I greet you all in the precious name of our wonderful Saviour Jesus Christ.

Time sure has slipped by quickly, and I am unable to register that it is only a couple of weeks till Christmas!

I must apologise to you all for this late report. The delay was mainly due my illness. This past year has indeed had more challenges and hurdles than any other year. Praise God He has helped us overcome all of them. The more we battle for the gospel, pleases me, as it proves Satan is not happy with the work we are doing for God’s Kingdom.

One other the hassle, is this new computer, my system is totally outdated. The answer would be to update the system. This would help with the frustration. Mark is helping me sort this out, hopefully soon. I thank you for your patience.

The main delay however was my ill health. I have been coughing now for six months and no medication has helped. The past 2 months I have had various treatments and in the past 2 weeks been tested for TB. Only one test has been confirmed, negative – there are still the results for two other tests to be received. If the others are negative, then the next step will be a lung Doctor, who hopefully can determine what the problem is and the treatment. Coughing has left me exhausted and without energy, making it extremely difficult to function. Also lack of sleep which is constantly been interrupted.

I want to thank you all for your wonderful prayer support. Only prayer has sustained me, giving me the strength to focus, to prepare, then delegate. It is a hectic time of year. Praise God the Ministry continues and everything is getting done on time. My wonderful staff have been working very hard to get all the parties prepared and gifts sorted, for last week in November – and have done wonders. I am so proud of them all. Everything has gone well and the parties were a huge success. We had 150 children for the Kid’s Klub party and 130 for the Sunday school, and 21 prepared for the Mammas from the Bible Study/ Soup Kitchen. I am also thankful to Thozamile who has helped enormously, doing the Bible study the past 2 weeks in November, and running around getting iced lollies, and bread rolls for the hot dogs for the parties.

[Some of the 150 kids holding up Christmas gifts]

Thank you for all your ongoing prayers for Thozamile and Sipho. I am so happy to tell you that both Minister Thozamile Toni and youth Pastor Sipho  Xazana are 100% well again and helping with the loads of work. Thozamile is in recess, from the Leukemia, and hopefully, he has been cured. However, he will have to report back to the Hospital next year, for a check up. Praise the Lord.

[Thozamile and staff enjoying fish and chips – nothing left!]

Sipho is working with various departments of Council, to get our building plans for the Lifeskills center passed. Now we are on the final stage, and hope to get them passed within the next 2 weeks before they go on holiday the middle of December.

The Electricity was disconnected on the 1^st October at the preschool and the church, and Sipho is working at getting this re connected. The previous tenants had it disconnected, which works out to be a blessing, as now everything is under the name of the Church.

MINISTRY UPDATE.

Sunday school We have had great fun times these past months. The children acted out the story of Ruth, much to the amusement for the children, when Ruth slept at the feet of Boaz! Another highlight was the annual visit of our dear brother Gary Truter, who brought a group of teens to sing and do drama for us and teach us new songs. A couple studying at GWC, on right in picture, came along and ministered in song .

[Gary with visitors from UK]

Gary is in the white trousers next to them, here introducing the group. Lulu is on the left, she did the interpreting for them.

BIRTHDAY

The Church celebrated its 5^th birthday the end of October, and it was indeed a joyous occasion. Our Minister from DCC [Durbanville Community Church] Rev. Mark Parris preached. He brought his wife Cyndi and some of their congregation to celebrate with us. There were plenty of cakes and sandwiches for everyone. Some of the folk from the Bible study/Soup Kitchen held on a Saturday, visited us and had a good time.

The Rev. Bheki from Mandela Park took communion and Rev. Phumezo with some of the youth from Mandela Park  joined us after the service for refreshments.

DONATIONS

We have been very blessed by the generosity of so many folk, all helping us cope with the abject poverty, making life more bearable in the Township. I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few of them. I did not have the space in the previous news letter to thank two special ladies, from our Plumstead Church, who for the past 10 years knitted jumpers all year round. The joy this brings the little children  is wonderful to see.

Thanks too to Grove Primary School whose pupils bring warm clothing and packets of soup every winter. Every child in Sunday school and Kids Klub goes home with something

[beautiful hand knitted jerseys]

To St. James Church, DCC Church, BCC Church and Eversdal Church, thank you all for the fantastic support of gifts of clothing. I also would like to thank them, and our Tokai Church for collecting toys for Christmas gifts. Thanks too to Grove for the used toys – every  single thing helps make a great Christmas for hundreds of kids, and gives us opportunities to tell them about the greatest gift God gave the world, His son. I have received tremendous financial support for this Ministry from overseas donors, without which we could not function.

[fun unpacking  Clothing from boxes]

Our Soccer Ministry has taken off since the World cup in June, under the supervision of Brad Wos, who has a vibrant soccer ministry here in the Townships. He has encouraged Andile who is a staff member, to coach young boys, and there are now 6 six-soccer teams, 2 of which have been entered in important matches and won! There is also a team for girls Brad has donated, kit, soccer balls and recently even made some proper goal posts to use when they practice [nearly every day!]

[Andile with some of the donations of soccer balls, all with Scripture verses on them in Xhosa!]

Another donation is the food we get from Woolworths – that has passed the sell by date. This is so important to the health and nourishment of the children. It helps us feed scores of children including the preschool in Site B. Mainly vegetables and fruit families could not afford. The staple diet is bread and porridge made of maize meal. Often there is not much, but it is ALWAYS needed, used and appreciated. Recently, one Sunday, we had so much food given us, that the local Councillor, who saw this, wrote to the management of Woolworths to thanks them. Scores of families were given food, a VERY special treat for them, and there was much joy and praises to God for His provision.

[Sorting the food for distribution]

BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS

This is now coming to the last hurdle, as the plans are now back and waiting approval from Council. We are all praying they will be passed within the next week or two, before their offices close for the summer holidays, the middle of Dec. This is quite important as we need to be able to commence building in the New Year, and we don’t want to lose our Building Contractor, who has been waiting patiently for months.

PROGRESS WITH THE PRESCHOOL

This is ongoing, raising funds to complete equipping the preschool. I am getting closer. Recently I received funds for paint for the floors in the passage, making it all look so much cleaner.  Eleven doors had to be repaired, and this was quite costly but necessary. All work now and the locks, so we have more security. The glass in some of the doors had to be replaced, as the previous tenants did not use safety glass, this is very dangerous and illegal in a preschool with small children. Thank the Lord someone working on the doors spotted this. God is so good.

Most of the educational equipment needed must still be purchased, so this will be the next area of fund raising to focus on. Please pray for donations for this, as this will be very costly, thanks.

As yet we have not approached anyone to staff it, as there is   much to be done. Pray for wisdom as so many areas have to be worked on still like social services for food and salaries, health department etc, and pray for the wisdom for right people to help us to know how to proceed. Thanks.

[Nozukile preschool, Site B, before [top] and after- 40 new blankets and 20 matrasses,  plus a heater – gift from Germany]

PERSONALLY

I would like to thank everyone for the phone calls, emails visits and prayers, for and during my illness – I really felt loved and looked after. God bless you all. Special thanks to the ladies from my 2 bible study groups, St. James for meals and their husbands who help fix my home problems and the Ministry car. The DCC ladies pray every week for me and the Ministry and cover personal costs, like petrol. I am indeed very blessed.

A friend, from the Insurance world, donated 10 computers with brand new keyboards and mice. These gifts are a real treasure, much to the delight of the youth who received them. The recipients were carefully chosen, from the loyal helpers and leaders who work hard with the children at Church. The computers will help them enormously for school assignments. Most schools do not have any, or insufficient computers for the students.

Friends have helped with all my expensive tests and medical expenses. I am so grateful for this kindness as I do not have Medical Insurance. God is indeed Jehovah Jirah. Please continue to pray for the problem to be resolved ASAP.  There is nothing worse than not knowing what the cause for this constant coughing is.

After all the Christmas activities are completed I will focus on preparing for my holiday in Australia next March – just a couple of weeks after the Court case, so this will give me time to recover!

Already a complete schedule has been organized for the entire trip – I just have to go and relax! I think!?

I would also like prayer for next year as we go into more delegating of activities, especially with the Sunday school. We need more teachers that are really committed, and don’t fade away after a few months.

As usual, 20% of God’s people do 80% of the work, I wish we had the 20%!

[Sipho and EB’s 2 children – with beanies - in Sunday school with packets of soup given by Grove Primary]

I wish you all a wonderful joyous and restful Christmas, and a healthy and fulfilling 2011 serving the Lord. May God continue to give you a deeper relationship with Him, and may your love grow and deepen for Him. Thank you all for serving God with me and helping the poor and needy.

I love you all deeply. Blessings,

Your Missionary,in Khayelitsha, Cape Town – SOUTH AFRICA.