I'M STILL ALIVE!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

I want to sincerely apologize for not keeping you more up to date with what has been happening with me in South Africa over the past month and a half. I know it’s a poor excuse but I have been incredibly busy with ministry, soccer, a relationship, life, keeping up with friends and family, etc. I don’t even know where to begin.
I guess for starters, for those of you that haven’t heard, I am dating one of my good friends from soccer. He is a really great guy, one of the most amazing guys I have met and he has an awesome family (all of whom have taken me in and watch out for me). He is seeking and desiring to grow in the Lord as am I. We aren’t on the same page spiritually yet, other than the fact that we are both aware of our sinfulness and need for a savior and both desire to live our lives for Him, but he desires to be the spiritual leader. It’s been encouraging to see Sean grow in his relationship with the Lord over the past 3 months since I met him and first became friends with him. To grow in our relationship with the Lord and one another we have been going to connect group bible study on wednesdays, church on Sundays, reading the Bible together (looking for some type of material for us to study the Bible together, if you have any suggestions let me know) and praying together, plus talking about spiritual matters and what the Bible says about it. Please pray for Sean to keep growing in his relationship with the Lord and pray for his family to start living for the Lord (Catholic background) and pray that God would use me to minister to them. It’s been great building relationships with the whole family over the past 3 months.
As for ministry, things have been going extremely well. I have been able to build awesome relationships with people here through the ministries I am involved in with Living Hope and through playing soccer on Fish Hoek soccer teams. The sewing lessons that I have been giving at the women’s support group have been going well and the women are eager to learn and get better at this trade. I am trying to instill in them the importance of doing a good job on whatever they are making, meaning that they take their time, work on sewing straight, and try to make things look professional. Often I feel cruel having to tell them that they need to redo something, but it’s all part of the learning process and I myself have been there and done that. It is good though because it teaches them a good work ethic and teaches them to think about the business end of things and how important quality is. Plus, the hope is that what the women make will get sold and will bring them some income. There has been a language barrier which can be frustrating at time, but for those that speak English well, I have enjoyed sitting and chatting with them while they sew. Two women imparticular, Yvonne and Grace, are just the sweetest, Godly women and they just glow and they love having me there. I’ve also gotten to know Gail, one of the support group leaders and she is a doll, I’m really going to miss these 3 women inparticular.
The soccer ministry I was a part of on Mondays has been going well and over the past couple months as myself, 3 Living Hope workers, and another volunteer have been getting to know some guys in Overcome Heights. The guys are 18-25 years old and most are involved in drugs, alcohol, gangs, and unemployed. We would just get some goal posts and a ball and go play soccer with them for 1.5 hours. It’s been really fun being a part of that. The thing I am disappointed with is that we were going to start doing devotions with the guys because we have gained their trust and respect, but now holiday club has started, so this soccer ministry gets put on hold. I’m hoping that once holiday club is over (in a month) we will get to pick up where we left off and do devotions with the guys and see hearts and lives changed for the Lord.
Kids club is always a blast, but does have it’s frustrating points. Two days a week I am in Overcome Heights and two days I am in Capricorn helping to run programs where the kids hear a Bible story, do a craft, play games, sing songs, learn a memory verse, etc. I have fallen in love with all the children in these two communities. About a month ago we had 16 kids in Overcome Heights make a commitement to the Lord, so that was really exciting. Sometimes the hard part about ministry is wanting to see the fruits of our labor and it can be discouraging when we don’t. So I always remind myself that God is using me to plant seeds and if He chooses to water them while I am here, AWESOME and if not, AWESOME because He will accomplish what He has set out to do.
So as I mentioned earlier, it is now Holiday Club from June 14-July 9. All the kids are on holiday from school for a month so we run programs exactly like kids club, but with way more kids and way more intense. Last year I had the privelge of being a part of this and this year I have the blessing of being a part of the Upwards Soccer Ministry. Over the next month I will be in four different areas, each for a week. I will be a station coach-teaching kids footwork, passing, dribbling, shooting, skills games, and game situations. My role over the next month is being a role model to kids and helping to teach them the fundamentals of soccer. We are using soccer as a tool to be able to share Christ with kids.
God has continued to show me the importance of building relationships with people and through that He has opened up doors to talk to people about Christ. I can also honestly say that since I have been in SA for 4.5 months now it has become life. So there have been times where I have allowed myself to get far too busy, I say yes to too many things, especially since it’s ministry related, etc. It’s been hard to find a balance in ministry and life here, but for the most part I have done ok. God always shows me the importance of filling myself with Him rather than anything else and He is what keeps the fire in me burning.
As you all know it’s WORLD CUP FEVER!! It’s been so cool to see all the South African pride and this country full of people who have come for the world cup. This past weekend I actually got to go with Sean and his family to see Greece play South Korea in Port Elizabeth. It was an 8 hour drive, but took us 10 hours (there’s a story behind it) then we watched 90 minutes of soccer and drove 8 hours back. Talk about a long two days no sleep for those two days, it was crazy but fun and quite the experience.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:
* Sean and I to keep growing in the Lord and God will be clear in His direction for us
*Sean’s family to know the Lord personally and live for Him
*My Fish Hoek soccer teammates-my desire is to see a ripple effect and that one person makes an impact and the whole club transformed for the Lord
*The women’s support group (sewing group)-that they will be empowered and realize that they are worth so much in God’s eyes
*The guys that are part of the Monday soccer ministry-pray that God strips them of their addictions and transforms their hearts
*Upwards Soccer clinics to go smoothly and that kids come to know Christ
*Holiday club to go well, pray for strength and energy for all LSEs and volunteers (it’s an intense month) and pray for kids to come to Christ.
*God to keep transforming my life and remolding me so that more and more I become a reflection of Him
*Pray for me as I seek to raise support to come back to SA to do ministry with Ambassadors in Sport.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Amy

“Think of yourself as a clear glass, whatever you put in is what you reflect”