Partnering with Scripture Union

YFC Strategic Focus - Youth For Christ reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up life long followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ, and commitment to social involvement.

Working together with Scripture Union South Africa, some of the young men we are discipling at YFC volunteered to help facilitate a Holiday Club in Karatara. 

 Kudzai, Junior, and Goodman enjoyed a movie at the sleep over Nathan organized at our house before they left the next day for training.  


With a trailer packed full and stacked high with mattresses (Thank You to the Knysna Municipality!)



they headed off on Saturday for Karatara (a outlying community of woodcutters).

More YFC Volunteers; Christopher, Sibongile and Bongi joined the training on Sunday as we brought another trailer full of fruit donated by "Fruit and Veg" for snacks. 

A cool sweatshirt that I wanted to share (A BLOOD DONOR SAVED MY LIFE)

Tuesday Matty joined Nathan to deliver more fruit!

A highlight of this event for us was the delivery of this year's 90 Day Leader's Devotional (printed by Scripture Union).  




This year, both Nathan and I contributed a week of the devotions!

The sky has been revealing God's glory as we drove away from the holiday club, we followed this rainbow for 30 minutes all the way to the beach!

New International Volunteers

They have started arriving again!! 

Welcome to Matty from the Netherlands.. serving with Immanuel Ministries! She will be joined by 4 others over the next 4 weeks.  (individual picture coming)

 Immanuel Ministries is a busy building; feeding 120-180 children 3 times a week, distributing clothing for those in real need, teaching sewing and computer classes, youth clubs and Bible classes... there is much to keep them occupied for the Lord!

Two days later Clarissa and Annie arrived from Germany YFC.  They will be joined by Christine in a couple weeks.  

Their adventure started off with family supper on Monday, a viewing of Soul Surfer on the 'big screen' (wall), and an early Tuesday with house devotions!  After a tour of the shopping options, we headed to Knysna Elephant Park, ending the afternoon at the Heads.  

Today started with a driving test by Nathan and orientation at the office.  Excited to serve, they will all waken Saturday very early to serve coffee, tea and hot chocolate to the Knysna Forest Marathon runners ... then next week commences with a schedule full of ministry at soup kitchens and schools.  

Entry School

Taking place at Ziz, on the top of the cliff overlooking the Wilderness beach, YFC-Knysna and YFC-George gathered many newer volunteers, to join forces and facilitate some training together.  

God joined the party with a rainbow!

DAY 1 

Uncle Philip (Knysna Director) explaining the history, mission, vision, strategic focus etc. 

Teams presenting "Who are We"

Developing a desire for God's Word... presented by me!  Check out the video clip I used after offering each participant one Lays Potato chip... 




you can't eat just one!  It requires spending time in His Word to develop a taste for more!

DAY 2 

Balanced Life 

(with Shaun from YFC-George)

Code of Conduct

(with Shaun from YFC-George)








Self Leadership 

(with Jerome from YFC-Knsya)

Office Admin

(with Ruben from YFC-Knsyna)

DAY 3

Communication Styles with Dean (George Director)

Followed by Personality Type with Uncle Philip

DAY 4


Conflict Resolution


(model from "The Peace Maker" by Ken Sande)








THE 4 G's

G1 - Glorify God

G2 - Get the Log Out of Your Eye
G3 - Gently Restore
G4 - Go and Be Reconciled

Leadership  with Jonathon (George - Kid's Stop)

DAY 5

3-Story Evangelism with Dean

Staff learned how to connect God's Story (the Gospel) with their own testimony and the story of the person God has put in front of them.

Wrapping up the Entry School with a teaching on the "Father Heart of God" by Nathan 

ending with the following AWESOME reminder of "The Best Father" (watch the video)

BABOONS!

The sign is referring to your cars... but it is well advised to consider your house also!








(June 22 Facebook post)
"You know you live in Africa when your house is raided by 15 baboons.  The fridge has been emptied, every item in the pantry sampled, and poop in every room.  Nathan came home and thought he saw a ghost... it was a baboon covered in flour exiting the house."  


Nathan and Barnabas had been on a walk... the patio door in the back was open.  

 Notice the poop on top of the pantry wall.  They sat at the top and ate the food... oranges, carrots,  rice, flour, noodles, couscous... sago (tapioca), even gold glitter... covering every surface. 


7 kg potatoes, and 5 kg onions... took a bite out of every potato, and all but 4 onions. 


After feasting and pooping they climbed down the other side.












The unexpected blessing of it all... I was training new volunteers at YFC the day it happened, so the man of my dreams and most excellent husband cleaned up most all the mess except for the pantry.  (Figured I should have the privilege of participating in some of the fun!)


Final inventory left... the freezer was untouched (didn't have time to defrost the meat!) so we were able to eat something for supper, the bottle condiments in the fridge, the long life milk (still in the case), the spices, 5 tins of tomato sauce and kidney beans 4 onions, a head of garlic.  And one small brick of cheese which had a spot of mold on the side.  


All told about R3,000 ($400) groceries eaten or destroyed.


Just enough to make Chili the next day (mince/hamburger still in freezer)!  


The next week on the street behind us we saw them at our pastor's house... 










And just after we drove up, the "Baboon Patrol" arrived.  We were not the only house ransacked, so now the municipality has employed 5 men to drive around and "keep the baboons from doing more damage" (scare them off)  


This is job creation in South Africa   ;-)

(no baboons were harmed in the making of this blog!)

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,


Who covers the heavens with clouds, 
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.


He gives to the beast its food, 
and to the young ravens which cry,


He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.

The Lord favors those who fear Him,

¹¹ 

Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

(Psalm 147:7-12 NASB)

Anchored to the Rock

In an effort to encourage and strengthen families members of the 14 children from Rheenendal Primary who passed away in the bus accident of August 2011, Youth For Christ conducted a special weekend on the 2^nd and 3^rd of June.

The sole purpose of the camp; to spiritually enrich and strengthen the families, stimulating them to seek God as the answer (not see Him as the cause or the problem).   

Using Youth Alpha sessions as guidelines, the Saturday curriculum focused on"Who Is Jesus?" and "Why Did Jesus Die?"

 preparing for the Sunday session "How Can I Have Faith?"The following video helps to explain what faith is...

Saturday evening provided opportunity for fellowship and laughter as family groups shared dance or drama.  

Since white American missionaries (me) can't dance... I shared a West African story

Sunday morning following the session on faith the service was an "activation", applying their lives to the biblical account of "The crossing of the Jordan" in Joshua 1-4.  Prior to crossing the river the families were challenged to consider what they want to leave behind (hurt, pain, unbelief, anger, unforgiveness) as they step into the miracle that God has planned for them.  

The youth had previously decorated some 'memorial stones' during their sessions and these were scattered in the 'Jordan River'.  After crossing the river an explanation of "the memorial stones" was given The children led their families to the stones they decorated to remember what God had done for them.  The families stood in the river, filled with emotion, as the YFC staff prayed over them.

Touched and strengthened in their relationship with God, we heard testimonies indicating they could feel our care and love for them, something which they haven’t felt it in a long time. One lady testified, "I have only been serving God 50% this weekend I want to give Him 100%!"

Every cent needed and items used at this camp were provided by generous sponsors... We would like to thank the following donors, who made this weekend possible: Standard bank, South Cape Suppliers, Kwik Spar, Farmer’s Butchery, Julia, Kekkel en Kraai, Saver’s Lane, Kitaan, The Rock Church (use of bus and driver), Tharfield Estate (preparing food at no extra cost). Without your generosity, the weekend would not have been so amazing; we were truly blessed and definitely spiritually enriched.


"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

YFC-Knsyna Golf Day

Enjoyed by 32 golfers for the YFC-Knsyna Golf day, June 1st, the rolling hills of the Pezula Championship Course offer views of both the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean.












After pounding the pavement, knocking on countless doors and making a hundred phone calls - the holes were sponsored, golfers rounded up and all the prizes  gathered & displayed! 

As part of the Board of YFC-Knsyna, Nathan put his heart and soul into the success of the event.

Facing economic challenges, the goal of 80 golfers was reaching for the stars.  God was faithful to provide just the right number of golfers for each one to receive a prize!  

A big thumbs up to all the businesses who gave prizes and sponsored holes... "Thank You" to the golfers... YFC-Knysna appreciates your partnership in the Lord's work in Knsyna. May God truly bless your giving hearts!