A Little Update from South Africa

Greetings from RSA. I thought it best to post this on my blog because it is easy to post pics here. We have been in SA for almost 3 weeks with 3 to go. It has been a favorable but challenging experience so far. God has been so gracious to me, I wish I could put it to words. The students have really adapted to the culture well and are really beginning to have a heart for missions and sharing the Gospel. We hit the ground running and God has blessed the fruit of our labor here. 4 girls have accepted Christ as savior and 2 guys have. There are possibly more guys but no open professions. As for me, I do not get to go to the dorms as much as the students. This is difficult because this is what I love, but God is teaching me that as a leader my role is to lead through the students, push them to Jesus, and to make sure they are equipped to do ministry. This has been exciting because I have never really found joy in others successes before. All this to say though, I have been able to spend some good time in the dorms myself. I have been able to model sharing the Gospel in front of all the men that I lead. I have also had the opportunity to have a ministry with a couple of guys that Ofentse, one of the student leaders for CO Pretoria, has been ministering to. This is awesome for me because Ofentse was a first year when I came here in ’08, and to see that he is ministering to men and giving his life away is so cool to see and reminds me that God works through us and after us. I love partnering with him in the gospel and these guys are so close to becoming Christians, I can feel it. So you can pray for: Batman, Herman, Beast, and also some first year guys, Tadi, Sedzi, KB, Armand. I love you all and thankful for your partnership with me and the Gospel. To Christ be the GLORY!

Because He Is,

Josh

Guys in Tiaboos (The Res we are in)

The Men I lead! (Plus Paul and Sammy COP Staff)

Me with some Guys at a Dinner for Students! (The guy in yellow is Lesego, He became a christian last week!)

We had a XBox Tournament at our guest house to get around some "Key Guys." It was a Success!

Our team!

One night in Greenville!

In case you didn't see it, all the Western guys were on stage right in the middle wearing the purple!!! Also here are some pictures of the concert for you all.

All 5 Football Players

A better pic of 4 of them... (Pete, Ace, Courtland, Dee)

Me breaking up a dance battle between WCU and PC...

Hey everyone, I apologize that is has been some time since my last post. I have been very busy and enjoying every minute of it. Most of you know how things are going with the football team and other freshmen, but to give you a quick update. Guys are continuing to come around and I am building more new relationships with guys regularly. This past weekend (Nov. 6) Campus Outreach put on a concert that was a pre-cursor to our DC conference over new years. I invited guys that I have been hanging with to come and was able to convince the head football coach to let players stay in Greenville with me and come to the concert. Five football players came. Praise the Lord, also a couple other guys came that Demorris, my roomate, and I have been hanging with. It was a huge success and Five of them want to attend conference. It was huge with regards to my relationship with them. I was able to get on stage with the artist Flame, and sing with him. This gave me "cool points" with the guys. They were also able to hear the gospel coming from someone that has a similar background. Also the video you see with everyone on stage, I think is an awesome picture of the gospel being lived out. White people, black people, smart people, not so smart people, rich people, poor people, were all together worshiping the One true God with no restrictions. Here are some videos and pictures to invite you in to the experience and how God used it!

Trip Lee-The Invasion (Hero) Feat. Jai

This is the Video to Trip Lee's new album "Between Two Worlds." He's talking about an invasion coming, CHRIST returning! I understand most do not enjoy Rap/Hip-Hop but just look at the lyrics of the second verse...
"God is not pleased man, it's clear that His standards missed The world is running rampant with, sin it's an abandonment Man is feeling stranded, feeling hopeless since his banishment God is angry at the distortion and the mismanagement Evil is at work, but don't be thinking He can't handle it He promised He would do away with all of it, dismantle it He's put up with this damage in His world, but He's promised us That He'll destroy all His enemies and then He'll walk with us New Heaven, new Earth that's where all His sheep dwell Cause Jesus succeeded in every part of life that we failed Died the death we couldn't die, paid our price with 3 nails Began the work He promised, in the end we all will be well Already beat our enemies and when His Kingdom's realized All those who oppose Him will see Jesus with some real eyes Deliverance is offered us, the hero He is urging us Salvation is exclusive to His people who have turned to trust "

LP Music

This song was written and produced by two student on our project this summer, John Luke Carter from WCU and Garrett Warren from PC. They are very talented and base the song off what we have been studying this summer, 1 Peter. It is a hip-hop song but easy to listen too. Listen and enjoy!! Feel free to comment or email me your thoughts.

Bowling at the Beach!!

All the guys after bowling at Sonic, just before shooting ice at girls commenced!

3 Western guys and 2 Western girls.

I was imparting all my bowling knowledge to them.

Fun in the sun, well kinda!

Myrtle Beach! Ah, the beautiful white sands, crystal clear waters and endless attractions, what else could one ask for. Well all of those actually because "Fertile Myrtle" (as the locals call it) is nothing like that except for the one million beach bargain stores along the grand strand. It has been great being here, nothing like a vacation but fun. I have been in charge of jobs and everyone has a job but there are some complications with the hours some girls are receiving. It is so hot here right now with a heat index of 115. It feels much nicer indoors. God has begun doing what he does best here, show off, and it has been incredible to see his work. Not only are people becoming Christians on the beach but we have seen 3 students who are on project realize they were not Christians and become believers while here. One other became a Christian about a week before coming to project. Students are growing in their understanding of who Christ is and what it looks like to follow Him in life. As for me, God has been showing me more of my sin and more grace to forgive me. I came into project very tired and dry spiritually but through the men here on project, His word, and your prayers and encouragement, I have been praying that he would lift up my head so that I would see Him (Psalms 3:3), and He has. Below are a few pictures of some fun things that have happened this summer!