God is continuing to bless LUO’s involvement in the township and our after school program is thriving.  When things are hustling and bustling at Ithemba it can get chaotic for us, the few, the proud- the Ithemba staff.  So when we get groups of volunteers it is like an ice-cold glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day- refreshing and oh so sweet.

Last week we had a team from Global Challenge in the house for three days.  Global Challenge would best be described as a Christian version of Amazing race- pretty rad!  As part of their training, Global Challenge teams learn how to design games and activities specially geared toward children.  Ithemba served as a testing ground for the team and gave them the opportunity to interact with children before they leave for their one-year journey.  I can truly say that they did an awesome job and there was a buzz of excitement at Ithemba all week.

Global Challenge, thank you for partnering with us, as we seek to positively impact the lives of children in J-Bay.  You Rock!  May God bless your journey as your spend your strength on the poor, and may you sow love everywhere your go.

Hours before anyone showed up, long before any competition started, before the music started pumping, before the flags of various countries danced in the wind, before children’s voices carried down the township streets it one swelling wave of joy; there was an empty parking lot.

I could almost hear a faint, nostalgic, whisper say, “If you build it, they will come,” as we clutched hands to pray over the work before us.  Passers-by stared as three white faces swept the parking lot that would serve as our street soccer field.  Flecks of glass glistened catching the suns powerful rays and burst forth in a kaleidoscope of yellows, whites and greens as the rhythm of our brooms went “shush-shush, shush-shush.”  Once the “field” had been cleared of debris, we assembled the goals and strung the nets, all while a crowd of curious spectators grew in number.  Hammers went, “thunk, thunk,” and the MC tested the levels of the PA, “check one-two, one-two,” as a cacophony of joyful preparation filled the air.

And then the children came; like the animals filing on the ark, they came, but in groups of tens and twenties.  Boys from all three townships showed up, some with a serious competitor’s scowl, and others with buoyant smiles.  Right in the middle were the boys of Ithemba, brandishing their spirit of conquest proudly.  The excitement was electrifying and it took five minutes to get everyone quite so that we could pray, corporately asking for the Lords presence and dedicating our performance to Him.  Teams were divided, names were given, brackets were drawn, and with a surge of music, the competition was under way.

It was a day of fierce battle and a carefree celebration of LIFE.  It was a day of unity among the townships youth and a day to rise above circumstance.  It was a day to be alive, to be free to run, to be to be full of energy and vigor.  It was a day to be a child!  And it was a day… we’ll always remember.

Zach