Hi there my beloved partners in Ministry,
As I write this in May – Winter has well and truly arrived! Gale force winds, accompanied by heavy rains have flattened my beautiful flowers. It is also exactly one month till the world cup starts here in South Africa – This has put a lot of our plans on hold! We can only start the building plans in July now.

Time and space did not allow me to include a few things in the previous newsletter. We had a really wonderful beginning to 2010. Our Year runs from Jan to Dec. As our summer is in Dec and Jan, vacation [holiday] time for schools/factories/trades etc. most folk only return to work and school mid-Jan. As you know we work flat out during December to see all the Christmas gifts are packed and given out. This leaves a couple of days to celebrate Christmas and New Year, before it all starts again. Preparation and planning must be completed by mid Jan. Then in Feb all the Ministries are up and running. Training for the new Sunday school teachers their teaching programmes can only be done then when everyone is back from vacation [holiday]

Bridgette did a great job of training the new group of teachers. However I am so grateful for the experienced teachers that can lead and delegate and work alongside the new teachers. They can run everything themselves, now all I need is for them to also do the preparation of the lessons and handwork, and they will be completely independent of me.

Sandy arrived with R10.000 just in time to buy 100 chairs, 10 tables and a load of other things for the preschool, just 3 days before we opened the Sunday school in Feb. Sandy has worked with me every time she comes from Germany for over 20 years and is a beloved part of the Khaye Family. Her Xhosa mother is Nozizwe, who has been her “mother for these past 20 years! Sandy works with Teens in Germany at her Church,and knows all the latest games to teach the kids. They love learning new games. Here she is teaching them one.

Funding a preschool has been enormous so far, but as God provides we get more equipment. The cupboards cost R21,000 {this included the cost of making 4 beautiful cots as well as a few other necessities, like locks, kitchen sink cover.the mattresses R12,500 for just 40. We have lots of books, puzzles and other smaller bookracks and cupboards that have been donated, as well as 2 big carpets. We are also very grateful for the toys, sheets, and blankets. However, we still need to equip the Kitchen with a stove [R1000] for gas, cheaper and less likely to break down, as there are always power failures in Khaye, plus the gas bottles and making a cupboard to put them in. Pots pans.

Microwave [to warm baby bottles] etc. We still have not been accepted as a registered Preschool, so are just trusting God, all in His time.

After completing the renovations of the building- we started on the play area – which is now looks completely different. We have removed the fence and repairing all the broken equipment. This is taking time and funds as well, but God is providing. We have a new handy man, Andile who is fixing up all the equipment and taking care of the play area, which was in a shocking state as well.

FEBRUARY.
This is always a very busy month too, getting all the Ministries up and running. However we did have time to celebrate Valentines day with tea and cake after the service. Here 2 of our Mammas enjoy a chat and a cuppa!

It is also a busy month as the children have started their new year at school and there are all kinds of expenses, stationery, uniforms, shoes, registration, school fees and how they will get to school and back – transport costs. Here we Have a picture of the Pastor’s son Lelethu [who is now taller than his father} with our newest Orphan Tuli – who recently lost her mother and is being looked after by the Pastor’s sister.I have included the photo of Siya and Emma so you can she how she has grown, she loves making a lot of noise, and hearing herself “talk”.

Lelethu and Thuli

MARCH.
At last, I was able to organize a week off before we really settled into the weekday activities – like our Kid’s club for 2010. I decided to use the funds I had been saving for a vacation { for years and years!] and take my 3 ladies, coworkers who worked so hard these past few months - on a trip to Durban, for 4 days.I managed to get bargain flights and se had car and accommodation sorted out, so it was set! It gave me tremendous pleasure to watch them have a lifetime experience. Zukie had never even been outside of Cape toewn, All had never flown before, so I had to dose them up on Rescue pills [ for their anxiety and nervousness] It was quite hectic looking after THREE novice flyers. Nozizwe thought she had gone paralysed as her legs went numb [I guess from fright] when we took off! She only told us this on the flight home.

We were met at Durban airport by my dear friend Charmian – in the Minister’s car! The next day we drove around Durban, but the ladies said Cape Town was still the best. Then went to their Ocenarium, where we were all impressed with the Dolphins. We had lunch there at the Ocean basket, served fish and chips in the pan – a great novelty for the girls.

We were able to visit Tom Shearer’s bible study group and thank these ladies for their faithful collection of medicines each year, which they send down to us, to help cope with all the winter coughs, fevers and headaches. They laid on a tremendous spread of cakes for us. In fact wherever we went we were fed like Queens. Charmian had to return Warwick’s car, as he had returned from his [very eventful trip] to the Congo. We heard all about this when we attended the Good Friday service at his church, before we returned to Cape Town. This left us with Charmian’s very small car, but we were determined to visit a game park, as none of the ladies had ever seen any large wild animals, and Charmian and myself had never been to a game park. We squeezed into her small car, not as uncomfortable as we thought it would be, and well worth going.Right up into the valley of 1000 hills, with beautiful views The trip was an absolute joy for me, to watch the ladies faces as they came close to Giraffe, various species of Buck, Zebra and other game. This, for me, was the main pleasure I got out of this “Vacation” – seeing the joy and amazement on their faces.

In March we also had the annual “funny day” when the congregation comes to church dressed all “funny” This is a good way of raising funds. They raised over R300,for the leadership camp held the following week. Folk pay for the person they consider looks the “funniest”, the Minister charged a small fee - to have his photo taken with the folk.

APRIL
This is always a great month as we celebrate our Christian belief in the death and resurrection of our Saviour. Easter came early this year, and the children enjoyed their walk around the block waving their “palms” – on palm Sunday, singing Sunday school songs and inviting curious neighbours to join. In fact a few children did follow them back to church, and we completed the Easter story.

PERSONALLY
Thank you for your prayers. One huge answer to your prayers is that my vehicle has been wonderfully repaired. I just need the exhaust and gears fixed and it will be as good as new. It sure works hard and it is quite amazing how good it looks after having it for 8 years!

The most reaction I had from so many of you was your concern for my “retirement”! Let me hasten to assure you I shall NEVER retire permanently till the Lord calls me home. I meant from the running of the church only – The Minister Thozamile is taking more responsibility, for fund raising and getting involved in other of the Ministries of the church, as from next year the Church must be autonomous. I am now focusing on getting the funds to re-equip the preschool and to build Phase 4 – so there is still PLENTY for me to do. Plus the other jobs of Board meetings, Minutes, Mailing lists, News/prayer letter, finances and all the admin, plus the food, clothing and toy collection etc.

Please continue to pray for the Arthritis in the shoulders. This is getting worse and mobility painful.

Lastly please do pray for the sponsors, as we do need more folk to commit to supporting this ministry.

Thank you. God bless you all. Love in Jesus
Laura.