T2T Blog
Holding Hands
Here in the grounds of the leper colony at Darsarapalli a recent structural addition is a large covered verandah where residents can sit outside in the shade. The temperatures soar up into the high 40s here in the high hills and the summers are pretty intense. A small team looks after the patients and ensures that everyone stays as well as possible. Hyderabad ecclesia supports Darsarapalli with regular visits and Sunday breaking of bread meetings.
Let’s Get On The Road
Talking about the terrible traffic in Indian cities is the cue for an eye roll, inevitable cliches and stale stories. But honestly! The urge to regale friends with tales from the streets is irresistible. So I'm sorry, but buckle up! Transport is a thrill. The city roads are more Grand Theft Auto than Driving Miss Daisy. The taxi in front has a decal that reads 'my cab is safe' - says who? Not his passengers I’m guessing as he hurtles recklessly by.
We’re just getting started
Missionaries have been coming to India since Thomas - he of doubting fame - alighted from the sailboat when it docked way down south on the coast in Kerala. Singlehandedly he came, bringing the gospel message at a sprightly step up the beach to reach the masses in AD 52.
Women at the Well
South African sunsets are awesome with all their glorious fiery colours glowing in the sky - an experience never to be forgotten. For Bethany and myself, this was our first time in South Africa, and what better place to begin our trip than at a 'Women at the Well' retreat! We didn't know anyone beforehand, but by the end of the weekend, we felt like we'd been well and truly absorbed by everyone's openness and warmth.
South Africa T2T Update 2024
Our consistent efforts here are bearing fruit as we now have over 70 children on the roster, with more joining every week. Since our space in the container classroom is limited, and we do not want to turn children away from learning about God and His word, we are now hosting two Bible Club sessions per week – one on a Friday afternoon and one on a Saturday morning.
Meeting Christ’s Branches in South Africa
My husband Gideon and I (Shoshanna) had the pleasure of visiting South Africa last June for a second time on a P2P team trip with the WCF and Cuddle Trust. To say we felt God working in the efforts of the team and all those involved in the two-week trip would be an understatement.
Ecclesial Support
Whilst we’ve been here in Cambodia, we have spent most of our time and energy setting up and running a school programme for children to learn English through the Bible. Alongside this, another of our main aims has been to spend a large amount of our time with brothers and sisters, giving them spiritual support and encouragement.
Planting Seeds
One of our roles as followers of Christ is to plant the seed of God’s Word into people’s hearts and minds. We can plant the seeds and give them water, but ultimately is it “God who gives the increase” (1 Cor 3:7). Whilst we’ve been here in Cambodia, one of our biggest projects has been to set up and run a BEC school programme for children to come and learn English through the Bible. Our aim has been to give as many children as possible the opportunity to learn about God and to encourage them to keep coming to Sunday school every week.
P2P: A Day at Cuddle Trust
After a quick breakfast, our household headed over to the other house full of P2P-ers and we set off in the two CUDDLE Trust branded ‘buckie’ vehicles to head up to the Fundani container classroom in Wolwerivier.
Life in Cambodia
Cambodia is an awesome place to be. If you've never been before, it's totally worth the visit! Fantastic culture, food and surrounding scenery - this is my first time here and has already been the experience of a lifetime. I arrived on the 11th of January with sister Beth Palmer (UK) and we were joined a few weeks later by sister Faith Jenkins (UK) and sister Bethany McGeorge (Australia). We’ve been staying in Sihanoukville, a city and province of Cambodia situated right next to a stretch of beautiful beaches.
P2P Cape Town - Changing Lives Life Changing
July 2023 will always remain amongst the favorite months I’ve ever experienced, spent with energetic kids, cuddly orphans, chatty local young people, enthusiastic co-workers, penguins and the awesome CUDDLE TRUST committee in South Africa.
Directed by God
During the month of May 2022, my husband Gideon and I were able to visit the brothers and sister in Cape Town, South Africa. There we were able to help support the Cuddle Trust and the Ignite and Shine programs. God’s direction was strongly felt both planning this trip and while we were there.
In God’s Hands
We have been blessed with good health and energy out here in South Africa to continue to support the ongoing projects and help out wherever we can. We have established a good routine of travel between projects in Cape Town and in the Hopefield area and the car just about goes on autopilot between the two areas and we have a home away from home established on both sites.
Arrived in the Philippines
We finally got on the plane, and got to spend 14 hours slowly watching our plane fly at 562 mph across the Pacific ocean. We arrived in Manila, made it through security, and then got to spend what felt like another two hours waiting for our bags. We felt very relieved to be able to leave the airport.
All is in God’s Hands
March has been a continuation of our support to the ongoing projects and helping out wherever we can. We are noticing a real impact that these projects are having on people’s lives. Knowing that someone cares about them and recognises their worth ignites personal self-belief in those who are served.
Taking Notice of God
February has arrived and we count our blessings to still be out here in South Africa doing God’s work. We have become very used to our busy lifestyle and have enjoyed being able to continue supporting communities and initiatives through the Cuddle trust. We pray for continued guidance in our work and blessings on all that we do. We know that all is in God’s hands and that no plans are able to be undertaken without His support. We are thankful for the many God moments which are revealed to us every day, which just help to strengthen our faith and keep us motivated, energized and determined to be able to continue to serve.
Strength and Care
In this report, I would like to share the experiences we had while hosting the first P2P initiative in the Western Cape. All the volunteers met at one of the local pre-schools in Green village about an hour north of Cape Town, an area that was created for the local mines that came to a halt once fossils were discovered. We painted classrooms and decorated them with colourful murals that not only livens up the area but also will aid in teaching concepts of shapes and numbers.