Youth

Tonight at youth was a powerful experience. I tell you I was confident we would be delivered, but I was edgy because I felt so unprepared. When Byron told me two weeks ago he was teaching a program and wanted me to work with him on it I was excited again. Byron said he wanted his program to be on “Our Purpose” and I was immediately deflated. I had so many ideas and things I had lined up in my mind of what I wanted to talk about and none of them had to do with our purpose. I didn’t even know what that meant really and he tried to explain but I couldn’t seem to connect with it.

A week passed and I’ll be honest I had been busy and hadn’t put a ton of thought into it. We met and discussed and while we stuck to the topic we couldn’t come up with anything to surround it. I went home and ravaged the Word and couldn’t come up with anything that connected. I thought about the body and how we all work together and have different roles but it wasn’t right. I couldn’t come up with anything after another week had passed and it was the day before we taught. No Scripture, no activity, no music to connect anything.

That night before I came across one Scripture Romans 9:17, Byron also recalled a Pastor that had some stuff that might help us so he got that earlier today for tonight. He had also gone on a youth leadership camp over the weekend and it had reaffirmed the topic of our purpose. That was a focal point of the camp and while Byron tried to think of other topics he couldn’t get away from this one. I had given him a CD the week before (for two weeks I forgot but I happened to remember before he left for camp). The music from that CD was used all weekend as part of the camp and it was perfect for our program as well.

For our last presentation I had the whole discussion, questions and possible scenarios ready (if this happened then A if this then B), activities, purchased the props, etc. all together two weeks ahead of time. I had a typed up step by step of how it would run.

This time we reviewed about an hour before we taught and shared the one page he brought for his lesson. He said he wanted to just read from the paper and ask questions and see where it led. I tell you the truth - up until the moment we started I had no doubt it was going to go well even though I felt SO under prepared. Once it started though Byron read a few things and asked some questions. It was not going very well – we got one answer per question and honestly very generic and flat answers and no one seemed interested. We were moving through the paper quickly and it seemed we’d be done before 10 minutes had passed.

Then suddenly the mood changed, I can’t say why but we asked a question. What gets in your way between you and God? Some very “they” “we” “many youth” responses came back. We said again no, no, not what gets in some person’s or some youths - what gets in your way. And suddenly it was a very different night. Tears flowed and hearts were broken down. Occasionally there are prayer requests, tonight they didn’t stop. We went as a group to the chapel and prayed on our own but together in the room. We went over the time by an hour and not a single person left or complained or even looked at the clock.

Powerful stuff!

I came home still on fire and when Ursula poured her heart out about her hurt I finally had the words I’ve been waiting patiently (at times) for. I hope it helped. I know her words helped me with a lot of situations that are going through my family and friends lives right now.

And then...

This week's been a busy one. The meeting with UWC (University of Western Cape) went well. We have a plan to start in January with getting students together with a local multi-faith leadership group that Reverend Patrick is a part of. The students will help the faith groups attain national funding that is available, but difficult to apply for (or even figure out how to apply for).

Thank you Dwight Wyse for you and your family's generosity. Dwight told me that him and his family can sponsor TLC's Christmas party for the 50 children. That will on December 4th and they are elated to have sponsorship from America for it. Dwight also donated a website for the regional Nazarene church.

Today I helped setup and run a meal for about 70 seniors from the neighborhood. It was just a way for the Aloe Community Nutrition Center to say thank you to the community for support. We had a nice meal and gave away a few prizes. It was a fun time!

This week I also helped work on Mendiza's house in Mufalani. Mendiza is Ursula's cleaning lady (she treats her as a daughter) We were putting up curtains for her and we're getting some flooring for her as well. I also got to hang out at Masi again with the kids. Once Mendiza's house is finished I may stay there a night or two per week to help at Masi. I'd like to help get them some regular funding.

Reverend Patrick wants to talk to Thuli and not let me leave Cape Town :). There was a flood that displaced 1000+ families last week in Durban so I'll keep an eye on that situation and we'll see if it closes the door. We'll see what happens.

Updates

Hey just some quick updates -

I have been traveling around a bit and working on a number of things. People have been very generous here and from the US and I'm very grateful!

I visited Ursula's education center and we purchased 4 tables and 16 chairs so that the students could get off the floor of their pod. They have only some cheap plastic flooring and we'll hopefully be able to purchase a mat (rug) for them as well. Thank you Mike O'Malley (aka "Dad") for the contribution to purchase all of the above. Pictures on facebook soon!

I also visited a project I call Massy because I haven't quite conquered the X-cosa language enough to say the full name (that X is a click sound). This is an orphanage and the director there said I can come and work there any time. I might do that on Tuesday. Ursula's friends lives nearby and we're helping her finish her house that the Irish donated. BTW the Irish built some of the first few houses in SA which embarrassed the government at the time into doing some building of them own for those in need. Go Irish!

I got some scrap wood from a nieghbor and I'm going to build some goals and hopefully start a Sunday afternoon game for the youth in the neighborhood. There are regular drug busts and I'd like to get some of the kids that just wonder the streets doing something and have someone to talk with. Hopefully some of the youth at the church can help.

I got an excellent treat yesterday as I was invited to a wedding by one of Ursula's friends and then her brother for a gathering. Yesterday was the first day of Crayfish (Lobster) season so we had some excellent fresh lobster. The guys all had a good laugh asking about Obama and teaching me Afrikans. One of the fellas was very intrigued to meet an "American-American" and as he put it someone that brought the Bible to life. He was really moved that I was here without any personal tie to SA.

Byronand I'll be teaching again next Monday so please keep us in prayer!

Love and miss you guys!

Doubts?

Today's message at church was on doubt. We went to Genesis and talked about Eve's doubt and how it opened the door to failure. He talked about how often people try to put just the slightest doubt in our mind and how wide that opening swings into all sorts of things. Try this drug, try this drink, try this X - what is it for you?

I've been weighing the coversation about why bad things happen for a few days and I appreciate all the comments and the discussion I've been having with friends and family over email. The only thing that hasn't come up in my mind is doubt that there is a solution. Whether everyone accepts it or not I can't say, but for me I am content with "trusting God" as the answer. I have enjoyed having that peace while I worked through thoughts with different people.

Thank you all for praying for my sister and her child. Ronan Christopher Ames was born today!

It is looking more like I'll be staying in Cape Town until January. I'm going to a few projects this week and I think using the bus (about $2 round trip) I can go out 3 days per week to work at one of the orphanages.

Love and miss you guys.

Of whom shall I fear?

I went shark cage diving on Saturday and it was a powerful experience. We were only anchored for a few minutes when one swam past. Some are lucky to see one on a trip, some boats 100m from us didn't see any, we saw 16! 9 while I was in the cage. Most were 2-3m, not the huge guys, but big enough. The white sharks are really a beautiful creature up close and I was one of the first in the cage. It really was much scarier thinking about then doing. One swam up and nearly bumped the cage in front of my face. His fin was actually inside as if he were reaching out to touch me. Another went up over the cage and hit his chin on the top of the cage on his way down rocking us forward. It was incredible and I learned a lot. While I still respect them, I no longer feel afraid.

Monday night Byron and I led the youth. Once again I was a bit intimidated to speak to 30 kids on a difficult topic anywhere, but a little more in a country with high poverty. I spoke about sharing our possessions and the program went great. We had the kids split by world population (thank you elev8 for the idea) and the ones in first class had a number of drinks and snacks to choose from. The second were given descent things and the last, the largest group, got only water and a few crackers for the whole group. It was great because last Thursday one of the ladies had mentioned that she thought in the colored areas that people shared less and looked out for each other less. Ursula mentioned that many people from overseas did more for SA then the middle class in SA. The program went exactly as such.

Immediately when it started a girl in the third group went down and began breaking the crackers up for the group. After being served drinks and some time passed the first class decided to share their snacks with the third. After watching the first go the second followed. It was really amazing to watch it go that way I couldn't have planned it better. We had a wonderful discussion to follow and Byron shared about how moved he was to see the kids at Bap and how it changed him. Many kids raelly enjoyed the program and want to help be part of the change. I'm working with Ursula and some of the youth leaders to get a cultural tour for the youth. Many of them drive past the poverty often and don't know it or see it up close. Hopefully visiting will change their hearts.

I also went on a cultural tour again Monday where I went to a new project. A women named Beauty, who has AIDS and should have died some time ago according to doctors, started a B&B and a sewing project in Khayletcha. She is a Christian and said that God has gotten her through. Her roof is full of holes and the place is quite in bad shape, but she is making it, loving life and trying to teach others in the area to sew so they can create work for themselves. She has two sons that live under a tin roof full of holes. I gave her some money myself and will design business cards for her and try to help her how I can.

Yesterday I went to the soup kitchen and the school again. There were 80 students in the class because they don't have substitutes (think about that teachers in the US that want to complain about class size :) ) firing questions at me again. It's been a great personal experience and my comfort in front of a crowd, not normally a strong one for me in front of any age, is starting to improve. I also brought one of the Aviva volunteers to the school. He's going to try and get his middle school in the USA to adopt the school and help the kids pay their fees and maybe get some improved things for the school itself.

Today I visited another orphanage. This one may be able to use me on a regular basis. One of the ladies rides the bus from our area to there. I might be able to do that so this might be finally the project that I can work with on a regular basis besides the soup kitchen. I'm excited for the opportunity!

This weekend I'm hoping to purchase (thanks to Mike O'Malley aka Dad) chairs and tables for the education center that Ursula supports. He told me would donate some money and then Ursula mentioned she wanted to buy chairs and tables for her ec and then she would move on to helping Beauty's B&B get a new roof. If anyone wants to contribute or help with any of these projects let me know!