My weeks are somewhat becoming a routine – which is nice. However flexibility is still key here! The kids that I home school in the mornings were not consistent this week because their dad (who is on staff with All Nations) got the mumps! This opened up a few mornings. I filled them with helping with the work happening here in the house and on Friday I joined the American team here in Masiphumelele.
Here is what the kitchen looks like!
I was able to find rides to Red Hill this week – thanks for praying! The guys that we work with from Living Hope on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays picked me up so that I could help them with the children. Everyday the children are given dinner so we help out with that. We also help out with the bible stories and prayer time that occurs (almost) everyday. On Tuesday Ritmwa and I lead the story time with the teenagers. Thursday I spent nearly 6 hours in Red Hill with the children. There was an American basketball team visiting from Belmont University who wanted to play netball and soccer with the kids so we helped and facilitated that! We had nearly the whole township watching these tall Americans pass the ball over the heads of the Red Hill netball team! I stood with Papa Williams and Bantu (another local man of Peace) and laughed.
On Wednesday I also was able to go to Red Hill in the evening for the bible study at Nomandla’s! It was a really great time! We talked to them about how we just want to be there and help them if they need it but it’s really about them. We want them to lead it and not rely on us so that when we leave we wont be taking the group with us. We encouraged them to speak in Xhosa and really take control of it. It was neat to see what happened. Nomandla really took charge and asked the others questions and they even broke out in song at one point. I won’t lie – it was a little boring since we didn’t know what they were talking about the entire time. But it was still beautiful to see God working in their small group!
I also spent some time in Masi. We spend 2 afternoons with the children from Vulnerable Children. On Wednesday we had a huge party for them and all their friends. We passed out food and had a craft. It was pretty crazy because there is another team here from the states (30 of them!) working in Masi with us. It was good though because the kids were able to get plenty of attention! On Friday morning I went and walked around in the Wet Lands with 2 people from the American team. We went and looked for people that we could get to know and pray for. It was a good time! In fact, some of the others who were walking around prayed for a man's leg so that he didn’t need to use a cane and the Lord healed him! He was walking around freely from that moment on! Praise God!
There is some sad news though. When we were in Masi on Friday Christianne and another intern with All Nations were mugged. They both had their bags stolen. So we are being even more careful and trying not to carry anything around with us. (Which is why I still do not have photos of my times in the townships) If you would like to continue to pray for safety that would be much appreciated!
Gearing up to go out in the rain!
All Nations has a ministry in Masiphumelele that reaches out to children whose parents are sick or who are poorer then the rest around them. Most of these children liven in the area of Masi called the Wet Lands – it’s the worst of the worst. The ministry is called Vulnerable Children. There are 19 of these children who are sponsored by families in the states (Much like Compassion International and World Vision). On Friday I was given the privilege to sort out the food that is given to these children and their families each month thanks to their sponsors back in the States! It was an amazing experience to be a part of it on the receiving end of things! I was also able to visit many of the homes of these children and meet their families.
Yesterday I went to Red Hill for T for T. I'm not sure what that stands for but it’s their House Church planting ministry. They have handed off facilitating it to a local man – Papa Williams. It was neat to sit in and even participate in this type of bible study! When we got back we had an impromptu meeting about our time there and the progress that is being made in Red Hill. It was really good for me to sit in and see where the staff of All Nations is coming from. They really strategize and think about the ministries that they are doing there. They discussed people that look like leaders that could start their own ministries and talked about changes that may need to be made. What I took away from this meeting was that ministry doesn’t need to be random. All Nations is looking ahead so that when they leave they don’t take their ministry with them but rather the people can encourage one another and spread the good news even more. I am learning so much!
This week will be an interesting week. There is a short-term team coming in from the states that will be working in Masiphumelele. Because of that I may not have the transportation I need to get to Red Hill. So if you would pray that it all works out that would be great! Also, my throat has been sore for a few days now – I'm not sick though – so could you pray for that to go away also? Thanks friends and family! I really appreciate you all.
Tonight I went into a township when it was dark out. This is the first time I have ever done that. I have always been terribly against it because it is dangerous to be out in South Africa when it is nighttime. However, All Nations has made themselves known in Red Hill. And we had the Lords protection! Please pray that we will continue to be protected every Wednesday night because I have joined a bible study at a Xhosa speaking ladies house! Tonight we had a good time hearing what God has been teaching these young women and praying for one another. Pray also that they warm up to us and feel comfortable to share, speak and be open with us.
It has been neat seeing what All Nations is doing in this area. I was especially excited to go to this bible study because it is ran in the way that they are starting the simple house churches. All Nations sets it up so that they teach the local people how to lead their friends in the study who then teach each other to lead as well. It’s self-sustaining in that way. At Simpson we have talked about how in the past church planting worked on the three self movement – self sustaining, self supporting, and self propagating (hopefully I have gotten that right!) and its neat seeing it in action J.
This week I have been in Red Hill everyday. On Monday we decided to join Living Hope (another local ministry) in their ministry with the children. They put on kids clubs and feed them. We watched on Monday and then Tuesday we helped feed the kids and tomorrow we are going to participate a bit more. They are very thankful for the help! And I am very excited to give it!
So some other random information for you! The house I am staying at is doing some remodeling. I woke up to pounding the other morning and by mid-afternoon there were huge holes in my bedroom wall right into the kitchen! Needless to say – we moved rooms! They are remodeling the kitchen so that cooking can be more efficient. However, that has left us in the dark (the lights don’t work) and without a kitchen. Also, today, I got to see my friend Matt from my outreach with YWAM 2 years ago! He has been living here for the past year working with YWAM in their Voice for the Voiceless ministry (the one that cousin Tim worked with). It was really great catching up and reminiscing about when we were last together! So great! Lastly, I have been home schooling two children in the mornings. It has been very good! They are such great kids and I have enjoyed hanging out with them. They are 6 and 9 years old.
Well I think that is enough for now! Sorry I do not have any photos up of what I have been doing this week! I will hopefully take some soon! Thanks for your continued prayers!
After goodbyes to friends and family, 2 flights, and no sleep I have arrived in South Africa!
This is the Fish Hoek beach which is about 10 minutes from the Africa House
I already have some amazing praises! I am first off able to be in South Africa because of you, my supporters. I want to send an incredibly huge thank you to all of you. Thank you to those of you who have sent me money – it has all came in! Thank you to those of you who have prayed for my safe travels and who are praying now. All of you have blessed my heart tremendously. I hardly have words. Thank you.
I have been here in Cape Town now for 4 whole days. It has been amazing so far! I moved into the Africa House which use to be a small school. I share a room with 2 other girls. One is an intern like me. Her name is Ritmwa and she is from Nigeria. The house has 2 families so we have 4 small girls running around. There are also a few guys here who are with All Nations and will be leaving in the next few weeks on outreach. Usually the house is very full but most of the others left a week ago for their outreach.
The Africa House! I feel very spoiled to live in such a beautiful place!
I am starting to learn what I will be doing here which is good because I spent 2 days wondering! There are two townships that I will be working in. The first one is Masiphumelele, which I worked in when I was here last in 2007. The second township is Red Hill, which is much smaller and on a mountainside. In these townships I will meet people, work with Kids Clubs and youth gatherings, and see how All Nations ministers in their house church planting ministry. In the mornings I will be watching some kids and working in the All Nations office.
This is Christianne and Ritmwa. I will be working with them while I am here.
It has been neat coming here and getting to know everyone. I have already made some wonderful friends. I am also noticing that I am talking different! I am pronouncing my “T’s” more so that all of my friends here can understand me! This is because every person I have worked with besides just one speaks a different first language! And in Africa the English is pronounced different. I am starting to wonder if I will talk this way when I return! You all can let me know.
My first official week starts on Monday so I will be sure to update you on what I end up doing and how it goes! Thank you for checking in and making sure that everything is well with me! If you would like to pray please pray that I figure out transportation (I may have to rent a car) and that my relationships with the people who work with All Nations and the people I meet outside of All Nations may grow deeper.
