Momentum.... scaling things up

mo·men·tum
mōˈmen(t)əm,məˈmen(t)əm/
noun
1.    1.
PHYSICS
the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.
2.    2.
the impetus gained by a moving object.
"the vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped"

1996 Kelowna Amor Mexico build
In 1991 a group of teens from Kelowna BC built the first Canadian AMOR house in Mexico.  The simple beginnings of this 7m x 7m ‘garage on steroids’ as we called it has had huge implications on the way we have shaped youth outreach over the years and has left a tangible mechanism that we could use to help the poor at the same time.   Always centred on relational development, the trips have been about doing life together to discover Christ, while at the same time holding true to scripture ….. do not forget the poor.



Fast forward 20+ years and nothing has changed philosophically, but everything is changing kinetically.  Over 70 young people are signed up for the April trip already with deposits for plane tickets.  These young people are part of relationally centred youth groups in the UK, Canada and the USA.   If all goes to plan they will be joining the same number of local youth in South Africa that are moving more into an incarnational model of youth work we have been building here to construct 2 community/church buildings and to complete and put on a second story to an orphanage.  This will see the team construct nearly 600m2 of humanitarian space in a week.  A far cry from the first simple homes we built in Mexico.

Ranbow FM getting stuck in
For over 20 yrs  young people make these trips work
But what we are doing is exactly the same as we were doing during the first trips, the difference is only momentum.  I no longer directly run youth programs.  I instead facilitate the momentum generated by younger youth workers that get it.  They faithfully bring youth year after year that want to make a difference in their lives and know that this trip has something to do with encountering and growing in a relationship with Jesus Christ.   My roll, hold the door open and organize the events so that this can happen.

It is hard to explain to you in this blog the incredible things that are happening in SA and other African countries now that they are adopting our building style and philosophy.  I have spent nearly 5 months in SA this year and I have seen more physical buildings constructed in this time than in 3 years of groups.  Couple this with acceptance by larger corporate partnerships starting to be established here  and we are on the cusp of seeing schools, churches, and houses built for the poor in the thousands.

I covet your prayer for wisdom over the next 6 months.  It is my goal to unleash local African workers to put in community schools at every train stop in rural Africa funded by corporate donations.  It is my goal to provide off grid refrigeration for hundreds of communities that often see their produce go to waste before it can get to market due to this problem.  And it is my goal to continue with the momentum of groups from the UK and elsewhere that want to come and make a difference while learning about the good news of Christ.  Please enjoy some of these pictures that demonstrate what has been going on just in the last 6 weeks.



Teaching over 80 youth leaders about relational ministry at Rainbow FM in Johannesburg.



PUSH centre getting second floor for their new teenage youth wing.













The Little rose orphanage phase 1
is starting to take shape this week. 
60m2 of housing for children; a computer lab and a home for the dorm mother will be finished soon.  It is our intent to complete this project in March/April with the YMP trip from the UK.






The 2014 Cape Town School 
built in the Khayelitsha informal settlement  being used to capacity again.  Now serving upwards of 300 children not just the 80 we first came to help.








YMP Mission Trip
August 19 to 29 2015

 with Long Lane church and the staff from Rainbow 90.7FM



























Unbuntu Church  in Kya Sand  
This building started after the April 2015 YMP trip nears completion being built entirely by local African's... Just needing some paint and carpets which the local congregation will provide.

They love their new sanctuary...





  Lavender hill school in Cape Town.
We have been ‘copied’..   This is the highest form of flattery….
The school now waits for a roof which I wish I had resources to provide....
This is a great ministry doing a great work…


 

















Middle Park Camp 
Getting cladding on the new bathroom block and the kitchen service buildings....
  Anyone interested in flying out in November to help me finish the rest of the siding is welcome.

As this blog started we talked about momentum.... so many things happening... so much good... lets make it grow.  For those who make this work possible.  Thanks again for your investment.... Please continue to pray for wisdom as most of what we are doing seems to be scaling up...

In Him  Bill

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