Meet some of our Interns.

Anneka van der Werf | Khayalethu Mbiko | Tapfuma and Tatenda Masewe

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13 2-3

When God gave me this verse that was it! He had confirmed His will that He had set me apart to come over here to South Africa on my first missionary trip (just like Barnabas and Saul), to the work that the Lord predestined for me even before I was in my mothers womb. My Church and Pastors gave me their blessings to come and through their laying on of hands indicated their support and encouragement, prayers, and thank-you Lord, their financial support as well!

So that was it, 2 weeks after I graduated in my home city of Auckland, New Zealand with my Bachelor of International Communication I left for my 3 month intern programme here at African Enterprise (AE).
Now with 9 days to go, I look back on my adventures, and experiences here at AE. I have had an amazing time and met many wonderful people of the Lord. (Thanks Foxfire team for letting me be a part of your ministry all those times!) Not just South Africans, but I have also made friends from Zimbabwee and the USA.

I have also had the chance to further get to know my Great Uncle Michael Cassidy and his family. He is a wonderful, spiritual mentor for me and I thank God that he gave Michael the vision to start AE those many years ago. Through Michael being a faithful and obedient servant of the Lord many many lives have been impacted and transformed. I know personally during my time here, my whole plan of my future has changed. From working in a non-Christian corporate organisation to a Christian one and the possibility of doing a course in Theology, which I never would of considered myself doing!! I have learnt so much about this wonderful culture, and been truly blessed by the hospitality that has been shown to me. I also have had the chance to travel, and seen some amazing sights such as the Bonamanzi and Hhuluwe game reserves, Umhlanga and Durban.

During my time as an intern I worked in the Communications department under a truly awesome women of God, Shelli Foggin. My main task was to help put together the programme for SACLA, which was a lot of fun, but definitely stretching at times!

I am so excited to be a part of AE during this time and I know that SACLA will be an event that changed the nation!! So I really thank God for the experience He has given me and the chance to grow as a young person. For those of you who are considering doing an internship, seize the opportunity as it will be one that will change your life!! Forever!!!

by Anneka van der Werf.

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Being an intern at AESA

It's often amazing how one expects one thing and then is blessed by another. When I joined AE, I had hoped to be enriched and given additional practical and ethical skills in journalism, to support my training through the Durban Institute of Technology (DIT).

But this was not the only benefit I had in store for me at African Enterprise – I found myself being brought closer to the mighty Creator-God through the organisation and its people.

I was also overwhelmed about how organised AE was and how attentive towards an individual they are despite being an international organisation, helping me achieve my goals as an intern.

Exploring the experience

I arrived at the AE Centre on a rather special occasion. AE was celebrating their 40th anniversary, and I had a wonderful opportunity to put into practice what I had been learning at DIT. I knew I had to be accurate and focussed for I did not want to ruin both AE's first impression of me and DIT's reputation.

One of my learning goals as a journalist is to be able to describe graphically, in words and pictures, all that is happening and communicate what I am seeing as effectively as possible. The ability to do this has been provided for me at African Enterprise. Working in my own office for the very first time was like seeing a dream come true, I believe, for ambitious young people like me. From the very beginning I had to carry out my tasks as a journalist, covering events and people in various venues. This brief but intense experience has brought me closer to various prominent people around the world and especially those connected with AE and its international ministry. It also helped me understand the concept of working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and, most of all, made my passion for journalism and communication even more acute.

Being part of AE has empowered me in my chosen career as well as a person.

by Khayalethu Mbiko.

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“We will not forget all we have seen and learned in Africa.”

Tapfuma and Tatenda Masewe, from their names, sound as though they are from Africa, and to look at them one could be excused from trying to guess the country.
But the two brothers are, instead, from Canada, and spent five months as volunteers in Pietermaritzburg, working and ministering at the headquarters of African Enterprise in South Africa.
The bouncy, likeable brothers brought to the PMB team a great many laughs and much hard work – as well as the odd rap song or two.

Tapfuma and Tatenda ministered in many schools and other places where the youth gathered, including Sukuma High School in Imbali, where many children made commitments and received counselling.
They also visited a house church and ministered with David Peters and his team at AE’s Pietermaritzburg LCR (Local Church Resource). “This was one of the things I enjoyed the most,” Titenda said, “It was a really stretching time for me as the ministry with LCR is very demanding, They are always so busy and reach so many people. Their ministry has many different facets – reaching businesses, schools, open-air meetings in the parks and city. At all times one has to be ready to share and testify and use the gifts God has given you. This time opened my eyes to a new dimension of evangelism that I haven’t really been involved in before. This is something that has really changed my whole makeup as a Christian.”

Tatenda said that one of the most interesting things he had seen while with AE was the mission to Sobantu. “I have never seen a revival tent meeting like that before. In Canada, the social system of not imposing on the beliefs of others makes this type of meeting very difficult. But in the tent it was amazing having so many people worshipping God. For the two nights I was there, I saw people really worshipping and responding to the messages, and I sensed God’s spirit moving and I was blessed.”
Tapfuma said he had grown and learnt much in the time at AE. “Apart from the ministry, we were involved in a lot of administrative office work. I was involved in preparing a radio programme for ‘Daywatch’ for Michael Cassidy, and Titenda did some fundraising work with Sandra Pillay.”
The brothers found working with the Foxfires was a very special time. Titenda said he was amazed to see this team of young people using so many different talents to bring the Gospel to children in schools. “We will not forget all we have seen and learned in Africa,” he said. “We have grown and benefited greatly from our time here.”

Tapfuma agreed. “My time here has been blessed, and I know God has grown and stretched me. I would recommend it to any young person who has the opportunity to come out here and be involved in as many things as possible. They will really benefit.”

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