This morning I sat in a meeting at Living Grace, Muizenberg the ministry to homeless men and women that is another part of Living Hope's work in Cape Town. Led by manager Peter Lovick a small but dynamic group of people gathered to chart a future course of development to help our addicted clients learn skills, receive treatment and earn income, all through the love and power of Jesus Christ. As I sat with these committed Christians, my mind went back to the first time I came to this building. It was a Sunday afternoon in April 2005 and it was here, as I saw the craft work done by homeless people and felt their presence, that I felt the move of the Holy Spirit in my heart which led me back to Cape Town. For more than three years I did not connect with this ministry but last year began to worship on Tuesday mornings with these men and women who come off the street. I have come to love this experience and last year I wrote in this blog that I felt called by God to take the sewing program to the women there. Now the time has come for Evangeline Ministries to join with Peter and Joan DeJager to give those who desire it , a new chance at life. Peter who came to Living Grace from the Salvation Army has much experience in dealing with substance abuse and it has long been his desire to do more than feed those who come daily. I marvel again at how God knits people and purposes together and at his perfect timing. Five years before I came here and God turned my life around. Five years later He will use me and others to turn around the lives of the people we serve here. I have come full circle. (photo -l-right, Barbara, Jack, Karl, Peter and Peter Lovick)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Full Circle
Muizenberg Revisited
This morning I sat in a meeting at Living Grace, Muizenberg the ministry to homeless men and women that is another part of Living Hope's work in Cape Town. Led by manager Peter Lovick a small but dynamic group of people gathered to chart a future course of development to help our addicted clients learn skills, receive treatment and earn income, all through the love and power of Jesus Christ. As I sat with these committed Christians, my mind went back to the first time I came to this building. It was a Sunday afternoon in April 2005 and it was here, as I saw the craft work done by homeless people and felt their presence, that I felt the move of the Holy Spirit in my heart which led me back to Cape Town. For more than three years I did not connect with this ministry but last year began to worship on Tuesday mornings with these men and women who come off the street. I have come to love this experience and last year I wrote in this blog that I felt called by God to take the sewing program to the women there. Now the time has come for Evangeline Ministries to join with Peter and Joan DeJager to give those who desire it , a new chance at life. Peter who came to Living Grace from the Salvation Army has much experience in dealing with substance abuse and it has long been his desire to do more than feed those who come daily. I marvel again at how God knits people and purposes together and at his perfect timing. Five years before I came here and God turned my life around. Five years later He will use me and others to turn around the lives of the people we serve here. I have come full circle. (photo -l-right, Barbara, Jack, Karl, Peter and Peter Lovick)
This morning I sat in a meeting at Living Grace, Muizenberg the ministry to homeless men and women that is another part of Living Hope's work in Cape Town. Led by manager Peter Lovick a small but dynamic group of people gathered to chart a future course of development to help our addicted clients learn skills, receive treatment and earn income, all through the love and power of Jesus Christ. As I sat with these committed Christians, my mind went back to the first time I came to this building. It was a Sunday afternoon in April 2005 and it was here, as I saw the craft work done by homeless people and felt their presence, that I felt the move of the Holy Spirit in my heart which led me back to Cape Town. For more than three years I did not connect with this ministry but last year began to worship on Tuesday mornings with these men and women who come off the street. I have come to love this experience and last year I wrote in this blog that I felt called by God to take the sewing program to the women there. Now the time has come for Evangeline Ministries to join with Peter and Joan DeJager to give those who desire it , a new chance at life. Peter who came to Living Grace from the Salvation Army has much experience in dealing with substance abuse and it has long been his desire to do more than feed those who come daily. I marvel again at how God knits people and purposes together and at his perfect timing. Five years before I came here and God turned my life around. Five years later He will use me and others to turn around the lives of the people we serve here. I have come full circle. (photo -l-right, Barbara, Jack, Karl, Peter and Peter Lovick)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Be careful what you do
Someone is watching
This week along with teacher Rachel we completed the series of follow up sewing classes for the ladies out at Sweet Home Farms. This time, instead of sandwiches we were treated to one of Christina's delicious meals, chicken, white cornmeal and a mixture of spiced peas, corn and carrots She supervised this as she worked in the class. The week before I noticed Christina had fruit and she said how she noted I always served fruit to them. With this meal we had serviettes and again she she said she learned this from our class. Then she asked me about a cake I made and the fruit sauce I served them. "I always remember that sauce," she said. I realized that although we did not have much conversation when she was with us, she watched all I did and that the learning is exactly as God impressed on my heart early on. It is who I am that is the biggest part of this ministry here. A sobering thought but I love being here.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Our Class at the Beach
Saturday April 17, I had one of the happiest and most memorable days of my time here in Cape Town. Our class spent a day at the beach and what a life-changing day it turned out to be. Our sewing computer ladies and instructors met for fellowship, fun and a chance to listen to God in the splendor of His creation. The weather cooperated and we had a perfect day, cool enough with surprisingly, warm, silk soft sand on which to sit. After breakfast at the bistro, a first for almost all of the students , we strolled along the mile long beach and I loved hearing the their laughter and that of their children. The beach was their idea for a special day suggested by my sister Aurora and they were pumped. We played games and I probably laughed the hardest at their responses. The best part though, was how open they were to spiritual truths. Our speaker Connie spoke to them about Tamar, a woman whose integrity was violated but whose name is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. As Connie spoke some of the ladies began to weep. They identified with Tamar in her troubles and they asked if they could share how they felt. "When I found out that I was HIV positive, I thought my life had come to an end," one lady sobbed. "Today I learned how much God loves me and how my life is special to him." Another shared how, a former successful businesswoman, a divorce had sent her life spiralling out of control and how the message had just showed her how God still loves her.
It was so moving to me and I also learned so much more about them. To conclude I asked them to write down their dreams on a card, place the card in an envelope and before they gave them to me, pray for each other and believe that God would help them, HIV positive women, with broken marriages and homes, with babies they care for as single mothers,yes, that God would help them to fulfill those dreams. I have the cards with me and I will pray for them every day, and at graduation, hand them back, in the sure knowledge that God will hear and answer their prayers. We then headed back for lunch and we stayed there until we were good and ready to leave.
On Monday, Rachel told me she asked each woman how she felt about the day and every one was just overjoyed and happy they attended. In a post- apartheid Cape Town, it is surprising and yet so normal that poor African women have no money and little access to even a simple restaurant at the beach. How proud I was that Evangeline Ministries could provide that experience. It broadened their world and reminded them how valued they are in spite of the stigma they must endure. This was a first for them and for me, but certainly not the last.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Teacher's wisdom
Teacher's Wisdom
Yesterday , with help from Tom Killian of Living Way, we moved computer classrooms from the back of the Living Way campus to a smaller and more congenial room in the front. It is a more intimate room and we enjoy the use of the comfortable reception chairs, normally reserved for visitors to the campus. Thank you Richard Lundie!! We love it. And I loved this quote that Mandisa had on the board."Lord grant that I shall never waste my pain..fail without learning..fall without getting up...sin without overcoming..hurt without forgiving.....or crushed without becoming more caring." Not only does Mandisa teach but she loves to motivate her students and that motivates me as well. There were extra blessings as well. Vusi, our candle maker and wire works wizard returned to work from a life threatening illness and how happy we are to have him back. God has also opened a way for me to replace and add computers at little cost and for these and all the blessings of this ministry, I am so grateful.
Yesterday , with help from Tom Killian of Living Way, we moved computer classrooms from the back of the Living Way campus to a smaller and more congenial room in the front. It is a more intimate room and we enjoy the use of the comfortable reception chairs, normally reserved for visitors to the campus. Thank you Richard Lundie!! We love it. And I loved this quote that Mandisa had on the board."Lord grant that I shall never waste my pain..fail without learning..fall without getting up...sin without overcoming..hurt without forgiving.....or crushed without becoming more caring." Not only does Mandisa teach but she loves to motivate her students and that motivates me as well. There were extra blessings as well. Vusi, our candle maker and wire works wizard returned to work from a life threatening illness and how happy we are to have him back. God has also opened a way for me to replace and add computers at little cost and for these and all the blessings of this ministry, I am so grateful.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Not Easy to live with AIDS
A Struggle
"It is not easy to live with HIV and AIDS' says Christina, seen here with me in this photo. In the background is Brenda Carter, a volunteer from England who works with the Warehouse ministry that connected me with Christina. How grateful I was to be able to train Christina and two other women in our sewing program and then award them sewing machines. Yesterday I could hardly wait to see Christina again as we headed off to Sweet Home Farms, the informal settlement where she lives. I was delighted to hear that she uses her sewing skills to teach others and make items for sale. With help from Brenda, she also started a community restaurant that serves 30 take out sandwiches a day and seats 16 people. She is a hard worker and leader for her HIV Support group, but as she tearfully said to me, "living with HIV and AIDS is not easy." It is hard for her as the sole support of four children and now an added grandson. "I do my best but sometimes I cannot give them all they need,' she said. But beyond the financial battles I sensed a deeper concern. Living with HIV and AIDS is a death sentence and while she knows the medicine helps, it does not give her the hope she needs. In her body is a virus that will kill her. It did not help when I told her that her teacher Khumi had died. My heart too was broken as I listened to her. I shared with her the only answer I have. I reminded her how much Jesus loves her and he can give her the inner strength to live. I told her that people with HIV live many years if they take care of themselves and stay on their medication. I also encouraged her in the skills she had learned from us. She is so thankful for her sewing machine which she says, "helps me make money for my family." Soon I will help her upgrade her sewing skills and will take one of our teachers to Sweet Home Farms for two days of a sewing master class. The ladies in the support group beamed when we shared this news. What ever we can do, we will to bring hope to chase away the despair that comes with living with HIV and AIDS in Christ's name.
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