Community Service Project at Lhalane

Organized by YFC, 4 Gold Peer Educators from Percy High School joined me at Lhalane this week. Through GOLD, YFC teaches leadership skills to high school students who then educate their peers in life skill issues.

One of my biggest challenges at Lhalane has been game time with these little children that don't speak English. The children were all smiles as Xhosa speaking kids played games with them in their own language. I was thrilled to see even the littlest ones participating. Amidst the singing, clapping, and foot stomping, one looked up at me and asked "duck, duck?". I guess my games aren't so bad after all!

More fun with Single Moms...





This month the Single Mom's support group from Options met twice. It was very exciting to hear them encourage each other as they shared the challenges of motherhood alone. For the second meeting candles were made for selling at the Options 10th Birthday Party on the 31st. I made blue ones to purchase for Nathan (he loves blue!). Each woman left knowing someone understands them, and they are never alone with God as their Father!

Entertaining guests...

A lovely young lady, Zimkitha, along with her boyfriend and co-worker shared Sunday Lunch with us after church a couple weeks ago. Zimi is one of the engineers working on the road construction for the N2 highway around the Knysna Lagoon. It has been a blessing to learn more about her and share how God is working in her life during the time she has been in Knysna.

Very dear friends of Nathan from Cape Town, Reg and Gladys Henley, stopped by for lunch this week on their way to Port Elizabeth. Having a similar passion for missions, they shared about a recent trip on which their church brought 5 ton of food into Zimbabwe and also taught a new farming method which reduces the amount of water that evaporates and at the same time increases harvest yield. Along with other retirees from his church, Reg is currently training other young people work skills. Over 70 years of age, these two will never retire from doing God's work... Go Reg and Gladys!!

"Book of Hope"

5000 books were dropped at the YFC office for ministry use with the request that it would be put into the local schools. Our scheme for encouraging youth to read the books... Nathan rewarded them with chocolates. As the first one finished, Hendrik presented his completed book to Nathan the very next day for the extra prize of fishing hooks and sinkers!

The "Book Of Hope" is a magazine with short Bible Study's about Jesus and his teachings along with articles about Love, Friendship, Health-Addiction, Self Esteem, concluding with Facing Your future and "Your Most Important Decision".

In addition to presenting them at the Hostel, we have also challenged our Children's Church youth, students at the Plett Christian School and the students at the Concordia Hospice Support Group. The chocolate is a small price to pay for knowing that kids are reading the Bible and learning about Jesus directly from His Word!

Visit from Americans...
Formerly the YFC Central African Regional Director, PJ Cooley and his wife Cynthia were in town to share news of the direction that God has led them, and spend time with PJ's sister living just down the road in Sedgefield. We were blessed with the privilege of their company for lunch and a little Knysna sightseeing (bonus... they brought me some chocolate chips from the US!). When I dropped them off, a little Sedgefield Tortoise greeted me in the garden!

Ministry with single moms...

"Options" Crisis Pregnancy Centre offers encouragement to women in crisis. Every other Saturday is the "Single Mom's" group. For the women who choose to parent their baby alone, it can be lonely. The Single Mom's group seeks to offer a place to relax, and be creative while interacting with other women with similar challenges. This week Barbara brought beading supplies for the ladies to create something for themselves and an opportunity for us to build relationships with them in a non-threatening environment.

Spring Break...

With the schools closed for the week, there was lots of free time on our hands...



Monday I had the brilliant idea to walk from Brenton On Sea (bottom right) to Buffalo Bay (top left)... having visited this bay many times and only walked about 1/4 of the way each time, I was excited to trek the whole bay... excited until that evening when I couldn't even move because of 3 hours of walking in deep sand!

God did give me a very special gift on the walk... a whole "Nautilus" shell, paper thin and very rare to find!!






Tuesday & Wednesday were 'chill' at home and watch the birds in the garden days while my knees recuperated! My favorite is the "Hoopoo" searching for worms.








The seed eaters fight over their turn at the feeder, while they are more patient to wait in turn for a bath.









The sunbird flying over the nectar bottle was a surprise, as I really didn't even know it was there!





Thursday I finished my Children's Church lesson prep for the whole 12 weeks that I will be away in the US (Nov-Jan), using up one whole ink cartridge!

Friday, knees feeling 100% better, we attempted another beach, Plettenberg Bay Lagoon. This time only walking for about 1/2 hr and then settling into the sand for a picnic lunch and listening to a couple sermons on podcast. In this lagoon we saw many Sea Cucumbers and I found some very long "Fingernail" shells (don't know proper name, but if I had glued them on, they would make any woman jealous!)









Saturday, I am craving internet time (not available at the house anymore), so while Nathan is fishing... I am hanging out online while he hangs out his line! Check out the fish that the guy next too him just caught (literally while I was typing this)!

Standing in the gap...

While recovering from back surgery, various leaders have been asked to fill the pulpit for our pastor (Brian Long). This past Sunday Nathan was afforded the privilege to share what has been on his heart. God often coordinates circum- stances to test our faith, especially prior to preaching His Truth. With a challenge to look for 'miracle opportunities' prior to Sunday's message, Nathan noticed a blind young man at the SCO rally he attended on Friday (he was the keyboard player!). Believing that the Lord has called us to "do what He has been doing... even greater things than these" (John 14:12), and acting upon his faith, Nathan asked him if he would like to see. As Nathan and the school prayed for his eyesight to be restored, God improved the young man's sight! Nathan shared with our congregation that in order to "Live in the natural supernaturally," we need to step out and act upon what Jesus said we can do in His name.

Final fling before Spring (break)

It is still weird for me to celebrate Spring Break in September! This week has been fun, still utilizing the Cape Town Team.

Another visit to the prison. This week challenging the men with material from "Heartlines" regarding 'acceptance'. God accepts us just as we are!

There is no place like a beach for devotions... as Nathan wrote the things he was worrying about in the sand, God kindly washed then away literally and figuratively! He promises to take care of all our needs!

Morning assembly at Knysna Primary was a hit, as many of our Children's Church and Hostel kids attend the school... shouts of "Hey Uncle Nathan!" were heard around the hall. Again the team did their thing before Nathan shared God's words reminding the students that God always gives second chances.

Finishing off the week at Murray High School for an SCO (Student Christian Org) kickoff rally. I believe the team and everyone at YFC is ready for a break... :)

"What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?"

Visiting from Cape Town YFC, the ministry team "Impilo" (meaning life in Zulu) joined Nathan at the prison.

Peaking the interest of the prisoners, an energizing dance brought smiles at the start of the program.

Set to music, a drama "Shout", highlighted the troubles facing todays young people. Showing that God wants to rescue them from peer pressure, drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide.

Unpacking the message for the prisoners, Nathan reminded them that: "You win or lose by the way you choose. We serve a God of second chances." These men find themselves living the consequences of their choices. God wants to be in the midst of their working out the results by giving them peace, hope and a transformed mind for the future.

"We appreciate outside Christian teams visiting as it gives encouragement and a fresh hope for the future!" (from an inmate saved in the prison and serving a 15 year sentence, now leading small group Bible studies in his section)

An opportunity for the prisoners to show off their dancing skills wrapped up the visit!