"emzini" meaning "home" in Xhosa... For a year end party, the staff and volunteers of Options enjoyed the unique experience of a tour of the townships outside Knysna. What the staff didn't know is that the tour operator was our newest volunteer at Options! Ella Mahlulo started her own business out of a dream to help her community by uplifting those around her with food, clothing, confidence, employment, self worth and safety.


Located on a hill overlooking Knysna not only allows for the poorest to have the best views of the lagoon and the mountains, but also the dwellings are a bit more spread out than a typical city township with shacks almost on top of each other and only narrow paths between them



Most of the Options staff and volunteers have lived in Knysna for many years and know of the needs in the township. We were blessed to visit some of the many NGO's (non-gov't organizations) working to improve the quality of life in the township including Masizami Women of Vision (empowering women by teaching sewing skills), Paula Whitney Pre-School, and MAD About Art (innovative, interactive educational programmes that equip children with practical skills and knowledge about HIV and AIDS by using art)

Did you know that the townships also boast of a "big 5"?

The cow, the horse, the pig, the donkey and the goat... we saw all but the horse!







With Ella's passion for providing for the needs of her community, the hearts of visitors from all over the world have been touched to see her dreams come true. This container was provided by two such guests from England for a soup kitchen after seeing children sitting on the grass in Ella's front yard waiting for their afternoon meal. Coming from an abusive background, another project started by Ella is the Lukhanyiso Safe House a refuge for women and children in danger (no picture available at this time). The building is now completed, and now furnishing are starting to come in.


The tour ended at Ella's home for coffee, tea and a quick Xhosa pronunciation lesson followed with drumming and Xhosa worship.

THANK YOU Ella for the "home" experience and thank you Options for arranging it. Our lives are enriched as we see the township with new eyes! May the Lord continue to provide through your guests as they give to the needs of your community!

p.s. We are excited to work with you at Options!!

Working weekly with a grade 10 Life Orientation class, Reggie Donson - Social Development Program Manager of Options, recognized a missing component in students lives... strong family relationships. The Options team facilitated a weekend camp in an effort to reinforce families of the students in at Knysna Senior Secondary School.




















45 parents and kids spent the weekend identifying: what makes a family, what their family values are, spiritual growth in a family, and the importance of family events. Using role plays, games, and activities family relationships were fortified. One camper stated, "I learned that I want to be a good role model for my younger brother and sister, it is important!" Comments from the parents included: "I realized that I need to be more interested in the daily activities of my children." "I learned the necessity of spending time with my kids and really listening to them." "I want to be more support for my children." Another weekend is planned for Autumn and will build on the lessons learned at this "Family Rocks" camp.

"Themba" - A boy called Hope

Set predominantly in the spectacular Eastern Cape of South Africa, THEMBA, is the moving story of a young Xhosa boy who dreams of being a soccer star and longs for his absent father to return home. His non-idyllic childhood in the rural Eastern Cape comes to an abrupt end when his mother is forced to look for work in Cape Town after losing her job, and he and his sister are left in the care of her lover. After Themba is raped, he and his sister go to look for their mother in Cape Town even though his soccer team stands to win the Eastern Cape Junior championships. They find her dying of AIDS. Themba has to force the fact that he, too, is infected. Against all odds, he realizes his soccer dream and plays for Bafana Bafana. This gives him the courage to take a public stand and tell the world that he is HIV positive. (Written by Stefanie Sycholt http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1599369/)



As the movie started most of the boys at the Knysna Sr Sec Hostel were not interested and playing games or chatting on 'mixit' on their cell phones... but by the end of the movie all phones were dark, and eyes were glued to the screen to watch the outcome of Themba's soccer (football) game and HIV status! Most had misty eyes as Themba announced on public TV that "I never expected to play for Bafana Bafana and I never expected to test positive for HIV!"

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The climax of the evening was not the end of the movie, but the powerful testimony of Ella, one of the newest volunteers at Options. Ella is HIV positive, and has a passion to spare youth from making the same mistakes she made. "You have your whole life ahead of you... wait for sex til you are married. If I can do it at 40, you can do it at 16. God will sustain you!"



Like Themba, Ella desires speak publicly about her HIV status and to live her life positively (attitude) with the hope that God has a purpose for her life, and she doesn't want to miss any of it. Options is excited to have her as a facilitator for a new support program starting early next year for people testing positive for HIV. She wants to spread the news that in Christ there is hope, for everyone...







An awesome evening of ministry wrapped up with prayer for these students to hold on to God, allowing Him to keep them pure, free from any STI, until marraige!

Picnic with the nations...



Malawi, India, USA, and South Africa (Zulu, Xhosa, and Cape Flats)!

God provided petrol earlier in the week when we were driving on fumes... it was a pleasure to provide rides for "the nations" as a service to Him. We praise Him for provision and great weather at Jubilee Creek for the church picnic!

Sex comes with a price tag...


Excited to teach another lesson to the "All For Jesus" youth of Plettenberg Bay Evangelical Fellowship (see September 2010 blog) we joined them before the Winter Break.

Nathan broke the ice with a simple demonstration of Jesus taking the punishment/judgment for our sin as a judge would take step away from His seat of authority, take off his robe, and pay the price of a fine we deserve for for a traffic violation.

Using cello tape, 4 brave volunteers lost skin and hair from their arms as Julianna demonstrated the truth that sex before marriage is a lasting bond.

Finishing with a brilliant video sharing the physical risks of sex outside of marriage, the youth were challenged to choose abstinence not only to stay HIV negative, but to reserve the gift of sexual intimacy for God's chosen spouse in His perfect time (after the wedding).

SUMMER IS HERE!!

Barnabas loves to play fetch in the water...



swim with his dada...




go down the slide on the playground equipment...







and play "hide and seek" in the tall grass!!

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!