Ok. So Thrive Africa has never had t-shirts made to sell before so Dave and I came up with some designs… when I say some I mean like 30 different styles. We had a photo shoot the other day of some interns in the t-shirts that we’re selling. I just wanted you to see how incredible the photos are going to be… ok so no. These are some of the ones that won’t be used but they’re fun. Enjoy. (These are actually just a few of Peirce)

… I designed the green shirt… let me know if you would like any of them and I’ll see what I can do. They’re about $15 each.

I’ve just recently became a fan of rugby. It’s probably the sickest sport I’ve ever seen. By no means is it anything like American football. Let me show you a few shots of how intense this game is…

Nothing like anything I’ve seen. The Springboks unfortunately just lost to the New Zealand All Blacks 12 - 0. If you ever have a chance to watch it… you should.

We had a special treat for our kids at the Hope House orphanage this week.

Megan Irwin, a 2007 Twenty4Seven intern, had the kids in her heart and couldn’t not do something for them even though she is in the States. She knit 40 winter hats for the all the orphans. We go to Hope House every Friday and we got the package just in time yesterday. We read a card that she wrote to all of them and had the caretaker translate for us.

They were all over joyed and excited that they got the gifts from Megan. And all of them remembered her.

How do people (specifically Christians) walk away from truth? Revealed truth that is uncomparable to the lies that Satan gives us?

Discuss…

Today Shannon and I had our first class of LaunchPad for this term.

When I say, “Our hands are going to be full this term.” I mean our hands are going to be full.

School was let our early today so we knew that we weren’t going to have as large of a class as we will normally have so we didn’t expect that many students. Then I found out that a lot of the students live at the school because it’s a boarding school with hostels.

We had a total of 50 students and most of them were small group leaders that we have for the class. So I can only imagine that we will have at least 100 students when school is back on it’s regular schedule.

We cannot wait for our next classes. We know that we are going to be very stretched in our leadership abilities. I am not the best at being short with students when I need to be but I’m going to have to be this term. They are a bunch of great students though and I know by the end of the class God is really going to be growing them to the potential they can get to.

Be praying for us and out students; that we will be great Godly leaders for them and that the students will enjoy and apply what we’re teaching.

Thanks.

Ok. Not sure how to say it so I’ll just throw it out there for what it is.

I’m coming back to Thrive Africa after the internship as a member on staff for at least three years.

Last summer I came on a short-term mission trip with the high school ministry of a church I went to. I wasn’t really planning on coming to South Africa but because of some other circumstances it was the direction i was heading. Loving the whole experience of relationship evangelism, spending time at an orphanage, getting closer to other friends, etc., God put just a small passion in my heart for South Africa. On the way from Harrismith to Joberg God pushed it so hard on my heart to come back, to the point where I could barely breathe and sobbing uncontrolably. That is when I knew and had no doubt in my mind I was coming back, whether it would be for a year or ten years.

That small passion became reality when I was excepted to the internship at Thrive Africa. Within sometime on the internship the opportunity to talk about coming back on staff came up. They saw my ability and knowledge of computers, graphic art, other IT knowledge and they liked it. On top of that they knew I had a strong passion about South Africa, considering I was raising support to come on the internship before I even applied.

This morning at our staff meeting, with staff and interns, Rebecca announced that Katie and I were coming back next year on staff.

It is really just starting…

I can’t believe that this has actually come. If I thought back to when I decided to come to South Africa early last year, it would have never crossed my mind. I was planning on becoming a web master and I was going to get my certificate at either Oakland Community College or Oakland University. I was positive it was going to happen. And because of a break-up in a relationship I was lead to South Africa, where God rocked my life in ten days.

I’ll let you know more info as I get it…

Just wanted to let everyone know about my excitement about the weekend coming up. Thrive staff surprised us telling us that we are going to the Passion Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. August 9th we are going to be with 3,000 other people listening to Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, and FEE. Then Sunday we’re going to a mall in Joberg and go to the theater and see The Dark Night (new Batman movie) and Wall-E. I’ll update you afterwards with how everything goes along with some photos.

Sorry it’s been some time since I’ve let you guys in on a what has been going on around here…

The past two weeks have been incredible. Probably my favorite experience of the year. Myself and three of other interns have been coaches for Thrive Trip, a mission trip organized by Thrive Africa. We’ve been under the leadership of Cassie and Brandon who are an amazing couple from Washington.

I can’t even start to tell you everything that has happened. But I will do my best over the next week or so. For now here are a few photos from the trip…

I’ll get plenty more photos in the photo page up very soon when i have a bit more time.

Ok. So it’s been about 7 months on the base of Thrive Africa and today I got a new taste of the base. More of a smell than a taste.

I was given a random task today of getting some photos of Enoch, one of the Basotho staff, with the chicklets that we have. Really random but here’s a couple shots.

(click to enlarge)

Josh, our property management guy, drove me over to the pig pen as well. I didn’t get any photos but I’ll have to go back and get some. Ok wow! I never knew pigs got as large as these pigs are. Other than smelling horribly they were pretty cool. Later on telling Alece that I saw the pigs she made the joke of having a pig riding contest sometime… I was serious though.

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Tomorrow I pack and join the next mission team coming in, called Thrive Trip. The mission trippers are selected by Thrive (by application) and Cassie and Brandon, who I have yet to meet, lead Thrive Trip every year. This is going to be a different experience for me this year because I’ll be moving into the cabins that they’ll be in, basically as if I’m on the trip as well. But I’m excited to be a part of it along with a few other interns, Katie Tjarks, Shannon Wing, and Kaylen Coleson. It’ll be a great opportunity to pour into the youth that will be on the trip. Keep us, interns and trippers, in your prayers the next few weeks as we go into evangelism and team building and that God would allow us to use the power of the Holy Spirit which He has given to us.

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Tre and Lauren, who were on staff trial, here at Thrive are going to be heading home a bit early. Tonight we had a little party since they leave tomorrow and we had ice cream and brownies and we watched the one movie we’ll probably remember them by… HOT ROD! It was a great night to end they’re stay with. We loved their company and inspirations they’ve given us while they were here and we’re sure to keep in contact with them after they’re home. I’m sure early next year I’ll take a short road trip to Nashville to visit them. We had an awesome time with them in classes, watching movies, playing cards and just enjoying conversation. They had so much to bring to the table with their great leadership. They’ll be in our prayers and on our hearts as we miss them dearly.

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That’s everything basically that’s going on right now. I may or may not post in the next few weeks since I’ll be with Thrive Trip. I’ll try to jump on and update everyone. I do have a couple fun short videos I’d like to get up for you guys to see but that may have to wait.

Just wanted to let you know I new photos/videos posted on the photos page.

Also if you’re just getting this in your email check out the site and posts… maybe comment and tell me what you think… or just say hi.

Love ya’ll!