Our African journey begins back in November of 2009. We were eating breakfast (shout out to the Donut Bank) with our friends the Fullers. As we were eating we discussed God's call He had placed on our lives. We knew we were to "go" but did not feel like God had called us to just start another church in America. We laid our hearts out that day and found that our true desire was to take care of the least, the last and the lost. Africa had been on our heart for awhile as have orphans, so we brought this up and as we all talked it just became something that was right. We would walk in the direction of Africa and see what God would do. So, the Render's and the Fuller's started our African journey
It has been 3 months since the Donut Bank. We have been seeking where the Lord would have us go. At first we thought it was Uganda, but as we began to communicate with people there it was evident that this was not the direction God was leading. We also had gotten in contact with an organization in South Africa, but we were quickly finding out that communication is hard in Africa. Jesse's dad had encouraged him to talk with a Calvary Chapel in South Africa, so he set out to find one. Not only did he find one but sent them an email telling them about us and our hearts.
For the first time since we started this journey we received a quick response back and positive feedback. They were interested in helping us in anyway that they could and wanted to know what we felt called to do. Later that evening Shaun, the pastor of the Calvary, was talking with his wife and she asked him if we moved there what is it that he really needed help with. He had two answers for her first to have people help with the skateboard/music ministry and second to help with the orphanage that they have come along side.
Unknowing of Shaun's needs, Shelby wrote an email later that evening to share with Shaun what we felt called to, he told him how long he had worked at a skate shop and had done skate ministry for years, how he really felt called to minister to this specific group of people. The second thing that is close to our hearts is to work with orphans and how we really want to be part of an orphanage. Needless to say we were both pretty excited that God specifically put on Shaun's heart skating and orphans and that is specifically what God had knit into ours!
Presently, Shelby and Jesse are preparing to go over to South Africa in March. They will be there for 2 weeks. The first week will be to go on a missions trip to Lesotho and minister to the people of that area. The second week will be to "spy out the land" look for some area's for a skatepark, housing, spend time with the church, and they will get to spend time at the orphanage.
The plane tickets have been bought, but we still have financial need for this trip, we need around $1500 more for the trip. We are also starting to raise our financial support for when we move over to Africa. We will need $2500 a month to live over there.
There are big moving expenses involved too, visas, passports, plane tickets, savings accounts to prove for our visas that we can leave if need be, Shipping some belongings...
We are starting to raise money starting now to build our fund so that we can start working toward our move. Please pray for us daily and donate monthly. We know that the Lord is in this and that He will work it out. We could never accomplish this without Him and also your help. You can donate to our paypal account if you feel led.
Blessings
The Renders
