“Isn’t it awesome seeing the Church being the Church?” Sam commented to me, as we were discussing the Kids Crew Christmas thank you dinner. She didn’t mean this specific church–although Hilton Baptist played a huge part in providing volunteers to make the evening happen. She meant the Church—us, followers of Christ–actually being the body ofContinue reading “Dance of Service”
Author Archives: Steph E
Privilege
Living in Hilton and working in Sweetwaters means I am constantly confronted with my own privilege. It’s not just a matter of working in schools that are understaffed, under-resourced, and under-qualified, when I know I went to amazing schools just minutes away in Hilton. It’s not just a matter of sitting at Life Groups inContinue reading “Privilege”
Thankfulness
We celebrated thanksgiving here in South Africa with 15 other American missionaries. Thinking back over this past month, I certainly have a lot to be thankful for! David has a job teaching 8th and 9th grade math at Grace College, a local high school in Hilton. The Jabulani Kids Club Christmas party was a success! WeContinue reading “Thankfulness”
Real Life Hero: Gretta
“Eh, it is so quiet here today without my students, Steph.” Gretta said to me yesterday when I dropped by to say hello. Gretta runs a creche (preschool) in Sweetwaters with over 90 kids. She does an amazing job of keeping them all in line, and helping them learn. The students she was talkingContinue reading “Real Life Hero: Gretta”
A Reason to Celebrate
I don’t usually give people lifts. Partly because I want taxi drivers (as evil as they are) to have jobs. And partly because South Africa has extremely high rates of hijacking. But today there was a lady struggling up the steep hill next to my house (which I know all about, since I walk upContinue reading “A Reason to Celebrate”
Teens Camp
Did you ever go to a Christian camp as a teenager? Did you ever get that feeling, like God was right there listening to you and speaking to you? Of course, we all know that God is always with us, continually speaking and challenging us–but I think sometimes we don’t listen as well in theContinue reading “Teens Camp”
Saving Drowning Babies
“One day a missions worker in Africa went down to the river to bathe. While she was there in the water, she heard a cry and discovered a baby, floating in the water, just barely alive. She quickly grabbed the baby, and brought it to the edge of the river bank and gave it CPR.Continue reading “Saving Drowning Babies”
The Path From Indifference Starts with a Step
“I go about my own business…I reason: the road from Jerusalem to Jericho will always be littered by people beaten and left half dead; I can pass–I must pass–by each without much concern. The indifference that made the prophecy, takes care also of its fulfillment.” –Miroslav Volf, Exclusion and Embrace, p77. This week I’ve beenContinue reading “The Path From Indifference Starts with a Step”
Poverty Tourism
(It’s my weekend off this week, so rather than writing, I am going to post an AMAZING article that relates to short term missions that we ask all our teams to read. It is very convicting. Pass it along to any friends or churches who are engaged in short term missions. See you next week!)Continue reading “Poverty Tourism”
Walking Down a Long Road
This past week was Spring Break for the kids and teens in Sweetwaters/Mpumuza. During the holidays, many kids are unsupervised, this means there is more time for them to get into trouble, but also leaves them vulnerable to abuse. iThemba runs a Holiday club during the Spring and Fall breaks to give the children andContinue reading “Walking Down a Long Road”
Stephanie Ebert 