Hello Family!
So I don’t even know where to begin. So much has happened since my last update. Sorry it’s been so long since I personally updated, I am just super busy here. Anyway, I wanted to keep you all up to date with what’s going on and how God is working. All I can say is that God is so good!
As you all know, I have been going into the schools as an LSE to help teach life skills to kids in primary school. As much as I love the kids and playing games with them, I am not passionate about teaching. I have really been struggling with that and just feeling useless and ineffective because I have never had any training on how to teach. I have been trying to learn by watching the other LSEs but when some of the classes are in Afrikaans it makes that hard to do. So anyway, I ended up scheduling a meeting with my supervisor last Friday to talk things over with her. My supervisor is Avril Thomas and she and her husband, Pastor John Thomas are the ones who started Living Hope. Anyway, they are a really neat couple and she’s a very awesome woman and very open to listening to others. So we sat down and I told her my frustrations and everything that was happening and told her I really wanted to do what I felt I was called here to do-sewing and soccer ministry. As it turns out, I found out from Mike Talley that I would not be able to have any involvement with Khumi’s bags like I had hoped and originally felt called to do. With her passing away and lots happening, they are struggling with finding a local South African to run it and keep it going. He appologized and felt really bad that I wasn’t getting to do any of the ministries that I was called here to do. Anyway, Avril told me that there is a women’s support group that meets on Tuesdays in Capricorn and the women are learning how to sew there. So she made a few phone calls and made it so I’d be able to go to that. February 23 was such an awesome day and was one of those days where I could say “Oh, so this is why God called me here”.
So although I am bummed that I don’t get to do anything with Khumi’s bags, I am so excited for this new opportunity to teach sewing; and not only do I get to do that but I get to design the stuff that the women will be making!! PRAISE THE LORD! I finally get to do something I am passionate about and in an area that God has gifted me. The first thing I’m designing are some simple bags. After that I need to figure out how to pattern skirts and tops for all the different sized women. Not quite sure how I am going to do that. This is when I feel inexperienced in my field because I’ve had no industry experience, but I am trusting the Lord to help me figure it all out. Anyway, I got to have some great conversations with some of the women yesterday and two of the ladies that head it up are really excited to have me here and said I’m an angel sent by the Lord. So for right now the sewing is only once a week (I don’t go into schools that day), but it looks like we might end up doing sewing two times a week. So if that happens I will do sewing twice a week, schools twice a week, and then continue to go to kids club every day and hopefully within the next two weeks Kevin and I can get our soccer programs going. Next week I have the opportunity to go with Kevin to Ambassadors of Sport which is a week long, extremely intense soccer coach training program that also teaches you how to evangelize. It’s a Christian run program, so I am a lil intimidated by it but really excited.
God has really been at work in my heart and has been reaching into the depths of my heart. It’s been wonderful having so many people encouraging me along the way and saying prayers on my behalf. Thank you so much for those! Please keep them coming!
I’ve made some really good friends here with the other volunteers and I just love them! We hang out every weekend and usually do something on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday because we don’t get to see them much during the week. Lately I have had some really good conversations with two of the LSEs that I’m friends with and getting to know better. It’s fabulous!
Some exciting news is that we finally got our dog!! ACTS paid to get a dog as a deterrent from unwanted people getting onto our property. So we got him last Thursday and I got to meet him when I got home. At the time he was really upset because he’s 3 years old and has never been away from his owners. But when I walked in the house and went to him and talked to him and pet him, he calmed down almost right away. Everyone was like whoa, so you’re like a dog whisperer huh? HAHA So funny! Sambuka and I have really bonded, so much so that he literally follows me every single place I go-he’s practically attached at my hip. AND he makes such a great running buddy, so now I’m even more safe. I can run with him not being on a leash and he stays right by my side, so it’s great because no matter what speed I run, he’s right there. No matter if I have a good day or a bad day he’s there. When I stopped to think about that, God gave me a revelation of.....Oh my, that’s just how God is. It doesn’t matter what I am going through because He is always by my side and will never leave me. It was a great moment!
Well if you made it this far in this blog, GREAT!! Sorry it’s soo long, but there was just soo much to tell! I love you all and thank you for your prayers and support! One more thing, if you think of it, please pray that I start sleeping straight through the night. I am sleeping horribly and feel exhausted.
FOR HIS GLORY,
Amy
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
And Another Week Has Past
Hello Family!
Thanks to all of you who are faithfully following Ronnie and me. I greatly appreciate your interest in my life and I can't thank you enough for all of your prayers.
This week has seemed to be the never ending week. Monday and Tuesday were so long that it felt like the entire week had passed. I think it's because I unfortunately am still not sleeping well and it's been that way since I got here. I have had only 3 good nights of sleeping straight through, and praise God last night made the 4th.
So as you all know, I have been going into the schools as an LSE and I help the LSEs to teach life skills. I usually don't do the teaching, I'm more of an aid to the LSEs-help lead the games, pass out papers, etc. I did get to teach one lesson this week on love which was good, and in the coming weeks I am sure I will start teaching more. It's been a little rough in the sense that I don't have any background in teaching, so I don't feel like I know how. We teach in about 6 or 7 different schools throughout the week so we stay very busy. In the afternoons I go to kids club, which I just love! Those kids are soooo precious.
God has really been showing me that I can fully trust Him with everything, to be patient, and to wait on Him. So many different situations over the past year have really caused me to do that, and especially while being here. I asked God one day to break my heart for what breaks His. I need to be careful for what I ask for because I got what I asked for, not only for just a day but for close to a week. Haha A couple days when I was at kids club, I was almost in a daze just looking around at all the kids, and had some kids clinging to me when I was thinking about the terrible backgrounds the kids come from. Their parents are drug addicts, abusive, alcoholics, unloving, etc etc and my eyes just filled with tears as I thought about those things. Yet it amazed me that despite such a rough life, these kids still have hope and they just want to be loved. Another day I was in Capricorn organizing some things in the container, when I looked out the window to see someone's shanty burst into flames. It just broke my heart to see all that someone has, which wasn't much, be taken from them so quickly. All the more reason to share the Gospel with people and bring God's love to them.
I know there is much more that I could say and share with you all, but I must be going for now. Please continue you pray. Miss you and love you all.
For His Glory,
Amy
Thanks to all of you who are faithfully following Ronnie and me. I greatly appreciate your interest in my life and I can't thank you enough for all of your prayers.
This week has seemed to be the never ending week. Monday and Tuesday were so long that it felt like the entire week had passed. I think it's because I unfortunately am still not sleeping well and it's been that way since I got here. I have had only 3 good nights of sleeping straight through, and praise God last night made the 4th.
So as you all know, I have been going into the schools as an LSE and I help the LSEs to teach life skills. I usually don't do the teaching, I'm more of an aid to the LSEs-help lead the games, pass out papers, etc. I did get to teach one lesson this week on love which was good, and in the coming weeks I am sure I will start teaching more. It's been a little rough in the sense that I don't have any background in teaching, so I don't feel like I know how. We teach in about 6 or 7 different schools throughout the week so we stay very busy. In the afternoons I go to kids club, which I just love! Those kids are soooo precious.
God has really been showing me that I can fully trust Him with everything, to be patient, and to wait on Him. So many different situations over the past year have really caused me to do that, and especially while being here. I asked God one day to break my heart for what breaks His. I need to be careful for what I ask for because I got what I asked for, not only for just a day but for close to a week. Haha A couple days when I was at kids club, I was almost in a daze just looking around at all the kids, and had some kids clinging to me when I was thinking about the terrible backgrounds the kids come from. Their parents are drug addicts, abusive, alcoholics, unloving, etc etc and my eyes just filled with tears as I thought about those things. Yet it amazed me that despite such a rough life, these kids still have hope and they just want to be loved. Another day I was in Capricorn organizing some things in the container, when I looked out the window to see someone's shanty burst into flames. It just broke my heart to see all that someone has, which wasn't much, be taken from them so quickly. All the more reason to share the Gospel with people and bring God's love to them.
I know there is much more that I could say and share with you all, but I must be going for now. Please continue you pray. Miss you and love you all.
For His Glory,
Amy
We're Exhausted...
So this last week has passed in a blur of activity. I’m really starting to feel the days move by faster as we become more and more at home in the area. This is not to say that they have not become busier or more intensive, because they have. Just going to recap the weeks highlights for you all in an attempt to keep the post shorter than has become our norm.
Last Friday was exciting for me as rather than joining in the usual LSE (Life Skills Educators) planning meeting I joined in with the counselors in an AIDS/HIV training workshop presented by The Metropolitan Foundation. It was an all day workshop and while boring at times I really left feeling like I’d learned a lot and connected with the counselors there. Saturday was spent sleeping on the beach and fellowshipping with a few of the other volunteers. Sunday we went to Masiphumelele Baptist Church in the morning for a nice long service in Xhosa (Pronounced ‘Cosa’) after which I gave Amy her first Manual Car Driving Lesson. That afternoon we went to Hillsong Church which was as uplifting as ever. It was their Vision Sunday for 2010 and we were both very excited to hear that one of their biggest visions for 2010 is to plant a Hillsong Church in New York City!!!
Monday morning I began touring the health clinics with one of the counselors named Hilary. She showed me where they all were and explained a little bit about each. That afternoon kids club was canceled because of a meeting running late so Amy went for a run on the beach and afterward we both relaxed at home. Tuesday morning I again went to the Health Clinics though spent a majority of my time in Seawinds Clinic where I analyzed one of the counselors as she gave a presentation to a group of patients. We then had Kids Club in the afternoon. Wednesday morning Amy joined me at the Living Hope Main Campus where I got caught up on some work in the resource center and Amy attended a meeting for a new sports ministry. We then went to Kids Club in the afternoon where we helped act out a skit on the resurrection… it was really funny but the kids seemed to really enjoy it and most importantly understood the message.
Finally, today has been, for me at least, the most exhausting day of the week so far. I began my morning by dropping Amy off at 8 then high-tailing it over to the other side of the mountain to meet Hilary at Muizenberg Clinic which was full of patients already picking up their medicine (many ARVs) for the day. She finished up the paperwork she was working on then we drove over to the Hospital in Takai (I can never remember the official name, sorry). Having been to the hospital before, though later in the day, I wasn’t expecting to need to wear a surgical mask (as pictured)
to walk around but because it was earlier there were many more patients out of their wards for medications. While HIV/AIDS is not airborne, many of the patients there suffer from TB as well as other ailments which may be airborne making the mask a necessity. Once properly attired we met up with the clinic’s Living Hope Counselor Billson. After finishing up some work he invited me to follow him around as he visited the wards and spoke with various patients. It was a very moving experience! I found myself thinking how many medical students would give a limb to do what I was doing and I didn’t understand half the medical terms and paperwork Billson showed me and patiently explained. Learning about the patients via bedside visits and medical records really provided me with an intimate look at how AIDS/HIV and TB affects individuals as well as a society as a whole. There were multiple times during the follow I had to pray for God’s strength to get me through and to put a reassuring smile in my eyes. I really felt him moving through all the suffering and I believe the experience will remain with me for the rest of my life, forever changing my comprehension of the world of HIV/AIDS and TB.
Last Friday was exciting for me as rather than joining in the usual LSE (Life Skills Educators) planning meeting I joined in with the counselors in an AIDS/HIV training workshop presented by The Metropolitan Foundation. It was an all day workshop and while boring at times I really left feeling like I’d learned a lot and connected with the counselors there. Saturday was spent sleeping on the beach and fellowshipping with a few of the other volunteers. Sunday we went to Masiphumelele Baptist Church in the morning for a nice long service in Xhosa (Pronounced ‘Cosa’) after which I gave Amy her first Manual Car Driving Lesson. That afternoon we went to Hillsong Church which was as uplifting as ever. It was their Vision Sunday for 2010 and we were both very excited to hear that one of their biggest visions for 2010 is to plant a Hillsong Church in New York City!!!
Monday morning I began touring the health clinics with one of the counselors named Hilary. She showed me where they all were and explained a little bit about each. That afternoon kids club was canceled because of a meeting running late so Amy went for a run on the beach and afterward we both relaxed at home. Tuesday morning I again went to the Health Clinics though spent a majority of my time in Seawinds Clinic where I analyzed one of the counselors as she gave a presentation to a group of patients. We then had Kids Club in the afternoon. Wednesday morning Amy joined me at the Living Hope Main Campus where I got caught up on some work in the resource center and Amy attended a meeting for a new sports ministry. We then went to Kids Club in the afternoon where we helped act out a skit on the resurrection… it was really funny but the kids seemed to really enjoy it and most importantly understood the message.
Finally, today has been, for me at least, the most exhausting day of the week so far. I began my morning by dropping Amy off at 8 then high-tailing it over to the other side of the mountain to meet Hilary at Muizenberg Clinic which was full of patients already picking up their medicine (many ARVs) for the day. She finished up the paperwork she was working on then we drove over to the Hospital in Takai (I can never remember the official name, sorry). Having been to the hospital before, though later in the day, I wasn’t expecting to need to wear a surgical mask (as pictured)
to walk around but because it was earlier there were many more patients out of their wards for medications. While HIV/AIDS is not airborne, many of the patients there suffer from TB as well as other ailments which may be airborne making the mask a necessity. Once properly attired we met up with the clinic’s Living Hope Counselor Billson. After finishing up some work he invited me to follow him around as he visited the wards and spoke with various patients. It was a very moving experience! I found myself thinking how many medical students would give a limb to do what I was doing and I didn’t understand half the medical terms and paperwork Billson showed me and patiently explained. Learning about the patients via bedside visits and medical records really provided me with an intimate look at how AIDS/HIV and TB affects individuals as well as a society as a whole. There were multiple times during the follow I had to pray for God’s strength to get me through and to put a reassuring smile in my eyes. I really felt him moving through all the suffering and I believe the experience will remain with me for the rest of my life, forever changing my comprehension of the world of HIV/AIDS and TB.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
FROM ACROSS THE WORLD...
Hello my dear family!
I do apologize, but I will not be sending you monthly newsletters. I had made a really nice one with lots of pictures, but the file was for some reason to large for my email to send, so I then deleted a bunch of pictures and still couldn't get it to send. So as a result, I will be posting on this blog from time to time to keep ya'll updated. So here goes:
FROM AMERICA TO SA
As you all know, I left DE on January 9th to fly out to Detroit to stay with Ronnie and his family for two days. While there I got to see Lake Erie frozen over, go to Tony Pacos original restaurant (the restaurant in MASH tv show), go to a mega church, workout at a huge YMCA, and hangout with Ronnie and his family. On the 11th we flew 8 hours from Detroit to Frankfurt. Once we were in Frankfurt we tried to find our way around the airport and then hop on a subway to go into the center of town. Ha! That was quite the experience, as neither of us could read German. Fortunately some friendly Germans helped us out. We walked around part of Frankfurt to see some of the awesome architecture and then went to Starbucks to get warm. We then found our way back to the airport and still had 7 hours to kill before our flight, so we played some card games and walked around. We then flew 11 hours to Johannesburg. Unfortunately our flight didn’t have personal tvs, and I am unable to read or draw on a plane. So I listened to music and dozed off and on, and eventually a couple movies were put on for the whole plane to watch. Our flight in Frankfurt took off late and so we arrived late in Jo-burg which gave us very little time. By the time we claimed our baggage and went to check in we found out check-in for our flight had closed. We were scrambling around and went to talk to someone else and he rebooked us for a flight that was 20 minutes later than our scheduled flight and we didn’t have to pay anything. I thanked God for working that out! So we got our tickets, rushed to get through security, re-checked-in our bags, and then literally sprinted through the airport because we only had 5 minutes to get to our gate. We safely flew the 2 hours to Cape Town and arrived around 2:30 pm or so. Clynton, a friend of ours picked us up from the airport and delivered us to the Living Hope Volunteer house. Talk about climate change, I believe I was told it was around 100 degrees when we arrived.
MY MINISTRIES
I know many of you have wanted to know what I would be doing while here, and there was only so much I could tell you while in the states, because some of it was to be decided once I got here.
Anyhow, in the mornings from Mon-Thurs I am going into schools with the Life Skills Educators to teach life skills and help. This is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I think it will be challenging and exciting. On Mon/Wed afternoons I will be going to Overcome Heights and on Tues/Thurs afternoons I will go to Capricorn for kids clubs. On Friday mornings I will go to training sessions with the LSEs and in the evenings I will go to the youth group programs.
Eventually I will be helping with Upwards Sports-the program that runs soccer camps in all the communities. I am really excited to do this ministry and hope it starts sooner rather than later.
I know I had mentioned to you all that I wanted to work with a purse ministry here. Well, I received some heart breaking news the day after I got here. Khumi, the lady that ran this ministry, passed away. She had HIV and TB and was on ARVs, but went to some church and the pastor told her God would heal her only if she stopped taking the ARVs. People here don’t know any better so she listened and her health took a turn for the worse. So I hope to continue her ministry here or be a part of it somehow, but I am waiting to see if the ministry will keep going or not. I will let you know more on this subject later.
FUN
On the first weekend we were in SA, Ronnie, Chris, Nicole and I all joined the UD group in doing some sight seeing. Nicole is from Canada and Chris is from England-both will be here for a month. Even though Ronnie and I saw both of these sights last year, it was hard to pass on going because this country is absolutely gorgeous. At Cape Point we climbed to the lighthouse to take pictures of the scenery. It’s breathtaking and doesn’t matter how many times I see something here, it’s still just as beautiful. God was so creative when He created the world and everything in it. I wish I could have been there when He did because He is the greatest artist there ever was. While at the top we met a guy named James who believe it or not was from Hockessin, DE!! We got to see two mama baboons with their two adorable babies up close and personal which was really neat, and we saw others on the road. At the boulders we got to see all the really cute penguins and you could get so close to them that you could almost touch them. Ronnie and I also joined the UD team in going to the Botanical gardens. The team I went with last year wanted to go, but we didn’t have time to do everything. Wow was that a neat place to go! The plants were just absolutely gorgeous! The plants here are so different from anything that I’ve seen in the US. The beauty of this country just takes my breath away.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Last year when we did our budget we based it off of the 10: 1 rand to USD which was a big mistake. Since then the rand has dropped in value to 7:1 USD. Therefore we have some budget increases. We just found out that the car we were planning to get (which was only $150/month at the time) won’t be the most reliable car in the long run and the price on it increased, so Charl-an ACTS worker helped us to find the next cheapest thing which costs $375 to $400 per month. The prayer request is that we are able to raise extra funds to cover the cost of the car as well as our other expenses.
Pray for the hearts of the kids, parents, and locals that I meet. Pray that they are open to hearing the Gospel and allow it to transform their lives and turn their world upside down.
Pray that I will be bold for the Lord and that He will do great works in and through me for His glory.
Pray for God’s direction in His calling for my life.
THANK YOU
If you made it this far in the newsletter, that’s great and I hope you enjoyed it! Future newsletters will be shorter. Sorry it was so long, just thought you’d like to see pictures and hear what’s going on. Anyway, thank you so much for your faithful prayer and financial support. I wouldn’t be here to do the Lord’s work if it weren’t for you. I hope all is well with you! Love you all so very much!
For His Glory,
Amy
I do apologize, but I will not be sending you monthly newsletters. I had made a really nice one with lots of pictures, but the file was for some reason to large for my email to send, so I then deleted a bunch of pictures and still couldn't get it to send. So as a result, I will be posting on this blog from time to time to keep ya'll updated. So here goes:
FROM AMERICA TO SA
As you all know, I left DE on January 9th to fly out to Detroit to stay with Ronnie and his family for two days. While there I got to see Lake Erie frozen over, go to Tony Pacos original restaurant (the restaurant in MASH tv show), go to a mega church, workout at a huge YMCA, and hangout with Ronnie and his family. On the 11th we flew 8 hours from Detroit to Frankfurt. Once we were in Frankfurt we tried to find our way around the airport and then hop on a subway to go into the center of town. Ha! That was quite the experience, as neither of us could read German. Fortunately some friendly Germans helped us out. We walked around part of Frankfurt to see some of the awesome architecture and then went to Starbucks to get warm. We then found our way back to the airport and still had 7 hours to kill before our flight, so we played some card games and walked around. We then flew 11 hours to Johannesburg. Unfortunately our flight didn’t have personal tvs, and I am unable to read or draw on a plane. So I listened to music and dozed off and on, and eventually a couple movies were put on for the whole plane to watch. Our flight in Frankfurt took off late and so we arrived late in Jo-burg which gave us very little time. By the time we claimed our baggage and went to check in we found out check-in for our flight had closed. We were scrambling around and went to talk to someone else and he rebooked us for a flight that was 20 minutes later than our scheduled flight and we didn’t have to pay anything. I thanked God for working that out! So we got our tickets, rushed to get through security, re-checked-in our bags, and then literally sprinted through the airport because we only had 5 minutes to get to our gate. We safely flew the 2 hours to Cape Town and arrived around 2:30 pm or so. Clynton, a friend of ours picked us up from the airport and delivered us to the Living Hope Volunteer house. Talk about climate change, I believe I was told it was around 100 degrees when we arrived.
MY MINISTRIES
I know many of you have wanted to know what I would be doing while here, and there was only so much I could tell you while in the states, because some of it was to be decided once I got here.
Anyhow, in the mornings from Mon-Thurs I am going into schools with the Life Skills Educators to teach life skills and help. This is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I think it will be challenging and exciting. On Mon/Wed afternoons I will be going to Overcome Heights and on Tues/Thurs afternoons I will go to Capricorn for kids clubs. On Friday mornings I will go to training sessions with the LSEs and in the evenings I will go to the youth group programs.
Eventually I will be helping with Upwards Sports-the program that runs soccer camps in all the communities. I am really excited to do this ministry and hope it starts sooner rather than later.
I know I had mentioned to you all that I wanted to work with a purse ministry here. Well, I received some heart breaking news the day after I got here. Khumi, the lady that ran this ministry, passed away. She had HIV and TB and was on ARVs, but went to some church and the pastor told her God would heal her only if she stopped taking the ARVs. People here don’t know any better so she listened and her health took a turn for the worse. So I hope to continue her ministry here or be a part of it somehow, but I am waiting to see if the ministry will keep going or not. I will let you know more on this subject later.
FUN
On the first weekend we were in SA, Ronnie, Chris, Nicole and I all joined the UD group in doing some sight seeing. Nicole is from Canada and Chris is from England-both will be here for a month. Even though Ronnie and I saw both of these sights last year, it was hard to pass on going because this country is absolutely gorgeous. At Cape Point we climbed to the lighthouse to take pictures of the scenery. It’s breathtaking and doesn’t matter how many times I see something here, it’s still just as beautiful. God was so creative when He created the world and everything in it. I wish I could have been there when He did because He is the greatest artist there ever was. While at the top we met a guy named James who believe it or not was from Hockessin, DE!! We got to see two mama baboons with their two adorable babies up close and personal which was really neat, and we saw others on the road. At the boulders we got to see all the really cute penguins and you could get so close to them that you could almost touch them. Ronnie and I also joined the UD team in going to the Botanical gardens. The team I went with last year wanted to go, but we didn’t have time to do everything. Wow was that a neat place to go! The plants were just absolutely gorgeous! The plants here are so different from anything that I’ve seen in the US. The beauty of this country just takes my breath away.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Last year when we did our budget we based it off of the 10: 1 rand to USD which was a big mistake. Since then the rand has dropped in value to 7:1 USD. Therefore we have some budget increases. We just found out that the car we were planning to get (which was only $150/month at the time) won’t be the most reliable car in the long run and the price on it increased, so Charl-an ACTS worker helped us to find the next cheapest thing which costs $375 to $400 per month. The prayer request is that we are able to raise extra funds to cover the cost of the car as well as our other expenses.
Pray for the hearts of the kids, parents, and locals that I meet. Pray that they are open to hearing the Gospel and allow it to transform their lives and turn their world upside down.
Pray that I will be bold for the Lord and that He will do great works in and through me for His glory.
Pray for God’s direction in His calling for my life.
THANK YOU
If you made it this far in the newsletter, that’s great and I hope you enjoyed it! Future newsletters will be shorter. Sorry it was so long, just thought you’d like to see pictures and hear what’s going on. Anyway, thank you so much for your faithful prayer and financial support. I wouldn’t be here to do the Lord’s work if it weren’t for you. I hope all is well with you! Love you all so very much!
For His Glory,
Amy
Monday, February 1, 2010
Bye UD Team... We'll Miss You!
Hello All!
A lot has been happening since my last post and I’m really excited to share it all with you!
So, last week pretty mush finished up with, for the most part the same routine as it began in. I spent my mornings working in the resource center cataloging and referencing everything there then going to Kids Club at Overcome Heights on Mon. and Wed. and Capricorn on Tue. and Thu. Then on Friday morning we had our Life Skills Educators meeting all morning in which we discussed the establishment of new policies concerning child protection. Friday night was amazing as we were invited to our friend Christina’s flat for Dinner and Games. Christina has been here serving since September and plans for go home for 5 weeks in March so as to fund raise then return to continue her volunteer work with Living Hope indefinitely. There were several other volunteers there and it was really nice to spend time fellowshipping together in a more casual environment.
Saturday was a nice chill day. We were able to sleep in and then the University of Delaware team through a huge Braai (BBQ) at the house and there were tons of people from Living Hope and ACTS in attendance. We all worshipped together and spent time in community and it was an over all blessed evening. Sunday morning we went to Capricorn church where we have been holding one of the kids clubs in the afternoons. It is obvious God is doing great works in this growing church congregation as the youth we work with occasionally throughout the week and worked with closely last year in the kids club, are now stepping up and helping to lead the congregation which is composed largely of youth. Afterward, our newest addition was dropped off at the house!.... Drum Roll Please!!!!
Everyone Meet Fikki! Our VW CITI Golf Car Hire with more Character than any picture can convey! Thank you soo much for all your prayers and support! Fikki is only one example of your prayers and support for us and the work we are doing here and from the bottom of our hearts we thank you all!!
Anyway, Sunday afternoon we took Fikki for a drive to the beach to sun bathe and I surfed a bit. Sunday evening we went out with our new friends and co-volunteers Christina and Andy for Pizza and an affordable but delish favorite haunt of theirs. We had a great time. Afterward we spent time with the UD team saying our farewells as packed and prepared for their impending flights today.
Today was Totally Awesome!!! They Held an official dedication for the resource center I’ve been working so diligently in for weeks now and it was such a blessing for me to be there and be able to pray over it with a few of the trustees and leaders in Living Hope. I am excited for the works God will be able to accomplish through the resources in that center and the people using them. Amy and I then went to the Kids Club in Overcome Heights in the afternoon. We helped teach the lesson which was the crucifixion story. The Kids there are so amazing and as short as it was it was great spending time with them.
We returned home to a seemingly empty home as the UD team had departed after we left for work in the morning. It’s a little odd being here without the team as it is all we are Really used to, but we are making the adjustment and wish everyone on the team safe and happy travels back home over the next couple days.
I suppose that’s all for me for now…
Thanks You all again for your continued prayers and support! We really appreciate it and it has been absolutely amazing to see the work God is doing here and our trip is only just beginning!
In His TLC,
Ronnie
A lot has been happening since my last post and I’m really excited to share it all with you!
So, last week pretty mush finished up with, for the most part the same routine as it began in. I spent my mornings working in the resource center cataloging and referencing everything there then going to Kids Club at Overcome Heights on Mon. and Wed. and Capricorn on Tue. and Thu. Then on Friday morning we had our Life Skills Educators meeting all morning in which we discussed the establishment of new policies concerning child protection. Friday night was amazing as we were invited to our friend Christina’s flat for Dinner and Games. Christina has been here serving since September and plans for go home for 5 weeks in March so as to fund raise then return to continue her volunteer work with Living Hope indefinitely. There were several other volunteers there and it was really nice to spend time fellowshipping together in a more casual environment.
Saturday was a nice chill day. We were able to sleep in and then the University of Delaware team through a huge Braai (BBQ) at the house and there were tons of people from Living Hope and ACTS in attendance. We all worshipped together and spent time in community and it was an over all blessed evening. Sunday morning we went to Capricorn church where we have been holding one of the kids clubs in the afternoons. It is obvious God is doing great works in this growing church congregation as the youth we work with occasionally throughout the week and worked with closely last year in the kids club, are now stepping up and helping to lead the congregation which is composed largely of youth. Afterward, our newest addition was dropped off at the house!.... Drum Roll Please!!!!
Everyone Meet Fikki! Our VW CITI Golf Car Hire with more Character than any picture can convey! Thank you soo much for all your prayers and support! Fikki is only one example of your prayers and support for us and the work we are doing here and from the bottom of our hearts we thank you all!! Anyway, Sunday afternoon we took Fikki for a drive to the beach to sun bathe and I surfed a bit. Sunday evening we went out with our new friends and co-volunteers Christina and Andy for Pizza and an affordable but delish favorite haunt of theirs. We had a great time. Afterward we spent time with the UD team saying our farewells as packed and prepared for their impending flights today.
Today was Totally Awesome!!! They Held an official dedication for the resource center I’ve been working so diligently in for weeks now and it was such a blessing for me to be there and be able to pray over it with a few of the trustees and leaders in Living Hope. I am excited for the works God will be able to accomplish through the resources in that center and the people using them. Amy and I then went to the Kids Club in Overcome Heights in the afternoon. We helped teach the lesson which was the crucifixion story. The Kids there are so amazing and as short as it was it was great spending time with them.
We returned home to a seemingly empty home as the UD team had departed after we left for work in the morning. It’s a little odd being here without the team as it is all we are Really used to, but we are making the adjustment and wish everyone on the team safe and happy travels back home over the next couple days.
I suppose that’s all for me for now…
Thanks You all again for your continued prayers and support! We really appreciate it and it has been absolutely amazing to see the work God is doing here and our trip is only just beginning!
In His TLC,
Ronnie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
