Jo Burg

With the World Cup Soccer in full force, Sth Africa was in full party mode!! I have never seen so many vuvuzela's ( long plastic trumpets) in my life!! Being at Rhema was as always, amazing, and it is always good to be with friends who have walked with us through life over many years. We continue to pray for Pastor Ray McCauley as he is on a journey to recovery after some massive health struggles. But God is faithful...THIS I KNOW FOR SURE!!!

Zimbabwe...One third of all children here are orphans...many due to losing their parents through HIV aids, and others due to varied outcomes of living in politically harsh environments, all escalated by poverty.

 It is hard to put into words just HOW MUCH we have loved being in this amazing land. To be honest, due to the media portrayal and various stories we have heard over the last few years, I was personally a little nervous about going, especially without Mark with me. BUT...the team and I, along with the beautiful crew from Joyce Meyer team landed and from the outset, were swept up in the incredible generosity and gracious stance of the people.

Bulawayo...leadership day. I guess the organizers were planning on a few hundred leaders coming out, but thousands turned up, it was packed to the rafters, the praises were unbelievable, the worship leaders and bands were amazing (our team were wondering why on earth we were there to lead worship!!) BUT...they loved that we were all there TOGETHER, furthering Kingdom cause. We were so so honoured, and very humbled by the opportunity. Psalm 133...How good it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in UNITY...ahhh...the word of God coming to life before your very eyes...nothing like it.

Harare...Crazy, life filled, tenacious people...WE LOVED BEING IN HARARE!! There is a greater sense of community in this place than in most places I've ever visited, and they LOVE to worship Jesus!! There is such a feeling of a nation rising...even when the guards accompanied us as we led worship on the Saturday night. Visiting the prison with Joyce was such a great highlight...the first time they have ever allowed a film crew to enter the prison walls. I sang AMAZING GRACE with the prisoner choir...aahhh...it was so so lovely, nothing like hearing those physically bound lifting up songs of praise, showing a deeper freedom than their physical experience. God is good.

Just before the final night, we took a huge delivery of food and toys down to a local orphanage which is not funded by the government, and who were down to the last of their food. We all played, prayed, danced and sang together...And heard the stories of how many of these beautiful children were rescued and cared for by people who's lives are overflowing with the great love of God. To say I was challenged yet again to live a more outward looking life, would be a massive understatement. Just one story was of a little girl who was found in a pit toilet, and who's feet had been chewed at by rats each evening as she cried out for anyone to help her...God has miraculously brought about so much healing in her life...but there is much still to be done. That is just ONE...multiply the story hundreds of thousands of times over and you get a glimpse.

Anyway...thankyou so so much for your faithful prayers...we all felt so carried by the prayers of the saints. We will continue to pray for and sow into Zim and its people. And I sincerely pray that we will stay focused and prayer filled, be willing to step out in faith and KEEP GOING forward as we continue to take Christ into a hurting world...Much to be done..

Love you so, Darls.

To check out photos from the tour click here

PLUS Barry Southgate, one of the vocalists on our team has posted a blog on this tour, check it out at barrysouthgate.com