Artikels/Articles
Weird things happened #Matlala2013
Many believe diversity is our biggest problem in SA. We believe it could be our greatest blessing - there can be no harmony without diversity!
“Hier is dit nie van belang of iemand Griek of Jood is nie,
besny of nie besny nie, andertalig, onbeskaaf, slaaf of vry nie.
Hier is Christus alles en in almal!” (Kol.3:11)
Unity is possible!
#Matlala2013
160 weirdos serving the Matlala community together in unity and diversity . . . zulu, sotho, afrikaner, german, french, tswana, canadian, congolese, sudanese, american, xhosa, phedi, colombian . . . 9 tuks students, 3 homeless guys from sunnyside, 3 ng dominees, 1 ags pastor, 1 vet, 3 teachers, 2 nurses, 9 shelter kids, 27 echo house youth, 11 local youth, 1 accountant, 4 unisa students, 1 bus driver, 1 engineer, many "others" . . . (Col3:11)
What they say:
Ek gaan nie jok nie, die Matlala-uitreik was seker die hardste wat ek nog OOIT gewerk het, maar die resultate was TOTAAL die moeite werd! Ek het die mees amazingste mense ontmoet (en vriende om te hou), daar was geen ouderdom- of rasgrens nie, ek het ure lank tyd spandeer saam met pastore en leiers wat meer as bereid was om hulle wysheid met my te deel en my te bemoedig. Die plaaslike mense was opgewonde om oor Jesus te hoor en wou nie hê ons moes terug gaan huitoe nie. Die Here raak jou oral aan, in die township en in die kampterrein, die Here het sy mag en liefde aan ALMAL op die kamp bekend gemaak. Prys die Here vir ECHO in my lewe.
- Pieter
Dit was vir my so 'n amazing belewenis gewees! Die gevoel van gemeenskap wat ek beleef het op Matlala kan ek nie in woorde besryf nie. Liefde vir jou naaste word ‘n realiteit, oordeel en verdeeldheid val weg. Wat ‘n belewenis om "net te kon wees” sonder voorbehoud. Dit is wonderlik om die verskillende ouderdomme en kultuurgroepe te sien saamwerk, met God as skakel. Die woorde “we can learn most from those the most different from us” was dwarsdeur prakties toegepas. Wanneer ‘n mens se oogklappe afgehaal word is dit onmoontlik om weer dieselfde na die wêreld te kyk. Ek is opgewonde en hoopvol om te sien hoe die liggaam van Christus nuwe grense breek.
- Nadine
It was not only the biggest outreach in terms of numbers I have attended - more than 160 souls took part over the 10 days of the outreach. It was also unique in that young people from a vulnerable and or disadvantaged background formed part of the outreach - not to mention locals as well.
As God has shown me many times in the past, in the same way hurt is brought about by people and their words and actions so is healing brought about by people and their words and actions…..and at Matlala 2013 my motley crew of youngsters many themselves coming from devastating backgrounds themselves, we were the ones God wanted to use to bring healing in this impoverished community at the “Juventus sports ground” of Matlala District, Limpopo.
Matlala 2013 was without a doubt wonderful experience, with all its challenges ! It is an annual event which I would recommend to everyone, irrespective of your age or background.
Glory to God for His works at Matlala 2013, may we see the fruit of His labour for many years still to come.
- Steven
Mens leer verskriklik baie oor verskillende kulture en het die voorreg om Christus se liggaam daar buite te wees, dis amazing om met so klomp uiteenlopende mense op een plek saam te wees. Dit het my net weereens laat besef hoe bevoorreg ek is, en 'n eenvoudige ding soos 'n warm stort wat ons almal as vanselfsprekend aanvaar, te waardeer. Die mooiste vir my was om mensies te ontmoet wat nie baie het om te gee nie...maar hulle gee hulle alles. Matlala is EENHEID op 'n besonderse manier, en dit is lewensveranderend!
- Rulandi
Serving is a calling but somehow I had found myself being burdened by the call to serve and that feeling worried me!But God validated His calling upon my life during the Matlala outreach and my reason for pursuing it.
I serve through the strength He empowers me with and that strength comes through prayer and seeking God's heart for His people. Now I do everything as unto the Lord!
It was a life changing to me personally. For Alliens to love Alliens was a good a message and the book of James was relevant to me.
- Erick
Matlala 2013 was 'n life-changing ervaring, ek kan regtig voel dat God 'n saadjie in my hart kom plant het en dat ek nou net moet aanhou strewe om die saadjie te laat groei. Ons het een oggend by Matlala deur die dorpie gestap en ek het by myself gedink, die mense is darem baie arm, maar later het ek besef ek was eintlik die arm een. As mens eers sien hoe baie die kindertjies na mekaar omsien en die vreugde wat hulle in klein goedjies vind besef mens wat rykdom werklik beteken. Tydens die uitreik het ek soveel wonderlike mense leer ken, mense wat 'n verskil in my lewe kom maak het.
- Marizahn
In the midst of a taxing year, God reached into my heart at Matlala and reminded me that He is deeply involved in my life. I had an epiphany where I was seeking answers like Job, and then God just reminded me that He was the Creator. I was reminded of James, who was martyred for his faith and so many others who obediently laid down their life. The one morning we were speaking about God using His body to work on earth, and I was convicted of times when I conveniently prayed for the poor and hoping that they didn’t notice that I locked my car doors when I saw them. Bearing this in mind I am hoping to become the answer to my own prayers, that I will be steadfast in love and that I will everyday become a living and holy sacrifice.
- Bushy
My belewenis: We serve an awesome God. 10 Days ago, I had no idea what to expect or what to do during this outreach, God is still the faithful one, He came and showed me His grace. So many young lives were touch by His grace. But, once again I realized that God has a plan and purpose for all that were there - all we had to do was show up!
- Natasja
Die hart van Matlala is my daarin geleë dat dit alle grense tussen wit en swart afgebreek word deur liefde. Dit bied mens die geleentheid om te herbesin oor die woord “liefde” en besef wat dit regtig beteken.
- Marius
Die Matlala uitreik het vir my uitreik 'n werklikheid gemaak. Dit het my weer tot die besef gebring dat ons die hande van God is op aarde en dat ons dus 'n verantwoordelikheid het tot ons medemens, ʼn verantwoordelikheid wat strek oor kulturgrense, status en generasies. Matlala het vir my gewys dat uitreik 'n leefstyl kan wees in plaas van 'n korttermyn aksie.
- Jeanri
I found that Jesus is real and telling those Kids about God the Father’s grace, love and How Jesus died on the Cross . . . reconnected us back to God, it got me thinking about my family and friends and how they also need Jesus.
I enjoyed the worship in the evenings. Seeing people reacting and connecting back to the creator. Also the stroies about the persecuted Church touched me. It made me ponder a lot on the grace I have (Philip 2:13).
Matlala 2013 was a great camp and I loved learning from others and hearing al the tremendous testimonies, I am so blessed and challenged to act the Word.
- Happy
Ek dink ʼn groot klomp van ons het weer werklik op ʼn diep manier geestelik gegroei. Daar was bevestiging dat hierdie werklik ʼn langtermyn uitreik is, die uitreik maak ʼn werklike verskil in die plaaslike mense se lewens - op soveel vlakke - maar veral ook in ons eie jongmense se lewens.
Die studiehulp by die “Matlala winterskool" was ‘n goeie voorbeeld van iets wat nog vir jare groot impak kan hê. Die infrastruktuur op die basis het baie gegroei die jaar, met dreine en storte wat ons net so bietjie meer gemaklik laat kamp.
Op ‘n persoonlike vlak het ek ‘n mooi ervaring gehad toe Sippie en Ruben (seuns wat in ons Echo-huise woon) my een aand kom vasgryp en toe vir my gebid het! Trane het gevloei. Dit het my maar net weer laat besef waarom ek so lief is vir die outjies!
- Servaas