Journal Entry: Day One
By the grace of God, I got through the first 10 hour flight from LAX to London. It was an extremely painful flight, and I didn’t get much sleep, but I made it!! We were majorly delayed in LA so we got to London three hours late, plus some delays in the airport here made us only have a VERY short time in London.
It took us about 45 minutes on the Underground to reach Westminster, our one and only destination. When we got off the tube, we walked outside and found ourselves in the middle of some giant protest against a genocide. We couldn’t get many details, but the mob of hundreds were all waving red flags with a lion on it and chanting for a cease fire.
We walked across the bridge towards the London Eye Ferris Wheel to get some food, and for the first time in YEARS I are McDonalds, and it was horrible. We really only spent about 45 minutes in the city. We just hung out next to the river, ate lunch, and took a ton of pictures. On the tube back to Heathrow was when the almost sleepless night kicked in. We all were almost passing out on the train.
The entire afternoon I had to carry around my heavy back pack everywhere. This did NOT sit well with my back. By the time we were on the way back to the airport I was about to collapse. All I could do was pray that I would make it, and of course, God didn’t disappoint.
Overall not the best day, but I tried to make the best of it. Only the Lord can be given credit for that. I am getting somewhat nervous about how I am going to make it the next two weeks without any pain killers, due to my stupid and extremely inconvenient stomach ulcer. Which by the way is so far feeling fine!
The next two weeks is going to be a huge trusting experience because I know I am meant to be on this trip. But I also know that they only way I can get through the ext two weeks is by putting ALL my trust in Christ. For through Him, anything is possible!!
I now have a 13 hour plane ride to Cape Town from London. Joy. With 9 and a half hours left as I’m writing this, I know my trusting challenge is already started!
South Africa Update
| Hey Everyone!
I forgot my phone charger so I can’t send too many updates because I need to save my battery. I have been journaling here so I will post them when I get home. South Africa is just flat out amazing! As we first started our plane decent into Cape Town, we watched the African sunrise and it was truly one of Gods most beautiful creations. When I look around the academy we are staying at, I realize how truly blessed we are to be here. We are staying on this vineyard surrounded by giant hills. It is so beautiful here, many times I forget we are on an African missions trip. The past week has been the ASP camp with about 80 kids ranging from grades three to six. A am in charge of a cabin with six small third graders. They are the coolest little boys. I also have two facilitators/translators who know the kids and work with them in their home Philippe. The last few days we have just been playing with these kids and loving on them. Their English abilities varies per kid, but I have learned some basic Xhosa is between the two, and the translators, communication isn’t too difficult. Their language, Xhosa, is SO cool. it is a click language with all these different types of clicks. It is so fun, but so hard to speak. My kids have given me a Xhosa name, gamalenkosi, meaning “in the name of Jesus” In the past week, my relationship with Christ has grown so much, and hopefully will continue to grow in the next week. Camp ends tomorrow (Sunday), and next week we will be working with the academy kids. We will also be going into town a few times, climbing a mountain, and SHARK DIVING!! And so much more fun stuff. Love David |
Team website
Make sure to check the South Africa Team blog too for updates from our leaders during the trip!
Hours Away!!
South Africa is just HOURS away! I am so excited for this trip. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! In a very short time I will be boarding a plane to London, and another to South AFRICA!!!
I will try to update this site as often as possible so make sure to check it daily. I will tell you all about the kids at the orphanage, the ASP kids and our travels. I’m even going SHARK DIVING!! (My mom’s not too happy about that) As promised I will update you as soon as I return from the shark diving to let you know I survived!
Thanks again for your support!
David
Schedule
South Africa Schedule :: April 5 – April 20
Sunday—April 5
11:00am Meet at Community Center [be on time!]
3:40pm Fly from Los Angeles to London Heathrow [Flight BA 278]
Monday—April 6
9:50am Land at London Heathrow
9:50am-5pm Spend some time in London
7:25pm Fly from London Heathrow to Cape Town [Flight BA 59]
Tuesday—April 7
8:00am Land in Cape Town!!
BHSA staff [Jenni, Brittany, & Chase] pick us up from the Airport
10:00am Arrive at the Academy
Settle in
Light Breakfast
11:30am Orientation Session #1
12:45pm Lunch
1:30-2:30pm Orientation Session #2
Prep for camp and Academy
6:00pm Welcome Braai: Cultural Evening with kids and staff
Wednesday—April 8 [High school Team hosts camp Wed-Sun]
10:00am ASP Camp Kids arrive *See Camp Schedule
Thursday—April 9
Whole Day On Camp Schedule
Friday—April 10
Whole Day On Camp Schedule
Saturday—April 11
Whole Day On Camp Schedule
Sunday—April 12 [Easter]
9am-12pm Team hosts Easter Service with ASP campers and facilitators
Chad speaking, skit, Babalwa leading worship
1:00pm Campers and facilitators depart for Philippi
1:00-2:00 Clean up from camp/Regroup
2:00pm High school team joins College team.
Head to Cape Town to go up Table Mountain/Lion’s Head
6:00pm Both teams have dinner in Cape Town
Monday—April 13
6:00am High school team joins Academy schedule
Morning Down Time to Regroup before students come
1:00pm Academy Students return to the farm
Building relationships, running games, activities, crafts, different classes (swimming, sports, dance, drama, art, public speaking, music)
6:00pm Dinner @ Academy
Tuesday—April 14
8:00am High school team on Academy schedule
Whole day Building relationships, running games, activities, crafts, different classes (swimming, sports, dance, drama, art, public speaking, music)
6:00pm Dinner @ Academy
Wednesday—April 15
8:00am High school team on Academy schedule
Whole day Building relationships, running games, activities, crafts, different classes (swimming, sports, dance, drama, art, public speaking, music)
6:00pm Both teams have dinner at Academy
Thursday—April 16
8:00am High school team departs for Aquila Safari/Shark-diving
Shark Diving: Jordan, Laban, David, Brad, Jillian, Heather
Safari: Whitney, Erica, Chad, Gemma, Jenna, Kate, Jayme, Mandy, Wendy, Stephanie
At Academy: Kelly, Kathleen
6:00pm Dinner at Academy
Friday—April 17
9:00am Half run the program at the Academy (Erica, Whitney, Kelly, Kathleen, Gemma, Wendy, Stephanie)
Half of the team will go to Robben Island with ASP facilitators (Chad, Jordan, Brad, Laban, David, Jenna, Jillian, Jayme, Kate, Mandy, Heather,
6:00pm Everyone will have dinner at the Academy
Saturday—April 18
8:30-4:00pm Lead weekend program at Academy
5:00pm College students leave for the Airport (Chelsea, Mary Beth, Chris, Shaun, Francie, Tim)
Sunday—April 19
Schedule to be determined during the day
Academy kids will be on a field trip—Day of Debriefing/Worshiping/Reflecting
5:00pm High school team and Ronnie depart for the Airport (Nineteen people)
8:15pm Fly from Cape Town to London Heathrow [Flight BA 58]
Monday—April 20
6:50am Land in London
9:55am Fly from London Heathrow to LAX [Flight BA 279]
12:55pm Land in Los Angeles
Collect bags, carpool back to RHCC Main Campus
2:15-2:30pm Estimated time of arrival at church
One week!
I can’t believe I leave for South Africa in less than a week! Thank you everyone for all your prayers and generous support. We leave this Sunday and I couldn’t be more excited! We will be leaving LAX at 3:40 Sunday, arriving in London at 9:50 am (local time), then leave for Cape Town at 7:25 pm (local time) and arrive at 8:00 am Tuesday (local time)! Two straight days for traveling! But it is defiantly going to be worth it!
I will have my phone and I can email updates to this website so make sure you check every few days for new updates about the trip! We also have a team blog at http://rhccsa2009.blogspot.com/, they will also be updating their site throughout and after the trip.
Thanks again everyone for all the support!
David Dry
Support
I interviewed and was selected to join a team of high school and college kids from Rolling Hills Covenant Church being sent on a missions trip to South Africa! Doesn’t that sound great!
From April 4th to April 19th the team will be traveling to Franschhloek which is about an hour outside of Cape Town. We’ll be working at Bridges of Hope Academy, a boarding school for children that have been orphaned by AIDS. We’ll be teaching the children academic lessons, having Math competitions, holding Bible studies, building relationships and playing games.
I’m excited about going because of the opportunity to bring something good into the lives of these orphans, and also because I’ve heard stories from people who have done this before about how they themselves have been profoundly changed by the experience. Their view and attitudes about people in other parts of the world have been different since they met and got to know individuals living outside the US. That’s why I’m excited and what I’m really looking forward to.
As with any trips of this kind we need to raise support for our financial, spiritual and emotional needs. If you can help in any or all three of these I would be greatly appreciate it.
Financially it will cost $3,300 for me to go to Africa which includes airfare, meals, lodging and supplies. If you’d like to contribute financially use the enclosed envelope to send a check payable to Rolling Hills Covenant Church. RHCC will issue a receipt to use as a tax deduction. $50 or more would be huge J but even $25 or less will be wonderful.
Spiritually, if you could pray for me now and during the time I’ll be in Africa it will mean a lot. Pray for my safety, that my constant level of pain will be tolerable, for strength to keep me going and that I’ll have a real impact with these kids.
Emotionally you could show support by dropping me a note telling me I’m in your thoughts. I’ll be checking email periodically while I’m gone so use ddry91@yahoo.com. If you send me an email before you go, I will create a group list and send you an update(s) while I’m gone.
Thanks for taking the time to read this letter. I certainly hope you can see how excited I am to be part of the team going on this trip, and I hope you’ll be able to help me any way you can.
Sincerely,
David Dry
South Africa 2009 Team Covenant
We commit to first and foremost focus on God and His will for our team and trip to South Africa, from start to finish. We will support each other as a unified body, through prayer and accountability. We will be uplifting and encouraging, refraining from gossip or intentionally hurtful comments or actions. We will treat everyone on the team with equal respect and love and will hold each other to the standards we have set together.
While we are traveling and in South Africa, we hope to show God’s love to everyone we encounter and connect them to Him. We will keep humble hearts in order to better serve God, the people of South Africa, and each other. Our hope is that we can rid ourselves of any selfish ambition in order that we will be lead by the Lord and we will follow His will for this trip. In everything we do. we will seek to further His glory and worship Him with our actions, words and thoughts.
We will work together to commit to praying for each other and the people we encounter before, during and after the trip. We will hold each other accountable to this covenant in love.
The South Africa Team
