Soshanguve Thursday July 26

We wrapped up the Smart Choices programs at two schools on Wednesday the two teams taught a total of 117 students. The programs went well and the student responded to the program in a very positive way as normal. 106 of the students made commitments to abstinence, 60 were already Christians and 28 made new commitments to Christianity.  The schools were very cooperative and appreciative of the program.  

Group picture of the both teams

We showed the second Louis Giglio video on Wednesday night.  There were a few people in the audience who were just totally destroyed and couldn't stop sobbing for several minutes after the video was over and a saw a lot of discreet wiping of tears.  It is extremely impactful to realize the vastness of creation and our relative insignificance in the grand scheme of creation.

The AIDS testing and counselling event was conducted at Ebenezer Church today.  About 156 people came to be tested which was a great turnout. We had a reporter from the Daily Sun national news paper come and interview Zodwa, myself and the two ladies that were organizing the Testing and Counselling activity.  We also went to visit a children's home that we had that we visited two years ago.  They have four nice new little family cottages build now.  When we visited two years ago they were all dormitory style accommodation for the kids.

The picture below is group picture that we took of all the kids currently staying with Zodwa alter we had given them each a little clothing gift.

Zodwa's Adopted family

Nthethelelo and Winnie where particularly excited about there gifts.

Ntethelelo

Winnie

Soshanguve Tuesday July 24

On Sunday evening we showed the "Indescribable" video at Zodwa's church. This video is produced by Louis Giglio and if you havent seen it you can see it on youtube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewKtSKbWZUI

We have been working with Zodwa's two Smart Choices teams now for two days.  We will complete the programs at both schools tomorrow Wednesday 7/25.

This picture is of the team that Glynn is working with at the Winterveldt Secondary School about 20 minutes drive North of Zodwa's church location .

Students in the class  at Winterveldt Secondary School.

The following is the Mark's team on Monday afternoon preparing for Tuesday's lesson.

Zodwa has established a partnership for her church with a clinic from Pretoria (Now called Tswane).  They do AIDS testing and counselling clinics and also coordinate the administering of ARV drugs for people tho are found to be HIV+.  They have planned one of these clinic For Thursday afternoon after school.  We had an opportunity today to go to the local radio station Soshanguve Community Radio FM 93.0 for a 20 minute interview promoting the the Smart Choices program on the air and also advertising the Thursday afternoon Clinic at Ebeneezer Community Church.

The last two days have been hectic but the next two are probably going to get busier as wrap up our four-day stay with Zodwa.  On Wednesday night we are going to show a second Louis Giglio video "How Great is Our God".  This also visible on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAzCP8SEKwc

Falling asleep.  Must go to bed. More later.

-- 

Glynn Smith

Beacon of Hope International

Phone: 949-305-1922

Cell:     949-795-0042

Web: www.beaconint.org

Blog: blog.beaconint.org

Skype: africanson3

2012 Beacon of Hope Team

Small but might team this heading to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Don't under estimate us, we have a lot of experience in Dog Years.

Left LAX at 07:00am On Thursday July 19, 2012.  

We arrived in Johannesburg on Friday evening, had a great curry dinner with my brother Darrell and his family.  We will be spending the day with them tomorrow also getting to know our new little great niece who was born since we were here last year

We will start our mission activities on Sunday by preaching at a church in Johannesburg.  This church was started by a friend from Swaziland who we met two years ago in Richards Bay.  At that time he was one of the volunteers that was working with us on the Smart Choices AIDS prevention program.

On Sunday afternoon we drive up to Pretoria where we will be staying for the first week.  On Sunday night we will be showing Louis Giglio's Video named "Indescribable" at Zodwa's Church in Soshanguve. If you haven't seen this video yet find it on YouTube and watch it.  It describes how indescribable God truly is.  Our program for the remainder of the first week is teaching the Smart Choices program at two schools with Zodwa's teams on Monday through Wednesday is:

1. Teach the Smart Choices program at two Schools with Zodwa's teams on Monday through Wednesday.
2. On Wednesday evening Zodwa has scheduled a meeting for us with Campus Crusade representatives and other interested parties including hopefully a government representative from either the education department or the health department. 
3. On Wednesday evening we have a possible interview with a radio station that will be broadcasting from a sporting activity in Soshanguve.
4. Thursday is still an open or as yet unplanned day and is our last day with Zodwa and her team in Soshanguve.
5. On Friday we will be driving about 400 miles down to a farming town called Greytown. We started a Smart Choices program here 3 Years ago but it has been inactive since then.  We will be meeting with interested parties and potential financial supporters of that team to try and revitalize the program.
6. The next week and a half will be with our old and faithful friends in Richards Bay, Clement, Derrick, and Kenny.
7. The last week and a half will be in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe with Jeff and Tammy.

Keep checking the blog for more details as we go.  Signing off from South Africa for now.

Glynn Smith

Beacon of Hope International

Web: www.beaconint.org

Blog: blog.beaconint.org

Skype: africanson3