American outreach in Zandspruit
A learning curve for both parties. This is how one can describe the Woodmen Valley Chapel's visit to the Emthonjeni Centre at the Zandspruit informal settlement.
About 19 members from the chapel, which is based in Colorado Springs, USA, engaged in outreach programmes with the children of the Palonga School. During these few days of praise and worship, storytelling and fun activities, both the children and their American visitors came to learn about each other.
Team leaders Matt and Jen Ferrell arrived with their co-members on 2 July. “We wanted to continue the legacy of Emthonjeni because our chapel is the sister church of South Africa’s Mosaic church. This is our fourth visit to South Africa but our first visit to Emthonjeni,” Jen said.
“We filled these days with activities for the kids to enjoy like soccer and face painting.” said Matt.
Everyday members and children took part in praise and worship, and the children enjoyed three bible stories every morning. The team performed bible stories on the school’s veranda, and sometimes the kids took part too, Mosaic church leader Melissa Jacobs said. A translator was present to ensure the kids understood the stories.
Jacobs said the two groups of people, who hailed from completely different backgrounds, really got to bond. “The American team got to learn songs the kids sing regularly, and they were chatting and playing with the kids. Although the children are small, I do believe they got a sense of the religious message the
visitors wished to convey,” Jacobs concluded.
