Coming to a Close

Well we have one week left in the great nation of South Africa. Our experience has been so incredible. We have been stretched, taught, and molded in ways we never imagined. We have laid bricks, wheelbarreled (dont know how to spell that) cement, dug trenches for water lines, taught soccer clinics, given out boots, eaten goat stomach, and attended a zulu wedding and sadly a funeral as well.

This place has challenged us more than ever to forsake "The American Dream". We have given that up. Who wants to work really hard for 30 years at a desk, make a lot of money and retire in Florida anyways?? that is a rubbish life if you ask me. We have eaten crusts on one day and "caviar" (not really but its a quote from a book) the next day. We know that God will satisfy all our needs on this earth. Our passion for the nations has never been greater. We know we cannot fulfill the Great Commission on our own, but as a body of believers we can surely take part. This journey has been incredible as we have interacted with so many cultures. The other day we had seven nations represented on the football pitch (USA, England, South Korea, Nigeria, Brazil, Australia, and South Africa). Football just unites the world like nothing else I have found on this Earth. It is such a tremendous way to begin a relationship with a complete stranger. What better way to share the Gospel then through the beautiful game?

Our hearts have been broken by the things we have seen today. We attended the funeral of a nine year old boy. He was the sweetest kid at this particular school where we have been working and building bathrooms. He was the first person to learn my name at the school and he smiled so big each day we came. He would run down the street and wave goodbye as we drove off. He had a tragic accident involving electrical wires and he breathed his last on the 5th of July. Today just brought me to tears. Life is so short. We can only make the most of every day that is given to us. Thankfully, he had heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and the hope that the cross brings to the Lost. As a result, there was much singing and rejoicing at the Wedding.

Russell and Precious' house is almost completely finished with interior walls and roof intact. We are praying that it is completely finished by the time we fly back to America. Thank you all for your support during this journey. We only have one week left. We are going to live it up and take every moment captive. Fight the good fight.

One World Watching,
T & B

7/6/88

Cheers everyone! Today was a fabulous birthday...we worked a football camp from 10am-4pm and then we went to the orphanage until the sunset across the valley. BBC filmed the entire day and are showing a clip of Lionsraw and all the projects during halftime of the Germany v Spain game on 7/7/10. Unfortunately for you guys, you probably don't have BBC so you wont get to see it live, but as soon as it gets posted to facebook i will let you know. Our days are numbered here now. 10 left. it seems like the past 40 days have just flown past. in a way i knew they would but still when you look back on it i can remember getting off the plane like it was yesterday. On the other hand i feel like i have been here for a year. I can hold a decent conversation in Zulu, have taught about 300 different young footballers, and can turn on an English accent like i was born and raised there...ok maybe the last one was a bit of an exaggeration.

anyways...keep us in your prayers the last ten days. we appreciate everything you have done for us and we cannot wait to relay the message of what God has done in Durban as well as all of South Africa.

One World Watching,
Thaddaeus

Catching Up

Hi all! sorry for such a delay. we have been away from the internet for the past two weeks because when we changed locations it was unavailable. the past fourteen days has been absolutely incredible. brian and i joined a team of about 8 other english lads and we ran a soccer clinic all the way at the base of the valley. this is by far the most destitute of the areas i have been. we ended up having about 100 kids coming everyday from 10am-4pm. we had the privilege of playing and coaching them but more importantly getting to know their lives and their own stories. Nearly every kid we spoke to has lost someone within the past year. Most of them have lost both their parents and an older sibling. I would find myself just choking back tears when i heard each of their stories, but to see their strength in how they handle the situation is incredible. these kids know that the only way they can stay alive is by getting a good education. it explains why they work so hard at everything they put their mind to. it is their only opportunity to survive. after we spent six days with them they began to take us to their homes to show us what they were like.

one of the women who was working with us took brian and a few others to a home made of clay and mud. it was about 15ft by 15ft for 8 people. the parents had just died and the 21 year old boy was taking care of all of his younger siblings. it is so devastating. i just cant explain it with words.

we have had a blast as we begin the third part of our journey here together. (first part was preparation, second part was whole lionsraw group, third part is finishing touches on the building projects) Russell and Precious currently have a house built with a roof and the interior walls are going up today, three other buildings have been built for orphanages in the area, 6 futbol projects brought in about 800 kids to hear the Gospel message, and every life involved has surely been changed.

we love and miss everyone of you but our heart are here for these kids and this nation.
we have three weeks left to pour out everything we have to them and then we will be back in the states.
please continue to pray for us as exhaustion kicks in.

One World Watching,
T & B