This past summer, a group of eight volunteers from Metro Community Church, one Zimele's supporting organization went for two weeks to Kwazulu Natal, South Africa to serve the Zimele communities.

The following is the transcript from my opening speech from Our Trip Report to Metro on Sunday, August 10, 2008.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the passage in Genesis 12:1-3, where God calls Abraham to leave his home.  It reads…

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

I love this passage, because in the midst of this exciting call is a kernel of truth that is subtlety placed but when understood can be life changing…  It has been for me... God blesses us, so that we can be a blessing to others… to all the peoples on earth

This passage in many ways became the foundation of our trip.  We studied this passage at our first team meeting back in March, and looked for ways that we could use all that God has blessed us with to bless those in South Africa.

As we looked at the skills and talents in the people we had on our team and needs in the rural town of Swayimane in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, the following set of ministries began to form.

• Teach at the local high school
• Soccer Clinics
• Computer Classes
• Business Seminars for local women entrepreneurs with the Zimele Savings Group
• Conduct a Strategic Planning Session with the leaders of a local non profit
• Assist with the Zimele Crafts Program

We also asked you to share your blessings with the people of South Africa, for you to become a blessing to them, and you responded as well allowing us to:

• Build the first computer center in rural Swayimane.  We also gave 3 computers to Gateway Christian Elementary School
• Donate boxes of children books to the new library in Swayimane and to Gateway Elementary
• Build a new Craft Center for the Zimele Crafts Program
• Build a much needed home for an orphan family

What’s even better is that much of this will have a lasting impact far after our departure.  I’m not only talking about the buildings, computer center, and books, but we did all of this with Brandon, a Zimele Peace Corp Volunteer and will continue to tutor the children of Swayimane High School, and teach computer, business, and strategic planning classes.

When we look back on what God did through the short time we were in South Africa, we can confidently proclaim that God was faithful to his promise to bless and to use not only the team but our church to be a blessing to all the peoples on earth…

And that is why we are here.  We are here to pass  and share with you the blessings God showed us while in South Africa, and to share them with you who we consider as our partners on this trip...