last few days...

I only have a few more days left in Cape Town now before I head off to Durban for a few weeks! Am really really sad to leave but at the same time excited about the things God is going to do during the teams time in Durban.



The last few weeks have been really really good and also very busy! The church has continued with the theme of honouring, the father of the house was honoured last Sunday which was an amazing service! The young people, especially, have a lot of respect for the more senior members of the church which is refreshing.



One of the highlights of the two weeks was taking part in the 'Hoot for Jesus' campaign which was a youth initiative. We went out with bill boards asking people to hoot if they love Jesus and headed to the streets of Cape Town! The response was absolutely amazing, so many cars were going crazy as they drove past us, even the police were joining in which I found quite strange as in the UK we probably would have been arrested! It was a liberating experience which was challenging at first but got into it after a while! We also managed to get ourselves in a local newspaper called 'The Son', which is our equivalent of 'The Sun'. The newspaper gave a really positive report of how the youth was giving hope to young people, particularly who are caught up in drugs. The paper is renowned for reporting negative stories so to have such a positive story was really significant!

Will update again before Durban (hopefully!)

Only 2 1/2 weeks left in Cape Town!!

Things are very cold and wet here in Cape Town! Winter has definately set in now so looking forward to going to Durban for some sunshine. Weeks are still going really quickly, am already getting upset about the thought of leaving Cape Town, have made some really good friends now and I know I will always have a connection here.

The last week we have been building up to the revival week which started last night! We are really trusting that God will move in Cape Town this week. The revival is happening in a hall in the centre of Bridgetown so anyone is welcome to walk in for healing, counselling, ministry etc. It has been storming here constantly since last Thursday so everywhere is soaking wet, the roads are flooded and most houses are leaking! Many people living in the shacks have become homeless as their houses have been blown away or damaged by the rain so we are really praying for protection over them.

I am still moving around a lot, but have moved back to Sharon and Shawn now so have a base at least, although im hardly ever there! Been starting to think about what I am going to do when I get back but have no idea yet!

Just a quick update!

Another update...

I'm definitely getting worse at updating the blog! The last few weeks have been a mixture of being very busy or very quiet! Moved house again to a couple called Isabelle and George and their daughter. Another lady from the UK was also staying with them so we were sharing a room, which was a struggle at first but turned out to be really good. They also lent us a Bakkie, which is like a mini van, so I was driving around Cape Town. Was very different experience from the UK, there are stray dogs everywhere, people walk in the road and come up to you at the robots (traffic lights!) and the taxis just tend to drive at you! Was nice to be able to drive myself around rather than waiting for lifts! I have now left there though and with a lady, aunty Maud, it is very peaceful at her house so am able to relax a bit! Think I have got a bit fed up with moving now, all my stuff is scattered round different people's houses! I'm hoping to settle now for the rest of my stay - can't believe i only have 4 weeks left in Cape Town, am missing home but dont want to leave! Then off to Durban for 2 weeks with the lovely Guildford crew!

I'm still doing the counselling most days, the aftercare program hasn't been running recently as the children are writing exams and are then on holiday so we are missing them! The build up to the revival has started, everyone is really excited! We are having lots of prayer meetings and next Sunday we are honouring the spiritual father of the church so that is going to be a huge event. Honouring is so important out here, they are always washing feet and have respect and honour for the elders, it feels like a really different atmosphere its brilliant.

Am still being blown away by how welcoming people are and how people have no money and still take me out! Was invited to someone's 21st last weekend, it was like a wedding, they really know how to celebrate out here!

I had an extremely eventful day yesterday, I can laugh about it now but it was hectic at the time!!! One of the ladies wanted to take me out to experience the 'real' Cape Town which meant using public transport which most people I stay with dont even use! So we went on a taxi on the way, which was fine quite quiet, but i think they were very surprised to see a white girl riding a taxi! The taxis are like mini buses, they pretty much own the road, but they crame as many people as possible into them! Then we took a train 1st class - the only difference between 1st and 3rd is the very thin padding on the seats! had a nice day at the beach but coming back was SUCH a different experience! We went 3rd class during rush hour and it was packed, people were hanging out the door, out windows! I was again the only white girl and could tell ppl were wondering why i was there, made me realise there is still a divide out here, white people only use the 1st class. So it was a really difficult experience but maybe something God wanted me to see. It was another day of being stared at for looking different, but most days I dont notice it! And getting off the train was crazy, we could get out at our stop because no one could move and then we eventually got out as everyone pushed and shoved so we all literally fell out of the train!! Then had another taxi ride, and had to sit up front with the driver which was definately interesting!

So...more experiences and challenges happening, expect a lot to happen over the next few weeks with the revival, the honouring and we are having 'hoot for Jesus' soon where we go out onto the streets to do some evangelism! Also looking forward to seeing Lea from DNA out here! Woo hoo!

Will try and put some pics up soon!

News...

The last two weeks have gone so quickly, sorry haven’t written for a while! I am currently still in Belhar with Sharon, Shawn and family, stayed an extra week with them as I couldn’t face another move and have been getting on with them really well. Am moving again today though, am a bit nervous about my next family as I don’t know them at all really, just met them quickly at church, but sure it will be great!

It has been really busy at the centre the last few weeks, but have settled in well now so having a lot more fun with the people as well as working hard! We have started running the aftercare program now for Kewtown school so the kids come to the centre after school on a Monday and a Wednesday. The first week was a little unorganised as we were finding our feet, but last week went really well and the kids are really enjoying it! We pick them up from school at 2.30, we can only manage up to 15 at the mo as transport is a bit of an issue so we have to borrow people’s cars! After the first week we discovered that the boys were fascinated by the showers, as many come from homes which consist of one bedroom which are packed with people! So we have arranged a time on a Monday for the kids to wash – the guys reported back that the boys were trying to swim in the showers so I think they had fun, lol! Then they have a good meal, many haven’t eaten for a while so are pretty hungry by the time they get to us, and then we help with homework, do an activity and finish with devotion! The main aim is to keep them off the streets as Kewtown is known for its drug and gang culture so we don’t want the kids to get involved. Plus giving them some structure will hopefully help them respect authority more as most kids have been referred due to aggressive behaviour.

So that has been keeping us busy! I’m continuing with the counseling also and anything else that comes up at the centre. There is a lot of walk in cases so days are never predictable! Been joining the guys a lot when they go into schools to teach around drugs and pray with people who are struggling so that’s been awesome.

We have been having several God encounter evenings which have just been amazing, God has really shown up and many people have had a vision about fire coming down on Cape Town and how God is moving. There is going to be a week long revival at the beginning of July so is going to be exciting! Is an amazing time to be out here, at the moment I really don’t want to leave although I miss everyone at home – already planning my next trip out here, lol! Have made some good friends out here now so will have to wait and see where God wants to take me!! Am still waiting for my letters from the UK, hint hint!! Hope everyone is doing ok, lots of love x x x

Week number five...

Has been another busy week! The weekend was amazing, had a three day revival and God really blessed us and filled all of us with fire! I have moved to house number 3! Am living in Belhar with Sharon and Shawn and their two daughters Sharndre and Sharneese, they are a lovely family and REALLY welcoming!

On Saturday a few of us went down into one of the informal settlements called Vygieskraal. It was a real eye opener to what a lot of people have to go through and the poverty they live in. We handed out bread and soup from the boot of the car to the kids, they all rushed up to the car with their broken cups. This is something I will be getting involved with at least every other week if not every week.

Have been down to Kewtown school again this week, there is a big need there so as from next week we are starting up an aftercare programme at the centre. We will pick them up after school and they will be able to hang out at the centre doing activities and we can help them with their homework. A lot of the kids don't always eat because of problems at home so we will be giving them a nice meal as well! It will mainly be the kids that we are counselling but hopefully in time we will be able to host more kids. The centre really needs a van of some kind in order to host more people so please send a prayer up for that. And also there was a bit of trouble with gang fighting outside the centre yesterday so please pray for security too!

Also next week am hoping to go to Pik Wik which is a church that has been set up for people on the streets. They are able to shower and get cleaned up, they get some food and a place in which to have church. The weekend is always busy with social events and people are always inviting me around for lunch and taking me out in the evenings - not sure im going to want to come back, lol!

A quick update of what is going on! Oh and am missing Haribo and biscuits if anyone fancies sending me any???? Lol!

A hectic few weeks

Time is going very quickly, have almost been here a month! The last few weeks have been busy and challenging in a good way! Been staying in a place called Mitchell Plain with Craig and Allison which has been really good, but its already time to move again on Sunday! Going to a family, Sharon and Seun and their two daughters. Am getting to see all sides of Cape Town which is brilliant!

Working at the centre has been good. Started counselling a few people now which is very challenging at times but starting to build up a relationships so thats good. Also been visiting a school in Kewtown twice a week, every tues and thurs. Its a primary school in quite a deprived area, the pupils get referred to us by their teachers for many reasons, but mainly due to desruptive behaviour. The centre also has a good relationship with the school across the road in Bridgetown which is a high school. We mainly work with the young females there who again have been referred to us by the school. We took the girls out on an outing last week to a museum, which they really enjoyed, I think the girls were better behaved than us leaders, lol!

Doing some psychology training with the guys at the centre on fridays so thats good. A lot of the guys who work at the centre and help counsel come from backgrounds of drug addiction and abuse themselves so am learning a lot from them as well. God has really been challenging me on how my psychological knowledge and background can work alongside spiritual elements...still working on that at the mo!

We also celebrated mothers day here on Sunday which was amazing. The church loves to honour people and as part of the service the male leaders washed the senior ladies' feet. They take honouring very seriously and have a lot of respect for elder members of the church, to the point where the pastor commented that he would ask people to leave the church if they spoke during the feet washing - was a very powerful statement!

Im really looking forward to the weekend, lots happening! Glory revolution is starting up this friday night, which is part of the campus ministry at the uni, this has recently been started up due to a request from the students. A workshop is running on Sat for women, its based on a book called 'Woman, thou art loosed', which is around freeing women from their pasts, particulary around abuse and insecurities. This is something I may get involved in at some point. Then on Sunday we have our church service in the morning, followed by 'God encounter' in the evening which is a youth event! Should be a hectic weekend!

Weather is getting colder as winter is now setting in, so there has been lots of rain this week! Cant believe its so hot in the UK!! Am still missing the UK a lot!! Will give another update soon x

Starting at the centre

Have nearly been here for two weeks now has gone so quick! Am really beginning to miss home tho! I'll give a update...went away for two days on a Kairos course (which was like a mini DNA, which is brilliant!), there were about ten of us in total from three different areas of Cape Town. We had a talk and then the girls hung out together so got to know them quite well. As part of it we went down to the beach (cant really do that in the UK!!) to hang out with God on a personal level...God spoke to me about A LOT of stuff but mainly just to be patient and things im worried about back home he is looking after so that was what I needed to hear!!

Started properly at the centre this week which is good but proving to be very challenging already! Counselling is going to be my main role at the mo, so started counselling these two young boys, both 11. Is really challenging as they have seen a lot of harsh things, but both seem generally ok and are going to start coming to the centre everyday after school so we can help them with homework and be a support to them - hopefully this will keep them off the streets and away from the drugs and gangs as well. Next week I will be going into the schools to help the girls which have been referred by the schools. The centre has really good relationships with the surrounding area so many of the schools invite us in to help them. Also going to be doing some psychology training with some of the volunteers...not sure what on yet tho! So...is going to be a pretty hectic week so really drawing on strength from God to get me through!

Am moving this Sun to Craig and Allisons, a couple from the church, which is cool, going to be moving every two weeks which will definately be hectic! Everyone has been really nice and welcoming and a family took me out yesterday for a proper African experience which was brilliant. So...in conclusion...am doing ok and everyone is very supportive out here, but beginning to get challenged in a big way!! Oh and missing everyone in the UK loads!!!