Time flies! Spring School has come and although the mission has gone it is definitely not over...
Spring School 2010 Task Team 'on the ground'
After a grueling weekend of intense cross-cultural training and prayerful preparation for the mission, the Task Team felt about as ready as a university graduate stepping through the theory doorpost into their first practical assignment... an adrenaline mix of nerves, faith and hopeful expectation! And these expectations were exceeded... we were bowled over by the potential and wealth of talent in the pupils of Prosperitus High School! Our lives were enriched as we learned from each other every day. We spent the mornings together with extra academic classes, chilled out together as we shared lunch each day and spent some more time together in the afternoons during the culture and sport programs. Each member of the team testified about special moments shared with the pupils either in smaller groups, one-on-one or during the bigger sessions where we informally learned about each others worlds, realities and cultures.
Students spending time with the pupils either one to one...
...or in bigger groups...
...or in smaller groups.
In terms of the academic extra classes, we found that most of the pupils who attended Spring School really had an eagerness to learn and study which made it very productive to work with them. Many kids said that a lot of their academic content for the first time made sense to them after the students sat down and explained it to them in smaller, more personal groups. This gave many of the kids a new hope and actual interest in their school work.
Academic extra classes in the mornings
While the academics and afternoon programs were running, a team have started to clean out the vandalized restroom block on the school grounds as part of the revamp project. Although we are still trusting for the larger amount of the necessary finances to complete the project, this task was rewarding in the relational platform that it created for the team to bond with the pupils. This is still an ongoing project...
Pupils helping to clean the vandalized restroom block
We have been humbly blessed to experience the warm welcome and hospitality of the Eersterust community and particularly of the pupils and staff of Prosperitus High School. Through Spring School 2010, memebers of the Every Nation Pretoria community and members of the Eersterust community have served each other with the unique gifts we have both received and we have been mutually enriched and rewarded by the experience. We ended the week with a talent and worship evening called 'Eersterust's got Talent' where the students and the team showcased the productions that was birthed and perfected throughout the culture program. Members of both communities filled the high school auditorium to celebrate the talent of Eersterust and to worship God.
Pupils and students having fun together at Eersterust's got Talent
As we've mentioned before, God really exceeded our expectations. 65 people committed their lives to Christ after the Word was shared at Eersterust's got Talent. Through this event and the relationships that was formed throughout the week, 9 Connect Groups were planted and 18 people from the Every Nation community committed to a long-term involvement in Eersterust. For more detail about our ongoing involvement in Eersterust and at Prosperitus High School, follow the link on the right called 'Spring School 2010 continued...'
Break-time is showtime!
