Great to be doing what you love to do!!!

The past month was so full of great stuff. Here are some photos to show you some snapshots of what has been going on....

I had the opportunity to teach 3 sessions on Worship, and it was so much fun! I haven't taught in many years, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to doing it again this year.

I got to help lead worship several times during training. During worship  Emi would stand in the back and point and yell, "Mamma!" I think I was distracting people from worshipping God more than I was helping lead them into worship!

Marius & I hosted an "International Night" for the 5 International students from America, Brazil, Botswana, New Zealand, and Australia. We had a nice meal together, and each girl had a flower and chocolate.  It was great to get to know these girls from all over the world. Hospitality is so at the core of who we are and what we love to do. It was such a blessing to get to sit around the table with many nations represented and all share the same heart, and the same love for Jesus.

I got to actually use my new place-mats and napkins for a very nice international braai. Marius bought them for me at Christmas in Georgia, and it was the perfect night for them to come out of the cupboard.

Four of the "international" students who weren't from South Africa. They are all on the same team this year called "Southbound" because most of the direction they take around the globe this year will be in the southern hemisphere. In June, Marius will meet up with them in Bosnia/Croatia to help with their debrief of the first half of their year serving all over the globe. They'll be helping long-term missionaries and pastors with building, taking care of orphans, painting, evangelism, and many surprises along the way!

Marius got to teach several times during training. This picture was at a Festival with 3 Christian organizations joining together  for a week of teaching, worship, and fellowship. He did such a great job!

He says part of him just comes alive when he teaches! 

This is our full-time Global Challenge staff. Marius and I seriously feel privileged to work with these quality people. They are just amazing, and we're learning alot from them. We were at a staff retreat at a beautiful private nature reserve.

This is the cabin where we stayed. It is called Barakke, which means "barracks". This house belonged to a former South African President, and this was the barracks of his secret service men. 

Someone let us stay in their two homes for free at a very exclusive private nature reserve. It was absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. We got together and prayed for the weekend, for God to continue to lead us and guide our organization.

Beautiful ocean views.

We had a great guest speaker from Scotland, and I got to spend some time with his lovely wife, Yvonne. We really enjoyed hanging out and laughing together. 

This is me with Elaine from Brazil.

Marius and Emi with Helen from New Zealand and Erin from Australia.

Can you believe it? This is Erin's belongings for the whole year! Each Global Challenge participant was allowed one backpack and a small daypack, which had to include their tent and sleeping bag. I was seriously impressed.

Emi was saying goodbye to Linel and Heather before they left.

The students were just about to embark on their year long journeys around the world.

These are 3 of the young girls I've been tutoring at the  Ithemba Community Center.

I just love these girls. 2 of them are from Zimbabwe and they are very smart young ladies. We have lots of fun doing homework and learning about life and about God together.

Well, these are a few snapshots of the past few weeks. Please know how deeply we appreciate you keeping up with us and being a part of all that we're doing here in South Africa. We are making a difference in these lives together! Thank you and bless you. I will leave you with one last photo of our sweet Emi girl, who is also thoroughly enjoying her little missionary life here in South Africa!




love,
Marius, Jodi and Emi

Awesome Photos from the Transkei.........

There is so much more to say about our outreach to the Transkei,  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'm just sending you pics with the descriptions in the captions. Hope you enjoy!

Emi's 1st missionary journey.

This is me at South Africa's "Hole in the Wall"

Traditional Xhosa huts. Can you imagine waking up to this view?

The brave Global Challengers testing their gear in Coffee Bay for the year ahead.

One of our teams built a jungle gym for the orphan's school in Coffee Bay

Someone donated paint, so they were able to paint Scriptures all over the structure.

Willem digging the first of two holes for the outhouses the team built for the chief's homestead.

This area is called the Wild Coast. So, so beautiful!

One of the Global Challenge teams building a stone house. They worked so hard - leveling the land, gathering the rocks from the area around, and building the house.  This team also built a greenhouse to start seedlings for the community.

Morning in Coffee Bay

Evening in Coffee Bay.

The  42 Global Challenge participants hiked 4 hours to the "Hole in the Wall"

Emi with her friend "Tonto"

You had to wade through a river to get to the beach and then fight the cows for a place to sit.

The teams had a challenge to get from Coffee Bay back to Jeffrey's Bay (an 8 hour drive) on their own with only $14 each. They had some amazing stories of how God provided rides for them on their way back.

I was able to visit an amazing place called Khaya Lethu, where they take care of several AIDS orphans. There is  a nice place to sleep, a little pre-school, and a library. There are 8 children living there now. Such a precious place.

One of the sweet little kiddos at Khaya Lethu

Christine and her husband Gerrie run Khaya Lethu and this is one of the little ones they are taking care of.

Some of the wonderful Global Challenge participants.

Marius training the GC participants on cultural sensitivity and having a servant's heart. He did a great job!

Some of the school children in Coffee Bay watching our progress on the playground we were building.

One of the teams also was able to repair and waterproof the leaking roof of the orphan school.

This is Heather from Dothan, Alabama. She is the only American of the 42 Global Challenge participants this year. Of course she and I had lots of good "southern" times together.

Marius helped the teams to build a fence around the orphan school playground.

Emi and mommy by the sea

This is Bongi, the chief's daughter, who became a Christian and was baptized. She is still reading her Xhosa Bible the team gave her. Please keep Bongi in your prayers.

She has such an amazing smile!

 Hope you enjoy the photos. We will blog more about what has been happening in the past 2 weeks. Thanks for being a part of our journey with us. For your prayers, for your support, and for just keeping in touch. We love it that God brought us here for "such a time as this" and are sure we are exactly where He wants us to be!

lots of love,

The Deetlefs Family (Marius, Jodi, and Emi)