Partners we love

Thursday March 26, 2009
We were delighted this week to welcome a team from The Warehouse, an Evangelical Anglican justice ministry whose work I so admire. Rev. Joy Klimbashe a staff member who directs the support group work at Sweet Home Farms brought with him another colleague Goodman and volunteer from England Brenda Carter to see the sewing program in which three of the women from his ministry are involved. Christina, Nontobeko and Ntombizodwa travel for almost an hour and are the first to arrive for class. They have blended in so well with the other women, all of whom are from nearby Masiphumelele and are excited to finish and then share what they have learned. Already Evangeline Ministries has donated sewing machines to help those needy women in Sweet Home Farms and we hope to help even more. As we link hands and resources with other like-minded people and ministries, we extend our reach t help the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. I have some concern about the many ministries here, so many of whom work independently of each other. I am thankful to be under the umbrella of Living Hope/Living Way and now to work with others and look forward to more of these as God lead us to others.

A blessed opportunity

Tuesday March 17, 2009
Five years ago when I first visited Cape Town, I was taken on a tour of the ministry that was later to exert such a call on my life and bring me back to this beloved land. Among the multi-faceted work done by Living Hope was an outreach to homeless men and women who live in another town called Muizenberg. Famous as the surfing capital of South Africa, it was in the apartheid years a playground for the wealthy. The political changes, mostly for the better has left Muizenberg in a sad state that is only now being slowly reversed. So many of the grand beach front homes fell into disrepair and the influx of poor immigrant refugees who now live in many of them has made drug peddling and alcoholism a feature of this magnificent stretch of the Atlantic seaboard. Homeless men and women now filled the sidewalks and slept under the bridges and trees and on the roadside, mostly uncared for. Led by God to reach out to these needy people Avril Thomas started a soup kitchen first at the Christian radio station she ran and later this blossomed into a fully fledged work that is now known as Living Grace. Twice a day these men, women and some children are fed. They have lockers for their clothes and showers to take a bath. Alcohol and drug counselling are available and several have jobs, including street cleaning. It is a wonderful ministry, not with easy answers or much worldly success, but which demonstrates daily the love of Jesus for these folk.
Local businesses help to feed them and are thankful for all Living Grace does to help try to rehabilitate these people. When I first toured the building, a former bank, it was on a Sunday and while there were no clients that day, I felt their presence, and even more powerful, that of the Holy Spirit. I have had a real care in my heart since that time and have prayed for and supported that work as the Lord has led me to. I have interviewed and written stories about some of them and often hear them call out my name when they see me. And now, I have the opportunity every Tuesday morning to give a short devotion. I praise God for this chance to share like many others, a word of hope from the Lord and also to have my life touched by their struggling faith. Sadly I observe there are so many women, often with scars old and new, or fresh bruises from the violence of the alcohol fuelled lives they lead. I am struck by how many young men there are, most of whom have been mentally affected by the drugs they consume. I am puzzled that they sing the hymns about God's love so vigorously and go back into the streets to do the same things that bring them to Living Grace every day. I am humbled at the staff who for many years have served these people with love and care,many times in the face of danger. Yes, I find Jesus there every time I enter and I want to be where he is.

A surprise visit

A surprise visit
No one in our class knew who she was but everyone was delighted to receive a visit from Dana Perino, Press Secretary to President George W. Bush. Dana and her husband Peter were in Cape Town on the last leg of their South African visit to see the work done by Living Hope and Living Way. She explained that after several whirwind trips with the President to countries in Africa, she wanted to return and take a longer time to not only see the effect of work done by faith-based agencies, but also volunteer in any way while she was here. One one hot afternoon-the temperatures are scorching-she stopped by with bottles of water for the class. She is a warm-hearted person and I enjoyed meeting her. Once she heard about the sewing classes and the bags made by Khumi and her team, she was a most enthusiastic supporter. As I reflected on her visit, I was happy that the women could meet someone who told them just how special they are. Some of them live with HIV and AIDS, and three of them sell wood at the side of the street. Another woman came with a husband, one child and no income. One just had a baby boy and the other is soon to deliver. When I asked her if she would continue the class she said, " Oh yes I just need one week and I'll be back." Sometimes I hesitate to share their stories because they are sensitive to the way in which they could be portrayed. Poor they may be but not unaware or stupid about the destructive ways in which their photographs can be used. I told them what an impact the visit had on Dana and how much they change my life. I enjoy seeing them learn, sometimes sitting at their sewing machines, other times grouped by two's or three's or all gathered around Namgamso at the cutting table. This class laughs more easily than others, maybe because I have learned a little bit more how to reach them. At tea time, they are as relaxed as ever and I am pleased that the women from Sweet home farms have made friends with the others from Masiphumelele. We also have a class of helpers who understand it is their class and they have pride in it. Every day I thank God for the chance I have here to work with them, some of whom have great faith and others who are open to change through Jesus Christ. We use the Bible because this is the foundation on which they must build if their lives are to have real purpose in the uphill fight they face socially and economically.