Why We're Taking our Children to Africa

On Sunday, we are boarding a Lufthansa flight with our two children, headed for Pretoria, South Africa for a month.  23 college students and 8 other Cru Staff are planning to board that same plane.  I am excited - and anxious - to think about the adventure and opportunities that await us during this time of ministry alongside our South African partners.

We will be helping to staff a tutoring program here 

University of Pretoria

for about 300 6th-10th grade students

who live here

so that they can pass their college entrance exams and end the cycle of poverty in their community.

We've included more detail about South Africa in our recent letter.  There are also a couple of short, informative videos here (video 1) and here (video 2).

Would you pray for us as we get set to leave?  Pray:

• For safe travel for the group.  We have an 11-hour layover in Frankfurt, during which most of us will do some exploring.  Pray that we all make it back to the plane!
• For our family.  Zoe and Sophie are both super-excited - but we are inexperienced as a family with long air travel, and with balancing life and ministry in a foreign country.  Pray for our flexibility, stamina, and sense of adventure!
• For Zoe's faith experience.  Zoe is at the very beginning of making her faith journey her own. There is a likelihood that she will get to interact with younger brothers and sisters of our tutoring program learners.  She will be keeping a journal for the first time.  Pray for opportunities for her to share her life and faith with others her own age - and for God's care for her during this time.
• For Sophie.  She is a bundle of energy, often enthusiastic and always opinionated.  Pray for her 4-year-old experience to be rich, for us as parents to be sensitive to what's going on that she can't fully articulate, and for God's interaction in and through all of that to communicate his love and care for her. 
• For God's provision for our family.  Many of you have already given to help make this trip possible.  If you are in a position to give, please do so here.  Regardless, please pray with us for God's continued blessing in this area.  

Thank you for praying!  We hope to keep you posted with updates during our trip!