Final Touches - Friday 12th

Had I nice lay in to day and got up at 9. Then got up slowly got up and washed and dressed and then tidied the flat up. We then headed on down the church to pick Blake up and then headed to Menlyn to grab some office supplies for the tour. Mark and I also had an Aqua Massage, which is like a sunbed except it squirts you with water and pulsates to massage you. We then headed back to the office where we finished off sorting out some of the equipment for tour. Melissa and Jo also arrived with our tour hoodies as well. We then loaded the minibus up and headed back to the flat. At 9.30pm me, Mark, Gabi, and Blake all headed to the cinema to watch Night at the Museum 2 which was a good laugh and really enjoyed myself. We then arrived back at midnight and headed straight to bed.

Speak soon

Jon x

Prison Day - Thursday 13th

Up at 7 today and left by quarter to 8 for the prison. We left to pick Blake up and we were then on our way... well for bout 10 mins and ran out of petrol! good start to the day, especially when I was down to lead the bible study time. Greg then walked to get some petrol and then eventually we got on our way again. We arrived at the prison at 10 o clock, and they had just finished the bible study and were about to pray. We then followed with a time of worship, as it was raining and really windy. It was such an amazing time in the cell. We sang some Enlgish songs, and then they sang some African songs and danced around together. They did this one dance that was like tap dancing but stomping instead, which was really good fun. God presence really filled the room and was amazing and there was some prophecy as well. We then closed at half 12 and had to leave. On the way home we stopped to grab some lunch and popped to Greg's to pick up something quickly. We then headed to the office, but on the way the day got bit worse as Greg skidded on the water and mud and went into the back of someone. The damage wasn't to bad and no-one was hurt. After exchanging details we got back on the road to the office where we finished the day doing a bit of work in the office. When Melissa and Jo got back in the office we all went to Spur where we had all you can eat Ribs and Wings again which was really good, and had a great time chatting to eachother. We then left there about 10 O clock and headed home to watch prison break.

Speak soon

Jon x

Underground Soccer - Wednesday 10th

Today was up and ready to leave by half past 8 to leave for a meeting. Got in the car and car didn't start. Then Tim turned up and rolled down his window, and then it fell out! After putting the window back in Tim dropped Blake and I at the office to finish off some of the work that we had left to do. Mark then arrived at the office after having his car fixed and only cost R15 for the spare part. We then headed to Johannesburg and drop Mark Slassenger off for a meeting at someone's house. Blake, Mark and I then headed to the city centren where we had a VIP ticket to an Underground Soccer Event. We couldn't find the place at first and was about to go home when we saw a few people over the over side on the road kicking a ball about. Turns out the Underground Soccer event was on the fourth floor of the museum! When we got up there, there was a square cage in the middle of the room, and a load of different things around it. They started off the event with some break dancers, who were really amazing and was followed by a human beat box man who was South Africas best. The soccer tournament then kikced off. It was 3 vs 3 and there was an empty oil drum in each corner. They had one square hole in the side and if you got the ball through it you got 2 points for your team. There was also hole in the top and if you got the ball through that you got 1 point for your team. Also if you got nutmegged you were frozen out of the game for 3 seconds, which is a pretty long time when the game is only 5 mins long. Half-way through the tournament they had some football jugglers showing off a few tricks that were really impressive. They then continued with the tournament. But we had to leave early as we had to pick Mark back up and also we hadn't had any lunch and it was quarter past 4. Just round the corner was a petrol station, which also had a Steers in it. So I had a double cheeseburge, normal cheeseburger, and chips which filled me up well. We then were caught in traffice for about an hour and a quarter trying to make a 15 min journey. After picking mark up we then headed back home, which was another 1 and a half and dropped Blake and Mark off. Then Mark and I headed to the young adults cell group and spent some time reading luke 12 and then praying for one another. It was a really good time, and really helped me to grow beign around older guys and learning from them. We then headed back to the flat and straight to bed as you can guess we were pretty tired from the busy day!

Speak Soon

Jon x

Prison Day - Tuesday 9th

Was up at 7.00 am today and left by 7.30 to pick Mark Slazenger up from the airport. Mark helps to run the Hope Academy down in Capetown and is in charge of the Hope Academies Project in Africa. Whilst waiting for him to come through at arrivals, Mark and I grabbed a coffee, and a huge muffin that they warmed up in the microwave to melt the chocolate chips. Was so good! We then met Mark and headed back to the car when I realised I had lsot the car parking ticket so and to pay a lost ticket charge, which was supposed to be R400 but they only charged me for how long I'd been in the car park and was only R13! Afterwards we then got back on the road and headed to the prison, and arrived just in time for the coaching session on attacking down the wings. At 1pm the session then finished and Mark Versey and I then headed back to the office to finish off a few things for tour. At 5 I then headed to get my haircut at Woodlands. So I thought I wash going to go in have my hair cut and then go, but they had other plans! First they washed and conditioned my hair and then they applied some liquid gel stuff that wasn't soap or conditioner and she told me to follow her, so I did and she showed me to a chair and said "I'm going to give you an Indian Head massage now, is that ok?" so I thought why not! It was a really really good head and neck massage, not that I've got any previous head massages to compare it too! She then took me back and washed my hair again, and then cut mystarted to cut my hair, by this time, I'd been in the hairdressers half and hour already. I had good chat with her about what I was doing out in South Africa and why. She seemed really interested, although she might just have been being friendly! When it came to paying I was shocked at how much it cost as it was only £15 for all of that! I then headed home to have a quick dinner before rushing out again to the youth cell that Gabi had invited me out to. I had a great time reading through the bible with them and some in depth conversations. I got to meet a few more young people properly that I seen in church but never got to talk to properly. We then headed back home after a pretty tiring day out and went straight to sleep when I got in.

Speak soon

Jon x

Sunnyside - Monday 8th

Today was a pretty relaxed day, got up at 10 today and washed the football kit and did some washing of my own as well. I then left for sunnyside in the at 1pm with Greg and Blake. When we got there we was chatting with Ndungo, and he decided to call the practise off, INCASE it rain! We stayed and chatted to the some of the Sports teachers for a bit and discussed soccer and what we could do with our team to help them progress further. We then headed back to the church quickly and spent some time just chatting with some of the Ignite guys, who are doing a sports year out with the church. I then headed home and did some ironing quickly before heading to woodlands to get a special bandage for my knee to help it heal quicker and with less pain. I then headed back home to have some dinner before going to be and watch prison break in bed.

Speak soon

Jon x

Inter Church Football Tournament - Sunday 7th

Up at 8 today and went to the hopsital to see Sibacarzi. She was feeling well and the operation was a success and has to take it easy now. Mark and I then had breakfast in the hospital cafe before heading to the church. We began to cook our food on the BBQ and had some really nice lamb chops and some chicken kebabs. We then commenced the church football tounament and we had our first game against a decent team, but we managed to win 2-0. The 2nd game we played we won 3-0 and I accidentally gaves someone a nose bleed when they got in the way of one of my shots. The 3rd we won 3-0 and Dave managed to accidentally trample someones hand, so that they couldn't lead worship at the evening service. I managed to score 1 goal in each of the games which was a nice bonus. Winning all 3 games meant that we qualified for the final against the winners of the group. Just before the final in another game, Riaan, the church pastor collapsed with a snapped achaeles tendon and was rushed to hospital and will have surgery tomorrow morning. This also meant that the preacher for the evening service was also unable to be at the service. After it had calmed down we then commenced the final against a really good team, it was a close match and most of our teams legs were tired from playing today and yesterday, but Greg managed to rifle in a goal 1 minute from time to win the game for us. After helping tidy away all of the stuff Mark and I then headed back to have a wash and then headed back to the evening service, where there was another person leading the worship, and Bruce preached again. The service was a celebratory service for the church has been running 10 years, and 3 years in its current venue. It was a really good meeting and was very interesting and lots of fun. There was also a guy there for the first time who just saw us playing football that afternoon when he drove past and decided he wanted to come to the church in the evening. We then headed home for dinner before heading to our beds to recover from all the football over the weekend.

Speak soon

Jon x

Eastside Football Tournament - Saturday 6th

Was up at quarter past 7 today, thats just not natural for a saturday! We then left the flat at 7.45 to go to this Evagecube training course, that we are hoping to build into our sports clinics. The evangecube is a little cube that has different pictures on it and it tells the story of Jesus through pictures, which helps to explain the gospel to unbelievers. Afterwards we then headed to a Wimpy for a full English breakfast to give us energy for the football tournament at 1. Only two teams turned up however, and so we just played 3 individual 7 a side games. It was Eastside against AIS so was a bit of rivalry, and we only had 7 players and they had 12 players so they had a big advantage. AIS won the first game 2-1, then the second 2-1. During the 2nd game Sibacarzi landed awkwardly and dislocated her elbow, which wasn't to pleasant to see. She was rushed to hopsital to have an operation to put it back. We then continued with the third game and won 2-0, so they didn't really take much advantage with the extra players. I managed to score 3 goals over the games which was nice to get my first competitive goals in South Africa. We then rushed back to the house to wath England beat Kazakstan 4-0 and hung out with Auberry and Jaque, until the early evening. Had a good laugh with them and was good time with everyone. When they left I had a quick shower and head to my bed with aching muscles. Got another tournament tomorrow as well! should be fun!

Speak soon

Jon x

Mamelodi - Friday 5th

Lay in until 8 today and then headed into the office to finish off the Garsfontein Clinic with Blake, and also started the Midrand Clinic that we are also sorting out. Come 12pm, Blake and I headed out to Steers to grab some lunch and got a birthday present for Claire as well. We then headed back to the office where we were picked up by Gabi, who is one of the sports interns at Eastside Community Church, and then we headed off to Mamelodi. Mamelodi is a township area and the guys go down to the local park there and play football with the boys and the girls do some painting as well. And then afterwards they hand out flavoured water and oranges to all of the kids. It was such a simple idea but so effective. Also before anything starts they always have a bible sutdy time where they sit down in the middle of the park and read the bible together. It was such a good time. We then had to head back to the office, and we had a game of Pinch Mini. its basically the same as the UK one, that whenever you spot a mini coope you get to pinch the person next to you, and if yu see a beetle you get to punch them. It was of course played in a friendly christian way, and no-one was hurt. When we got back to the flat I had a quick shower before getting ready to go out to the cool beans youth group with David and Claire. We all had to have crazy hair so I dyed my hair green and Mark did his red. We then headed out to minigolf to meet all of the kids and played to courses each and was a really good laugh and was plent of water hazards which I found a few of. We then headed to Spur afterwards and grabbed some Dinner. We then headed back home and went straight to sleep because got an early start tomorrow.

Speak soon

Jon x

Prison Football Match - Thursday 4th

Up and left by half 7 today, and picked Melissa and Jo up to head to the prison. We all met just out side the prison before going in and signing in. We had a quick warm up before beginning the match, I volunteered to be a sub with Greg, and Tim. AIS scored the first goal after breaking through on goal before the Hope Academy equilised with a headed goal from a cross. I was then subbed on after just 15 mins as Blake got tired in the heat and we were playin roll on roll off subs anyway. Started off on the right wing running up and down, which was really tiring, especially at the altitude and in the heat. We then had half time and went a rested in the shade for 10 mins. We then commenced the second half, and I started of at right back which was nice because it didn't involve too much running for me. We the caught the Hope Academy on the break and went ahead again. I then moved up into midfield for the last 5 mins to give some of the old guys a rest. The games finished 2-1 to AIS which we weren't expecting to win. Afterwards the inamtes shared some testimonies and singing with everyone which was really great to hear how God is working in their lives. We then said our goodbyes and headed back to the office where me and Blake finished off our preperation and planning for Garsfontein school. Mark went out for a meeting and I had a quick power nap on the sofa in the office before we headed home, jumped in shower and had a wash. We then headed out to the shopping centre to get Claire a birhtday present for tomorrow, and then grabbed some all you can eat ribs and buffalo wings at spur. So was a pretty tiring day, and now going to go to sleep.

Speak soon

Jon x

Office Day - Wednesday 3rd

Got up at half 5 this morning, and headed to the airport to pick Blake (the new intern) up from the airport. When I got there I couldn't find him and didn't even know what he looked like. I even went up to some random person who I thought was Blake and just got a weird look. Prett embarrasing, so didn't do that again! Eventullay met up with him as he rang Mark from a pay phone. We then headed back to the flat to pcik Mark up before heading into the office to have some training on how to set up and run a clinic, and all of the preparation that needs to be done. After the training we then headed to Menlyn to grab some lunch and some bits a pieces that we needed before heading back to the office to put all that we had learnt into practise and began to prepare for the Garsfontein School Clinic that we had to run and oversee. At 5 o clock I then headed to drop Blake to his host family, and typed the address into the sat nav and ended up outside the Ministry of Defense HQ. But then after a quick phonecall, found out we were pretty near to the address so ended up ok. Got back to the flat and then had a quick dinner before Mark and I headed out to a cell group. It was a good evening and we shared a time of bible reading followed by a time of socialising with one another. I'd knew most of the guys anyway, other than two people and there was only 6 of us in total anyway. We chatted about everything and anything late into the night. Before we called it a night and headed back to the flat for a good night sleep.

Speak soon

Jon x

Office Day - Tuesday 2nd

Had a lay in until 9 today, and got up and had a wash and got ready for the day. Then Mark and I sat down and had a meeting about what needs to be done for the tour and who's going to do what. We managed to create a list of the things that needed to be done and when as well. I then dropped Mark at the hospital at 12, and then headed to the office where I had lunch before cracking on with the list of thing I had to complete. Good news is that I managed to get all of those things completed. I then picked Mark up from the hospital after his operation at 5 and we head to steers to grab something to eat because Mark hadn't eaten all day and then headed back to the house. At half 6 we then had dinner with everyone and then had a game of tumbling monkeys before heading back to the flat to sleep because got an early start at 5 am to go pick Blake up who is another intern coming over to help and also get involved with the tour.

Speak soon

Jon x

Sunnyside - Monday 1st

Got up at 7 today for an 8am meeting, however it was delayed because when I arrived at the office Tim asked if I could go an pick someone up whos car had broken down. So after picking him up we finally got underway at 8.45. The whole AIS team was there that works out of the office. So it was a good oppertunity to meet everyone else who I hadn't already done so. Mak lead the devotion for this meeting and we looked at using our spiritual gifts for God, which was carried on from what Bruce had said on Sunday. We then looked at the up and coming month and finalised some more things for when the tour group arrives, so it was quite an exciting time thinking about what the tour and what the whole build up recently has been about. I then headed to Sunnyside in the afternoon with Greg and we had a chat with coach Ndungo who is the Head of sport at the school. He is a christian as well which is always nice and helps Greg and I out with some of our ministry. He also prays with us when we pray with all of the boys at the end of the training session. Todays training session was mainly based around two on one situations and how two utilise these oppertunities and also how to defend them. We then closed in a match between under 10 A and under 10 B. The training today ran a lot smoother and there wa very little problems with the kids which was really good. Got back to the flat and had a chat with Mark who went into hospital today to try and remove the stint that they had put in but the couldn't so they are going to have to opperate tomorrow in order to remove it. Please pray that it will be successful and that he won't have to have any more opperations. He is also in a lot of pain right now where they tried to remove the stint but couldn'.

Speak soon

Jon x