Steph E

Something that Jesus would do

We recently had a great team from a high school in Denmark come out for a few weeks and help us work on the community center site and build relationships with the kids in that part of Sweetwaters. The team was able to level a soccer field (whohooo!) and the following week, teens from ourContinue reading “Something that Jesus would do”

New Years Resolution #1 Actually Listen

This will probably be my New Years Resolution for every single year of my life! Listening is really hard for people like me who feel like they will explode if they can’t share with the world whatever they are thinking (hey, maybe that’s why I write a blog! It’s the exact opposite of listening!) ButContinue reading “New Years Resolution #1 Actually Listen”

New Beginnings

It’s been a year and a half since I started blogging here about my involvement with iThemba, my opinions on short-term missions and community development, and stories of hope from Sweetwaters community. And that will continue. Kind of. If you were wondering here’s a summary of my top 5 most popular posts: My Madiba Story, I’mContinue reading “New Beginnings”

My Madiba Story

As a TCK, raised by a mother who believes there’s a book that can help you do anything (and has therefore read the massive TCK Bible written by David Pollock), I can tell you the words, “What do we need to do to have some closure here?” are a familiar refrain in our house. EverythingContinue reading “My Madiba Story”

Tie-dye, beach camps and mangers

So, in the midst of this week of mourning the passing of Tata Nelson Mandela, we at iThemba packed up and headed down to the beach for three days for iThemba teens camp. Which I think Madiba would have liked. We spend weeks and weeks preparing for camp. We spend time praying. We cut, andContinue reading “Tie-dye, beach camps and mangers”

Celebrate Life

So, these past few weeks have been a chance to celebrate life. David and my co-worker Thulani share the same birthday month, so they decided to have a joint “bring and braai” to celebrate. As we sat around after cake, listening to them both share about their year, it was so inspiring to see howContinue reading “Celebrate Life”

APU is here!

The Azusa Pacific students are here! And they’re great! (Which is why I haven’t been writing–I’ve been back at work 5-6 days per week again. And then there’s that whole clean the house thing, too.) I’ve written before why having 6 APU college students join us for their 4 week Community Engagement pratical course isContinue reading “APU is here!”

The State of Western Missions, talking donkeys and a video

I am now an avid fan of the Phil Vischer podcast (creator of Veggie Tales and What’s in the Bible). I’m a fan for many reasons, especially because he mentioned Taylor University by name in his most recent podcast. He also talked about his uncle who left (abandoned??!) his wife and kids for three yearsContinue reading “The State of Western Missions, talking donkeys and a video”

How you can personally impact a teen from Sweetwaters

Yes, folks, it’s heading into that time of year again… CAMP TIME! Every year, iThemba takes 50 kids in June, and 50 teens in December to the beach for a 3-day camp. Here are a whole bunch of reasons why teens camp this December is so cool: All of these teens are awesome. IContinue reading “How you can personally impact a teen from Sweetwaters”

On Being Needy

I’ve been reading Kenneth Bailey’s “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes”. One of the things I’ve been struck with again and again is how humble Jesus is. Not just the whole incarnation God humbling himself to become a man thing. That was amazing. But even the kind of man that Jesus was is amazing. HeContinue reading “On Being Needy”