First time at Footprints PLAY!

India was wonderful, but arriving in South Africa we were exhausted, sick, and ready to rest! Thankfully God put us in the right place for it. We arrived at Footprints P.L.A.Y. on September 1st and it has been amazing every day since! On this Iris base there are: 34 children ranging in ages 1-19, around 15 ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles’ as they are so lovingly called, 10 long-term missionaries, a handful of returning Harvest School Staff, and one Mommy, who all live as one big family. It’s not an orphanage, a halfway house, or anything other than a family because Mama Yolanda has loved and cared for each child as her own. 

The days are divided into morning devotions, then school classes, then reading classes or home classes, then afternoons filled with rest or play time. We have been blessed to lead morning devotions once a week, teach two classes on different days, teach reading classes a few afternoons, and lead the home class. Each week the classes can look completely different! It all depends on what Holy Spirit is leading us to do for each class. For instance a natural science class can either be a nature walk, or bug hunting; a reading class can be all silent or reading out loud in groups; and devotionals could be worshiping the Lord or singing a song about the fruits of the Spirit! There is great freedom in how people teach and get the kids to learn. 

God is teaching us more about children each day, because we are about to become parents and also to remind us how to be child-like in dependency upon our Father. Each day these children need to be taught right from wrong, they need to be fed spiritually and physically, they need to know they are loved, and they need to know who they are in Christ. The wonderful thing is, even though we are ‘adults’ we still need those same things from our Heavenly Father each day. We are still His children and He still wants to give us food, clothes, a warm bed, and all the love we could ever need. 

We will continue to update everyone as we live at Footprints! Thank you all for your prayers, your support, your love, and living your lives for Jesus Christ!

Blessings from the Reckless Team!