Refugee Women Get Help

Help For Refugee Women

Ashley and Rosemarie Cloete are to very special people I have come to know here in Cape Town
They are missionaries with an organization Friends from Abroad and now work with All Nations. I am privileged to have helped edit Ashley's book on the prayer movement in Cape Town. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Rosemarie to see how she ministers to refugee women who come here from other African countries. Most of those I met are from Burundi. Before we met them, together, with Ashley leading we prayed for them and for an
evangelistic outreach to another part of the Cape. Our prayer time started with an unusual praise. We thanked God that the Office of Home Affairs to which these women go for help, was moving. This is important because it will relocate to a place that is safer and hopefully, much more friendly to these needy women.All of them have had difficult lives and now live as refugees in a city and among people that are increasingly inhospitable to them.
If any group of women needed to know the love of Jesus, it is these and Rosemarie and her helpers that I met, Rochelle and Trisha delight in showing them that love. Rosemarie and Ashely help them with the bureaucratic steps they must go through to get help and are their advocates when they are treated poorly. They pray with them, counsel them and get them the medical help they so often need for themselves and their children. Without any income, Rosemarie helps them make jewellery (as seen in above photo)and pays them for their work. The women, dressed all their handsome traditional clothes hugged me and they had fun making earrings and things they thought I would like! And yes, I took some home! Because of the work of Rosemarie and Ashely these women can come to a place that is safe and comfortable for them, a chance to escape for a while the sad conditions in which they live. They also hear, and more powerfully, see God's love for them. I love what I do, and even more, a chance to meet other wonderful women in life-changing ministries and I thank God for Rosemarie. Join me in praying for this refugee ministry here in the heart of the city of Cape Town.

A Soft Heart

God's soft heart!
Today I spoke to a group of homeless men and women about the soft heart of God who is gracious and merciful and who raises up all who are bowed down.(Psalm 145) It is sometimes easy to work with people in need and have a hard heart. I have to always pray about this and especially after three years of ministry in Cape Town. I find that,because I do what I do, it is tempting to think I have done enough and often, the Holy Spirit nudges me to move beyond my good works to touching hearts and caring for individuals. I thank God today for my former student who greeted me beaming. "Every time I see you I feel so much better", she said. I was so moved and remembered that once, during her time with us, I helped with the children. A few days ago I took some flowers to Khumi. "I was so discouraged, I am so glad you came, " she said. I felt so led to bring them, I replied. Today I prayed for a young homeless woman that God would heal her knee. I held hands with a weeping homeless woman who said, "I just don't want to live this way." I have a date to take her to church on Sunday. I prayed with another weeping man, so concerned as we spoke about decisions and consequences. Like Jesus, I too want a soft heart of love, compassion and graciousness to everyone I meet. That of course is not at all easy and like you, I too often get very weary and irritated and many times, work from a hard heart. Earlier this year our students made some cloth bags for unfortunate children from Capricorn. One girl drew the word love on hers (photo). That is the message, God's love for each one and every one, no matter the circumstances. That is the message I need every day for myself and for others. God loves us . This makes change possible.

What makes a man?

We Need the Men!
Soon after I began my work with women who live with HIV and AIDS here in Cape Town I came to my own conclusion. We are not going to begin to make a dent in the rate of HIV and AIDS without the help of men. In my opinion they hold the keys to change and I have said this whenever I have been asked about HIV and AIDS. How delighted I was last week to hear some commercials on the radio station that I listen to most frequently. These ads are by an organization called "Brothers for Life" who are calling on men to live a responsible lifestyle. I love to hear them. Well, when I first came here, a woman whose work I admire so much, Elizabeth urged me to buy a magazine, called "The Big Issue." "If you really want to make a difference to the men you see on the street, buy this magazine" she said. This periodical helps "willing, unemployed and marginalized adults living in South Africa to take responsibility for their own lives through developmental programs."I listened and ever since buy this magazine from the vendor who sells it near the Longbeach Mall where I live. Often I have to explain to other vendors why I cannot buy from them. They do not always understand but my vendor is always smiling, clean cut and has a family. this week when I opened the Big Issue there was this article, "What makes a man" and it is all about this organization "which hopes to make men in their 30's more responsible for their health and their partners by seriously looking at issues such as multiple concurrent partnerships, low HIV testing rates and generally poor, health seeking behaviour from a man's perspective." According to statistics, the rate of HIV in South Africa is now about 11% but 24% in men aged 25-49. The campaign's organizers hope their "high-profile"campaign will penetrate what they say has been "a neglected population" in the country's fight against this pandemic. They are already encouraged by the excited response of the men involved in this focus. I like it that the adverts are not done by professional actors and actresses but with real partners. Brothers for Life aim "to create a movement of men around the real values that underpin South African men.""We're trying to create a new social norm," they say and to that I say a big and hearty, "Amen" These youngsters I met on a trip to Johannesburg have a bigger chance if Brothers for Life and other like-minded organizations succeed. Yes, we need the men!

Teaching One to Teach Many

Mandiswa's dream
Today I sat down and visited for some time with Mandiswa Tshaphela. Mandi as we call her helps teach computer skills to the women who attend the sewing class and, as seen in the photo, some of the other young men and women who work at Living Way. When I needed to find a new helper, Mandi was recommended by a friend. At first I was not sure when we might continue the computer class but Mandi's persistence
moved me along to get the class going. As soon as I met her, I was impressed with her seriousness and even more when I read the recommendation from Jan, the woman who had invested her skills in Mandi. I also liked that Mandi saw this as a calling and not a job. Once she got started, I quickly learned not to interrupt her classes for any reason. I liked that. As we chatted today, I learned more about her family and like so many others, Mandi has to help support the family she left in the Eastern Cape. I also learned that she and her husband have started to build a home there,something quite common to Eastern Cape Xhosa people who have relocated to Cape Town to find jobs. Like all of her students, she too lives in a shack. With her skills and now her experience, Mandi can most certainly get a well paying job, instead she has now taken another job with Living Hope that helps fulfill her calling to care for other people. One of her Living Hope tasks is to visit the women who live in a nearby homeless shelter where she prays with them and helps them understand what HIV and AIDS is and other chronic diseases. Mandi told me: "I want to learn as much as I can about helping people and one day, return to the Eastern Cape to help my people. They know so little, especially about HIV and AIDS, some have never seen a computer and I want to help." My heart was filled with emotion as I realize that the investment I make in Mandi, helping her hone her skills as a teacher and helping her earn an income to help her family is all seed that will be replanted and , in time, bear so much more fruit. Through Mandy many others will get that opportunity to learn. We reach one, to teach many. I thank God for Mandi whose strong faith inspires me.

Saluting American Volunteers

A Big Thank You

Yesterday, September 11, I went with other volunteers in Cape Town to the home of the Consul General , Dr. Alberta Mayberry for what was one of the more memorable "thank yous" I have ever received. Together with volunteers from Living Hope, the South Africa ministry with which I am associated, and those from 20 or more groups, we joined with Americans in the United States and around the world to honor Interfaith (National) Service Day. On this day Americans commemorate the awful events of 9/11 by not only remembering the sadness, pain and heroism of those who lost their lives, but also by doing something positive in our communities to honor those who died. It was also a time to honor American volunteers who , at their own expense, serve in communities all over the world, working with nationals in so many areas of need. Dr. Mayberry welcomed us so warmly and, on behalf of the President, thanked us for our work. An eloquent speaker herself, Dr.Mayberry observed that what was a moment of tragedy has now turned into a life of service for many people. "I am proud of the young people especially and all who have chosen to serve," she said. "You receive so much more when you give back." I was so moved when she conveyed the words from Mr. Carlos Christopher Daniels in the South Africa government's rural Development Office. He not only thanked us but gave us a blessing. He said: "We as a nation are grateful for the thousands of volunteers who come to our shores every year. Words are inadequate to express our appreciation for their unselfish behavior, offering up their time away from family, friends, rsources and skills to better our communities.We really appreciate you and we hope we will never take your sacrificial service for granted. I pray that God will cause you to reap where you have not sown, that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed and that God's blessings will continue to overtake them." We too observed a moment of silence to remember the more than three thousand men and women who died on that day and then we took Dr. Mayberry's advice to mingle and get to know other people. I enjoyed hearing about the work and ministries of others, both Americans and South Africans and it was an excellent place to network. But above all, it was so good to see that Dr. Mayberry herself volunteers her time and expertise and the people from the University of the Western Cape there were enthusiastic in their praise of her work with them. What an example!. We each received a certificate of appreciation and a volunteer kit, and , of course, we feasted on, among other things, succulent turkey. I love what I do and I am not at all starved for appreciation but it was a special experience to be part of that wonderful group of people and to hear those words. thank you. I gave Dr.Maybery one of the bags made by the women from our Evangeline classes and she too was very appreciative. Now I thank each of you who reads this blog, and every one who sends out love, support and prayer for Evangeline Ministries and for my work here. Thank You!

Back in Fish Hoek

Wednesday September 9, 2009
So what awaited my return to Fish Hoek. Yes the sand and hills are still there, by now so familiar and what a welcome sight. The freezing cold and rain are also here as our Spring comes in like a lion. As we all shiver in our unheated places we look ahead to the whales in the bay, the abundant spring flowers, already starting to bloom in my apartment, and oh please, warmer weather. What also awaited me were the classes, our teachers and students who never looked lovelier to my eyes. I missed them so much but they went on, and, with some volunteer help, Pam and Mike Talley, did just fine. And then the best news of all was also waiting for me. I went to the Living hope Health Care Center to see Khumi who is battling through a long illness. I did not know what to expect and, frankly, when I saw her, was not sure what to think. As I was leaving the center, holding my breath, the nurse came running after me. "Oh Wendy, " she said, "I wanted to tell you that the doctor and I think Khumi has finally turned a corner." I exhaled praise to God for His goodness, grace,healing touch through the love of the center and the doctor, nurses and workers who care. As I look ahead to the rest of the year and beyond, God has already shown me the focus of our work here. Already the three women who graduated in July are now teaching others. This is not something I planned but am delighted with this turn of events. "We teach one to teach many," was the way my brother-in-law Verne described it. A perfect fit for what we are called to do here. I will have more to say about this. Each of you who support in any way can be encouraged by the way in which our work reaches so many more people through the women we reach in Christ's name.