After a quiet Saturday exploring the local area and getting
used to driving the minibus, we had an early start this morning to visit our
first South African church. We went with
members of the Hands team, and their families, to the Lighthouse Church Nelspruit.
The congregation were very warm and welcoming. The first part of the service was songs,
followed by Biblical teaching. After second
set of songs, the sermon was given by Sister Anne who was born in Nelspruit and
is now a missionary in Hong Kong so we had an insight into mission both here in
Africa and in China.
The building is brand new and was completed just a few weeks
ago. Prior to this, the church met in a
tent. One of the Hands team said to us
that it is a good thing that the building is small as they are a mission church
and want to keep sending people out to spread the word and that a large
building would mean that people get too comfortable and don’t want to leave! There were clumps of building materials
around the church so there plans for more buildings at some point.
They asked to send their greetings back to our churches.
After lunch, we met up with the Westwood family and some
other members of hands for a game of Frisbee which was the under 20s versus the
over 20s. We are pleased to say that the
oldies won by a landslide.
Tomorrow Men’s Prayer starts at 7am, team meeting at 8am and
then on to our first official community.