Conversations around Campfires and GMC Visit

November 28, 2024

I am wrapping up a fulfilling three-month season here in South Africa, and it’s been both productive and fun. One of my favorite parts of being here is hosting American short-term mission teams. This season, we were blessed with several visitors, and I always enjoy seeing Africa through their fresh eyes.

The highlight for me is sitting around African campfires in the evenings, listening to their reflections on how God is working in their hearts. Helping impoverished children who can never return the favor fills everyone with a deep sense of joy. It’s remarkable to see how much happiness these children exude despite living in tin shacks with dirt floors, no electricity, or indoor plumbing. At the end of the day, they are still kids—playing, laughing, and finding joy like children anywhere in the world.

This season, the construction team made great progress on a new church building for Pastor Johanney, leaving visiting church teams impressed by their efficiency. Last week, we hosted 20 people from the Global Methodist Church (GMC), including two bishops—one from the U.S. and one from the Congo—as well as pastors and lay leaders from Upper Midwest and South Florida GMC conferences. These conferences have chosen South Africa as their overseas mission partner, and we were honored to share our ministry with them.

During their visit, we showcased key parts of our infrastructure, including Mountain View Farm, our two church plants, Del Cramer Children’s Campus, and the Lodge of Dreams, where we host teams. The group was impressed by the breadth of our ministry and the resources God has provided. We also introduced them to our partners at Convoy of Hope, encouraging collaboration, and to representatives from One Child Ministry to help expand child sponsorships.

Pastor Andre and Kudzi shared about our new “Feeding African Children with African Food” program, which resonated deeply with the group. We currently feed 50,000 people each week, but our goal is to double that to 100,000. Next month, we’ll open a new feeding hub in Zimbabwe, where the need is even greater than here in South Africa. I’m praying that many GMC churches in the U.S. will join this mission to grow the program.

Brett Hendrickson, our head of pastor and church relations, and I share a vision of welcoming more mission teams from GMC congregations in the U.S. The visiting team was especially impressed by the size and quality of the new church we’re building—some remarked it might be the finest GMC church in Africa. We’re on track to complete construction by February, and we plan to hold a dedication ceremony on February 16th. Mark your calendars—we’d love for you to join us in celebration!

On a personal note, Beth and I are loving our new home at Legend Golf and Safari Resort. Riding our recumbent trikes on the 18-hole golf course is a daily joy. Each round is 15 kilometers, and I aim to do two laps per day. The scenery is breathtaking, peaceful, and safe, with frequent sightings of African wildlife. Just last week, we rode within 30 feet of two beautiful cheetahs! Though we occasionally spot venomous snakes like black mambas, cobras, or puff adders, we keep a respectful distance and haven’t felt any real danger.

One revelation from this season’s campfire chats is how much Americans enjoy hearing stories about life in Africa. Inspired by this, I’ve decided to start a podcast called Doc’s Adventures in Africa. I plan to launch the podcast in late December or early January. Stay tuned for weekly episodes!

As this season concludes, I’m filled with gratitude for what we’ve achieved and the connections we’ve made. I look forward to what’s ahead, especially sharing these experiences with all of you. Thank you for being part of this journey.