It is really hard to put into words traveling with 18 other members of our St. Francis Parish.  I am actually quite humbled being piled together in two bus/van vehicles. Immersion in a new culture can be special.  It really is a prescription for community and well, that we are better together. Also, this is the way that many people travel here in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.  Cars are piled out of survival and culture to get from one place to another.

We will all go back to America and drive our own cars that are not full and carry this experience etched in our hearts. We will remember the dear people of South Africa that stole our hearts. We continue to be grateful and in awe of the work of Blessman International.

I sit in the vehicles reflecting on how God brought our diverse backgrounds, personalities, etc together in the name of Christ to serve together.  We are learning that it is so true it is better to give than to receive.  But the news flash –it is our cups that are  overflowing from giving –in ways we never knew possible.

Below: A picture taken at Del Kramer Campus where children are fed with Meals from the Heartland as well as self-sustaining farming on Del Kramer Campus.

Tuesday, we visited a school called Blinkwater where a very caring teacher in a very rural area was the most amazing. She is fighting very hard for her school to stay alive.  A school of about 30 students – they even have a bus.  She had such a heart for these children being in school that she allowed the younger toddler sibling to attend with a school age sibling.  The reason is:  if the parent(s) went to work, the school age child would have to stay home to take care of the toddler.

Some team members got to work with the children while others painted a room in the school.  Please pray for this school, the leader of the school and the children.

A little girl with her toddler sister at school. 

Only part of Del Kramer – amazing growth since it’s inception!!

We have also witnessed again the amazing program of Del Kramer Campus. The approach that Del Kramer Campus takes is the prescription I would give for all orphaned and vulnerable children.

To know that volunteers from Meals from the Heartland in Des Moines, Iowa package and send meals that feed 7500 children a day here in South Africa is nothing short of amazing.

These two little boys are two of the blessed 7500 children Blessman International feeds in South Africa.

Our team member Pat, is a rock star in planning activities  for the children on this trip, Juliana gave out bracelets she handmade with great love and care, and Chris has a special skill of juggling that the children loved and had great fun with!

Blessman International chooses to give great care to the Del Kramer community also.  Such was the optical outreach where 108 people  received better sight, team love, and new glasses.

The team all commented how meaningful it was to sit with the people of the Del Kramer Community and speak with them (often with an interpreter), hear their joys and concerns in life, pray with them and see them experience immense joy with their new eyesight correction. Blessman International does not just give a pair of glasses, it builds relationship through the love of Christ.

The Team praying with the Community of Del Kramer before the optical outreach. The community sang an African Sepete song for our team and we sang “Holy Ground” for them.

While team St. Francis helped people receive new glasses and better eyesight it is really our team members that gained new (in)sight.  New sight and new relationships with the wonderful people of South Africa!!

A happy man that received glasses! The team member listened to the difficult 2016 he had.  He said that receiving  glasses was the best thing that happened to him in 2017.