Mandy is Happy

When our first 2010 class ended, I met with our helper teachers to plan ways to improve our computer and sewing classes. It was quite an eye opener for me. One of the biggest changes came from Mandisa who told me she preferred to teach all twelve students at once and that would be possible if we had a projector and more computers. That change led to another. Instead of tea, we now provide lunch for the class since they are with us for an entire day. With God's and your help we were able to place four second hand new computers in our class for a total of eleven now. And, just last week, Mandy received her new projector. She danced with joy. "I love it," she said. "It makes all the difference in the world. Now they can see and listen."

That moment with Mandy was worth everything it costs me to be here in South Africa.

We have an outstanding class of students and I look forward to your meeting them over time.

An incredible gift

Last week I did something I have not done for many years, I went on a spiritual retreat to pray and reflect on all God has done and ask for guidance for the future. Together with about 40 other people we stayed at Carmel in George in the Eastern Cape. The retreat focused on the fervent spiritual Christian life of the Celtics and focused on the fact that life, for the Christian is a pilgrimage, lived in passionate relationship to Jesus Christ and the Scriptures, and filled with creativity and joy! in spite of hardship. The setting was perfect as we walked the stoned pathway, past the English style gardens to various places to pray in silence and watched glorious views of Victoria Bay. On the final morning we shared communion in the chapel, facing the sun as it rose. It was an unforgettable moment and yes, week. Some of my best memories will be making crafts, something at which I am hopeless, but with patient help from others, I did my part. The more gifted worked at magnificent banners, and after a prayer, Evangeline Ministries name came out of the hat and we are the happy owners of these banners. After a service of blessing they will hang in our, as yet, unadorned classroom. I am so grateful for the week, the sense that God is at all times in control of my life, and for the gifts kindness and encouragement of the people , most of whom I met for the first time.

Signs of Hope

Here are the first photos of the class, Rachel's class of women who have received houses through the Mellon Housing initiative, an international and local coalition. Funded by this group they use Evangeline's equipment and teachers. It is a win win for everyone but I am especially pleased for the teachers who now double their earning income. All three were jobless when they came or were led to me and I see the changes but especially the confidence they have gained in their work. I am so proud of them. And to make this day even more special, and yes, what really made my day was a report from Manuel, husband of Nophela, a graduate of two years ago when he told me how much she sews and now has so many orders for skirts and pillowcases and other items. He boasted of a beautiful duvet cover and pillows she sewed for him and with the gift of another sewing machine they received from an elderly lady, he planned to sew so "we can work together as a team." And there is more. Together, they plan to teach many others to sew. That is our goal, 'teach one to teach many". And while we in the fabric shop in came Stella, the only Zimbabwean student we have had. She looked radiant and yes, more prosperous that I had last seen her. What a difference our class had made to her. She has a full time job and is well able to care for her family. They love the Lord and serve him and are the signs of hope I need as we go on. We are, you are, making a world of difference.

We're off and running

Our New Class
We have a first, three men in our second 2010 Evangeline
Sewing class. But first let me explain the long delay in blogs. This blog is exclusively about the work here in Cape Town and when I am away on other matters I do not blog that. So it is good to be back to keep you up to date about our computer and sewing program. There are twelve new students and I was moved by the
intensity of their desire to learn. One woman's eyes welled up with tears as she described her hunger to learn to sew. She now uses a hand powered machine she took from her mother. " I sew things to sell, cushions and fix hems and even this skirt," she said but she had never had a lesson in sewing. As always I felt their passion to learn, to try and fight out of the difficult circumstances so many face. I thanked them for coming and, having had to turn away others, explained just how much of a chance this is for them. Our class begins in what is being celebrated here as "women's week," both to celebrate the part women played in bringing down the apartheid system , but also to call for greater inclusion of women in the power and decision making in this magnificent country and in their own lives. On Wednesday, another class began-funded by a housing developer and taught by Evangeline's teachers. I can see the sense of pride in Namgamso, Rachel, Paul and Mandisa-future leaders in their communities.