Western Cape Grade 9 Assessment

"I trust that your worst student will be your best student today..." Nathan saluted the efforts of the teachers at Hillcrest before praying God's blessing over their work.

Although many students are afforded the opportunity of education, the illiteracy rate in South Africa is very high. In an effort to assess the level and standard of the education 84,000 grade 9 students participated in literacy and numeracy assessment tests throughout the Western Cape.

As part of a team of 21 test administrators based out of Knysna, Nathan drove a team of 7 people to 8 different schools stretching between Knysna and Mossel Bay using our trusty VW Combi (mini van)to administer tests. With over an hour drive in the car each way, opportunity to share the good news of Jesus to some skeptics of the faith came natural to Nathan as well as offering prayers for families and businesses represented by his team.
Each day was a new adventure and always there was a story to share with me after coming home...

Nathan chuckled as one young man danced periodically in his seat... he was celebrating the completion of each section with a victory dance.

At one school Nathan gave his chocolate muffin to the last student to complete the test. The students were most amazed that it wasn't given to the first student who finished... "But didn't Jesus say that the first will be last, and the last will be first?"

Coming home late after Bible School on Thursday, Nathan's phone rang. One of the test administrators on his team needed assistance taking her mother to the hospital... "Would you possibly ber able to take her to George?" (a 1 hr drive).
With the back seat down and a foam mattress on the floor, Nathan transported the mother and ministered to her with peaceful music and prayer along the way. Suffering from cancer, the doctors were amazed at how quickly she recovered from the complications that brought her to the hospital.


As the project ended each of the team gave Nathan a hug thanking him for the peaceful and safe driving and atmosphere of camaraderie created as team leader.

God coordinated appointments...

"Julianna, your Monday morning plans have changed..." Nathan explained to me how God was directing my steps.

Scheduled to speak Monday at a high school assembly for Teen Pregnancy Prevention week, the principle "happened" to meet Nathan at the store on Saturday... "Nathan, I know God sent you my way, I have been trying to reach Angelia (YFC Schools Facilitator)to tell her the Assembly plans have changed, but I don't have her phone #. Would you please tell your wife we will re-schedule?" As the words left his mouth, Nathan's phone rang... "Greetings Nathan, are you available to speak at the "Send Off" Assembly for our Matric's (graduates) on Monday morning.?" And so Nathan knew that this was God re-arranging my schedule and didn't let me off the hook when I begged him to take the bigger schools assembly!

















With Nico DeVos and Angelia Simons as support, we headed to Plettenberg Bay Sr Secondary to "send off" the matric's on Monday. Armed with the story of Paolo Rossi (Italian soccer hero of the 1982 World Cup)and the faith the coach had in him tied to the account of Jesus' forgiveness towards Peter after he denied a relationship with Him. I encouraged these students that "God believes in you, even more than you believe in yourself!" They may have made some mistakes along the way, maybe they wasted time they should have spent studying (Matric Final Exams start soon), but God is standing in front of them to tell them that if they come to Him, He will forgive them and help them finish strong. Nothing is impossible with Him, and nothing is possible without Him!




I am walking proof... God believed in me, when I didn't believe in myself!

Staff Conference... "Hand Me Another Brick"

Wortelgat... the location for YFC Southern Africa Staff 2010 Conference. Described as God's own place uniquely and picturesquely set in natural vegetation of limestone fynbos and ancient milkwood thickets on the banks of the Kleinrivier estuary with magnificent views of the Kleinrivier mountains... walks and hikes meander through the fynbos, along the koppies and under the milkwoods along the lagoon edge... through the forests to waterfalls in the mountain add to the variety of flora and fauna as does the walk through the nature reserve to a long white sandy beach with magnificent views of whales and dolphins.

220 staff and family representing 10 nations converged for training, encouragement and renewal. Opening the conference with "Taste and See" each centre offered a taste of what their city represents and showed off pictures of their ministry. Knysna is known for their oysters, and offered seafood stew... cooked over the fire!








Daily devotions led by Vicar Dennis Stafford focused on Nehemiah 1 and the importance of prayer in a leader's life... here are some of the points that convicted me.

- "Prayer moves you into a realm of noticing things - God works the miracle out!"
- "Prayer allows leaders to: 1)See further/beyond other people - never having been there before 2) See more than others see - sees the real problem 3) See before others know."
- "Prayer is not to determine what to get from God - but what God gets from you!"
- "Prayer infuses vision - enabling us see what God wants us to do!"
- "Living in the realm of prayer we are not only aware of the need - we are willing to be the answer!"



Other sessions focused on culture and embracing diversity. Not only considering that the Southern Region represents many different countries and respective cultures, but also each YFC Centre especially in South Africa ministers to multiple cultures. During Apartheid YFC South Africa stood it's ground to include all races even when facing police raids at gatherings and camps. Conscious effort was made to include all cultures represented even at the worship at conference... see video!

Each afternoon was open for renewal... walks to the beach, kayaking, ferry ride on the lake, trip to the Hermanus Whale Festival, or just to take a nap! My walk to the beach also included seeing 2 whales!