It seems like just yesterday that I packed my bags and left for my adventure to South Africa. The flight from New York City to Johannesburg took 14 ½ hours non-stop.

I wasn't exactly sure of what I'd find in South Africa. I knew the country was recovering from apartheid and had a problem with AIDS, but what I wanted to find out was how this affected the hearts and minds of South Africans.

Well, Keith Strugnell, our CBN WorldReach director for Eastern and Southern Africa, had the answers. He invited me to join his staff for their weekly board meeting and prayer time where we stormed the gates of Heaven together for Africa.

The vision for South Africa soon came alive to me as I began my journey around the country. I got to stop by two sewing centers set up by Operation Blessing and several partnering organizations. And I was very impressed with what I saw. The goal of the centers is to boost participants' self-esteem and teach them a trade so they can survive during difficult economic times. This is particularly important right now, since the unemployment rate in South Africa is upwards of 44 percent.

The folks I met in a black township called Jouberton had only been sewing for two days and were already putting together denim tote bags. Now, I'd call that progress! One student Ida seemed especially hopeful about the sewing project.

"This will help me," said Ida. "I will be very excited to see myself go forward with my life."

In Soweto, a well-known community about 2 1/2 hours from Jouberton, I met ladies whose lives were already moving forward -- thanks to the sewing project. After just one year, these women are making jackets for private businesses and Back to School uniforms among many other high quality projects. The great thing about the sewing project is that it's opening up people to the hope and the joy of the Lord, just like the video ministry I visited is doing.

I'm pleased to report that CBN has nine video centers in South Africa -- and I got to visit one at Jabulani School, where 300 energetic students watched two programs produced for CBN's Turning Point show. As a result, about 90 kids responded to the invitation to receive Christ.

Sharing the gospel with kids like this is really important, especially in light of the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Statistics show that currently 25 percent of the population has AIDS, and it looks like the numbers are going to just keep rising. So, one thing that's critical for the country right now is AIDS awareness education. I visited a CBN-sponsored AIDS awareness class at a community center in Soweto, where people were asking a lot of questions and receiving some solid answers, many based on Scripture.

As part of my trip to Johannesburg, I visited Rhema Services Foundation.

After meeting some of the patients at Rhema, I headed to Abba House, a beautiful adoption clinic in Pretoria -- the capital of South Africa. It broke my heart to imagine that six of the 12 babies I saw and got to hold had actually been abandoned. It's another result of the AIDS problem. Many of the mothers who have AIDS and give birth don't think they can handle the children, so they just leave them to die. It was encouraging to see how a little love and care has brought life back into the eyes of these precious babies.

It was equally as touching to see how the love of God brought hope to hundreds of women at two Assembly of God Women's conferences, which I was invited to speak at. First, I got to share with 75 pastors' wives and ministry leaders at a "women in ministry" conference and then with over 500 women from all over South Africa at a conference called "Beauty for Ashes."

You know, there's always something special that happens when women get together and call on the name of the Lord. He consistently shows up and changes lives! And that's just what He did at these two conferences as my friend Linda and I ministered the word of God to women who were hungry for a fresh touch from God.

Throughout my four days at the Good News Conference Center, I saw a lot of women get set free from the pain of their past and empowered to move forward in the power of Christ. There's nothing better than walking in Christ's victory and His accomplishments, not our own. I wanted to communicate this message to the precious women I met at the conferences, and as I made my way around South Africa, I saw that it was a relevant message for the entire country.

You know, after travelling to South Africa, I can say there's only one solution to the problems that plague individual lives and nations -- the solution is Jesus Christ. It's the same in South Africa as it is in America, or anywhere else for that matter. Our world needs revival, and I was encouraged to speak with one pastor in South Africa, who thinks revival is on the way.

"I think the spiritual climate in South Africa is wide open for Christians to begin to reap what for many years others have sown," said Andy Barnard, pastor, Highway Assembly of God Church.

I hope this is the case. The people of South Africa matter so much to Jesus. They touched my heart, that's for sure. It was -- as the South Africans say -- a "pleasure" to travel to this fascinating land. Now, I know how to specifically pray for the people there. Won't you join me in praying for the country of South Africa? Together, let's believe God to heal this land.