Dane & Ashleigh

A visit from Dane (Nathan's son) and girlfriend Ashleigh was a nice break in the busy "end of school year" and "holiday preparation" season.

The days were filled with everyday activities of beach walks at Plettenberg Bay & Buffalo Bay, picnic at Knysna River Reserve, and cycling along the lagoon.  

While Nathan & Dane laughed at the possibility of filling the canoe with water (it sat so low in the water with both in it that every little movement threatened to submerge them), Julianna & Ashleigh enjoyed water aerobics and the sauna at the Pezula spa! (sad that there are no pictures of the canoe trip!)

They even squeezed in a trip to the Knysna Elephant Park

Thank you, Lord for allowing an awesome time of laughter and building stronger bonds!  

Character Building...

Carolin & Viola assisted with a workshop at Fraaisig the last week of school.  Using games they facilitated lessons on "Courage of Your Conviction" and "Self Control Wins Over Immediate Gratification".

Students applied a lesson on responding to negative peer pressure by performing skits of situations they find themselves in.

"The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." 
Titus 2:11-12

Early Christmas present for Nathan...

A picture speaks volumes... Nathan couldn't wait to try out his new (ok - used) canoe. Barnabas takes the role of captain for the maiden voyage of his Christmas present. Nathan learned the hard way that to paddle against the tide in the lagoon requires all your strength!

 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-5

 A small crowd gathered on Leisure Island for the baptism of 3 believers after church on Sunday.  Each with a special story of how God has been drawing them to a deeper relationship with Him and a strong desire to follow in obedience.

Aubry Kalinde - moved to SA from Malawi to live with his friend  Ephriam (saved last year and baptized in April - see blog history)

Next up... Annie Nkhukuzalira.  When Ephriam was baptized in April, Annie felt that her baptism as a baby in the Catholic church was sufficient.  As she has grown in her faith and relationship with God she wanted to make a public statement of her commitment.  

Shayne Hendricks - coming out of a staunch New Apostolic background, God has been revealing truth about the completed sacrifice of Christ on the cross. 

Wrapping up service with testimonies of the Holy Spirit's transformation in their lives and prayer.  

"Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19  

Make disciples (Ephriam)... who will make disciples (Aubry & Annie)... who will make disciples...

"We are family!" Welcome to the Overmeyer's.  Home of YFC International Volunteers in Knysna South Africa.  Joining us this week is Collins from Malawi sitting next to Nathan.  In the back we have Carolin (Germany), Julie (Ireland), Viola and Lissy (Germany) and me (Julianna).  


As I write this, the girls are at the Sedgefield Saturday Market, then going to hang out at the beach.  Collins is at a Peer Education Camp with Ruben and the Schools ministry... learning all he can to continue ministry in Malawi.  Nathan and Barnabas are taking a nice walk along the lagoon (probably Barnabas is swimming).  I have the whole house to myself!!  This doesn't happen too often... Thank you Lord for the blessing of community (and a few minutes of quiet!)

It is that time of year again... Nathan and 6 others piled into our trusty Combi to administer Grade 9 Assessment Tests for the past two weeks.  Traveling daily to schools all over the area from Plett to Mossel Bay they visited 10 schools.

This week started Matric Exams... from now through the first week of December you will find Nathan walking around and praying for peace and recall as these students' test scores determine whether or not they can get into a university.

Lord, we know these Matric's are facing extreme stress right now, and they need you in this time.  No problem is too big or small for you to handle, so we turn this stress over  to you.  Help them to focus.  Give them supernatural ability to focus while they study, recall and apply it well on the exams.  Give them confidence going into the test and the ability to relax a bit so they can concentrate.  

Give them peace, when it is all said and done, to know that they walked in and did their best.  I pray, Lord, guide their hand as they take the exam, and I ask for your welcome calm when they walk out of the classroom after.  

Lord, Thank you for being here in this time when they feel a bit overwhelmed.  We know that you have magnificent plans for their life!  Praise your name, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  AMEN!!

"Julianna, it is very good to have you back!  I have a request of you.  Are you able to facilitate a Mother/Daughter camp for teen mom's and their mothers..." "It is next weekend!" My first week back at YFC-Knysna... and the work begins.

Working with this group for the past few months after school, through an after school support group and using home visits to build relationships with the whole families.

The goal of this camp was to improve communication between these high school teen moms and their mothers.  God prompted me to improve a talk I had previously given on "conflict resolution".

One of the challenges of putting on a camp of this nature is that the teen moms have children... perfect opportunity for our int'l  volunteers!!  Even Nathan and Barnabas found fun in playing with the little ones (age 1-3).

While some were playing, the others needed a soft lap to take a nap.

Sessions included a separate experience for the mothers, as Mrs Bowers (Plett Sr Sec teacher with a passion to support these teen moms) spoke to the mothers about setting boundaries.

While a psychologist encouraged the teens to embrace the responsibilities of motherhood while at the same time completing school and further education.

Wanting to give some time for creativity.  We taught them how to share the Good News of Jesus as they made "wordless book" bracelets.

Enabling them to tell their own children about the God of love

who sent His son to pay our sin debt and clothe us with his    

    righteousness... allowing us to live forever in heaven.

A time of games provided for laughter... something not experienced often together!

The final session included incorporating communication skills with the provisions to write a letter and share feelings with each other.  An activity that stretched teens and mothers!

We look forward to continued invitations to work with these teen moms and their families.  The girls expressed their appreciation the following week at their support group. Transformation has started in their homes, and God is at work in their hearts!

Life with Volunteers...

Poor Viola walked came in the door with pain written all over her. With Julie for company, Nathan drove them to the Hospital. Worried that she broke her wrist playing volleyball, her eyes were dripping mascara.

First comment from the Sister (nurse) was "What happened to your face?" (shouldn't a woman know it was just mascara?)

Final prognosis... too swollen to tell if it was broken... wear the brace, and if it doesn't improve in a few days, then return.  (2 days later the brace was left laying in a chair... don't think it is broken!)

CAPE TOWN A pleasant sight, a peaceful rest. A compressed holiday. An opportunity to fetch my wife from CT International Airport as she returns after a 3month visit to the US.

With the express instructions to "take it easy" while convalescing from my hernia operation, I utilized my German volunteers, Viola & Caroline, as drivers The favour of Almighty God produced a connection with my son over dinner at CT Fish Market, a supper and chat and prayers with my Mom, a long overdue supper and chat and prayers with my cousin Vourn and a wonderful time spent with a dear friend Sedrico from Scripture Union.

Early morning walks on Blouberg Beach stimulated intimate time with my Abba Daddy.


Playing tour guide we visited the infamous Brass Bell Restaurant when the whales revealed themselves, then on to Fish Hoek Beach - the location of a recent shark attack and Simons Town to hang with the Penguins ending with a visit to Rocklands campsite. Other points of interest included Table Mountain, Signal Hill and Camps Bay. A picnic on the beach in Hout Bay and shopping expeditions to Centuary City and Cavendish Square rounded off the experience.

The final highlight to the trip was to receive my first published work via Scripture Union.  A 90 day Young Leader's devotional;  a joint venture with a few other Christian Authors.

To this accomplishment I give God all the glory.


Wow!  God is good...
What a blast - CT rocks!!
Nathan

Arrival of more volunteers

With the arrival of Caroline and Viola, Barnabas now has two more girls to guard.

Sent to us from Germany YFC, Caroline (left) is volunteering for 9 months and Viola will be here for 4 months.

For their first weekend in Knysna, Nathan, Barnabas and Julie (UK Volunteer) took them to Buffalo Bay

Barnabas showed off when it was time to leave with the only trick up his sleeve a 'sit-in protest'!

We are looking forward to the many ways God wants to use Caroline and Viola as they serve with YFC Knysna!!