Off to a cold but excellent start

It is a rainy, cold day here in Cape Town but we are not complaining. we need the water and we did not get the snow that confused others in parts of the Cape. At Evangeline Ministries we are delighted as today marks the start of our second 2011 Skills Development Class. This class of twelve is at once the same and yet quite different from the class that graduated three weeks ago. In it we have students from two HIV and AIDS support groups from Living Hope and there are two men. They are ready to go with the graduation date set for Saturday December 3.

They willhave computer, english and sewing classes.

When I asked them if any had had computer instruction, not a single person raised the hand. When I asked why they said because they had never had the opportunity and they are too poor.

I told them God sent them to us and us to them.

I explained that Evangeline is there in the name and under the Lordship
of Jesus Christ who has come to give them "life to the full." I cooked the meal of stew and served with an apple and some cookies and said goodbye to them for a month as I head off to the US.

Each class is a special thrill to my heart. I delight to do this work here and will write more about the many opportunities coming our way and the partnerships we have. This is the day the Lord has made, and we are so thankful. And we are thankful for you friends, supporters, prayer partners and all who read this blog.

Congratulations and Celebrations

Congratulations and Celebrations

These go to the Leesburg Baptist Community Church Evangeline Ministries class of July 2011. Eleven women received their sewing machines, Bibles and certificates in what was the best class since Evangeline Ministries began this skills ministry in 2006. The sewing machines for this class were donated by the Leesburg Baptist Community Church in Virginia. Almost all of these ladies excelled in the English, Computer and Sewing classes they did for the past six months. They danced and sang and could not stop showing just how happy they were when they received their awards. They twirled and posed in their stunning outfits and I was impressed that one woman made a three piece suit rather than a traditional dress. I noted too that for the first time some of the husbands attended and this is a breakthrough since, in the past, it was rare to find one who had come to support his wife . Our speaker for the packed out graduation ceremony was Bishop Eric Pike, born in the Eastern Cape, former home of all of these ladies. He urged them to remember at all times and in all circumstances that they are "made in the image of God." This too is my prayer because everything around these women tell them the opposite and believing this will make all the difference in their ability to succeed.

The next step now is for them to find work , either generated by EM or themselves. Already one friend of mine has contracted with one of the women to have her do the computer work for her business and sew things to sell . We need so many more like her. I am also encouraged that people are calling constantly asking about EM's graduates for work, and however small the start, we are so thankful for this business for these ladies. We move on now to the next class that will graduate in December and we will build on all the things we have learned in this class to do even better in the days ahead.

July 4 in South Africa

Freedom Celebration in Cape Town

It was such fun to be part of more than 200 Americans in Cape Town who met at the residence of the US consular Officer, Dr. Alberta Mayberry for our July 4 celebration. Yes there were more than 22 applep pies in the bake off. In that yellow tin are my otameal cookies that went in a flash.

What I loved most about the event was meeting fellow Americans, almost all of whom are helping South Africans in need, in one capacity or another. Aomg us were a group of students from Coldorado Springs who were at the event with the students from the University of the Western Cape with whom they are working on entreprenurial issues. True to American hospitality, Dr. Mayberry invited children from three groups to attend: the children and staff of the South African Children's HOme in Cape Town, those from the Siyaphambili Orphan Village from Langa and those from Priscilla's Helping Hand from Wellington. Those kids ran around with their painted faces and jumped for joy in the jumping castle on the lovely grounds, framed on one side by Table Mountain and the other, the sweeping Victoria and Albert Waterfront. I will especially remember thebrief chat I had with a student f rom the Cameroon who wanted some advice on how to sell her paintings, based on what we had done to sell Evangeline Bags. I left stuffed with good food, apple pie and the joy of meeting other pilgrims on the philanthropic way.

Thank you to the US Consulate and the American Society for South Africa. And to all, let us always celebrate and teasure our freedom.