Ester Stander - The World Race 2006

The Desert Beauty

Fri, 1 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

" O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water"

(Ps 63)

As we were driving through the Sahara Desert on our way to the next ministry point, these words come to mind. Looking around and only seeing dessert, suddenly your spiritual makes the link to the physical. I look back over my life and desert has a totally new meaning. I understand for the first time to be spiritually dry, to be so thirsty for the Lord, to feel so alone, and to now it is only by miracle that He will come and give me water in a dry and weary land

Living in Bishop Thomas house, it was as if the Lord was serving me with His living water. Listening to a man, from a totally different culture and frame of reference I could see the love from within. Working with Coptic Orthodox Church, building new relationships and being part of how they serve within their community. I think in my country our church has so much to learn from this community, especially in unity and serving.

Driving through the streets to the orphanage, you see the simplicity of life. In the heat of a summer day, donkeys are causing most of the traffic jams. Sitting down with the children, Angie translating for us, we soon realize that these children know Jesus, they know their Christian roots, and eagerly show their cross tattoo on their right hands.

Back to our house, your mind is blown away by Bishop Thomas who through a water mug and a cup explains your being in Christ. We need to experience resistance, the dessert, to be totally filled with Christ

" I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, while my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you"

Learning from this community, I realised that I need to ask. Financially I am experiencing a desert stage, and I come to you as my fellow believers and ask for your support. I need about $ 1500. I will appreciate any support.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support...

World Traveller

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

    Ferry, busses, trains and everywhere, I can sleep anywhere. My home or shall I rather say my bed is anywhere. What an amazing priviledge to see sunsets like these and to go into Patras (Greece) and enjoy the atmosphere. Then to go to the trainstation and wait for the train until the next morning.



This was in Korinth, where Paul lived for a while. Being there and walking trough an ancient city you just realised that God has a bigger plan. Back to Greece in Anthens, Kimmy sat with our bags while the yellow and lime teams were getting the information on the race.



       The amazing part of our journey was to go through Israel. Seeing Jerusalem and being there for two days, and walking in the streets where Jesus walked. In your heart and the way you see the life of Jesus, it becomes reality. Standing on the Mount of Olives, seeing all the different places where the different religions pray. We as christians are the Holy Temple, the body, not having a specific place to say this is ours.

Going to the place where Jesus was put in prison and sitting on the stairs where he walked, tears flow because you know here He was thinking of me. Knowing that the people at the wall is still waiting for Him, crying three times a day, and not understanding that He died for them.

Then the best part sitting at the tomb and knowing He is coming back...



Here is a picture of our travel from Israel to Egypt on the bus. We stopped at the Red Sea, and enjoyed the beauty of the World Maker...

Never be the SAME

Sun, 9 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Looking over the sea, looking back over six months of Godly experiences, you need to sit at our Fathers feet and give thanks with a grateful heart. Knowing that God has provided in every need, providing even more than we could ever asked.

We are in Bosnia for the last two weeks, and here is just some pics to share with you guys. The Lord is doing something new, and we are all being blessed. What I have experienced in Bosnia, is even though there is holes in the walls of our lives, God still uses us and makes me new every day.

I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...

Groete en liefde

Receiving More to ever give back...

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Meeting up with family, being blessed and receiving more than you can ever give back.. It is humbling, and it makes me aware of the God we are serving. Reinier is my cousin, and just spending time with him made me realise that what we are doing is important. I think for us being on this trip, you don't always realise that we are having an impact. For me the biggest impact is in my own life as I realise that God is using me to make a difference.

Jubilie, Jaco, Liesl and Cornelli: I don't know how to thank them for allowing me to take over in the house. They blessed us and also just gave back what God has given them. Thank you for being not just friends, but opening your hearts, and letting me feel a bit of home. On the picture above they took me and the lime team for dinner at a Chinese restuarant. It was so Lekker...

This is at the Greenwich, where time starts. It was just amazing realising here that we have been around the world. And knowing that even time is in the Hands of Our Creator.

At the end of our time in London, I became aware of how God brings everything at the right time. I needed to be in London to visit my cousin, but also te receive spiritual food and to get new energy for what is lying ahead. I praise God for the time of restoration and for bringing me to waters of rest.

To the lime team. It was a privilege to travel with you. Never was there a dull moment, and thank you for always taking care of me. To Lana, Jacques and Stefan, thank you for supporting me, it was a joy to be with you guys. May the journey ahead be a journey where God meets you at the places where you are. May He pour out His blessings over you.

Global City: London

Fri, 9 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

   What an awesome experience to be in a city where people all over the world are in one place. London is really a Global City, and even hearing Afrikaans spoken on the street, makes me feel like a bit of South Africa. Last Saturday we did some site seeing. Here are just some pics you can look at.



    I had the prvilege to see some family in London. Thank you guys for spoiling me and just seeing you in London. Thank you Reinier and Sean. Love you alot....



   We are also helping to make a quilt for a couple that just got married. Or I must rather say, trying to help.

We are staying with wonderful people, and it feels like home. It is so nice being in a house, taking a bath and just going to church. We are experiencing a time of rest and also being spiritually receiving encouragement from the people we are staying with. Thank you so much: Jubilee, Jaco, Liesl, Corneli, Henk en Marlene.




   Lastly: Thank you to the Lime team for being my family for this three weeks. You guys are awesome, and it is a privilege to be with you. But I also miss my fellow team mates... Yellow team members, miss you so much!!!!!!!!!

Let the children come ...

Sat, 27 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

God se Woonkamer

Kaalvoet kleintjie,
kinderlaggie omring deur ogies van lewe
Met jou handjie gevou om my hart,
weet ek dat jy meer vir my gegee het,
as wat ek ooit vir jou kan gee.
In jou stokkie arms,
vuurwarm lyfie het ek God se liefde ervaar.
'n Wete om te wees,
'n diep gewortelde geluk,
want al wat ek weet is,
dat ek in God se huis was,
ek was in Sy woonkamer.

Looking back over these last three weeks, I can honestly say that my life will never be the same. How can you look into these children's eyes, see their smiles, look at where they are livingmy innermost being just wanted to cry. Why?

Because they have the most REAL relationship with God, God is their reality!!!

The morning of the race, we started at six. What a day!!! Seeing a part of India we could also experience a Hindu ceremony, where they burn the bodies, after the person has died. This elephant was just walking along the road, on the high way.

While we were there, it was Paru's birthday. She is 20 years old and have never had a birthday party. Kim bought her a cake, we blew up balloons and surprised her with a surprise birthday.


My prayer is that God will always remind me of what I experienced here, and how much he loves His children. It was a priviledge to stay with them.

Thank you for all youre prayers and support.Love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Touching the sky...

Sat, 27 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I am on my way to London, travelling with the Lime team. It has been an adventure,from sleeping on the airports, travelling on a ferry and camping outside of the airport. In all of this God is teaching me something special of His own heart, and just surrendering everything to Him. He will provide and He will give so much more than what we could ask...

Kuala Lampur and the forever Adventure Seekers

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

         We decided for the three days that we are in Kuala Lampur, to make the best of every day. We went to the longest underwater tunnel in an Aquarium. It was amazing. Coming so close to the fish, you just realise that God is bigger that the air I breath e.



   After the Aquarium we went on a search for the planetarium. After walking for 45 minutes we arrive at the Planetarium. But... there was no stars and all that we could experience from space was the anti gravity room.





   After a long day we went and got hamburgers and went to sit on the street corner and ate our hamburgers.

Sharing this with you I just realise that we only have one life, and seeking for Jesus the consequences will be adventure...

Happy Homes....

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

         Our team had the privilege to go help build an orphanage. This was physically the hardest I think I have ever worked in my life. It was hard... But looking back I realise that trough physical labour we ministered even more. For 5 days we lived with the workers, helping them where we can, and at the end when we prayed for our food, they took our hands and prayed with.







       Forsure, driving back from the ocean from our evening swim, I just realised that we are building a happy home for a child. Knowing that we could do just a little for a few childrens happyness.

Monkey ... You want to see Monkey ?

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I was privilege to meet this beautiful girl in the Gypsey village. She just came their for one night to see the sunset. We met and immediately we just connected. She just wanted to know about everything ... We talked for a while and then I had to climb onto a motorbike, to go see the monkey's. When we got their it was to late so the very next night my Friend came again and picked me up to see the monkey's. Trough all this I came to realise that just talking to her and trying to understand her culture, I still have so much to learn from different cultures.

The monkey's were so cute... Thank you my friend...

Undiscovered Pearl

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

         Welcome to the Gypsey Island....On this beautiful beach we stayed for 5 days. Walking into a town where western people are seen as Tourist. We come to live there for 5 days. With the first greeting from a local person, telling us that it is to dangerous to stay their, we walked in faith and practically lived out Luke 10.


The tents pitched, we started working on our assignment. We had to collect certain information about this village for the missionary in Thailand. It was forsure a challenging experience, but for me this was living Luke 10, in faith. We had to experience their culture like: Dude helping the kids getting mussels, eating with families and looking at their daily lives.



We soon realised that their is two things the Gypsey people love: The Sea and Sleeping... At about 11:00 in the morning they go lay down and at about 16:00 they stand up. Their lives are relaxed and their motto is to enjoy life... Have Fun


While we were their the children had holiday. This meant that we had to give English classes to this beautiful children as we try to communicate with each other. They can speak a few english words, and with non-verbal body language we understood each other.





Living with these people, I come to realise that they are jewels. Not one person died when the Tsunami hit Thailand on this Island. When you walk trough these people you are reminded of Jesus walking trough villages and getting fisherman as His disciples. These people live of the sea, their lives are simple. I can not deny that when they open up, you just want to love them.

    Jesus saw the Jewel inside...Luke 10 taught me to see the jewel in this Village

Unexpected Surprise

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The American Girls thank you!!!!!!!!!

As you can see on the photo, we are in KFC . The girls decided to have a girl's night. After the exhausting ride on the bus from our different towns in China we come together in a town. This was before the trip back to Hong Kong. We have been eating noodles a lot, so chicken was an unexpected surprise.

I just want to say in serving each other we experiences God's love even more. For the Girls, thank you for taking out the South Africans.

It was LEKKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleeping Dragon ... Are you awake?

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In China I experienced a lot of turmoil in myself . Looking back and wondering which photo's to share with you, I look at the incredible people we met, at the faces of the children and the beautiful landscape.

I realize the turmoil in me is relating to what is happening in China... God has already stared to shake the China foundation and people's eyes are being opened. The Sleeping Dragon isn't sleeping but has awakened to fight against the Light. To all the people in China that helped us you are the Light... And the dragon has already been conquered.

This is our way back to Hong Kong. Spades (Een of ander kaart game) was being taught to all the South Africans. And it was our sport on the train for the next few days. The time was mostly used to reflect on the month. Brother Yun (The Heavenly Man) was our inspiration and we just again realized the reality of persecution for the family churches in China. Please pray for the people that stay in China to persevere, for the reaction of the Sleeping Dragon was persecution. They have lost their homes, being cursed at, nearly been killed... But they are al light.... The Victory is ours...

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder ?

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

We landed in Kuala Lampur , and got some information about Malaysia. We decided to go into the city; it is about 70 km away from airport, and then decides what to do. After looking at the options we decided to leave for Trang that night and travel for three days trough Malaysia and Thailand.

This is our beautiful train beds to Panang . It is about 12 hours drive from Kuala Lampur. We stayed for two days and the left on the bus for Trang. This is a lady I met on the island and was just sharing what happened to her after Tsunami. She still smiles even tough she nearly lost her house.

She still smiles even tough she nearly lost her house.

This is the incredible sunset. Our God is an Awesome PainterThe beauty of God was revealed to me in His creativeness and looking trough His eyes.

On the way to Hat Yai, Liesl is catching up a little sleep. We arrived in Hat Yai at about 18:00. There were no busses to Trang so we had to wait for the night.
The next day we left for Trang. Poor Dude looks tired, but we are nearly their. We are waiting for the bus.

Arriving in Trang we left for an island close by. This is the boat with our language and us to be taken to the island. We made it alive.

This Island was also hit by the Tsunami. We served the people by picking up trash and just being friendly. I realized that these people are so beautiful. Not looking to the trash but looking trough the trash to see the people.

They are jewels and the work being done is truly worshipping God. The seeds are planted undercover but the ground is fruitful.

Looking trough the eyes of God the beauty is in the eye of the Beholder.
AWESOME

Gogga's...Bugs alive...

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The last two days we RACED. This was emotional and physical challenge. Trough this I knew I grew even though I didn't enjoy all of it.

We were taken to the bus station in Trang and then given the instructions.

On your marks...set...GOooooooo.

We ended up with the blue team on the same bus to travel to a Temple. We had options to trough each other with water because in Thailand this month is festival of Water . So in Afrikaans (Secret Weapon) we decided to sabotage the Blue team. This means if we get the whole team they must wait for 20 minutes. After preparing and waiting patiently we sabotage the blue team.

Clara and Franois left for the 2500 stairs and me, Sanru and Liesl for our 177 stairs. After climbing the stairs we needed to go to Phuket. We knew, unfortunately our taxi driver didn't understand. After two hours of driving around we ended up at the bus station in the same town. We hired a taxi to take us to Phuket. What a mission.

We arrived at Phuket at 20:30. We split up looking for bugs to eat and a place to stay. Here are some pics of Liesl and Fracios eating the bugs.

I know they are not alive, but for me it was poor bugs, we eating them (remember the movie Bugs Alive). After screaming for a while I ate it, and am proud to say I did eat it.

The next morning we had the privilege to ride on elephants. They are awesome and so cute, and very very big.

After Clara's record swim we were last. But nothing will take away the joy off the race.

It was so much fun.

Little Paradise

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

For the last few days we split up into different teams. I had the privileged to be with Kimberley, Stephan, Annemarie and Christiaan (our translator). As we ventured into the unknown, we drove trough white covered mountain tops.


When we arrived at the town (very small) we looked for accommodation. Annemarie and Christiaan went to find a place to stay and found a room. When we got their, the people decided to change the price. We couldn't afford it... So we went and looked for another place to stay. We found another room for 5 people, wooden mattresses, and a whole in the roof. We realized that it was not going to work, and that we would freeze. Kimberley decided that she will use her charm to find us maybe a better room.

Kim to the rescue...she found a policeman that organized the previous room for cheaper. Our new room was heaven compared to the other one and in it was a safe place to pray for the town.


We went to the monastery and prayed (also to do some scouting for tracts). But the next day Christiaan arrives, sharing the news that there is no bus the following day. So we had to pack our bags and run down to catch the bus.

With no bus waiting for us, we decided to take a taxi. We needed to be in another town by Thursday. Driving for three hours in the taxi we arrived at the bus station to by tickets for the next day. To our surprise, the sleeper bus was just about to leave; we had to go from the taxi straight on to the bus. The bus ride was about 20 hours long. Sitting at the back, we had a SHAKING TRAVEL all the way.


On the bus there were three monks one of then demon possessed... Thank God the other two had tied him down, but what a drive. The man was very restless so Ann and Stephan went to pray for him, and he settled down.

Looking back to our little paradise we just see God's provision, and even arranging our travel.

Somewhere in China

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Here is just some photos to show you our journey. After the 21 hours bus drive we are somewhere.The bus drive was awesome and adventerous. Adapting to the air pressure and coping with the throwing up of some people. But we are HERE, Somewhere...We are leaving tomorrow to different towns for 4 days. And the we are going back to Hong Kong.

Isolation or Trapped?

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

For the last six days we have been living in this little village: Dong Xiang. A village with a language but written format. People living in a town but not speaking Chinese. Who are these people?

                                      They are alone, isolated from the world, and longing for the Truth. They
                                         are dedicated to someone who they don't know but are longing
                                        for the Relationship. Let the Truth bring light,
                                                                               FREEDOM
                                                                and knowledge for more.


This is our first little room. We were four girls staying here. There is no washing fasilities and the toilet is........... BAD. It is very cold here round about 0 C or just below 30 F. This is the day just before we left. SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Call for freedom, the True freedom. We prayed in faith and believe in the incredible.

Small, smaller, and the grace

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

We are here, somewhere in China. After 5 hours on a bus and then 36 hours on a train and then again 4 hours in a taxi, we are alive.

Hong Kong was amazing. Here is a picture off Hong Kong and the Light show. It is the biggest light and lazer show in the world.

Here is the picture of my little room in Hong Kong. It was just big enough for me and my bag.

This is a picture of the train and my even smaller room. This was good time to catch up some lost sleep. I love sleeping so I enjoy it so much.

Looking forward to the two weeks here. Keep on your knees and He will do the rest.

Love you

Meeting the Best Producer in Hollywood

Tue, 7 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In our race to L.A we South Africans had the privilege
to stop at Matamoros. Thanks Tommy for you're
hospitality and the girls (Megan, Amanda and Amanda) for
opening you're hearts.

But, we were told about an island
near Brownsville. You guys, we went and it was awesome.
Look at this Awesome God, painting the sky:

L.AWow.UhmWhere do I start. We were blessed. We went to Disneyland. My first time and was blown away. Then we went to the Oscars and guess what, we saw George Clooney!!!!!!!!!!! And then today we went to Dr. Phil.

But above all God has done the biggest miracle. Last night we had a worship time and the Spirit just moved. We were encouraged by each other and just feeling a deep sense off intimacy with God. God just come and blow my mind away, He answered one off my prayers. Receiving the gift of healing. The reason why I am sharing this with you is because I hope that it will encourage your faith. But in the middle off last year God gave me Isaiah 61:1-2. I cried so much, but didn't understand the scripture at all. All I was saying the whole time is God I can't do this. Last night God come and just come and gave the gift of healing. Know I understand. Tears off an ordinary girl was flowing because God chose me, an ordinary person with hurt, to go out and pray for others to be healed. Doesn't this make you think.A Producer more interested in me instead off the show...

Who are you serving?

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Where do you begin when you realize that everything in you is longing to be different? But in being different, I have to lose one thing myself. This has been my journey the last month. To sum it up:

"are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Cor 3:18)

Leaving Guatemala, remembering in my heart what has happened the last month. I some how felt so alone in Guatemala. Not bad but just knowing that God want me to focus on Him. And search for Him. It was so difficult because I always want to be busy, serving, giving. But to be able to give I must first serve my King, who brought me in Awe with His beauty.

Remember the girls me and Kim enrolled for school. I really prayed that the Lord will help us to be able to support these two girls to go trough school. The very last night I met two missionaries. Guess what? They are involved in getting bursaries for children in Guatemala. They promise that they will go see those two girls and make sure that they will be enrolled to school, and will check up on them. It feels like being a mom, knowing that I am responsible to make sure that they will finish school. Amazing privilege

Painting makes the world goes around

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The last two days we were painting a very special room. It is a girl that is 10 years old, but is so small and sits in a wheelchair. I was so sad because I were praying to the Lord to come use me here in Guatamala.Then we met this girl and when we asked her what to paint, she said stars. My name means star, so in just painting ordinary stars, I made her life colourful and she made my world more colourful.

Appreciate Life

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

At last my blog is working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guatamala, the people, the volcano and the blue team: it has been an experience. For me seeing the people in need, the children with smiles on their faces, let me think. Do I appreciate what I have? I wish you could see how these people smile and greets you, even tough most of them lost their houses.

This week we are starting with two houses, two out houses, roofs and painting pictures for a school. We hope to get to as many people as possible. Love you guys!

Walking by Grace

Sat, 4 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Walking by Grace

Introduction

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"

(Matt 19:26)

For me if I look back to where I am now, I realise that God has over and over come, and make this a reality in my life. I were born in Witbank, South Africa, on the 31 October 1981. My childhood was not easy and I had a lot of questions, but my drawing pictures to God, always chatting with Him, in a way hold me very close to His heart. I finished school 1999, and went to study. I studied for four years, and qualified as a teacher. In this year my heart was longing to make a difference, and sharing Jesus with people. I decided to join C-Kruis (13 th Floor in America) for two years. In this period the Lord came and did a lot off healing and raising me up to whom He wanted me to bea Princess. I have beautiful parents that supported me, and a younger brother that has shown me courage. I have the privilege to have a close family that supports me.

I remember helping my mom in hospital when I were small. I remember going with my dad to the park, but some where God just came and He was always there. Looking into my own suffering God teach me to totally dependent on Him, and feeling His heart for people suffering. I now realised that God prepared me for this journey, to go and to show love.

This amazing privilege to go and share Jesus love is something I never thought was possible. To go around the world and being faced with the utmost pain in the world. But in this feeling a little bit of God's heart for His people. But I also realised that this journey is another step towards the dream that God has planted in my heart. My dream is to build a safe place for orphans where adults can care for the children and giving the children a safe place of being. In this vision I want to equip children to go out into the world and be able to look after themselves but also knowing that God made them for His glory and that each one is special

I hope in reading our journey and my own journey you will see God doing the impossible, making people free, giving hope and life, and seeing the wonders of our Almighty Father, Our Savoir Jesus and Comforter Holy Spirit.

Thank you for all your support and prayers.

With Lots of Love

Estee Stander