will be walking the streets of Finetown alongside Homebound Caregivers as they visit those who are severely ill and in need of assistance and prayer.

In the afternoon, we had the privilege of handing out tennis shoes, crosses and Texas trinkets to all the Caregivers.  It was something.  They we so excited and appreciative.  Visiting with the manager of the Center, she was so moved by the gesture.  She said that this is the first time that a group has poured into the Caregivers and not just the children.  What an amazingly gifted, compassionate group of people who share all their knowledge and love through their care of the children.  They are truly living into the calling of taking care of the least of these.

After a BRIEF break, we headed to another partnership of the Teicherts – the South African Chinese Covenant Church.  Their charismatic Pastor Frank Taun greeted us with open arms and amazing hospitality. We enjoyed a “Chinese Wednesday Night Gathering” meal of authentic homemade chinese food (and pizza) complete with chopsticks.  We also had the opportunity to share the meal with a visiting Tiawanese Mission Team that was staying at the church.  After the meal, we were delighted to be included in a moving  worship service presented by the Chinese Church.  As always, Walter was called on to give a word of encouragement to the congregation and he did a wonderful job.  Who knew Walter could speak Chinese so well (just kidding).

To have the opportunity to gather East and West together in South Africa to worship our Lord, as a community of believers, was remarkable.  Just think – wherever we are gathered together as believers, we always find God weaving an intricate multi-cultural tapestry of faith.

Before the end of the service, we were treated to an amazing gift of a baptism.  A member of the church had noticed a Chinese family on her plane while traveling recently to South Africa.  Listening to the call of God, the member of the church changed seats on the plane in order to sit next to the family.  She came to find out they were immigrating to SA and invited them to visit the church.  As the conversation continued, she also found out they were in need a place to stay.  She offered them one of the many rooms available at the church and they were embraced by the community.  Hearing a still, small voice in her heart as they became active at the church, she was moved to accept the invitation of Christ to be baptized into the body of Christ.  For me personally (Karen) it was the first time in all my mission travels throughout the world, that I was a witness to a baptism of faith.  What a night!

What an amazing God we serve that brings together believers from East and West to meet in South Africa and worship as one body in Christ.

Your humble (and exhausted) scribes,

Clayton and Karen

PS – Please pray for good health and stamina of the team as we enter the difficult “hump day” of our trip.

PPS – Please see the link below to an article on Pastor Tuan and the SACCC

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/905235.shtml