Help Ethan with Camp Living Water in South Africa!

Hello Family and Friends!

I am excited to let you know that I am headed to South Africa this winter (December 29th, 2023- January 13th, 2024) with a team of students from my school where I will serve as a trainer and camp assistant at a summer camp for over 300 students many who attend Musawenkosi Christian Academy (MCA) in Kwamhlanga, South Africa. The focus of this trip is both service and leadership with a priority on discipleship, building relationships and sharing my faith with others. I feel strongly that I am called to serve MCA and I’m hoping you’ll help!

Here are some additional details about MCA, what I’ll be doing, and how I need your help:

More about MCA…

My school, Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, has a long term relationship with the Musawenkosi Christian Academy (formerly known as Mukhanyo Christian Academy). MCA is an independent Christian school located in the Kwamhlanga township of Mpumalanga province in South Africa, 60 km north of Pretoria. The school was founded in 2010 as an outgrowth of two short-term mission trips by groups of Americans in 2005 and 2007. The school was established with 20 students to serve vulnerable children who had lost parents to the AIDs epidemic.

Earlier this year, in February, I had the opportunity to visit the school with my parents and meet the wonderful students and staff there. While there, I was able to learn with and from the students. I even got to share a meal and play a little football (soccer) with them. It was an amazing experience! When I returned home, I gave presentations to my church family and to the faculty and students at my school to tell them about my experience and give them first-hand updates on the work and continued needs of MCA. I also participated in Trinity’s annual "Run for Mukhanyo" event this year, which serves as a fundraiser for MCA.

During my time at Trinity (I just started last year), I have already been able to see both Trinity and MCA evolve and grow from the years-long relationship they share. I am so excited about the opportunity to return to MCA to see friends I made there and to serve the community.

What Will I Be Doing?

Together with a team of Trinity Upper School Students, Trinity alums and MCA alums, we will work with older students from MCA, teaching, discipling and training them to serve as future counselors and mentors for students at MCA, while also building relationships with the campers in hopes of paving the way to continue the relationship between Musawenkosi Christian Academy students and Trinity students and alums for years to come. As part of my preparation for this trip, I trained as a Camp Counselor at Camp Living Water in Bryson City, NC for 1 week this summer. I hope to take skills learned at this training to help me share my faith with MCA students and also strengthen my faith and learn more about the big God who can be with me and also with my friends all the way in South Africa at the exact same time.

How Can You Help?

I would very much like to share this experience with you. As I go, I’ll need a team of people to support me and I would like to ask you to be part of my team through prayer, financial support, or both. Your commitment to pray for me is most important - our team will need your prayers for health, safety, endurance, for openness, and sensitivity. The children and families of MCA also need your prayers for safety, health, provision, peace, and strength.

Our team is also raising funds to cover the costs to run the camp and serve the students. Each member of our team is asked to raise funds (your gift is tax deductible) that will contribute to food, supplies, lodging, and continued support of MCA. My goal is to submit all of my funds by October 15th.

If you're able to give, any donation large or small would be greatly appreciated. All funds will be directed to the "Friends of Mukhanyo" Foundation. Feel free to contact me or my parents for more information.

If you prefer to write a check, please make your check out to:

The Foundation

(Note on check: MCA SA/Trinity Fund, Ethan Johnson)

Your check can be mailed to:

The Foundation, PO Box 51385, Durham, NC 27717-1385.

Again, I am truly grateful for all of your support and I will be sure to send updates on the trip to anyone interested.

THANK YOU so much!

Yours truly,

Ethan Johnson