CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (July 3, 2008) \u2013 A 27-member delegation from Oakdale Covenant Church in Chicago is working this week with a YMCA camping program near Cape Town, part of a mission trip designed to respond to a need for specialized services among not only camp participants, but township residents as well.
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\nThe group left Chicago last Friday and is scheduled to return on Sunday. Participants include educators, medical professionals, ministers and youth from the church. Leading the team is Dr. Ernestine Riggs, associate professor of education at Loyola University in Chicago.<\/p>\n
Oakdale has been sending youth on mission trips to South Africa since 2004. \u201cAfter several visits, the youth ministry group began to recognize that many of the children they were serving were in need of specialized services,\u201d states an update provided to Covenant News Service. Working with the South Africa\u2019s Cape Town YMCA, senior pastor D. Darrell Griffin appointed a committee of professionals who brought together a team of experts to evaluate and responds to the needs.<\/p>\n
At Griffin\u2019s request, Riggs assembled educators from among Oakdale\u2019s congregation, including teachers and school principals, as well as health specialists and individuals to focus on the needs of campers.<\/p>\n
Health professionals are doing health screening and providing training for children and parents afflicted with HIV-Aids. Oakdale\u2019s youth minister, Bryndan Loritts, is working with seminary students from North Park University and Moody Bible Institute as well as church youth leaders.<\/p>\n
Ministry staff are leading various camp activities with a focus on sharing Christ with camp participants. \u201cMany of the youth who have gone to South Africa in past years are committing themselves to mission,\u201d a spokesperson notes. \u201cOne of the unique elements of this program is that each member must participate in a six-week mission class that teaches the purpose of mission and how to serve on the mission field.\u201d That class is taught by pastor Melvin Dillard, who has served as an Evangelical Covenant Church missionary in several locations, including Congo.<\/p>\n
Following its arrival last Saturday, the group joined His People Kuilsriver Church for Sunday morning worship. Monday\u2019s activities for the educational participants included Eikendal Primary School, focusing in areas of literacy and mathematics; Themba Care, working with nurses to help HIV-Aids patients with home care; and township visits to Langa and Guguletu.<\/p>\n
Tuesday included a presentation to parents and educators at the Cape Town YMCA, as well as a visit to the Doetwater refugee camp. Wednesday, the group shared with educators, visited a prison\u2019s educational facilities and interacted with staff, and met with the township mayor and members of the town council.<\/p>\n
Today, the group is scheduled to interact with adult learning classes at Polsmoor Prison and visit the University of Cape Town. Friday\u2019s agenda includes a tour of Cape Town and surrounding areas, with Saturday calling for a visit to Robin Island and the prison where Nelson Mandela was held captive.<\/p>\n
Mission team participants include: Educators: Angela Price-Freeman, Cenietta Mullins, Danyale Woods, Eliza Williams, Elizabeth Ferrell, Eloise\u00a0 Kelly, Ernestine Riggs, Evelyn Wheeler, Janell Hutcherson, Jean Shea, Joy Dillard, Margaret West, Maureen West, Megan Shea, Reginald Burrows, Sharon White, Terrance Smith, Vanessa Wilson; Nurses: Virginia Julion, Felecia Wilson; Bible Camp staff: pastor Bryndan Loritts, Lucretia Loritts, Ashley Smith, Terrance Smith, Jeremiah Hines, pastor Leslie Sanders, Dawn Brame.<\/p>\n