Knysna Sunset

Last week God providentially directed Debbie Hawkridge (German Missionary) to stop in at YFC and inquire about possible lodging for about a week.  Unfortunately we have no picture of her... but she left us with a new fridge, and other odds and ends as she was sorting through a storage unit before leaving to visit her son in Pretoria and then travel back to the UK.  One of the mosts beautiful items she left was a picture taken at the Waterfront with a background the God painted in the sky!  Thank you Debbie!!

Family Camp

With one goal in mind... 'turn the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to the parents'  (Malachi 4:6) Options facilitated a camp for parents and their teens.


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Starting with a group game... that promoted laughter then divided sessions










The parents learned practical skills to build their child's self esteem, how to hold a family meeting and how to solve a family problem (with family involvement).


Teens spent both of their sessions in a Bible Study called "Re-Discovering Your Parents."  Starting with God's plan for families... the break-down or families... to 'acknowledging my part' in my families issues.


Three facilitated activities allowed families to experience solving problems, working together as a team, and learning to trust each other











































Once again, our International Volunteers do 'child-care' while their parents and elder siblings are working out relationships.  

As 'camp commander' Nathan was in charge of keeping time and order, which allowed for resting in the shade with Barnabas!

Youth Alpha

In preparation, volunteers and staff from Immanuel Ministries (Oupad) spent a whole Saturday learning about how to hold a Youth Alpha programme. Youth For Christ desires to empower other ministries and churches with skills to reach youth "for Christ"!


Having done much of the prep work, Immanuel Ministries was ready for an awesome kickoff event the following week.

Directed to a table full of black garbage bags, tape and paper, the teens used their creativity to dress in black and white - the theme for the evening.


Youth Alpha is an evangelistic course being used by groups all around the world to help young people meet Jesus.  Using games, worship, facilitated talks and small group discussions the course covers topics from 'Who is Jesus?' and 'Why did Jesus die?' to 'How & why should I read the Bible?' over 10 weeks 

Theo De Jung - MC and main facilitator
(FT Missionary from Holland)

Marvelous Maggie (American YFC volunteer)

Costume design winners!

Small group discussions about Christianity.
Is it... 
boring?
untrue?
irrelevant?














Our AMAZING volunteers had the whole hall cleaned in 15 minutes!!  THANK YOU girls for your committment!

Hands On Parenting Workshop

Another training now under my belt.  Hosted by FAMSA (FAMilies South Africa), facilitators from many Knysna and Plettenberg Bay NGO's were given the experience of a new parenting course.  Reggie Donson (Options) and I are ready to empower the parents that we work with!

Christians In Action

Leadership camp for CIA at Knysna High School was filled with food, fun, fellowship and the Holy Spirit working in their hearts!






This year's leaders were challenged to consider the difference between being "interested" and "committed."
  
Interested people only get involved when it is convenient whereas committed people push through even when things get tough!  








Being a CIA leader requires committment.






Using the acronym CPR, Nathan taught on 'peer evangelism...
C - confront (talk)
P - plant the seed
R - reap the harvest
It is all about relationship!!

YFC L'abri Wilderness Camp

                                                                                           

(Mid January... I am behind on my blogs!)

After a looong days drive, staff from YFC-George and YFC-Knysna arrived at Clarens just outside of Golden Gate National Park. 

Just a few hours more the next day to L'abri - a centre for ecotherapy in the beautiful and tranquil heart of the Kwa-Zulu Natal wilderness, providing a challenging and inspiring setting for both personal enrichment and team-building.

Joining with staff from every province in South Africa the next 6 days were filled with team-building activities, devotions to feed the spirit and up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS for our prevention programmes.

I was privileged to share one of the evening devotions

The highlight for me was the Speckled Emporer Moth... evidence of a Creator.  How else could a moth evolve to have an owl painted on his wings to scare off predators!  There is even a twinkle in the eyes of the owl... 

The Puff Adder's long fangs, potent venom, bad temper, reluctance to flee and willingness to bite make it a formidable danger to the populace of Africa.

The Puff Adder, bitis ariens, is considered Africa’s most dangerous snake. Its widespread habitat, large fangs, potent venom, mean disposition and willingness to bite are the reasons why this snake is responsible for more fatalities than any other snake in Africa. It can be mainly found throughout southern Africa, except in true deserts and dense forests. They thrive in rocky grasslands.

Adders are nocturnal and eat rodents, birds, amphibians, lizards and small mammals. Their enemies include man, badgers, warthogs, other snakes and some birds of prey.

You know you are in Africa when you find a Puff Adder at your house!!

Nathan... pretending to "crush it's head" like Jesus did to Satan...

Pursuing a dream...

"I always wanted to go and study public relations! This is the perfect opportunity"... Bonnie had polio as a child and as 23, and struggled to find a job after matric.  Babalwa and Siphokazi are young mothers who have the challenge of single parenting responsibilities at a young age.

Over 4,000 people applied for a few openings Public Relations, Business Management & Tourism classes through 4 South Cape College campuses (George, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn & Knysna).  Michael, Babalwa, Siphokazi and Patricia (nickname Bonnie) passed an aptitude test and have been accepted after 3 trips to George.  

Burseries provide not only for the education, but also for housing in George, or travel from Knysna.

A sincere "thank you" to the friends who contributed to the petrol as Nathan brought these hopeful students back and forth to George throughout the application process.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)

God's Blessing (new flat & blessing)

Nathan has been mentoring a young man (Cameron Johns) at church, including him in some ministry opportunities (prison ministry).   






Cameron's faith was once again boosted as three weeks before eviction due to a major rehab and maintenance plan of his old flat, a new flat was made available. 




As always God's timing is absolutely perfect, for Carol went into labor 7 days after Cameron's sister arrived from Canada, and 5 days after they moved into the new flat.  

"Baby boy" John (not named yet) arrived at 2am this morning after a quick labor and only 4 hours at hospital, he came home only 13 hours later!!

Please consider assisting them with some basics like a double bed, small fridge, or even a microwave oven.  Please contact Nathan at 082 957 0253 with any assistance.  Let us help join together and give this family a step up.