Our seventh Global Outreach team of the summer has officially departed and is on their way to South America (with a lengthy layover in Texas first). The team is sleepy but excited to get to the country tonight and get a good night’s rest! Please pray for good rest tonight and for renewed energy for their first day in country. We will update again when they arrive in South America!
After two weeks in Central America serving with a beautiful ministry, our team has officially landed safely in SFO and they are on their way to a good night’s rest in their own homes.
As they process through the trip and reflect on all that God did in them and through them, make sure to ask them about their experience and genuinely listen to the stories they have to share. Join us in praying for this trip to be transformative for them in their own faith, and for the Lord to use this trip to draw them closer to him even after they’ve settled back into their new rhythms at home.
Did someone say King of the Jungle?Coming at you live with this morning’s team update and yes, it’s Safari Day!
We kicked off bright and early, leaving the hotel at 6:30 AM Africa time yes, that’s a thing now. I personally woke up at 4:30 AM to pack for our overnight stay classic move, I know.
We began our descent into the wild with breakfast boxes that included an egg sandwich, cucumbers, cinnamon bread, and a bottle of water. We took it all on the road with us for the 4-hour drive. Halfway through, we stopped for ice cream and snacks because what’s a road trip without snacks?
When we arrived at the safari camp the staff informed us we could either leave our snacks at the front desk or keep them in the car because we were glamping (yes, glam + camping = the dream).
Then the adventure began. Our first safari drive was incredible we saw a LION YES, The King Himself, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, and a variety of birds.
Afterward, we had an amazing buffet lunch before heading back out for round two of the safari. This time, we saw buffalo, zebras, even more elephants, and… a ton of bugs.Let me be real: I was screaming more at the bugs than the animals. Those safari cars are not bug-proof!
On the way back, nature showed off with the most stunning sunset complete with an elephant crossing that literally took over the view.
We ended the night with a delicious dinner where I may have eaten 100 pieces of pineapple followed by a team debrief with coffee by a warm fireplace under a sky absolutely filled with stars.
Safari Day = a major win
Hey there, it’s Eva! Today has been such a blessed day, definitely one for the books! From it being our last day with the kids at VBS to having the most incredible time at the Lion Park, it’s been non stop excitement.
We started the morning off with a delicious breakfast with the kids. The food has been so good and pretty healthy, in my opinion!
After breakfast, we headed out to the field for one last group photo with all the leaders and kids. Soon after, we played with the kids one final time before sending them off. It’s been such a heartfelt week, from helping them learn their memory verse to teaching them new games and them teaching me new things along the way.
Once the kids left, we packed up and headed to the Lion Park! It was a bit of a drive, but absolutely worth it. As soon as we arrived, we drove through this massive “park,” and the first thing we saw was a gazelle, followed by some pretty zebras. It really felt like we were in another beautiful country.
We made it to the top of a mountain where you could see everything God truly created the most beautiful places! On our way down the mountain, we ran into a giraffe, which was the cherry on top (it’s one of my favorite animals). We kept driving a little longer and finally entered the lions’ enclosure! It was a huge cage you drive through, and we got as close as possible to the lions of course, keeping the windows shut and the doors locked. Don’t worry, we were as safe as possible!
As we turned into the enclosure, boom there were two lions lying on a rock. We kept going, with my car and the other car (because there were too many of us to fit in one vehicle). We got within five feet of those lions, it was AMAZING to see these majestic animals up close! The closer we got, the more lions we saw, both males and females. Now that was the real cherry on top.
After this incredible experience, we went to the park’s animal area, where we saw everything from hyenas to crocodiles, monkeys, more lions, and so many other species.
After this long but amazing day, we headed back and had dinner. Later, we had a short but meaningful devotion led by Olivia about encouragement. Now, we’re winding down and about to head to bed, feeling so full of gratitude for everything today brought.
Hey everyone, today was our last day serving with Just One. In the morning, we had a time to discuss and debrief our trip to help us in our transition home. We had the amazing Just One Staff deliver arroz con pollo for lunch at the hotel, we are so thankful for all the amazing service they have given us. Next, Bella got to share our last devotional about “Loving in Action” and had a very entertaining lesson about how we can serve others. The team also made affirmation cards to each scholars and staff to remind them of who they are in Christ. We then had some time to spend with the staff and scholars before a delicious dinner of pupusas and ending the night by the bonfire. We all got to share our highs and lows of the trip and what it has meant to us, and say our goodbyes. Our whole team can agree that serving with Just One has been such an inspiring and life changing experience. We have enjoyed getting to know each one of them and will forever keep all these memories in our hearts. Please join us in continuing to pray for Just One and the beautiful people of this country.
Jirise, friends and family! This is Noah writing on behalf of the team here at Hands of Hope.
Today we finished up the last day of our first week of VBS. Tomorrow morning, the kids from this camp will head home, bringing the Biblical truths we taught them back to their home environments. We’re ending on a high note to be sure!
To start the day, Natalie and I told the story of the Good Samaritan to the kids. We had a good conversation with our group afterwords about what it means to be a good neighbor. After that, we had some morning games like tug of war and duck duck goose, followed by a craft where kids made bags to put all their other crafts in.
After lunch (and after Holly, Liv and I found some kittens), we played a game of four way capture the flag between our four teams. It was fun, chaotic, loud, confusing… all the things you would expect! It was great seeing all the teams work together and strategize.
We started ending the day with evening praise and a game from Alyssa and Natalie. Then, one of our leaders, Uncle Stewart, led us to the bonfire for s’mores and a story. While roasting s’mores, the kids were dancing to all sorts of music from Macarena to popular in-country favorties. They started singing traditional songs on their own after the music ended, and I was struck by how in tune they were with one another (literally and figuratively)! I looked around and all I could see were kids in harmony with one another. The fellowship was beautiful.
Uncle Stewart ended the night officially with a moving story that I hope I can remember and retell back in the States! Overall, today was an amazing day full of kids working together and being shown the love of God. Thinking about how we have positively affected these kids lives is truly heartwarming. This first week has reminded me how important it is to focus on the big picture that God has, and to work to follow His plan above any plans I could ever make. I mean, my team all followed His nudging to Africa, didn’t we? I can’t wait to see what’s next.
This is Noah signing off for the night – God Bless!
Gloria In Te, Domine
Happy Thursday!
Today our team took a trip to Pulhapanzak where we visited the largest waterfall in the country! Fun fact: this waterfall is thought to have inspired some animated scenes of Disney’s 1967 film, The Jungle Book. How cool! Several team members and Just One staff were brave enough to zip line over the waterfall, capturing some beautiful photos and lasting memories. We then took a swim in the river and enjoyed the scenery. We had lunch at a car museum and restaurant where we ate the most amazing fish/chicken and had fun playing pool. After some free time, we enjoyed dinner with more Just One staff and scholars. The night was filled with stories, laughter, and love. At the restaurant, a beautiful mural caught our eye. We learned that Mizael, a local pastor and Just One staff member, painted the mural. He shared the inspiration behind the piece which captures several aspects of Sigatepeque’s history. It is amazing to see how much impact Just One has on the community and how each person’s talents are used to bless others. We look forward to seeing what our last full day in Central America will bring.
With love,
Rebekah and Danielle
Mambo! It’s Carolina!
Welcome back! Today’s adventure was absolutely beautiful full of unique tastes, breathtaking views, and unforgettable moments.
We started the morning with breakfast. I had a fun mix of Chips Ahoy and Pop Tarts. While others enjoyed pork sausage and boiled eggs. After breakfast some of the girls came over and we gathered for worship. We praised together and had a devotional that really set the tone for the day.
Then it was time to head out for the day’s adventure! We all packed into the vehicles and drove to a local coffee plantation. The people from the village were so welcoming and showed us how to make a fresh cup of coffee from scratch. First we beat the coffee beans to break the outer skin then roasted them to release the second layer. After that we ground the beans and finally boiled them to make a rich fresh cup of coffee. No milk needed just one teaspoon of brown sugar and it was absolutely amazing!
After the coffee experience we hiked to a hidden gem marked with an X marks the spot dream a waterfall that was truly breathtaking. No words can do it justice. It felt like checking off a dream from my bucket list.
Once the hike was over we returned to the hotel, changed and went out for dinner. I had chicken tacos so good! While others had pizza and sandwiches. We all finished the night with ice cream sundaes for dessert. The perfect sweet ending to a perfect day.
If anyone has any special requests let us know! Stay tuned tomorrow’s adventure hint is Hakuna Matata!
After two different countries in two weeks, our Central America B team is officially back in the US! The team was able to distribute water filters and the good news of Jesus to so many families in Central America and they have countless stories to tell about all that the Lord did in their two weeks overseas.
Join us in praying for them as they navigate reverse culture shock and new rhythms back home. Pray that they would remember the stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness and carry the boldness of their faith with them in their everyday life.
Don’t forget to ask a team member how they’re doing, and ask to hear about all of those stories!
Today was our first day of VBS at our second location of Courage House. Already, this location has been wildly different than our last, but it has just been so cool to see the Lord moving here and among our team!
Our morning started off slowly- we began with a devo and a huge breakfast of bread, mixed fruit with chia seeds, cheesy omelettes, juice, and of course, coffee. Our bus to Courage House was late (we’re on Africa time now!) which, after such a jam-packed week, ended up giving us just what we needed in terms of a quick recharge.
Once at Courage, we started off with a time of worship led by the girls there. Their voices were absolutely jaw-dropping, and even though we could only understand a few words of the Swahili songs, the joy and presence of Jesus was SO strong! After that, we spent the rest of the morning dancing together, which everyone loved. Our team came with prepared songs and choreography (Goodbye Yesterday, Bless Me, I Thank God) but the girls also had requests of their own (Every Move I Make, the Macarena, and Evidence by Moses Bliss).
We were pretty exhausted after all that dancing, so lunch was very welcome. We ate heaping plates of rice, beef stew, beans, cabbage, and avocado, topped with a super spicy chili sauce (this is starting to be one of my favorite meals here!). The older girls here tend to be pretty good at English, so we chatted while we ate. Many of them taught our team bits of Swahili and helped us translate phrases we had questions about.
Soon, we transitioned into what turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the day: our Bible teaching. Bogey and Cheyenne led a sort of “Bible scavenger hunt” with the first three fruits: love (upendo in Swahili), joy (furaha), and peace (amani). We broke into small groups and each group found at least one verse mentioning each word from anywhere in the Bible. Then we came back together and the teams shared their verses along with a quick explanation of why it was important. It was such a fun and impactful way to dig into the Bible in both Swahili and English! We read each verse in both languages, and the girls even helped translate for each other, which was just amazing to watch.
We concluded our time at Courage House with our activity stations: friendship bracelets, a Fruit of the Spirit-themed craft, and volleyball. Then we said goodbye and headed over to Courage Cafe, where we wrapped up the day with a dinner of spaghetti and banana bread for dessert. After eating delicious but unfamiliar food for a week, many of our team said it tasted just like home!
Like every day so far, I’ve been so grateful for the work that God is doing here and the way these girls touch our hearts. God is definitely teaching us to trust His intention for each day as it comes, whether that be through shifting plans, unexpected situations, or obstacles popping up – but His plans and provision have turned out to be so, so good! From the moment we step foot at the Courage houses to the moment we leave every day, I’ve felt so much joy and peace and love for these precious girls. I cannot wait to see what amazing surprises He throws at us next!
Blessings,
Kenzie & the East Africa Team
