81 Days Done. 12 Nations. My thoughts
- Sarah Beriyth
- Jul 17
- 13 min read
Updated: Jul 19
We left 2nd April and it was right and it was God and it was VERY GOOD!
1 April is the fool
2 April is the cool
was we not the fool
as we drove through pools of mud
did we not get stuck in a rut
while ruts kept breaking
my heart shaking as I fell
but what the hell: will not stop us!
Was it poor
poor is deep
mountains high
problems steep
but God does not stop
at deep nor steep
Himself went down to hell
ascended way above
who were we to stop
not to keep going while He was leading?
His proceeding our fuel
black market or free
did we keep riding
with Praises to Thee
Now we are back
Message in boxes delivered
sessions of Hope we left
as we take back the enemy's theft
Is this not our God
to do just that
regardless of filth and poverty
He just sat... with them
walked with them
talked with them
met them in a box
met them in a simple box with sand
cause God is simple
thought too deep, too high
did He know Africa is dust
and simply needed a cry
Simply needed 250cc's
with a bag and a strap
and very few that said YES
in the end: God was blessed
with a few that gave
causing 1000's to wave... and did they WAVE!
... and when you listen you will hear
that old, old song as Africa still sings:
"Thaaaank you for giving to the Lord
I was a life that was changed
Thaaaank you for giving to the Lord
I'm so glad you gave"
Sarah
Wow, what a journey! 16 000km +
12 Nations (we did not enter Angola and Snowy Lesotho)
We encountered no bribes but black market fuel we did!
Thank you for YOUR prayers and giving to Jesus!
I am sure HE is proud of how you chose to be involved.
Upon returning to South Africa, it feels like entering a first-world country. What brings South Africa close to a first-world feeling, and what has elevated Rwanda to become the "Singapore of Africa"?
Some things that immediatley stood out as we drove back into beautiful South Africa:
We have banks, and they work! They have money in the machines.
Our roads exist, and they are consistently maintained.
We have speed limits, and there are fines for violations—there is law!
We use "clean" fuel.
We have running water.
We have hospitals (Everywhere) staffed with trained doctors, not just bush clinics.
We have schools.
We have a variety of motorcycles to choose from, unlike the sole option of a 125CC for all tasks. Without a 125CC, you might only have a bicycle with a single gear, used to transport your family, animals, and building materials.
We have ACCESS! Even people living in shacks in South Africa can access banks, we have PEP everywhere, water, food, malls with everything you want and all you can eat, affordable and decent clothing, petrol stations, etc. If you want chocolate, you can get it. If you want salt and vinegar chips, you can get them! We mostly ate beans and pasta.
Most South Africans have smartphones, unlike the rest of Southern Africa.
We have it all.
And we have access to a Bible in every town.
We started with 7 bikers from Stilbaai to Botswana, and then from YWAM Windhoek, four of us to the rest of the nations, my cousin, my brother, my friend and I.
As you know, 3 of us that went had no motorbikes, no lisences... and Rianni and I have never been on motorcylces. (I only drove scooter in Thailand). God did an amazing miracle providing 3 motorbikes.
The Objective: Take SandBoxBibles to all of the bases.
BEFORE I continue with the 81 days report,
guess what!
I have to fly to TOGO West Africa!
WHAT FOR?
University of the Nations, College of Bible Engagement meeting. As the college processed in prayer where to go, God showed Togo.
It is super expensive. My travel agent is trying her best to get my a flight to the city LOME under R20 000 I U$1200 with Air Sengal or Air Ethiopia. To fly into nations in Africa from Cape Town is not cheap. I will talk about this tender point below because this is a TENDER point... I am referring to YWAM Together that has never been hosted in Africa.
I believe today, this is one of the CORE REASONS why God had me and my team driving through Africa, especially with motorcycles.
One more note -
NEW one week TRAINING BY URstory SandBoxBible
To almost everyone's surprise, after we completed a session, the common comment was: "Oh, This is not for children"
This outreach demonstrated that the SandBoxBible filled a significant gap in Africa, where countries are heavily evangelized but lack discipleship. As I trained at one base after another, tears were shed nearly every time we presented the box, bringing people into a FRESH encounter with God! The strong desire to experience the Lord was particularly noticeable.
A 25-hour, one-week intensive course is underway, and in 2027, SandBoxBible training will commence for those who wish to use the box in outreach and conduct Bible study programs with it as a visual tool.
Our Unique Approach: The Sandbox Bible
We bypass traditional, text-heavy lectures and move straight into an immersive, multi-sensory encounter. The Sandbox Bible is a unique, hands-on tool that beautifully weaves together four powerful elements:
Scripture Engagement: Bringing the text into a physical, visible space.
Lectio Divina: The ancient, prayerful practice of listening to the Word with the ear of the heart.
Sandplay & Miniatures: Using sand, figures, and simple toothpicks to let people physically "map out" biblical stories and see where their personal lives intersect with God's narrative.
Transformation Prayer Ministry (TPM): A gentle, precise approach to identifying the lie-based hurts that surface in the sand, allowing Jesus to replace them with His absolute Truth.
By moving biblical truths into the sandbox, abstract concepts become tangible reality. It is a highly practical, visual way for anyone to hear God's voice clearly and safely.
Equipping You to Go: The One-Week Facilitator Training
To take this tool to the ends of the earth, we have launched a brand-new, One-Week Facilitator Training Track.
This intensive, hands-on week is specifically designed to train and encourage missionaries, leaders, and pioneers to go directly to the places where people cannot or do not like to read.
During this week, you will be equipped to:
Confidently facilitate Sandbox Bible sessions using both Old and New Testament story-maps.
Navigate emotional roadblocks using integrated TPM foundations.
Launch oral Scripture engagement projects in unreached or low-literacy communities.
81 DAYS - 16 000 + km
The Word of the Lord was:
"Travel to Arusha on motorbikes and demonstrate this to YWAM." As we embarked on the journey, certain things became clearer.
Many villages are inaccessible, even with 4x4 vehicles. I'm glad we didn't use a recovery vehicle, as the roads were simply too rough. The Zambia clip showed this clearly.
We reached villages on our bikes and were warmly welcomed by the people. Along the streets, people waved enthusiastically! My cousin, with his eccentric beard, opened doors for us like never before. The African men loved it. This made me reflect! The contrast between the typical western clean look and my cousin was striking. Even trucks honked, and children were thrilled. I really think this broke down the religious-missionary barrier—we were the wild bikers.
The expressions on their faces were priceless when the two women removed their helmets. In Africa, it's completely unheard of for women to ride bikes, as it is typically reserved for men. One man was openly hostile towards me when he realised I was a woman after I took off my helmet. The children just stared in disbelief, especially the little girls, as if we represented a future hope they could aspire to.
I will always remember the moment we told the YWAM ladies at one base, "you can do it," and how they leapt from their chairs, raising their hands and shouting from the back - YES! We can do it! It was as if we had given them the permission to break this cultural taboo.
By the time we talked about Jesus, we had a captivated audience, even at the YWAM bases! Every staff member attended our presentation. WOW!!! Staff from nearly every base were present. They canceled staff meetings or had us speak at community gatherings. They canceled evening sessions for us. It was very special. God truly met us and the audiences wherever we went.
I think a reason why Africa so warmly welcomed us is: there were no "barriers" between us and the nations. Just us, on bikes... Vulnerable. Open. "You came to us like this... WELCOME!" Our 250CC bikes were considered "big." In South Africa, we're like mosquitoes on the road, but there... it worked.
"Why Arusha?" The base where 11 of our leaders died in a road accident. It took me a while to understand why Arusha. A few things happened here, but two stood out. The prayer time on Mount Kilimanjaro. Little did I know that the base leader Silas would join us on his own motorcycle! He took us to a prayer cabin where the last person had a 40-day prayer and fasting session! Talk about God preparing the way for us.
When we finally arrived, we had a wonderful time of prayer - declaring end to all the deaths - and safely descended the muddy, slippery, dangerous mountain. Silas on the back of my bike was most likely one of the most scary things I have ever done! Unfortunatley we lost the phone that took this footage! Road were to rough and we could not find the phone that got lost during all the heavy bumping, sliding mud riding road!
During our 7-day stay in Arusha, we spent 3 days with Silas, driving over 700 km through remote areas, over mountains, visiting YWAM bases, and witnessing wonderful YWAM initiatives in the Tanzanian wilderness. I'm convinced angels were working overtime during those three days! I had to navigate over rocks and riverbeds filled with round stones... then climb up craziness, just hitting the throttle so momentum would carry me higher. Oh, it was fun. Then Silas said to me, "I think this is God's birthday present to you for your 50th." I couldn't agree more. Apart from skydiving, what else gives such an adrenaline rush day after day! Best 3 days ever.
We also visited the Bushmen, and here I felt an EXTREME challenge regarding how we perceive "poor Africans" and how we, as western missionaries, interact with them. We met a family with children, carrying bows and arrows The parents told our translator that if they didn't catch a bird that day, there would be no food. The children were about 4 and 5 years old. Updates YOUTUBE video on this later this year.
Something else I did not know. Most African bases have "Farming God's Way" as part of their structure, growing corn, raising chickens, etc. My cousin is a farmer in the Free State. If you're familiar with South Africa, you know these farmers significantly influence the country's breadbasket. They know how to farm. Having him with us, offering his observations and input, gave me a unique perspective.
Having 3 non-YWAM members on my team provided insights I wouldn't have gained when visiting each YWAM base. Visiting family with family is one thing. Visiting family with invited strangers—you know the feeling! You see and experience your own family, their views, their environment, and pets differently. Most of us put the pets away when strangers visit our homes. There's a reason for this. To experience a family "raw," with all the chickens running around... this is how I summarize my experience. I had so much to digest.
MAP: Green dots are the Christians. Red dots are where less than 2% have been reached and 1 Billion are less than 1%. Basically 0.
This is when I really starting thinking... about Farming God's way, the things we think we bring to Africa, and what we actually bring. (Think about the green dots yet it remains the poorest). I just finish watching the new 2026 TV show "Little house on the Prairie" on Netflix and I felt history keeps repeating itself over and over. Even in missions. The new revision series show relationships with Indigenous tribes contrary to writings and experiences. The Ingalls family had a strong faith in God but had to come to terms with dicidions made based on good faith but huge implications and consequences. I will not expand on this in this news letter but want to put something into writing.
About cell phones and missions. No, not everyone in Africa have a phone. We hear how everyone now have access to a phone and internet and how we can evangelize the world. NO. NOT so in Africa. We left our "phone resources" with the bases because in the villages we visited (many of them) basically no one had a smart phone. This really threw me off balance!
From Zambia, as we drove, a thought did not leave me. I guess I had 7-9 hours on a motorbike all by my self to think for 81 days!
Globally, not just in YWAM, we hear the word "It is time for Africa" "Global South" "New Missions force from Africa" "Most Christians live in Africa"
Look again at the updated image on the state of missions globally. (Joshuaproject.net) What I am pointing out is the over green dots of Africa. (Dark green is Christian). No wonder everyone says that the next mission force is from Global South, Southern Africa where 80% is Christian. Yet the most green, are in the poorest nations in the WORLD (including Burundi = 80% Christian). We saw the children. We saw the malnutrition. We saw the overcrowded schools with 3 teachers per 300 kids... Day after day we drove past villages and the villagers having to walk miles for brown water to drink, cook and wash with. I am not even going to mention the roads. No smart phones. No internet. No Bibles.
Where were the missionaries staying to disciple them? STAYING to disciple them... not churches flying in during holidays preaching sermons that these southern africa nations have heard with every missionary visiting... I am talking: Discipleship Programs.
The CONTROVERSIAL question I asked myself: We want Africans to have nice houses, roads, cars and large crops. What if we are wrong? What if we are wrong? What if we just discipled them... without bringing "a better life" What is a better life?
Understanding the Bible leads to a better life because Spirit filled discipled believers can follow God and his leading in his nation.
THAT'S IT.
Where we went, people prefer not having watches, living by the sun's shadow's time... A base leader mentioned, "When I pressure my African staff, they leave." Wow, that really puzzled me. I made an effort to think without my cultural bias... and I did not like my own conclusions.
While visiting the Bushmen, I inquired why they don't keep chickens, as it would provide eggs for breakfast and help avoid hunger. To my surprise, they explained that they don't want chickens because they would die while the family is out hunting. This revelation drastically changed my perspective on Africa. This was the moment my thinking about Africa took a massive turn.
"Is my better their better?" Is this why everything goes to pot when westerners leave? Country after country I saw the remains of the day... and it bothered me. It bothered me until I met the Bushmen... I don't have the answers, but at least I can begin to reconsider how I approach these questions.
So... in missions:
Why do we continue to hear that Africa is the next missions force?
Moreover, it's concerning that YWAM, despite hosting GLOBAL YWAM GATHERINGS for years, has never held "YWAM Together" in Africa. This highlights the issue: it's too impoverished, too costly, and the roads are in terrible condition, making many areas inaccessible. I've experienced this firsthand, driving 16,000 km on those roads. And I have to spend R20,000 for a meeting in Africa in November!
But we cannot leave it at that. God can provide for all.
The base leaders and the staff are tired.
They struggle.
Yet we keep going.
We keep going.
We keep going.
There is a glimmer of hope:
Consider Rwanda, the cleanest country in Africa, demonstrating that AFRICA CAN transform. Rwanda is inviting all nations to visit, actively encouraging them to come. Most surrounding nations can go there by bus. It is possible.
Botswana - see you soon again!
Where to next? 2027
God willing we will take boxes to Angola, and drop more boxes in Botswana on the way. I will run a week seminar before we leave. The March April holiday in SA seems a good time. Those who do not have motorcycles can conduct an outreach after the week training somewhere here in the Western Cape. Watch this space.
For this to take place I have a prayer need - CLASSROOM!
Prayer / giving list:
I am setting up a new classroom where Rianni will teach English (Tesol) as part of an outreach into this community. I will conduct the seminars for the SandBoxBible from this classroom next to my living room (which is also my office).
The stairs leading to this classroom need replacement. We will construct 7 concrete steps instead of the current brick ones, ensuring safe passage for both young and old. (I HOPE that this building will one day belong to URstory NPO. 1million U$ to purchase and upgrade this building to an ongoing Missionary Training Facility is doable...)
All the slowkou and motorcycle bags/equipment in this room require a new location, so I will need to buy a small portable garden shed. There's one available for R29,999 ($1,800)on Takealot, measuring 2.4m x 2.4m, which will fit perfectly in my garden area not covered by the slowkou community tent.
Would you be willing to pray and ask God if you should sow into this? He can only say yes or no. Will you ask...
Flying to TOGO for face to face college meetings - R20 000 for flight
Needing or Wanting? You decide if God speaks to you. I leave this one with Him but do want to make this known.
With luggage and sandboxbibles, it became a need for safety.
We completed our trip on 250cc motorcycles. This was an incredible experience for someone like me who has never ridden a bike before. We headed north to Botswana, trying to avoid most of the N1 and N2 traffic and trucks. In South Africa, we drive at 120 km per hour on our national roads.
It became apparent that with our heavy luggage for these trips (we are far from finished), the 250cc with luggage really struggled to overtake trucks, which is dangerous.
I don't want a bigger bike, but I do need at least a 450cc to pass all these trucks. Stilbaai is located on the N2, so I can't avoid our national road.
Is it reasonable to fundraise for a 450cc, which weighs nearly the same as the 250cc? I will sow my bike to someone I know is financially struggling. After researching, the CFMOTO 450cc stood out. It is light for ladies, but strong enough to bypass trucks. They are not availabe 2nd hand yet. R120 000.
I can only trust that God will work this one out through whom He chooses. I leave this with him.
Giving:
ABSA 907 558 0094 Savings.
or scroll down for FNB NPO details.
Mention what it is for.
Steps / Classroom
Little shack seeing there is no garage.
University Meetings in Togo November
Buying this building for URstory NPO leaving it for generations of training!
For those who do not know, I am a full time volunteer. My friends and Sponsors keep me in the field. Some choose to give their tithes to missions. You can make this an option.
If you live in Stilbaai, come and pray with us 3PM every Friday. Our focus: missions.
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