Our final update as Central One Team 2007!
 
We had a lot of fun this week while we were in the Bahamas with Central Two, Kristin Caddy and Chris Shay! It was great to be able to work with them and serve the Lord together. We held a VBS with the Bahamian children. The weather was very hot and all the kids loved playing with the water balloons in recreation. The kids also loved going to the beach!  We had many kids accept Christ once again; which is always a blessing to be able to witness! We praise God for being able to go to a remote island and see the peacefulness that it has. We learned a lot about love in the Bahamas and how easy it is to show if we try harder.
 
When we got home from the Bahamas, we went straight to Minnesota to Northwoods Camp. We were helping out  with the Service Extension Camp. The kids there were very open to what the Lord and the staff had to say. Many of the kids we ministered to were from tough homes and it’s really hard for them. We got to share devotions with the camp every night at “Call to the Cross”, and joined them in their peer groups. It was very eye opening for us to see kids in such need of prayer and love.
 
Wednesday we left at 7 am from Minnesota and got back to THQ around 4:00pm. It was a long day of travel and we are going to rest this evening and get ready to serve at CBLI with the rest of our fellow SMTers and other brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
We thank the Lord for this opportunity this summer to experience His work being done through us. We could not have asked for a better way to serve Him. We learned about the power of prayer, and how to love. Thank you for supporting us in many ways, but most of all in prayer. May God bless you!
 
Hope to see you all sometime soon!
Love,
Alex, Carolyn, Ashlee, Crouton (Amy E.), Amy K., and Breann
Central One Team 2007

Hello for the last time from Spain!
   We begin our trip home tomorrow morning and will travel over 24 hours but arrive on the same day.  We finished our VBS and youth bible camp today.  We were asked to throw a fiesta for the kids so after the final bible lessons on the armor of God we divided the group into 4 armies, gave them war markings on their faces, and proceeded to have the greatest Spanish water fight in Spain´s history.  Had we been here a couple hundred years ago, the Spanish Armada way have won the Spanish American war, but alas we were not.
  The past couple of evenings we have gone into the streets and beach fronts to get into conversations with locals and tourists about the Gospel and The Salvation Army.  It was challenging to get out of our comforts zones and approach people with the Gospel but we did not have a spirit of timidity. 
  We have enjoyed our time in Spain and could not stop laughing last night over dinner as we recalled how the Lord has blessed us beyond belief.  We cannot wait to tell you all about the Lord´s work here in Spain and in our lives.  Please do not hesitate to ask specific questions about Spain or ones that require long answers.  To our friends and family, teammates at home and abroad, and home corps, we have been praying for you and are excited to hear all God has done this summer where ever you have been.
  We will hopefully see you at 6:35pm Central Standard Time, at O´Hare Airport.

A Dios y adios,
Nate and Team Spain

Wow, time has flown by here in Argentina.  We are now in our last day here.  These past two weeks have been packed.  Elyse celebrated her 21st birthday last week, including a great party with the Home League ladies.  That same night we hopped on a bus for a quick trip to Puerto Iguazu, a great example of God’s beautiful creation.  While there we even got to see a toucan (after searching it for the entire two days)!  Upon our return we had the normal corps activities, including Youth Group, Sunday School, and the Holiness Service.
 
This past week was a bit different.  We had the privilege of leading the first Vacation Bible School at the outpost in Antequera, which included crafts, Bible, and recreation classes.  There was a solid group of children who attended each day and we were able to enjoy great fellowship with the children as well as with the leaders.  VBS was wrapped up with a program for all of the family members of the kids, in which the children presented the songs and memory verses from every day of the week.  After their performance, they received their “diplomas” and gifts.  All in all, the first VBS was a great success .
 
The weekend was our typical schedule, but with some sad undertones because we were having our “lasts.”  We had our last youth group, Sunday School, farewell Holiness Service, even our last “asado”.  This summer has been an amazing blessing to us, and we cannot wait to share all of the stories with you.

We left Spain a week ago and arrived in the Canary Islands. Our first stop was in Santa Cruz, Tenerife Island and we are now in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Island. Our last week posed new challenges for our team as we were working with officers who could not speak English and had never lived in North America. It seems strange, but everywhere we have been we have been working with groups of officers in which at least one could speak English and was familiar with North American culture. The team prayed and quickly learned new patience and understanding for crosscultural ministry beyond what we had been learning. We also faced new challenges in our VBS ministry. The Salvation is not well liked on this Island as a newspaper report a few years back had claimed the SA was a cult that used children. The officers have been slowly rebuilding trust in the community and were excited to learn how to begin children´s ministries. For a few days we would go the nearby parks and just begin playing games hoping to draw a crowd. At first we had little success but the Lord answered our prayers! The second time going to the parks we prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide us in approaching children in our ministry and when we opened our eyes there were two boys we had met at the corps a few days earlier. We began playing with them and other children joined in just in time for those two boys to leave. Gabriel then took the opportunity given by a weird bug on his shirt to talk about creation with two boys. One boy surprisingly had many questions concerning the Gospel and the afterlife because his friend died recently. In the end the boy said he had accepted Jesus in his heart! We continued to see God work in great ways in this ministry over the next few days.
We learned a lot about the power of prayer from our officers here. After planning an outline for a meeting, the captain shared with us the vision for the church and how they seek the power of the Holy Spirit in everything they do because often men have good ideas and intentions, but without the Holy Spirit´s guidance it is futile. We were at first slightly offended but realized we did not really pray about our plans. We went back to the corps where we lived and spent a while praying individually for guidance concerning the meeting. When we came back together we shared what we had prayed and what we thought the Holy Spirit might be sharing. Ryan had received a vision concerning his apathy and unwillingness to help specific people in his past because of feelings of inadequacy. In the vision he felt chained to a wall but he heard Jesus saying, ´´Look, you are free, the chains are gone´´. When he looked the chains were not actually around his wrists but he was holding onto them. While praying, Nate felt like he needed to listen to what Ryan had to say because Ryan tripped, as is his character, and Nate thought, it´s not through the important, rich and eloquent things of the world that God often speaks. As a result, Ryan preached on Sunday and we learned an important lesson about the power of prayer.
After a week of VBS, bible study, and fellowship with the officers and congregants, we left Tenerife for Las Palmas, where we now are. Today we lead a VBS for young children and used the CBLI Teen Track Material to begin a 4 day long youth bible study. We are looking forward to new lessons and challenges before we come home. Continue to pray for our focus and endurance as we begin new relationships in a new place. The congregation here is unique and made up of believers from all over the world with only two actually from this Island.
We will try and write one more time before we take off.
Blessings and Prayers to our friends and family, and the Central Territory,

Nate and Team Spain.

Hello again,

We have come back once again to DHQ in Vryheid from
another half week of ministry out in the Khambi
circuit. This was another great stop on our travels
although it was very short. On Monday night, we
arrived at the corps which is in a rural mountainous
area. Rising up from behind the officers quarters,
there was a tall mountain. As it was still daylight
with plenty of time before dinner, the guys just had
to go up there. Alberto, Grant, Bongani and myself
started climbing and saw some incredible views of
mountains and fields. When we came back down, Grant
wanted to walk to the only store in the area to get
some batteries so the four of us went through the town
(it would be more accurate to think of it like a
series of camp sites with one dirt road and lots of
sandy trails through woods). When we got to the store,
we greeted all the people inside in Zulu and told them
we were from the Salvation Army. After Grant got what
he needed, the gogo (grandma) behind the counter asked
us to pray for her diabetes and sing so we did. There
were some men who asked us to buy them alcohol and we
had to tell them that we wouldn’t support that and we
could pray for them. It is really cool to me that
Christians don’t just have errands to do. Anything as
mundane as buying batteries is a ministry and has a
purpose.
     Tuesday was a packed day. We got up and after
breakfast, we went around to many of the houses in the
area and shared bible verses, choruses and prayers
with all the people. Some were soldiers and some were
not, but it was a really great time and they were all
very welcoming. We did that straight until lunch and
then prepared for a Kidz Club meeting. This was a
massive Kidz Club with 108 kids all under 13. We
played ‘what time is it Mr. Fox?’ and then sang with
them. Then we had them act out the story of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. With so
many kids, we were worried about having enough
supplies to have them all make paper plate
tamborines, but like fish and bread, the plates
lasted and every kid got one. Then we went straight
into a prayer meeting for adults. After that we ran a
youth meeting for a very excited youth group. We
played the ever popular ‘zip-zip-boing’ game and Katy
led the dramatic presentation of king Jehosaphat’s
victory over Moad and Ammon from 2 Chronicles 20.
  It was a very busy day, but everything went really
well and we all enjoyed it.
   On wednesday, we walked to the outpost at Velaphi.
This wasn’t just a short walk, but at least a 45
minute hike through woods and mountains. There were
some spectacular scenes along the way. After walking
down the mountain, we came to a wide open valley of
tall yellow grass where we walked some more until we
arrived at a cluster of huts where women in red home
league uniforms welcomed us in their homes. We shared
scripture and sang together. Then the Captain Ziqubu
led us to the site where the soldiers are building
their own corps building. They are making their own
bricks and doing the construction themselves. We stood
inside the structure and prayed for its completion.
Then we all had tea and biscuits at the corps
treasurer’s house. On the way back, the guys saw
another mountain that we had to get to the top of. We
asked Captain if that would be alright for us to split
up so the girls went the way we came and the guys did
some pretty steep mountain climbing. Eventually, we
found our way back down the other side of the mountain
back to the corps. It was exhausting but very worth
all the work. We were able to relax for a while and
enjoy the Captains and their two year old’s company.
This was a really great stop and we wish it could have
been longer. Tomorrow we head to our last location of
the summer (winter), Ezakheni. We were able to meet
the officers there at Y-connexion and are looking
forward to seeing them again. Thanks for all your
prayers,

USA Central South Africa Mission Team

Sonibonani,

    It has been a while since the last entry as the
internet (or electricity) has been unavailable for the
last week and a half. On leaving Johannesburg, our
next stop was Ombimbini. This was a very rural place
up in the mountains without running water or
electricity. It was good to bring along our friend
Captain Fuphe from our first weekend here in Vryheid
to stay with us and help out as we prepared for the
Y-Connexion (youth councils) which was to be held at a
school nearby. We also got to reunite with another
familiar officer, Captain Mabada. In addition to being
in charge of two corps in Ombimbini, Captain Mabada is
also the DYS for Northern Kwazulu-Natal. This stop was
different because we got to do some physical tangible
work in that we were repainting the officers quarters.
The walls were in terrible shape with paint peeling
and cracks that needed caulking. We spent all day
Wednesday and most of Thursday working hard on that.
It really looked great when we were done (the walls
were eggshell). We spent a lot of time in prayer for
Y-connexion and planned how the weekend would happen.
There was concern about attendance as the teacher’s
strike resulted in disrupted class schedules and now
many school are in session on weekends to make up for
lost time. As He has been all along, God was very good
that weekend. There were somewhere around 400 young
people there. The meetings went really well and there
was a very powerful spirit about the whole weekend. On
Saturday afternoon, we participated in an incredible
tradition called ‘Isaya tafula’ (hit the table) where
all the people in attendance brought money to the
table and slammed it down while shouting praise
choruses and dancing. Everyone gave something. It was
really wonderful to see how giving can be joyful. They
raised R3050 (about $450) for the youth department.
Sunday morning was an incredible meeting. As usual,
there was a lot of enthusiasm in choruses and dancing.
The divisional band made up of young people from
Madadeni, Nongoma and Newcastle played. Katy gave her
testimony and Alberto gave a really great message
about Josiah and removing idols from our lives. We had
prepared rocks that were to remind the youth of their
commitments to give up idols and many of them took
them home. It was a very full weekend, but we all felt
that God had done some really great things during it.
Sunday afternoon, there was just a sea of familiar
faces that we had met during our time in this division
and I couldn’t believe how many people I was saying
goodbye to. There were so many smiles and hugs. It all
made me wonder what heaven will be like when you greet
every Christian you ever met and how great a day that
will be. I will sign off for now and pick up at our
next location. Sala Kahle,

USA Central South Africa Mission Team

We did not receive this update the first time it was sent.  Here is the third update from the South Africa Team.

Hello again from Vryheid,

We have returned back to DHQ after a circular route
around the eastern part of the division. I will start
with our first stop after Mountain View Hospital, the
town of Nongoma. Although Nongoma is a rural town,
there is a bustling market area that is packed with
cars. There are only two gas stations and there are
almost constant lines at both of them. At times you
forget that you are still out in the country until a
group of cows amble in front of you on the sidewalk.
   The corps here is a beautiful building that covered
in light brown bricks with stained glass windows. It
is very different from the other corps we have seen so
far. The Captains told us that the entire building was
donated by a local benefactor.
   On Saturday, the team went out to the Thokazi
Corps to run a Kidz Club and a Home League meeting.
The corps is very secluded and is miles away from
paved road and surrounded by fields of grasses with
the low growing type of trees one thinks of when
thinking of Africa. The home league ladies were so
glad to see us. The Zulu culture places a very strong
value on hospitality and we have been treated so
warmly by everyone we meet.
  After the meetings, we drove the long way back to
Nongoma where we held another Kidz Club meeting. Some
of us sat in on Youth Band and Chorus rehearsals; both
which are lead by a 17 year old who does a fine job.
  Sunday morning, we gathered for worship at the
corps. The team participated in the service by playing
in the band, performing a drama, providing special
music, prayer, scripture reading (done partially in
Zulu), and Grant delivered the message. After church,
we were invited to come to an Anglican Tent Meeting in
town. We got there at 5:30 where a packed tent was
already moving with praises. The excitement kept going
with greetings, testimonies, songs and dancing until
we were called up to the platform to introduce
ourselves. By 8:30, the sermon started. It was after 9
when our group had to leave and the meeting was still
going with just as much shouting and singing as the
beginning.
   On Monday morning we went on another outing to the
Hlabisa corps which is about 12 feet wide by 25 feet
long and made of planks lashed together with a
corrugated metal roof. We led a kids meeting there and
then headed back to the Nongoma corps for a farewell
braai (BBQ).
   We spent the last few days in Ulundi which is
probably the largest town we have been in yet. This
weeks ministries were quite different than our
previous stops in that we were very involved with the
local government. We met at different police stations
for devotions in the morning and were guided through
government offices to pray and sing with the city
officials. It has been very encouraging to see a
strong Christian influence in the leadership of this
municipality and we have learned a lot here.
   We are spending the night in Vryheid and preparing
for the next part of our ministry in Madadeni. It has
been a great night here with the Majors Harms as we
celebrated Dana’s birthday and were all able to laugh
and enjoy one another. I will write as soon as I am
able. Thank you all for your prayers because the
results have been visible in this last week.

Sala Kahle,

Doug, Dana, Grant, Katy, Bongani, Sarah, Mona,
Thandeka, and Alberto

It was a joy for me (Chris) to join SA last week–thought some of you might enjoy seeing your team members chilly but doing well!

Hey everyone!

     It was another week of VBS, but every time we run a VBS this summer it is always a new  experience. This week we were in Manistee, Michigan. We did the service on Sunday morning at the corps and helped out with a nursing home visit and meeting there as well.  Captain Jo Langham told us when we got there that we would be holding a VBS on a beach off of Lake Michigan. We were very excited! We had no idea how many kids were going to come or if we were going to invite kids off the beach. We started VBS on Monday. We got to the beach at ten in the morning, and didn’t finish  until two in the afternoon. We had three kids the first day, and again by the end of the week we had eleven as our highest attendance. God has always showed His hand in bringing us kids to spread His Word to. Our team really praises the Lord for that! 
    Throughout the week, we really learned to love the beach. We took the kids to the park everyday and they looked forward to that part of VBS each day. They did really well on their Bible verses too. Today was our last day of VBS and we had a lot of fun! A local face painting lady called the corps and asked Captain Jo if she could face paint for free!  So, of course Captain Jo said yes. The kids loved it and couldn’t have asked for more. At the end of the day, we did an altar call and each child accepted Christ as Savior. Two of the oldest girls, cried really hard. For our team, it was awesome to see the Spirit work like that. We were really moved by how willingly these children wanted to accept and love the Lord we serve.
     Our team also got to attend a Manistee town meeting at the Kawanis Club with Captain Jo. It was a cool experience being able to share what we are doing this summer to people who are not necessarily Christians. They were really receptive to what we had to share and hopefully we showed them a little about what The Salvation Army is around the world, not just Manistee, Michigan.

     We leave tomorrow to go back to Chicago and fly off to the Bahamas! We are extremely excited! Please pray that we arrive safely and that we will have all of our luggage! Thank you for your continued support and love, it is greatly appreciated.

“I have much to write to you…. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” 2 John 12

Central One,
Alex, Carolyn, Amy K., Amy E. (Crouton), Ashlee and Breann

It looks like we have been able to catch up on our updates.  Two in one week!

Here’s what we’ve been up to:

On Monday, we rode the tap-tap to Guirand again, this time for music lessons.
Major Emmi had planned for Sarah to teach guitar to two girls and Briana to
teach piano and timbrels simultaneously.  Fortunately, Savary, our
translator, is very musically talented and was able to take the piano classes,
especially because Briana hasn’t played the piano in a very long time!  Sarah’s
class ended up containing six boys and one girl.  They all did very well, and
the ones who knew more on the guitar were able to help the newest players.  All
of the people in the piano class learned how to read notes in one day.  The
timbrels picked up a timbrel drill very well and will have it down in no time!
And to think that all of this happened before lunch!  We ate in Guirand and
then returned to Fond-des-Negres, where we helped with several odd jobs around
the clinic, including those never-ending photo IDs.

Tuesday consisted of two parts:  Sarah and Savary returned to Guirand for more
music lessons, which were again extremely successful.  This time, Sarah worked
with the guitarists for an hour and a half, and then turned her attention to
the piano players for the other portion of the day.

Briana went on a mobile clinic up to L’Azile, a small town way up in the
mountains.  The drive was ridiculous, with extremely bumpy roads and portions
where they had to cross rivers to get there.  It was quite the Haitian
experience.  The Army up there works well with the clinic, setting up private
consultation rooms and then a general pharmacy that sells any medications the
people may need.  It was a very interesting experience to share with the
people.  (She was very fortunate, too, because the social doctor who went on
the run with the group spoke great English, so communication was never an
issue!)

Wednesday was a very interesting day for Sarah.  She was scheduled to go on an
immunization run with the nurses from Bethel Clinic, but they never made it to
the ambulance.  Instead, she went on a mobile AIDS testing unit.  They were
able to test 74 people within a matter of four hours, during which time only
one person tested positive.

Briana stayed at the clinic to get the IDs ready to print.  It took a lot of
time, but they’re now ready to become actual IDs, with the vast majority of
them complete (only a few photos are missing and Sarah is taking them today).

Today has been another day at the clinic, making final preparations for those
badges, taking the last pictures, and printing them off so that they will be
ready to laminate tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be filled with Junior Soldiers at Fond-des-Negres corps, where
Sarah will be telling them a Bible story.  After that is timbrels with about
fifteen girls from the corps, which will be led by Briana.  Once the morning is
concluded there, the afternoon will be filled with laminating the over 115 ID
badges individually!  We have our day pretty well filled tomorrow!

God is working and is doing amazing things in Haiti!  We’re so excited to see
how strong His presence is now, and how much He’s working on us to mold and
change us in this time!

Thanks for your love and prayers, as they’re greatly appreciated and needed!

God bless!
The Haiti Interns
Sarah and Briana