South Africa is our original track and continues to evolve and become an even greater adventure! South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. It is called the “rainbow nation” for its multicultural diversity, yet inequality and poverty are prevalent.
The South Africa experience will include learning about the history of the country, apartheid, and the many different people groups that call it home. Students will learn about and be involved in orphan care, compassion ministries, and partnering with the existing national church.
Much of the ministry time is spent in investing in the next generation of South Africans and serving those that are often overlooked. There will be no shortage of ministry opportunities or opportunities to see and experience the beautiful landscape including waterfalls, mountain hikes, and getting up close and personal with the wildlife that call South Africa home.
Other Trips You’ll Take Include:
NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATION
We begin here. Before we reach those across the world, we reach the people right here in the Dakotas. Most recently, we have worked with Standing Rock Reservation (ND) and Pine Ridge Reservation (SD). On this trip, we partner with established organizations to reach these communities.
INNER CITY
Metropolitan areas offer incredible sights of massive skyscrapers, vibrant lights, and the hustle and bustle of city living. This trip is a full immersion into inner city life. Learn about poverty, various religions, children’s ministry, and street ministry.
ISRAEL
The Holy Land pilgrimage is the trip of a lifetime. On this trip, we walk in the footsteps of Christ and experience sites of the Bible - the Galilee region, the Negev Desert, and Jerusalem. Watch the Bible come alive!
2020 PYB GRADUATE
Meet Abigail
“My time spent in South Africa surpassed all of my expectations. In this beautiful, diverse country, I saw great suffering but, at the same time, so much faith in God. There were many times I went through challenges and was forced out of my element. Even so, there were more times when I stood in awe of what God is doing through the people and organizations there. I hope that for me, this trip will not just be a moment in my life, but a time of transformation that I will look back on and apply what I’ve learned for the rest of my life.”
“Even though I had learned a lot about Africa before coming here and what many people’s living conditions look like, it still did not prepare me for what it is truly like. Our first encounter with this extreme poverty was in a township we visited before driving to White River. I starkly remember a strong smell of filth and seeing miles upon miles of structures that can barely be considered houses. Still, the kids we saw had so much excitement and almost all had smiles on their faces. This was eye-opening for me to see because these kids are still able to have so much joy even in such horrible situations.”
“We would experience this recurring mindset in every community we visited, which was incredible to see. The best example of this I experienced was during a home visit to a lady named Ma Margaret. This woman lives alone, is losing her vision, and is missing a few fingertips on one of her hands. Also, her son, who is her only child, doesn’t come to visit often and doesn’t want his kids to be around her at all. Nevertheless, one of the first things she told us was how grateful she was that we were there and how great God is. Even though she began to cry when she was explaining the situation with her son to us, she expressed that she is still blessed because God is by her side all the time. Before we left, I had the privilege to pray for the situation with her family. There may be great suffering and need in South Africa, but there is also an unbelievable amount of faith and joy. It really does put into perspective how blessed I am to have such an amazing family, education, and so many opportunities. This trip truly was life-changing, and I hope to forever hold dear all of the memories I made there.”
