CRAZY-BUSY-February

WOW!! So much to catch you up on, and so little time to do it.

Starting with Nathan...

PRISON MINISTRY
Over the course of 4 weeks, Nathan organized for Reggie Donson (YFC staff) and 2 YFC volunteers to facilitate HIV/AIDS information sessions in the prison. Over the first 3 weeks, they met with 104 men in different wards with 31 signing up for voluntary testing. This was only a means to meet with the men, God had alternative plans.

Starting with worship, led by Caz (from the Island Church worship team) and a message from God's Word from Nathan, two volunteers living with HIV, gave testimony to the reality of contracting the virus and living with it (the risk in prison is sharing blades and needles while tattooing and rape). Their lives are testimonies of God's grace and forgiveness and empowerment to live a life for him, even when infected. More important than the high response to "know your status" was the response for prayer and deeper relationship with Christ... 4 of the 16 men that desired prayer gave their hearts to Christ and are now living an eternal life in Him

VISITORS to our home...

February 3rd, two staff from YFC Germany came to visit Knysna YFC. Daniela Sudmeier, the project coordinator for Ithemba - teams of South Africans trained in creative arts (dance, drama, games) by YFC-SA to tour Germany and work with youth around the country... and Olly Deuck, the director of Project Serve Germany, finding YFC's around the world for German High School graduates (matriculants) to spend their gap year serving the Lord (short term mission, 3mo - 1 yr) before continuing education at university.

Olly was very pleased with the ministry in Knysna (and the set up of our home to house volunteers), and only 1 week later called to say "Your first volunteer will be transferring from New Zealand to stay with you for 3 months if you have a place for her." Valentines Day, Nathan and I drove 3 1/2 hours to Port Elizabeth to pick up the newest member of our household, Maike Knauss.

As Maike was settling in during her first week she soon discovered that the rooms in our home have revolving doors. The next day Paul and Virginia Nurmi (YFC World Outreach Pastoral Care Ministry) came to hang out with Nathan and I for 5 days. Their job... to love on the YFC World Outreach missionaries... ME (and Nathan), to learn how to better pray for us, and encourage us.

Two nights before Paul and Virginia left, we received a call from a friend at church, "Hi Nathan, do you have a room for a family from Sweden to stay, passing through to Port Elizabeth?"... and so Rebecca and Sam and their 8 yr old son and 6 yr old daughter, spent the night. Joseph really connected with "Uncle Nathan". A beautiful Christian family on holiday. Their stay was less that 15 hours, we are looking forward to their return trip to Cape Town to get to know them a bit! (sorry, no pictures, they weren't here long enough!)

Camps...

Knysna High CIA (Christians In Action) leadership camp was a success as student leaders met for a retreat to evaluate their relationship with the Lord and how to be used by God this year (Feb 11-12).

Amongst leaders from local churches (Theuns Visser, Richard Meyer, Pastor Cunningham) and YFC leadership (Sheena and Isoleen), Nathan shared the story of Esther and the impact of her action that changed the course of history.

The students spent the morning on the beach in reflection of exactly where they stand with the Lord.

After an awesome breakfast provided by members of The Rock...

Students related what they learned from their time with the Lord on the beach

and Philip Schroder (YFC) shared a teaching on peer evangelism using the "3-Story" method (your story, my story, God's story).

Even Barnabas enjoyed playing on the beach, and sleeping in the Combi with Nathan...


while I was home preparing for the camp below (also on Saturday Feb 12)...

"I want to talk more about personal things with my mother"...

"Bridging The Gap" was the theme of our first 'Mother/Daughter' day camp. 10 daughters age 16-19, mostly from Knysna Sr Sec grade 10 class spent a Saturday drawing closer to their mothers.

With the aim of building better communication and a closer relationship in an effort to strengthen family relationships the female facilitators of Options put together a program that included "Conflict Resolution and Forgiveness", "Coaching your teen girl", "How to talk to your mother".

A time of games and creating a pretty picture frame together provided a safe place to laugh and work together.

The opportunity to listen to each other's heart came from the final project was a letter written to each other and a chance to sit and listen to each other's heart.






Paul and Virginia's final day in Knysna was a busy one as Nathan and I were again in two places...

Thembilitsha Primary prefects (Grade 8 class head students), spent the day in sessions on conflict resolution, leadership principles and development, HIV/AIDS, Drugs & Alcohol and Team Building. As emcee, Nathan led each session with ice breakers. Nathan was sadly impressed that these students were very well informed about drug use, unfortunately because it is a reality of the township, and misinformed about the ability for condoms to protect from HIV/AIDS. Maike overcame the challenge of multiple language usage and rose to the occasion as she assisted with the games.

The day ended for Maike with a trip to Knysna Elephant park as a blessing from the school. She paid more for the elephant food, than the entrance! (picture to come)



Juianna's day started at 7:30am at the office setting up for and HIV/AIDS workshop before heading off to a "Ladies Breakfast Fundraiser".



Leaving the fundraiser before the special guest speaker to arrive back at the office to meet and greet participants of the HIV Workshop. A new branch of our ministry at Options is giving support to people who are HIV positive. This includes workshops and support groups facilitated by people who are HIV positive. We are blessed to have the expertise of Options in George (neighboring city) having some experience with this ministry. A huge THANK YOU to Mawonga who started off the workshop with a session on "Disclosure". Having no idea how many people to expect, the 17 in attendance were 12 more than I knew were coming... I was especially blessed when spontaneous praise erupted after one of the sessions... listen below...



This is the first of 3 workshops before I return to the US at the end of June... please pray for more participation at the next workshops, and that God will be glorified as topics are presented!

I have been accused of not sharing pictures of my Grand Daughter Ella... and it is true, you see more of our puppy Baranabas than of Ella... so this page is in honor of a precious little girl that celebrated her 1st birthday this month!! LOVE YOU ELLA... can't wait to spend time with you in 5 months!!





























































And finally, the first picture of my next grand daughter by Kirsten and Howie... looking forward to her arrival in June!

"One Life To Live -MAKE IT COUNT!"



With a focus on discipleship this year, CIA (Christians In Action - the school youth ministry program at Knysna High School) started off with an explosion of praise and worship at the first meeting for the year. Last year this ministry was held during the last period of school, this year it is held during an 'interval' ('extended morning break' for you Americans).



About 250 students gave up the opportunity to visit with friends & eat a snack to praise and worship Jesus with Theun's band!



This ministry is a collaboration of Knysna Churches and Youth For Christ. Each grade was introduced to the pastor and teacher responsible for their discipleship. Upcoming grade camps and leadership camps were announced and Nathan gave away 2 Bibles in a quiz to assess what the students remembered from the meeting.

School is back in session, and the hostel is back up and running. God has again given us the privilege of overseeing homework time for 34 students this year.











In an effort to encourage them to include God in their lives 25 Bibles were distributed (returning students received one last year), and a challenge was issued to complete "The Book Of Hope" - 9 Bible studies around issues youth face. We excited to see the Lord work to change lives this year!!

Holiday Guests...

Just a quick update... Our holiday season was filled with visitors! Starting with Dane (Nathan's son) and then the Botswana volunteers before Christmas (already posted story and pics). Nathan's best friend, Warren, and his teenage niece and nephew came down from Johannesburg for a week... in between their visiting with their own family we enjoyed late night movies and a Jubilee Creek hike with them... it was refreshing to watch a brother and sister get along so well!


An unexpected phone call came from Nathan's mother's cousin (he has a HUGE extended family), telling us that they were coming to George for a spell, and wanted to catch up with us... what a treat! Norman and his wife went through the list of this cousin and that cousin and who is pastoring what church, and who is leading worship at what church... who is living where... I am still confused as to who is who, but Nathan kept it all straight!



On Jan 4th was a "Special Delivery" all the way from Australia... a Coober Pedy hat (complete with an opal in the hat band)!! Nathan has been praying for God to bless him with this exact hat for longer than I have know him. In October when we heard that his cousin was coming for a visit we asked if she could locate one and we would pay for it. The shop down the street from her had only one hat left by the brand... of all the styles available, the only one in stock was a Coober Pedy in Nathan's exact hat size! As much as Nathan was looking forward to his new hat, he was excited to see his cousin Leslie and her partner (who attended the same school as Nathan years before)... again talk was all about who is doing what... and I am still confused!



It is nice to have such a small family, 2 sisters, 3 nieces, 1 nephew, 2 Uncles, 1 Aunt, 2 cousins, 2 daughters and one grand daughter, but listening to stories of family gatherings from Nathan's side leaves me wondering if I missed something!


Nathan feeding Barnabas ice cream with his new hat on!

Youth Week!!

Everyone is excited except for Barnabas...



Youth Week is a Christian Youth Camp run by Youth for Christ, South Africa. Each year about 600+ young people come together from around southern Africa, to participate in a week of fun, sports, learning, worship, spiritual growth and relationship building. All set in the wonderful facilities of the YFC Cyara training centre in the Magaliesberg.
Overall, Youth Week promises to be a life-changing experience that will set the tone for a dynamic year ahead. (http://www.yfc-cyara.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92)




With great expectation and anticipation parents give last minute instructions to the 31 kids leaving for Youth Week.





For some kids it was a relief to find that there was a familiar face in the crowd.






Busses arrive...








Last minute instructions given by Uncle Philip (Centre Director) while waiting for final students... "use toilets now, your next opportunity is only in 4 hours!" (being kids, they all said they didn't need to) "bring a jersey/sweater, you will get cold on the bus"... (I'll be fine in this t-shirt)



Finally a 'send-off' prayer by Nathan for safety and God to give them a week of experiences that will radically change their lives... (after pounding the pavement to find sponsors for 11 of the students, he has a vested interest and we will be praying all week)





And they were off to pick up a few in George, and then... 18 hour ride to camp!