Thanks Tina

August 26, 2008

Goodbye to Tina

In April 2006 when I first began to plan for the sewing class, I thought I had a teacher but those plans fell through. Panicked somewhat I did not quite know where to turn until my friend Matilda in the Living Hope office asked me if I would consider using Tina Hartzenberg . Tina had a special needs daughter, Janine, and she sewed and sold her items at a nearby shopping center. Since I could not sew and was desperate, but also because Tina was an answer to prayer, I agreed to have her teach that first class. She did so faithfully for that first year. With Janine she would walk to class come rain , shine or Cape Town wind. A white, Afrikaans speaking teacher did have some battles with Xhosa speaking students from Masiphumelele but she made it. It was Tina who worked with those first students to teach them how to sew the bags that have now become a business today. She was so grateful to help. At the end of the year she told me she was leaving because she was moving from the area. I learned that Tina died early this month from a heart attack. I want to pay tribute to her. Tina can be proud of her part in this ministry. Thank you Tina. We will remember you with love for your work. The picture shows Janine, Tina and Khumi.

Women's Day Celebrated

Monday August 18,2008
On August 9, 1956, a representative group of women marched to the Prime Minister's house in South Africa to protest the pass laws that so adversely affected their families.While the Prime Minister did not receive them, their action had a ripple effect in the eventual demise of apartheid. I was delighted when Living Hope Chaplain Moroesi invited the women associated with Living Hope to celebrate the day both as freed women in South Africa and free women in Christ. We marched about two minutes in a drizzle as we sang Nkosi sikelel iAfrika, the National Anthem and then read aloud the petition used that day. "We are women from every part of South Africa, united in our purpose to save the African woman from the degradation of the passes." Just as then we were also women of different races but Moroesi asked us to wear hats to symbolize our unity of purpose and unity in Christ. I was honored to be a part of this. I serve women here and join other dedicated women servants of our Lord and Savior.

What really is amazing

Sunday August 10, 2008
One of the biggest attractions here in the Western Cape and rightly so is Cape Point. It is the most South Westerly part of the African continent and the Cape around which Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama sailed in 1497 It is a place of breath-stopping beauty where the waters of the Atlantic continuously crash against the rocky base of the mountains to remind you of the treacherous waters that ships so often failed to navigate. When you climb to the top of the Cape to the lighthouse and look around you, it is a humbling moment to realize you are at the end of the continent. (I recently traveled to Cape Agulhas where the Atlantic and Pacific meet and that too is magnificent) But back to Cape Point whose beauty and power never fail to amaze. However on a recent visit, something else touched me even more. On a trip to the ladies room, I saw something that just blessed me. South Africa faces so many challenges and poverty is one of the biggest. For so many poor women, it is the cleaning jobs that help them earn some money. Here in the bathroom filled with people from all over the world was Gladys, vigorously pushing her mop and singing for all to hear a Gospel song, "Without Him I can do nothing." It took her some time to look up from the mopping to acknowledge my greeting but she did and I thanked God for the praise that filled her heart as she worked to keep the toilets clean, and most of all for her testimony for all the world to hear.

New classes begin for A second time

August 10,2008
A Way Forward
We have just begun a new round of classes to teach young women and a few men introductory skills in sewing and computer literacy. Our first group of students this year graduated in July. I confess as I watch this new class that I am always so thankful to see them come. You see, because we work at Living Hope, the HIV ministry with which I am associated and because our space is limited, we cannot really advertise. Yet for the past three years we have not lacked for students, not too much , just the right number who come for this free instruction, free to them, but thanks to you. More and more Christian and other groups recognize that poverty and ignorance is the seed bed of HIV and Aids. How thankful I am that my eyes were opened to this almost from the start and God has empowered me and all of us who support this endeavor to make a difference.