Thank you and Happy New Year

A Heart full of thanks
This blog is about my life and work in South Africa and the last blog note described an unforgettable moment in the life of the ministry there. I am currently in the US for Christmas and have had a most enjoyable time with my family. There were 20 of us at the dinner table and we had happy chaos at my sisters home. What I enjoyed so much was the time we spent with each other to create a Christmas 2009 filled with memories. As I look back over the year, I am thankful for many things, but most of all, for the chance to be in South Africa to serve there and for the love and support of family, church and friends. As this year now winds down to a close, I wish for each of you a New Year filled with the blessing of love, service and commitment.
As a Christian, I wish for each person a life filled with the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ to lead you in every way and at every turn of your life. There are huge challenges ahead but I am ready to tackle them, not in my own strength but in the strength of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. So here's to 2010 and to you who take the time to read this blog.

Restoring Hope

Hope Restored

That is what this Evangeline Ministries

2009 graduation was all about. Never have I seen the women look lovelier. The design of the clothes which they made in order to complete their assignments, was more intricate than ever. Rev. John Thomas, founder of the Living Hope work with which Evangeline is associated said this. "You are a restorer of hope." We celebrated hope for women, all of whom would never have had this opportunity without us. They worked hard and well. Class attendance was almost 95 per cent. They deserved their sewing machines, bibles and all the other things, aprons, blankets, track suits they made and you could see the pride and joy in their faces.

I was impressed that this class had made some of the most decorative dresses I had seen to date.

Avril Thomas, who directs the work of the support groups from which several of the women came, encouraged them to use their gifts well and, while, like the one man in the Bible parable who hid his coin, she could understand their fear at perhaps starting their own business, God would help them overcome that fear. My friend Dr. Peter Kjeseth lifted their hearts when he told them in their own language, "you give me great joy. You have suffered, but you are making something out of your suffering."

This was the second graduation for the year and the 6th since EM began its ministry here in Cape Town. We have given away 65 sewing machines to deserving students.Some of them have found jobs, others work making bags and one has even started her own restaurant. Yes, we have given hope as the women testify. It was so good to see former graduates attend as well.

At this Christmas time when we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ, it is right that we together work to be restorers of hope, wherever and whoever we are. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who, according to His great mercy,has caused us to be born again to a living Hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead." (1 Peter:3)

Almost There

Today was the last day of sewing andcomputer classes for 2009.
The big celebration day is Saturday and it was exciting for me to
watch the excitement of the women in the class. We had a dress
rehearsal and I was as happy as they were as they tried on the skirts, tops and shawls and head scarves to make sure all fitted correctly. To my amazement they also brought the beaded collars and other traditional jewellery they intend to use on Saturday.
Not only will it be a milestone of accomplishment in their lives, it will also be a most colorful affair. This is our fourth year of classes and I think this is the best work I have seen so far. This is as it should be and next year, we hope to aim even higher. The ladies are so full of praise for this opportunity and I will share more of that with you after Saturday. Here in the photo they have fun taking pictures of each other.
They had a party to conclude as I reminded them of the full life that is theirs as they put their trust in Jesus Christ. What a year it has been.

World Aids Day

World Aids Day 2009
This picture was taken at a World Aids Day event in 2007 where I went as part of Living Hope's team to join the False Bay College program. Today for World AIDS Day I was busy preparing for our Evangeline graduation on Saturday. I did wear a red jacket however. Cape Town itself had other things on its mind., like the 2010 World Cup. On Friday is the World Cup Draw festival. Yes things are heating up. For all that, HIV and AIDS was not at all shortchanged, and especially by the government. Two years ago, there was, among people who work with HIV and AIDS, such an air of gloom and doom, partly because of the mind-numbing statistics in a country that has one of the highest rates of HIV, but also because of the response of the then government which promoted home remedies and so on that denied the treatment with anti-retro viral drugs. What a difference two years and a change of government has made. An unlikely hero, President Jacob Zuma, who in those last two years described the aids cleansing shower he took, announced some major changes that can have an unprecedented impact in the country he leads. Here are two of them: First, all HIV positive babies will be treated and people with a CD count of 350 will get treatment. Before you had to have a count of 200 or less, or, yo had to be really sick to qualify for treatment. And the President said he too would take another HIV test as an example to South Africans. And that was not all. I listened to a doctor urge people to consider abstinence at times. Even if you are an atheist that is good for you at times, he said. People who called in to the radio talked about being faithful and careful. One man warned against the three punch of alcohol, sex and AIDS. The Brother 4Life campaign leaders also were featured as their nationwide call for men to be responsible has rightly gotten a lot of attention. And last but not least, I listened as Avril Thomas described the many ways Living Hope staff involved themselves in the Day with drama and at a courthouse, among others. There were more requests than Living Hope could honor today. This was a good day's celebration and I sense, a change-making day that will bring life and hope to thousands of people who live with HIV and AIDS here.