Dear Brothers, Sisters, and partners in the Lord’s work, in Christ.
I pray for each of you, that 2009 has begun a wonderful, fruitful year for you, as we serve our Lord. May He have the glory for all He does in and through us for His Kingdom. Amen!

Summer is in full bloom here in Cape Town, and the wonderful weather has given us much to rejoice over. God’s creation is alive with colour. I so love these very long balmy days from 5.30 am, with the birds outside my bedroom window, in the garden, noisily demanding to be fed – until 8.30 pm – watching the sun set, watering the garden, or simply enjoying the cool evening breeze, thankful for everything God has given me, I am truly blessed!

I am happy to report most of the storm damage to the Church has been repaired. However,not before we had difficulty trying to evacuate a pair of birds that made a nest in the rafters inside the church! They had entered through the broken roof! Even after we had removed the nest and placed it outside, on the container roof near the area where they had entered! The only other damage needing to be repaired is the Kitchen roof.

On 31st of October, one of my dearly loved and devoted supporters, Dr. Herb Mitchell, went to be with his Lord. He was 95 years old. He and his wife Mary Charlotte [who died in 1990] have supported me as a Missionary for 28 years. Herb will be greatly missed by everyone in Khayelitsha, who knew him. He taught many local folk in bible studies, on his many visits to Khayelitsha. Herb had a gift for teaching God’s word in a very simple and clear way.

NOVEMBER

In my previous newsletter, written as the 4 months of hectic activity had begun. I told you of gifts I had received and collected from several donors for the Children. As the toys are collected they are sorted immediately in October, as they need to be given out to different groups of children, before the schools close for the summer holidays the end of November.This year Grove Primary school also donated all their leftover stationery, pens, crayons,glue, rulers, pencil boxes etc – thankfully snapped up by almost 200 children – This was supplemented with other stationery I had bought, calculators, flip files, labels, erasers, exercise books and hard cover exercise books, crayons and pencil crayons, markers etc.

EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT DONATIONS

Donors from overseas churches –provided 324 AIDS orphans with Christmas gift packs.These were given mid November

[Here isone of the groups of very happy children holding their gift packs.]

Many of these children are “new” orphans, and don’t have uniforms and shoes. But, as soon as the Teachers have settled them into their new year, a list will be given of their relevant information for us to supply them with these items. It is huge blessing for them, to experience God’s loving care and provision in such a practical way, they will remember for a long time.

[A small group of Site B children with gifts]

The Italian motorbike club contributed 500 toys from their Annual toy run, which we gave to the Site B children. They get their gifts a few days before Christmas once all the other smaller groups of children have been given theirs. The focus is then totally on all the toys we can get them. This year we were able to pass along the blessing of soft toys, to many other needy children. The Police Force, for abused and traumatized children they work with, we gave 250 soft toys. Gift packs: Sunday school [120] Kids Klub [50] Pre schools [275] Children of Refugees [250], Church children [100] Children of parents in the Bible studygroups. [50] as well as staff members’ children. However, the bulk of the toys received for Site B – was a total of 62 black garbage bags of toys.

They were divided into ages, 17 bagsof toys for older boys and girls – 18 bags of soft toys, 35 bags of gift packs, 85 “toy boxes”from Tokai church, and 20 of mixed [McDonald’s freebees] and 5 big bags of small gift packsfor older children, from Daphne and family. With their “leftovers” I made a further 75 giftpacks! Sadly, the Minister kindly allowed a wedding party to store their tables in the Churchstoreroom, as their tables were only being collected on Monday. We had stored 17 bags of toys, They took all 17 bags! I know as all the bags were marked.

I was totally devastated, all that hard work! The sad and most important loss was to the children, well over 600 did not have a gift! The cost - R10 000 loss! We can’t prove it was them, neither could we claim on our Insurance, as there was no forced entry! My heart was broken. My only consolation was that God sees everything!

Everyone in the Congregation was blessed with a gift – the “Mammas” – who have a Bible study in Winter - Soup Kitchen [20].

[The mammas with their gifts – before their party]

The Durbanville Community Church gave 150 beautifully wrapped gifts for men and women who were members of our church. The gifts were handed out after the Christmas day service at church. Then a wonderful Christmas lunch was served to the whole congregation. A Joyous time of rejoicing, celebrating our Saviour’s birth.

CHILDREN

Gary visited our Sunday school, and, as always,gave a great talk to the children on “Gifts”. The best gift ever given was by GOD. Gary had a big cardboard box, and asked the children to look inside [one at a time – but not tell what they saw!]. He told them inside was a gift that God loved dearly. At the bottom of the box Gary had pasted a large mirror. Gary let everyone in on the secret, how precious we are to God. He had 2 gifts – big and small.

[This big gift had one small chocolate, the small gift, a big chocolate! Big is not necessarily the best]

They “got the message”! The Kids Holiday Bible Club was held in the last week of the school holidays. [12 – 15 Jan] 100 children attended daily. I was thrilled with 15 new youth leaders. who helped run the groups! What a privilege seeing them enjoy being involved with the Praise and Worship, teaching songs with the actions! The lessons on Noah were lots of fun, with drawings of animals and rainbows everywhere! God provided lunch for everyone, and on the last day, “snack packs” to take home. Prizes [useful for school] were given for knowing verses. Everyone who attempted saying a verse got big yummy marshmallows!

YOUTH - DECEMBER

Several parties for various groups, were held at Church. However, the Youth wanted a “braai” –barbeque, as they love meat, a special treat! The girls made salads, guys brought cooldrinks and bread! They paid for everything, as they had done fundraising all through the year. They certainly enjoyed themselves, having loads of fun, dancing, playing pool and table tennis. Scores of young folk attended, as they invited their friends to join them.

[Here are the“team” who were in charge of the food – they did a great job too!]

[A special Christmas lunch at a Restaurant was given to Sunday school teachers and Our Minister Rev. Thozamile Toni.]

2009 will have many changes and challenges. God is certainly growing His church HIS way.After all the celebrations, lunches and gifts were handed out, and Christmas and New Year spent with family and friends, the serious planning and preparation began. Our Sunday school teachers had their training day done by Brigitte [CEF] which was excellent, focusing on a simple and quick way to give the gospel to wriggly children who cant keep still for long! The teachers were given their lesson books and all the handwork for small and older children that I had prepared for the First Term. We are working with Moses, and the Second Term Joshua. The challenge, to keep the attention of the 11 and 12 year olds – mainly the girls!] who feel they are too old for Sunday school! We will now meet this challenge by giving them more involvement in every lesson!

Most of our weekly bible studies, cell groups, and Sunday school commence the beginning of February, but we started the Kids Club [IKAMVA] the 22nd January, after we had the Holiday Club 12 – 15 January, to keep the momentum going – and it worked – the first day we had 45 children. Kathy made nametags for them, with the clubs name. They loved them, and the novelty of wearing them! The lessons I have prepared this term are on David. BothZukie and Lulu are really motivated to teach them more depth Jesus is this year, not only Saviour but their best friend too. We also have a tremendous draw card – FOOD! Most of themare hungry every day. This year they will get ameal every week.

[Donated bread and fruit from Woolworth’s]

This fridge/freezer was an enormous blessing to the Church. It is the answer to months of prayer. It was also a bargain, R1000 discount off the original price! Already, in the month since we got it, hundreds of people have been given meals, because we now have the means to store large amounts of food. Hundreds also had a hot meal after Church at Christmas time. We are planning to serve a great cooked meal at Easter as well. We can now have many other functions, blessed with this new addition. Thanks again to all of you who have helped me to feed the hungry.

[The new fridge/freezer]

TEACHING AND TRAINING

We start the year with a couple of new Ministries. A bible study for single moms – they will be doing Psalms - Zukie plans to run this. Another new bible study for New Christians – will be held after church, which I will run, The “mammas” will continue studying Peter – I will hand this bible study over for Mamma May to run. The men cell groups will be doing Daniel with our Pastor. Every Bible study will get handouts in Xhosa. We are also starting English lessons in February. A retired Missionary Colin Thomlanson has offered to do this and the response has been overwhelming. Over 40 people have already signed up – very exciting forus all. Colin Banfield will hold a leadership training day on Saturday 31st. 25 people have signed up – This too is an answer to much prayer. Thank you Jesus!

BUILDING PLANS

Plans for the Life skills Centre have now been assessed by the QS, who has prepared a budget. We will be meeting with him and the Architect soon to discuss costs and alterations. However, we know our great God is Jehovah Jirah, however we must do our part as well, and be good stewards of His money.

PERSONAL

My house has finally had a paint job! [2nd time in 17 years] it urgently needed this! It will however, be the last time to do so before I goto Heaven! Health wise, I am having great pain in my shoulders, as the cartilage has worn away between the joints. My ankle has good and bad days, I just to ignore the pain! It continues to heal which is the main thing, and I am so thankful I walk without a crutch or even alimp! God is good.

Otherwise, apart from the stress of the Court case, I am still filled with the joy of the Lord and enjoying this Ministry. It has it’s good relaxing moments too - especially taking the staff and their kids to the beach for their annual outing, and eating Fish and chips. I also so enjoy seeing them do more and more of the work. It is great seeinghow well things are being done without me having to be concerned!

COURT CASE

We continue to covet your prayer support for the Court Case. It continues to be postponed,already twice in January. It was postponed in November and December as well. The next hearing will be on 6th February – it is in God’s hands, however, it is extremely stressful –painful too, when all these lies are told, from a person who you have loved as a sister in Christ and cared for, to improve her life and lift out of poverty - for over 20 years! Please pray for justice to prevail, for the Magistrate to have discernment, that lies aree xposed. Pray too for my lawyer Keith, for wisdom to know what to ask to get the truth out of Elizabeth, and for Patricia to be caught out in her lies. Thank you.

NEW BOARD

Uyesu Unathi will have two additional Board members this year. The Rev. Mark Parris will join the Board and bring a second Board member on board with him. We will hold the first Board meeting for 2009 later in February. Two Board members, Mark and Antionette, will continue to assist the Ministry as Advisory Board members, for which we are very grateful,and thank God for their support. The Board will need as much help as possible with the future developments with regard to our building plans. Great wisdom is needed to have the best possible building, functional, good appearance, and the built in the most cost effective way possible. Building costs have escalated dramatically these past 2 years. We covet your prayer for wisdom and discernment pray for us as we make important decisions in Ministry.Thank you.

In closing this Newsletter, for another 3 months till I write to you again, I would again thank you all for your on going support this year. It is an honour and privilege to partner with you in this Ministry. Without this partnership, the Ministry would cease to operate, but with us all working together, as we are, the Ministry continues to grow and develop and more people are drawn to the Lord, and into His Kingdom.

God bless you,

Your Missionary in Africa

Laura