Jun

2

Safe at Thrive Africa

By Kaylen on June 2, 2008

Matt Peirce, a current intern and resident go-to guy for any international news, wrote about the current turmoil in South Africa.

Recent headlines about South Africa have not been very encouraging. Stories about violence, xenophobia, and army involvement have probably left many Americans feeling at the very least a bit concerned about South Africa as a nation. I just want to assure everyone that we here at Thrive Africa are quite safe. Living on a remote game reserve three hours from major cities does have its advantages. The violence is fairly contained to poor township areas around Johannesburg and is rooted in complicated issues of poverty and immigration. It’s not as if the general consensus in South Africa is a hatred of foreigners. As a matter of fact, I was just in Qwa Qwa the other day and it was as safe and calm as it always is. I plan to return next week without any fear or apprehension. South Africa needs prayer (as does every country) but it is by no means falling into anarchy.

In fact we at Thrive are more than safe here in South Africa; we are blessed.

We are blessed to teach LaunchPad classes that disciple youth in seven locations. We are blessed to take part in an amazing Leadership Summit program that helps students at six different schools in Qwa Qwa. We are blessed to facilitate mission teams from America that do ministry house-to-house and village-to-village passionately and effectively.

Most of all we are blessed by a God who has given us the opportunity to have an eternal impact in a place where no one else is ministering. My prayer is that no one who is committed to coming to Thrive this summer will be persuaded to stay at home because of the headlines on CNN. God is going to do great and amazing things this summer. Come be a part!

Posted in Ministry News, Missionary Life
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    5 Responses - Add yours below

  1. danielle says:

    I loved reading this.

  2. Megan says:

    Amen! May God continue to be a blessing in your lives as you reach out and are a blessing to the people of South Africa. Thrive and the nation of South Africa are in my prayers!

  3. Crystal (Intern) says:

    Amen!

  4. Becca says:

    Great job with writing this.

  5. sommer ellsworth says:

    that is not holding me back from going this summer:) if God wills i will be there ready to work and bless the people of Qwa Qwa:)

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