To the Deep South! (South Africa that is)

Hello friends,

Tomorrow morning, I will be boarding the plane to head back to South Africa! The last few days have gotten me excited for the trip as more of the final details have come together. We will be spending the first week in the township of Khayelitsha, working with African Leadership's sports leagues, Sunday schools, preschools, and high school ministry. Then on July 23, we will head 12+ hours away to Transkei, the rural Xhosa homeland in the Eastern Cape for a week of ministry there. Afterward we will be back for a few more days in Khayelitsha (although many of the others will be staying longer). In this time, we will also get to visit an AIDS clinic called Living Hope.

Even though we've been talking about it for months, it feels like the trip is suddenly here. I don't feel totally prepared - I'm not sure I ever really have - but I'm excited to see how God uses this trip to work both in and through our team. I was deeply encouraged by the sermon this past Sunday, looking at Ephesians 2-3 and all the reasons that Paul has to "kneel before the Father:" God's grace bringing us from death to life, our new purpose of doing the good works that God has prepared for us, being part of the Body with the saints, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, to name a few. I want these promises to sink in ever deeper so that I can pray for the South African church what Paul prays for the Ephesians:

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."

As the team heads out, please pray:

• For safe travels as the team converges on South Africa from all over the country (and the world)
• For us to be a blessing and an encouragement to the people in Khayelitsha and Transkei, and to the missionaries with African Leadership
• For God to give us a deeper desire to live For The Kingdom as we experience his work in South Africa.
• For grace to lead the trip well, and for the words to faithfully give witness to the grace that I have received.
  

For those who want a glimpse of the places we'll be visiting, I have pictures up from last summer:

• Khayelitsha - http://picasaweb.google.com/scudderphotos/KhayelitshaPt3
• Transkei - http://picasaweb.google.com/scudderphotos/Transkei

New pictures will be up from this trip when I get back. I don't know if I will be able to send out e-mails during the trip, but I will certainly send out e-mails about it afterward. You are also welcome to check out our team blog: http:/sajourneys.blogspot.com.

For The Kingdom!
David