Last evening the group of SS. Simon and Jude and the Evangelical Free Church of Chico got together where each person stood up and introduced themselves and spoke about why they were here and what they were experiencing. These are two incredible groups with lots of Amor Mexico experience between them; that’s lots to say. Many testified how Amor Mexico had changed their life and how it was the best thing they looked forward to and to be able to come to Amor South Africa is a “trip of a life-time!” We all love Amor and what they are doing here.

From my perspective what God has accomplished here through Amor is nothing short of His Amazing Grace and a complete transformation of what I saw when I first arrived 18 months ago. Then Ebenezer’s Care Center was crumbling. It had been serving many in need but wasn’t going any where. Both Tommy and Shirley’s, the Care Center’s Directors, faces carried the weight of the world with what they were doing. Today, they both look twenty years younger. A light is shining through their faces with how this place has been transformed. Monday Ebenezer’s was Grand Central Station. We needed a traffic cop to direct the traffic coming through. Many from the surrounding community were coming to see what was going on, including about 25 youths who joined in the work. Their pastor has invited us all to their church for dinner. Then another group showed with about 75 blankets for the center. Later that day another group who looked Hindu arrived with another 50 new blankets. They had heard that the Americans were cold in the South African winter and wanted to contribute to help keep us warm.

Today, Steve Horrex looked out our office window and said, “Oh my, I wondering what this is.” There was about 25 Muslims arriving, mostly in Black, many with turbans. Their group had come by the orphanage, to guess what? To deliver more blankets. They all came to our construction site to see what we were doing. They couldn’t believe it. I spoke with them and one of their woman said, “You have woman working?!” My response was “Of course.” Her response again was, “You have woman working!” I said, again, “Of course, what do you expect, we have to keep them working to keep them out of trouble.” She laughed while one of the men’s eyes grew wider and wider. I said, “there is my wife over there and my daughter is over there. C’mon I’ll introduce you to them.” About 8 of them followed me over. I introduced them and they asked Jessica many questions. They were amazed to hear that this is how she was spending her vacation time and that she had paid her own way (through sponsorship of her family and work and her own funds of which she took a second weekend job to be here) to come here. When I asked her if she knew what Amor meant she said, “of course, it means love.” Soon these visitors were catching the attention of all and we all mingled, then took a group photo. The Muslims were so happy to see what we were doing. We joked with each other and spoke how if we could get rid of most of the politicians and religious leaders who keep us apart we could come and work together in love.

One of the more humorous moments was when they walked past Dave Newquest who was teaching a group of African children American football. One of the Muslims asked what he was doing and Dave enthusiastically and proudly said, “I’m teaching them American football!” The visitor said, “American football is a wimpy sport.” Dave laughed and the Muslim laughed, at each other. We need to do more of that. After they left David continued with his American football lesson and every time one of the kids didn’t do it the way he explained, he made them get down and do push ups; of course Dave did it with them. Then the skies opened up with a complete downpour of rain. Most everyone kept doing their work, cement, foundation, stucco, roofing and their was Dave teaching the kids – American football! Then someone said, the African skies are crying because the Americans are teaching us American Football!

As I sit here and blog there is music to my ears with the sound of hammers and the work pounding away from the work site. Children are nearby with some of our workers; they are in a circle singing, beautiful African songs, they are dancing, jumping up and down and they are laughing; there is joy in the air here.

Amor has changed this place! And those changes along with the help of Humphrey Birkenstock have become infectious in the surrounding community. People want to help each other and here you can see it in action.

Please enjoy the some 40 pictures we uploaded after this blog called “South Africa Work Day 2″.

Note: Written by Dan Irving of EV Free Chico from the Amor Camp in Johannesburg and edited by Scotty in San Diego, Californa.

As everyone probably knows, the Chico EV Free Church/Amor team arrived all without our luggage. Ouch! Why would that happen? God only knows. The next night we all went back to the airport and a Doctor heard our excitement when our luggage arrived, we screamed. He said he just arrived with thousands of dollars of medicine and was hoping to find someone to give it to. He gave it to us. Had we not been there it would not have happened. The next day Humphrey Birkenstock of Rainbow FM 90.7 took us to an world’s famous AIDS Center, Ekosi Haven.

Working at the Amor housebuilding worksite in Johannesburg.

When we arrived at the Amor Camp at the Ebenezer Care Center we noticed that from when we first arrived 18 months ago the place was crumbling and not going anywhere. They were just trying to maintain. Today, with what Amor has done it is a bustling center of activity. It is truly amazing. The traffic, the people, Humphrey, the building, Wow! God is truly amazing and this is his plan.

We started the day with meetings. Steve Horrex from Amor Ministries did a great job explaining what we are doing and the vision for the future, especially getting South Africa churches involved and it is happening. It happened today. Churches, youth workers from the surrounding area were coming out of the woodwork. Smiles on their faces, stucco in hand and working away. We all are working in God’s day here. There must have been 70 of us out there today. Forest was stressed to get us all going and Steve had his headache going. We kicked it into gear and away we went. Building, stuccoing, foundation, scraping… drink water, stay hydrated. It’s going up. Amor housing.

What Amor is accomplishing here is incredible and It Is Happening. People are excited! Shirley and Tommy, the Care Center’s Directors, have smiles from ear to ear. The energy here is going up, up and up. I can hardly believe it.

Here in South Africa where the problems are so huge between the poor, the unemployed, the diseased and those that have so much. We are helping to change that, and not by just building houses. By changing lives. By changing attitudes. By God being at work in our lives. By us opening that door and saying “yes.” We have said yes to being here with Amor, the EV Free Church of Chico and SS. Simon’s and Jude’s from Phoenix, Arizona. This has to be God’s A team with Amor and Rainbow 90.7.

Everybody is having an amazing time experiencing and being loved by the people of South Africa. We are being treated like Gold, South Africa Gold. Everyone seems to be having the trip of a lifetime and we just started. The stories are already incredible. People will come home with more love, more understanding in their hearts. Hey, loosing our stuff was a tremendous thing. We were so worried about our stuff. We can’t live without our stuff, but our stuff often, so often gets in the way. It made us realize what is important: God, Jesus Christ in our lives. Remember what God the Father has told us; “If you want to know me, know my Son”, “Follow Him.” We are trying to do that.

EV Free and SS. Simon and Jude are so blessed to be here with Amor on this pilot program. These volunteers are mostly all Amor veterans. Even though we are using different building styles, we know the rhythm and what the goal is. They are a great group of young, medium, and even old folks (I’m tired, can’t you tell.)

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Everyone is saying they love being here. Thank you for your prayers, thank your for your support which is so needed and so much is being done here with it. We know we are being used by God and we are so happy to be chosen to be here (hey, I’m preaching South African style) Hallelujah! Yes, hallelujah to our Pastor Lou and hallelujah to Jen Pitera. Hallelujah to Amor and Rainbow FM.

The team is laying the ground work for the cement foundation for a new home.

Amor Ministry’s Luke Makwakwa (on right with white t-shirt)
helping the team rendering the interior walls of the new home.

Pastor Lou Diaz, EV Free Church of Chico, keeping a watchful
eye on everything. “Watching” for people to praise and encourage!!

Note: Thanks to Dan Irving from Chico EV Free Church for writing the body of the text for this blog post. Dan, you were oh so tired and still managed to capture a wonderful snapshot of the first day of work and all the adventures surrounding it!! To say you are deeply appreciated would understate all of our feelings immensely.

Part of the tour on Sunday was to visit the Apartheid Memorial of the first child killed, Edgar Peterson which was the starting of the end of the apartheid years in South Africa. Tomorrow is the Holiday “Youth Day” in remembrance of how the youth of South Africa arose up against oppression and change the world they lived in.

As Amor Ministries starts to serve in South Africa it seems to me, we would like to serve here by being the catalyst of bringing about a new change. To once again ignite the passion of the youth of South Africa, to work together to bring about change for those in need throughout the country. Together we can all make a difference building one home at a time serving those in desperate need all around us.

The Amor team had a great time of fellowshipping and sharing in God’s love. After church they shared in a traditonal meal prepared by the women in the congregation. “It was great!”

Pastor Dan Irving sharing the pulpit with Pastor Humphrey Birkenstock
at the Rock of Salvation Church.

Pastor Dan telling funny sermon illustrations on Pastor Humphrey.

Pastor Dan sharing His-story…. God’s story, that is!

Pastor Dan, “in closing……..”.