Christmas Party!

Check out this Vulnerable Children Christmas party video thanks to one of my best friends Matt Kenutis!

November Update!

Hello friends!  It is with great JOY I am able to recap a few highlights for you as another month has seemed to fly by.  This update will be a little different as I give a few shorter snap shots of some inspiring, troubling, and hopeful times that have enabled me to rethink what it means to be thankful.

First I must admit something - I am a little embarrassed it takes a Holiday every year to remind me countless ways in which I am thankful.  Even then, the degree to which I am thankful some years can be shallow.  Although this year I was able to approach Thanksgiving a little bit differently.  I wasn’t around my family or friends, I didn’t get to enjoy my Grandma’s acorn squash or pumpkin pie, and I am living in a culture that doesn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving; Yet this Thanksgiving was special.  God has taught me this throughout November - Thankfulness is a whole lot more than an emotional statement, it’s a lifestyle.  When we give thanks unconditionally, without dependency on our circumstances, we receive JOY.  Thankfulness is directly correlated with JOY.  Simply put -  Thankfulness/JOY is a pure, beautiful exchange and a gift bringing a glimpse of heaven to earth.   Thankfulness opens our eyes to our Fathers hand intervening in our lives, giving us a better perspective of eternity that develops hope in this broken world.

One of my favorite story quotes goes along the line of this.  Jeff one day was struggling to believe God’s goodness amongst such a broken and hurting world.  He was left questioning, “Why does God allow disease, murder, poverty, and injustice?”  Jeff then mocked his friend Alex saying “Since your God is so good and powerful, why don’t you ask him to do something about all of the injustice in the world.”  Alex responded “Because I’m afraid God will ask me to do the same.”

I was reminded of this story during our Thanksgiving celebration.  The reality of this story is many of  us aren’t willing to really to give up time and energy for the kingdom, we stop at or before prayer and empathy.  One of the ministries out of All Nations that goes beyond prayer and empathy is called Baby Safe.  Baby Safe advocates for mothers who are pregnant and are considering abortion.  Baby Safe also has two baby “safe,” which gives mothers an alternative decision in abandoning their baby. My friends Dan and Meehan Shannon work with baby safe and their phone rang right before we started our Thanksgiving meal.  It was the police calling them to inform them they found a newborn lying in a bush.  Dan and Meehan rushed out to pick up the baby to bring it back to our Thanksgiving dinner.  They loved and cared for this baby for three days before getting it into a proper orphanage.   They poured their time, energy, and a few sleepless nights enabling this baby to have a chance at life.  Baby Safe is doing something about injustice in this world.  Meehan chose the name of this baby – Naomi.  Namoi is covered in prayer by many at All Nations and would love your prayers as well – I am thankful for Baby Safe.

The corner boys -  God is giving the “naughty boys” a new identity as he is transforming their lives. Lumkile and Papi are acknowledging their struggles and want to change.  Xholisa, Yanga, Buelela, and other corner boys say they want freedom from drugs and a changed life, but Lumkile and Papi are seeking tangible steps of transformation.   They want new life and are meeting with Matt, Dan and I twice a week to seek new life.  Last week Papi spent an hour in worship and prayer with Sbu, Sive and I – I am thankful for answered prayers, God’s promises, and the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

Finishing up breakfast with Papi and Sive!

   

Matt and I were walking through Masi on a Wednesday afternoon when we ran into one of the corner boys named Speech.  Speech had a gash in the side of his face that was about an inch wide, a cm wide, and looked really deep.  We later found out from a few of the other corner boys he was stabbed in a fight a few days prior.   As I was celebrating Christmas with Zitobile before he left for the Eastern Cape I was encouraged by two things.  First being he wants to lead our bible study when he gets back.  He feels God’s calling him to be a leader and to reach others to tell them about God!  Secondly, when I asked about more about the story of Speech getting into a fight his response was “Yo!  You hang with those boys?  Aren’t you afraid.  They are so dangerous!”  This brought me to reality. Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him – I am thankful that God cares abundantly more for his children than I ever can and He alone is my refuge and shield.

Karin (a wonderful lady from Germany who works with Vulnerable Children) and I visited Asanda in the Wetlands two weeks ago.  Asanda is a 15 year old orphan who lost his mother two years ago, and his father shortly before that.   Asanda sleeps in an extremely small crooked bed while his sister sleeps with their younger brother and her son in the other bed.  Asanda was studying for his exams while Karin and I stopped by to give him a Coke and a few snacks to help him study.  His eyes lit up and didn’t stop saying THANK YOU – I am thankful for the Vulnerable Children team that advocates and gives hope for those in vulnerable situations by providing food monthly, blankets, school uniforms and God’s love.

The last highlight was going to my first traditional African wedding.  We drove 24 hours from Cape Town to Limpopo!  The wedding lasted two days and it was a real African experience to say the least :)  As I am still processing all of the worship, preaching, and dancing I will have to later write another update just on that!

A couple girls in the wedding choir ask me for a picture!