It's lunch break at Percy Mdala High School, but 32 students chose to spend it growing in their relationship with the Lord!

As part of the goal of YFC to minister to the spiritual needs of youth.  Nathan & I have been invited to meet with these students once a week during their lunch break.  After a short time of worship in song we showed two short evangelism video clips.  Nathan related the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer to the influence they have with other students in the school.  Their relationship with the Lord can encourage others to persevere in school, to withstand temptation towards evil, and to become mighty young leaders in their generation.

After the message 8 students prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour.  Please pray for these new believers, and that this group will grow to have a positive influence on their peers!  

Welcome to Senethemba!

An outreach centre working with 'at risk' youth (street kids) with the goal of re-integrating them back into their families and school, encouraging them to become productive members of society.

16 children at risk (street kids) who have been re-integrated back into their families and school are involved in the 'after care' program.  Picked up from school each day, they are brought to the centre for help with homework and some nourishing food to nurture the relationship already built with volunteers and counselors.  The goal is to keep them from falling back to their delinquent ways and the street.  Together we (Nathan & I) are bringing a message of hope and encouragement through multimedia and God's Word once a week.  Using only our small computer speakers, our ears were strained to hear the movie as the rain began to pound on the roof.  We encouraged the students to pray with us for the provision of a new portable sound system that will cater to such ministry occasions (please join us in prayer for this!).  It will be fun to show them how God answers practical needs.

We will continue to report on other activities as we partner with the staff at Senethemba to reach out to the youth of the informal settlements around Knysna.

A ministry of The Island Church for about 3 years is the soup kitchen at Lhalane. Located at the east edge of Knysna, this informal settlement is not recognized by the municipality as it has no running water, or electricity. With a desire to show God's love to this small community the Island Church provides a nutritious meal, and a teaching to the youth here. 6 months ago a building was provided by others who wanted to sew into this ministry.

Once a week about 35-40 children of all ages gather for a time of games, Bible teaching, prayer and a simple meal. Many of these children take their portion home to share with the rest of the family.

God's love prevails!

Upon Returning to Knysna, the word from the Lord was "Be still, and know that I am God."  We weren't sure exactly what that looked like, and 'waiting' is very difficult.  One of the YFC board members told us we were welcome to listen to the still small voice of the Lord at her farm.

It seemed that we were being bombarded with requests to "do" things for the Lord, and after 2 weeks of unsuccessful "being still", we took up the offer and drove to "Tehillah"; a beautiful farm about 30 km from "De Rust" ("the rest" in Afrikans!).  With no TV, no radio, no cell phone, we finally could only but listen to God.  He displayed His majesty through His creation, as a troop of 29 baboons gave us daily entertainment.  We also were visited by a huge tortoise, beautiful birds, and flies (it is a working farm, so they are attracted by the goats and sheep!)

As it is VERY hot in the Karoo (dry low scrub brush desert),  the water reservoir was quite refreshing for a daily swim!  

Our time at Tehillah was quiet restful!!

Time to play 'catch up' again!!!  Such is my life!

As you read from Nathan's letter, we were in Cape Town for the first 10 days of January for his 'new teeth'.  In addition to receiving direction from the Lord to "return" to Knysna instead of going to Swaziland, Nathan also showed me many of the stomping grounds that formed his life growing up in Cape Town.  I have included some of my favorite pictures.  If you ever have the opportunity to spend time in Cape Town, it would truly require a couple of weeks and maybe even a month to do it justice.  I felt like I was on a whirl wind tour.  

Thanks to the generosity of Cape Town YFC, we were able to spend much of our stay at their international volunteer house on Blaauberg Beach.  Literally one block from the ocean, and ideal for morning and evening walks to commune with God.

One special event I have no picture for (the one day Nathan pleaded that I not bring the camera for our morning beach walk, I must admit, I couldn't get enough pictures of Table Mountain).  At Big Bay (the northern part of Blaauberg Bay) a school of dolphins (minimum 100) were feasting on fish for breakfast.  They ate for about 1/2 hour, and when the eating was finished they celebrated the fine meal the the Lord provided by playing.  I'm talking major jumping, flipping, some times 3-4 in unison... just like you see at Sea World... only they frolicked for at least a hour before moving on and there was no one prompting the show!  It was one of the most amazing productions of God's creation I have witnessed!  But it remains a memory for only Nathan and I... sorry!  :)