Arrival in Cape Town, South Africa
By Larry Allhands

Our first day in Africa! What an amazing trip it has been, getting here. We left at 10:30 PM on Saturday, April 10th and got to Cape Town at 11:30 AM on the 12th. We stopped in Johannesburg to refuel and take on passengers before setting off to Cape Town. While we waited on the plane, a strong sense of accomplishment washed over me along with the realization that we were finally on the great continent of Africa. All of the hours of training, reading, fund raising and praying had paid off - now we would be rewarded with the chance to serve our Lord here.

After arranging our cell phones and rental cars in Cape Town, we stepped outside for the first time. I was initially amazed at how much South Africa looked and felt like Northern California. Now I know why Brett & Lyn Johnson, who lead equip, selected that area to live in.

As we drove to the Bell Rosen B&B in Welgemoed near Cape Town, where we will be staying for the next fortnight, the differences became more apparent. On either side of the highway, we passed squatter camps - villages of tin and wood walled shacks where people survived in conditions of abject poverty. Upon viewing these living conditions, I have come to realize that the "poor" in America are actually very wealthy by world standards.

Once we finished checking in at the B&B, we were whisked off to a beach to view Table Mountain and get some dinner. The mountain was truly breathtaking. I stated to several of my fellow team members that I was almost ashamed to be serving our Lord in such a beautiful location and they agreed whole heartedly.

By Larry Allhands

Day three in Africa. Today was a whirlwind of activity. Africa is such an amazing place; Time seems to run on a different clock here that allows us to accomplish twice as much in a day as we would back home.

Our day started with a wonderful breakfast of "wrecked eggs" (scrambled) with a spread of tasty breakfast meats, cereal, and toast. Shortly after breakfast we had a devotional/prayer time where Lyn lead us through 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.  Each morning we will continue to study this scripture in our devotional, breaking it down into its building blocks.

After the devotional, we traveled to Century City to meet Michael Louis of The Louis Group; a large Christian conglomerate. It was such a blessing to hear Michael share the exact same principals that we were taught in the equip training as the foundation of his very successful business venture.

Next we were off to the top of Table Mountain. Today was a holiday, so there was no work going on. Table Mountain was simply awesome. The grandeur of God’s creation was evident at every turn. I was most impressed with the massive rock formations known as "The Twelve Apostles". We speculated that they must have been named by sailors of long ago as they transited between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic.

In the evening, we went to Kayamandi for the first time. This is the African squatter camp where we will be working. The living conditions were extreme, but the one thing that stood out to me immediately were the children; jumping rope with and old piece of string, playing jacks with rocks, and following us with smiles and curious looks on their faces. I did manage to pose with several of them for a picture - it is by far my favorite to date.

The bakery in Kayamandi is flourishing. They make the best bread in town! I think even Brett and Lyn were surprised by the progress there. God is such a wonderful provider - I am looking forward to serving Him here, in Kayamandi!

By Nicole Dickens

We arrived safe and sound in Cape Town on Monday and the weather has been beautiful until today - but I tell you it was if it was an answer to prayer almost as I had prayed specifically last night for the Holy Spirit to rain down on the team, our clients both white and black South African. I have the keen sense that God was answering me positively with literal rain.

Today was the first day with my client - a real estate development firm here in South Africa who are seeking to repurpose their business to one that fully brings glory to God. There was a great need so we began the day by praying that God would continue business growth and we received an answer with 4 hours that half the need was met. 4 HOURS. We left with full confidence that the remainder is own it’s way. And I am sure it had to do with the fact that the clients were fully grasping and thinking of ways to implement the need to bring God into every area of their business - not just in tithing 10% of profits at the end of the day back to Him but actually having Him as the CEO of their business. We spent the morning in prayer asking for God’s presence in the business, for His guidance and His leadership and that small step of obedience yielded SIGNIFICANT result, almost immediately. I can’t wait for what He has in store for us tomorrow.

Muizenburg Clients
By Joe Awender

Friday the 16th of April was of most importance for our client. Our client was working vigorously to get her product registered by the government of South Africa to allow her to sell her product. The process of getting her product registered was at a standstill and very frustrating to her organization. On Thursday our consultation group stopped and prayed for the Lord’s help to get this product registered. The following day God answered prayer by opening a door with the government agency by helping the client process the registration.

Kayamandi Township

Applying Kingdom Principles to entrepreneurial endeavors was today’s spiritual message in Kayamandi Township. A partnership of spirit-led business consultants from South Africa and the United States aided by Stellenbosch University students held a one-day seminar to equip prospective business leaders with the 10P method of fulfilling God’s business objectives. The day was filled with faith-based skill building booths that employed situational scenarios as members of the community learned how to plan, implement, maintain and expand successful businesses. Inspirational praise and worship songs glorified Christ in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa.

The day ended on a high note as members of the community presented community-based business opportunities using the partnering, process and planning (to name but a few) skills that were learned in today’s spirit-led seminar. This South African community located east of Cape Town is on its way to establishing faith-based businesses as a means of expanding God’s kingdom.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1