Seven Azusa Pacific University students traveled to the Limpopo Province of South Africa for two weeks over their summer breaks to serve in various ministries. The South Africa Global Engagement trip was focused on soccer ministry, but students participated in a variety of other ministries that allowed for individual gifts to be shown.
APU’s Office of Service and Discipleship (OSD) partnered with Jabulani Africa Ministries (JAM) to share the Gospel with young children in an after school care program in a small village called Mavhuza. JAM’s mission is to cultivate leaders who will impact Africa for Christ. Students also visited daycares and churches in the province as well as an orphanage where they shared the Gospel with the teenagers.
Makenna Malkin ’25, a music education major with a minor in honors humanities, felt called to serve on the trip. “I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit to apply,” she said. “I prayed through the application process, and I felt connected to the soccer and children’s ministry component.” Malkin grew up playing soccer and said that many of the other students on the trip also felt called to sign up because of the athletic ministry. Due to a dispute in the village, soccer playing was limited, but this turned out to be a blessing. “It was cool to see how we were able to make an impact with our individual gifts in different ways,” Malkin said about the variety of opportunities available with the change in plans.
APU students were able to connect with the kids in the after school program and teach them about the love of Jesus. Students put on biblical skits, sang, and danced with the children. While the kids were in school, students visited families in the village. “We brought the families plants as a symbol of Jesus’ love,” Malkin said. “We would tell them that as they nourish the plant, they can nourish their relationship with God, and that taking care of the plant is similar to Jesus taking care of us.” Malkin was concerned that the house visits would be the most challenging part of the trip because she wouldn’t know what to say to the families despite the translator being there to help. “The visits became easier once I noticed how God was providing the right words for me to say,” she said.
Throughout the trip, Malkin took time to strengthen her own relationship with God. “Something that our host, Karlisle, asked us was, ‘What might it look like to be obedient to the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit?’ Because of that question from our host, I felt encouraged to practice listening closer and following the initial callings of the Lord,” she said. “I normally have anxiety going to new places, but I leaned into the Lord as a friend and provider. I was never anxious or overwhelmed because God provided me with a sense of peace. I also became less fearful about saying what was on my heart.”
The connections that APU students made with the kids in the village was the most influential part of the experience. Malkin was moved by a girl named Mashudu, a nine year old living with her family on the JAM base as caretakers. “When we went to the local church, she was very quiet,” Malkin said. “She didn’t speak much English, but I could tell that she connected with the worship song, ‘The Blessing,’ we sang to the congregation.”
As a music education student, Malkin saw an opportunity to show the love of God through music while singing around a campfire one night. “I handed Mashudu the guitar I was playing, and her eyes lit up. I felt like I was looking into the eyes of the Holy Spirit because of the love and kindness in them,” Malkin said. “I taught her how to play a bit, and in that moment I saw how the Holy Spirit was using everyone’s gifts to connect people.” Mashudu even sang with the rest of the APU students despite the language barrier.
The night before, Malkin had asked God to show her the reason why she was on the trip, and she felt that her connection with Mashudu through music was the answer. “I believe that was the moment I was called to be there for,” Malkin said. “I’m now interested in using music therapy as a way to share the Gospel with others.” Due to the connection she formed with Mashudu, Malkin believes that the most challenging part of the trip was returning home. “I would love to watch Mashudu grow up,” she said, “but I trust that God will use her gifts in many ways as she gets older.”
Looking back on her experience, Malkin is reminded of Deuteronomy 31:6. “Global Engagement trips are a testament to the Lord going before you, being behind you, and truly walking alongside you,” she said. The love and selfless culture Malkin experienced in the village incited joy and inspiration in her. “Just like the people of Mavhuza, I want to learn how to only need the love of God and the love of others to be happy.”