A day, (Uhm rather) a week at a glance ;-)

What does a day in the life look like?

We have been asked this question many times by many people. There really is no precise or simple answer. But maybe the below will help you understand a bit. 

We realized that in 2015 we had so many "urgent" things come up, that we allowed them to override the "important" things. Our challenge in 2016 to ourselves is to not let the urgent distract from the important. (Instead of putting out fires, we want to prevent them). 

We are gifted at planning and strategizing. And the Lord has always gracefully allowed us to walk out those plans when we submit them to him. So this is our 2016 plan as laid before the Lord and you!

Monday's-it's our farm day-good ol sweat and dirt. It's our way of helping to steward the great gift the Lord gave us in this place

Tuesday's-young adult mentoring and one on ones with teens, then a partners and missionary study. 

Wednesday's-lesson prep, ministering in the dump ground, after school tutoring and young adult school of ministry. 

Thursday's-errands and admin for ourselves and Spark Foundation(our South African non profit-there's a stack of paperwork. It is surprising the amount of info and detail needed to run a simple non profit.)

Friday's-partners meeting and after school tutoring. 

One weekend a month working and serving with our partners and projects 2 hours north of us (5 sites with bible programs and feeding). 

One weekend a month working and serving with our partners and projects 3 hours east of us in Swaziland(2 sites with preschool, bible programs and feeding)

One weekend a month hosting youth in our house for deeper ministry and overnights away from their circumstances. (2-3 kids at a time)

When we are available on Sunday evenings we help our dear friend Darryl with the local church called "grace". It's a great bridge for the white and black community to come together. 

Then we have several teams throughout the year-and we try to incorporate them as best we can, into our daily lives. 

2-3 times a year the local schools have a term break. This presents perfect opportunities to host, teach and work with youth at the farm for several day "camps"

This is not a self promoting post. 

Please know our hearts. We just know that for you(if you haven't been here) it can be hard to understand what you are supporting and why. 

All that we do-we incorporate the Lord Jesus into it. Farm days, meetings, tutoring, feeding, schooling and all activities point to the cross!  Mornings start with prayer and devotionals for farm workers, tutoring grows out of relationship with kids around talking about what the Lord is doing in their lives. Feeding programs grow from the local church and their desire to meet the needs and present the gospel-so we provide training and resources to equip them. It's truly a sweet season we have entered. 

We always try to provide a hand up and not a hand out. 

We are so grateful that you allow us to be here to do this. 

We had a missionary legend named Dave that told us years ago-"relationship is the best spent currency". Oh it's so true! 

At Spark Foundation our moniker is to Engage, Equip and Empower

We truly believe that by doing so-Jesus will be known, seen and felt. And this side of heaven will be a better place for those that know Him and have the Hope that only He can provide. 

New Year, still here!

What an incredible new year!  Have you made resolutions?  Broke them already?  Yah, that’s what seems to happen all too often…Isn’t it amazing that every day, every minute, every second you have a new chance with the Lord.  All debt’s gone with a repentant heart.  Oh what a Savior!  We pray you celebrated His birth with those you love!

We were blessed to have 6 weeks with Mitch’s Mom and Dad here in Africa.  They hit the ground running with Christmas parties and presents for the kiddos and staff(pic of one granny jumping), Chicken handouts(over 1200 families got a Christmas chicken thanks to you), individual time with the young adults we are working with, labor on the farm for Dad and Mitch, baking for Mom and Char, tree planting, mowing(dad running the 73 Fiat and mower), and a game drive through Kruger park (pack of hyenas and pups just feet away from the car)

We start this new year with a jump start.  Today, at near 100*, we mixed concrete, painted walls and prepped one of our partners(Emoyeni) preschools to open next week.  The next few days will be full of great joy.  We will mow the farm, irrigate all trees, and clean debris from trees from recent storms-all to prepare for our farm manager to return from USA without having a stack of work to jump into.  Then we shift focus to preparing the youth house in the township nearest us(Badplaas)-paint, roof patching and more, to open by February 1.  This house will allow us to start a new school of ministry with young adults, and begin an afterschool tutoring location.  So many young people have failed math and physics in 10^th and 11^th grade, we hope to give them a leg up this year.  Half of the teens we have worked with in 2015 are forced to repeat their grade this year.  We pray the Lord will give them great understanding and put teachers in their lives that will love them and educate them well.

Lots more to share, so please keep up with us on facebook!

We love you and miss you.  We thank you for your prayers and thoughts!  All our best,

Mitch & Char

P.s. – the BEST support you can give us is Prayer and a word of encouragment! 

If you like, supporting our ministry financially is easy and gifts are tax deductible.  The fastest way is to make an online donation via www.WorldOutreach.org/donations  and select our name from the list.  You have flexibility to set up automatic monthly gifts or one time gifts.  You can also mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate it for Mitch & Charlotte Hildebrant.

Don't forget to keep tabs on what the Lord is doing in Southern Africa at www.mitchionary.blogspot.com  and www.facebook.com/mitchchar