It's been an unusual week! A church donated $12,000 to the Life Skills Program. That makes us $29,000 total: the $26,000 we asked God for, and some left over. We serve an incredible God!
Friday, I attended the monthly SIM prayer meeting. I made brownies, with chocolate chips sent to me in a care package from the States. Then, that evening, I went to a dinner party at Susan's. I bought a meringue and we made a Pavlova dessert with whipped cream and fruit. It was lovely. I am learning all kinds of new recipes.
Nelson Madella died Thursday. It was such a sad thing, though he had lived to 95 years. Everywhere I went, there was evidence of the respect and love that everyone in South Africa had for this great man. Friday night when I was driving through St. James, there was a sign outside one of the shops that said it all: "Rest in peace, Madiba."
This morning, my neighbor, Gina, and I went to a Christmas bazaar, then decided to go to Constantia to the mall there...over the mountain. I had never driven over the mountain and was rather afraid to do so because of the winding, narrow road. But, with Gina with me, I wanted to try it...and I did! Woohoo! We found the mall and I did a little Christmas shopping, then we stopped for coffee (for Gina) and hot chocolate for me. It wasn't until I arrived back home that I realized I didn't have the present. I remembered leaving it on the chair next to me at the coffee shop. But, I didn't pick it up again and left it there. I went to Gina's and her and another neighbor, Angela wanted to go back to the mall with me. Angela doesn't have a car and Gina doesn't drive hers much, so they were both glad to get out and go. We didn't find the present; it was gone and no one turned it in. We checked all of the stores we had visited but no one had seen it. One of the stores we visited was a French pastry shop. It had wonderful things and Gina and I both took something home. I had not driven across the mountains until today and now, I've done it twice! That's a huge accomplishment for me! Thank You, Lord! "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
They call me Ma!
Lifeskill Educators. That's their title, the young people from South Africa who work at Living Hope. Some are married, some not. Actually, they are not all from South Africa. Some are missionaries from the States...precisely, from Tennessee...and then there's me. I am not young, but seasoned. And they call me Ma! In South Sudan, they called me Mama Grace.
These young men and women have a hard job, always dealing with HIV and AIDS, orphans, and death and dying. They come into the Resource center to work on their lessons for the day or the next day and to print off those lessons and make copies for the children or teens.
I came up with an idea: to have a Bible Quiz every day. I put a question on the wall above the computers. They sometimes know the answer and sometimes don't and have to look it up, either by borrowing my Bible or they Google it. Then, they write their guess on a slip of colored paper and put it in the special box on my desk. Around 12 or 1pm, I take all the correct answers and shake them up and have someone who didn't take the quiz today pull out a the winning name. The winner gets a piece of candy from the jar on my desk. They love "sweeties" as they're called. One of the guys said, "Nobody just gives sweeties away for nothing. There has to be a catch." This is the answer the Lord gave me: "The catch is you opened the Bible to find the answer. That's what I wanted you to do: open the Bible. That's the catch!" He nodded. He understood. Yesterday's question was, "What book and chapter of the Bible tells the story of the birth of Jesus?". The answer could have been Matthew 1 or Luke 2. At 1pm yesterday, we picked the "catch" man's buddy. Today, the question was, "For God so loved the world..." The answer was John 3:16. More answered today and all got it right. Some told their buddies the wrong answer, trying to throw them off and give themselves better odds at winning. They laugh and are having a good time. They perform a service, a tough one. They deserve a fun distraction. Today, they kept coming in to the Resource Center to remind me it was time to draw the winner. They crowded around my desk during "the big draw".
They call me Ma...and I feel like it. These young men and women are my "other kids". They just have a darker tan than I do! Please pray for them and the people they serve.
These young men and women have a hard job, always dealing with HIV and AIDS, orphans, and death and dying. They come into the Resource center to work on their lessons for the day or the next day and to print off those lessons and make copies for the children or teens.
I came up with an idea: to have a Bible Quiz every day. I put a question on the wall above the computers. They sometimes know the answer and sometimes don't and have to look it up, either by borrowing my Bible or they Google it. Then, they write their guess on a slip of colored paper and put it in the special box on my desk. Around 12 or 1pm, I take all the correct answers and shake them up and have someone who didn't take the quiz today pull out a the winning name. The winner gets a piece of candy from the jar on my desk. They love "sweeties" as they're called. One of the guys said, "Nobody just gives sweeties away for nothing. There has to be a catch." This is the answer the Lord gave me: "The catch is you opened the Bible to find the answer. That's what I wanted you to do: open the Bible. That's the catch!" He nodded. He understood. Yesterday's question was, "What book and chapter of the Bible tells the story of the birth of Jesus?". The answer could have been Matthew 1 or Luke 2. At 1pm yesterday, we picked the "catch" man's buddy. Today, the question was, "For God so loved the world..." The answer was John 3:16. More answered today and all got it right. Some told their buddies the wrong answer, trying to throw them off and give themselves better odds at winning. They laugh and are having a good time. They perform a service, a tough one. They deserve a fun distraction. Today, they kept coming in to the Resource Center to remind me it was time to draw the winner. They crowded around my desk during "the big draw".
They call me Ma...and I feel like it. These young men and women are my "other kids". They just have a darker tan than I do! Please pray for them and the people they serve.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Living Hope
Monday, November 4, 2013
Still sick.
In the last month, I have had the flu, bronchitis, and now a virus. I'm getting tired of being sick. I know the Lord brought me here to this beautiful place by the sea so I could do His work. I've been doing work with Living Hope and really enjoy what I'm doing. But, no one wants to hear my "seal imitation"! Just last week, Avril called us together to talk about patients with TB coming into the office and how we need to protect ourselves by asking them to wear a mask.
Today, Avril asked if my doctor had done a TB test on me. That did little to encourage me. I told God so. Then, Ruth called, said she had been thinking of me and wondered how I was feeling and what the doctor said. (Thanks, Lord.) Shortly after that, David called. He's our small group leader. He said he didn't see me at church yesterday and wondered how I was. He also asked if there was anything he could do to help. I told him about the picture I've been trying to hang but just can't seem to get it right. He said he'd be over after work to see what he can do. I told him how much I appreciate his help. That's when he said our group knows I'm here by myself and they want to be my family away from home. He couldn't have said it better. Thank You, Lord! Then, his mother called and said she would stop by. Thank You, thank You, Lord! I so appreciate my "family away from home" and how You take care of me!
Today, Avril asked if my doctor had done a TB test on me. That did little to encourage me. I told God so. Then, Ruth called, said she had been thinking of me and wondered how I was feeling and what the doctor said. (Thanks, Lord.) Shortly after that, David called. He's our small group leader. He said he didn't see me at church yesterday and wondered how I was. He also asked if there was anything he could do to help. I told him about the picture I've been trying to hang but just can't seem to get it right. He said he'd be over after work to see what he can do. I told him how much I appreciate his help. That's when he said our group knows I'm here by myself and they want to be my family away from home. He couldn't have said it better. Thank You, Lord! Then, his mother called and said she would stop by. Thank You, thank You, Lord! I so appreciate my "family away from home" and how You take care of me!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Praying at 2 am.
It's after 2 in the morning. What am I doing up so late? Actually, I went to bed at 11 but woke up early. God has been putting something on my heart. It's a question asked by Henry Blackaby in his series, "The Prayer Life of Jesus": "If the destruction of America could be held back according to your prayer life, would it stay the hand of God?" Would it? I don't know. Yes, I try to pray effectively every day. I pray for my family and my church families. I pray for special intentions, for those that are sick or having surgery, or waiting for transplants. I pray for the lost: unsaved loved ones, the lost sons and daughters of friends, and the family of a pilot lost at sea. I pray for those who need jobs. I pray for the dark places of this world: for God to send missionaries to Eritrea, to the 4000 Wa people on the border of Myanmar, and for Reunion Island, for spiritual darkness to be overcome by God's light. I pray for the marriages I know are not strong or ones that are struggling. I pray for the health and expansion of churches, for mission leaders, for specific missionaries. I pray for expectant friends, that their unborn babies will grow healthy and strong. I pray for peace in various places in the world: Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Kenya. I thank God for the prayers He has answered. All this is perhaps notable, but would it stay the hand of God if He were about to destroy America for her sinfulness? I doubt it.
God has convinced me I need to be specifically praying for my country, asking for God to forgive her, praying that the people of America will 'humble themselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways' (2 Chronicles 7:14). I need to pray earnestly for America and her leaders to turn to God. I am sure that America is on a downhill spiral, turning her back on God. How long before God grows tired of the insults? Why does He wake me at 2am to pray for my country? I'm awake, Lord. I'm listening. I'm praying.
God has convinced me I need to be specifically praying for my country, asking for God to forgive her, praying that the people of America will 'humble themselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways' (2 Chronicles 7:14). I need to pray earnestly for America and her leaders to turn to God. I am sure that America is on a downhill spiral, turning her back on God. How long before God grows tired of the insults? Why does He wake me at 2am to pray for my country? I'm awake, Lord. I'm listening. I'm praying.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Flu for a week!
Oct. 8, 2013
There's only one thing worse than having the flu for a week, and that's being alone and away from home and having the flu! But, God took care of me through my neighbors checking on me often, along with SIM friends stopping by to go grocery shopping for me and do up my dishes. After 4 days of the flu, I was able to get out to go to the doctor. He gave me some antibiotics for a bacterial infection and told me to stop my blood pressure medicine for a few days because I was dehydrated, making my bp low. But, all is well now and I am feeling back to normal again. Thank You, Lord!
Today was my second day at Living Hope and I'm so excited at the direction the Lord seems to be taking me. I will be doing 20 hours a week as a volunteer there, leaving some time for working with SIM. This week, I am attending some Counseling training for lay people taught by a team from Seattle. I am so delighted to be around folks that I can understand! Yes, they speak English here in South Africa...but, some have strong Dutch accents. I generally have to listen so carefully to make sure I don't miss anything that is being said that my ears get tired! It's wonderful to be here where there is such a mixture of accents. That's why South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation!
I took a tour of the 4 Living Hope ministries yesterday with the Seattle team. It was so informational to hear and see what the Lord has done with Living Hope and how they are helping people. Within Living Hope, there is a health care ministry called Living Care with a 22-bed facility, as well as home based care and community support groups of HIV and AIDS patients. Living Right reaches out to more than 6000 children a year by teaching them to make healthy choices as well as mobile health screening with HIV and TB testing and counseling. This will also be the area that I will participate in with the formation of a ministry called MotherCare, in which I will be teaching moms with HIV about Nutrition for themselves and their children and about breastfeeding benefits. Living Way teaches people skills needed to earn their way out of poverty. Living Grace serves street people with a meal and shower facilities. They also run an out-patient substance abuse rehab at 2 locations. This organization is a partner with SIM and is doing wonderful stuff.
Today was the warmest day so far (about 80 degrees) and warmer weather is on it's way here since we are going into their summer. (Suffering for Jesus here!)
Thanks and blessings,
Grace
There's only one thing worse than having the flu for a week, and that's being alone and away from home and having the flu! But, God took care of me through my neighbors checking on me often, along with SIM friends stopping by to go grocery shopping for me and do up my dishes. After 4 days of the flu, I was able to get out to go to the doctor. He gave me some antibiotics for a bacterial infection and told me to stop my blood pressure medicine for a few days because I was dehydrated, making my bp low. But, all is well now and I am feeling back to normal again. Thank You, Lord!
Today was my second day at Living Hope and I'm so excited at the direction the Lord seems to be taking me. I will be doing 20 hours a week as a volunteer there, leaving some time for working with SIM. This week, I am attending some Counseling training for lay people taught by a team from Seattle. I am so delighted to be around folks that I can understand! Yes, they speak English here in South Africa...but, some have strong Dutch accents. I generally have to listen so carefully to make sure I don't miss anything that is being said that my ears get tired! It's wonderful to be here where there is such a mixture of accents. That's why South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation!
I took a tour of the 4 Living Hope ministries yesterday with the Seattle team. It was so informational to hear and see what the Lord has done with Living Hope and how they are helping people. Within Living Hope, there is a health care ministry called Living Care with a 22-bed facility, as well as home based care and community support groups of HIV and AIDS patients. Living Right reaches out to more than 6000 children a year by teaching them to make healthy choices as well as mobile health screening with HIV and TB testing and counseling. This will also be the area that I will participate in with the formation of a ministry called MotherCare, in which I will be teaching moms with HIV about Nutrition for themselves and their children and about breastfeeding benefits. Living Way teaches people skills needed to earn their way out of poverty. Living Grace serves street people with a meal and shower facilities. They also run an out-patient substance abuse rehab at 2 locations. This organization is a partner with SIM and is doing wonderful stuff.
Today was the warmest day so far (about 80 degrees) and warmer weather is on it's way here since we are going into their summer. (Suffering for Jesus here!)
Thanks and blessings,
Grace
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