BUSY Tuesday...

BADISA Caring Services Workshop


Requested to facilitate sessions for foster parents and children.  Reggie and I met with 48 children and their parents separately.

Topic for children... Self Image and Puberty &Hygiene.  Expecting and prepared for 20 kids our facilitation skills were stretched when 48 showed up (school's out... nothing better to do)!

Using the story of David & Goliath, Reggie taught the truth that we are all special in God's sight and can do anything with Him on our side.

Dividing the boys from the girls we then talked about puberty and how to take care of our bodies.

After lunch the parents were very appreciative of time spent teaching them how to build their foster children's self image.  

Training/facilitation is my passion... Thank you Lord for opportunities to teach your truth!!

Hlalane Christmas Party

While I was busy with facilitation... Nathan & the Int'l volunteers helped the Island Church with the annual Hlalane Christmas Party.

Girls Pampering Party...

To end the day, a pampering party for the girls from the St. Andrews soup kitchen.  Expecting 13 girls, Julie and I picked up 28 from the church and brought them to the YFC hall where Viola and Carolin had prepared for an evening of pampering.

While I was helping prepare burgers and extra hot dogs, Julie led a beautiful devotion telling the girls of how special they are in the Father's eyes.


He loves them unconditionally!










Each girl was given a yogurt facial

and fingernails painted!












Feeling very special, they left knowing they are loved by their heavenly Father and the International Volunteers.

By 10pm all girls were safely back and home... the Int'l Volunteers cleaned up, came home washed laundry and at 2am they were safely on a bus for a holiday in Durban!

Whew... what a Tuesday!! (Nathan and I have 5 days alone... Yippee!!)

Ultimate Holiday Club Training...

In an effort desires to equip local youth leaders with ministry tools, YFC hosted a Scripture Union Holiday Club training last weekend.

Icebreakers and energizers had Reggie flying through the air like Superman...

Team-building exercises stretched our patience...

Celebration of mission accomplished after...

Thank you for coming from Cape Town all the way to Knysna!!  We appreciate your commitment!! 

"Well done good and faithful servant!" Matthew 25:23

End of year parties...

As the year comes to an end it is time for parties

Options

The whole Options team gathered at our house for a time of fellowship and end of year celebration.

Hosted by the Int'l Volunteers, the girls prepared all the salads while Nathan manned the meat at the braai









After Secret Santa's delivered presents, volunteers shared how working at Options affected them this year... the comments varied from "While at Options, I forget that I am HIV positive (because I am accepted unconditionally)" to "Options is not a 'job' it is a place that I can relax... I know if I am going through a time of challenges, I will be listened to and prayed for."

"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel." Prov 27:9




Baby Party


Every year Options celebrates life... the birth of babies born during the year to women we have counseled.

While the Int'l Volunteers painted faces and played with older siblings...  

The moms enjoyed a time of sharing testimonies, good food and fellowship

and... the babies slept!!

The fruits of our labor!!  


Thank you Lord for allowing us to share in the lives of these women and watch them choose life!!!

Ministry through Nathan...

God continues to build connections to Malawi since Nathan's mission trip in July.  A text message (SMS) arrived from the new believers in the village of Butao in the Neno district.  "We are now 43 in number, 25 are ladies excluding children.  12 baptized in Jesus - 1 in the Holy Spirit.  Even the chief (our biggest stumbling block to the initial distribution of Bibles) is now following Jesus!"

Daily meeting for counseling... Nathan's new office is now the step of the church at the YFC office.

Men have been delivered from demonic influence, filled with the Holy Spirit, found jobs and places to live!





"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor... to comfort all who morn." Isaiah 61:1-2

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