Wow, how long has it been since I blogged? May 30th.......sorry, it has been a whirlwind. Seems that is when the outreach team began to arrive. two girls joined me first Kensi and Lizbeth and mid June 3 more joined us for the Orphans Camp...then 3 more from S.Africa friends who have helped us in the past. It was truly the nations at work. :) I love that. Also Campus Crusade had just helped on the hospice for two weeks and we have 3 longer term staff helping every thursday....it has been great.
God was faithful! Surprise, and Orphans camp where 82 children from Ntuzuma received the "extravagant love of the Father".... frankly I have been speechless, it is too hard to begin to share, except God blessed them with new shoes, new clothes, blankets, towels, a game drive, wonderful teaching and loving volunteers to love them and encourage them. They played, the ate well, they travelled to the camp first class. Then the moment God led us to pray a blessing over them, me standing in the gap and praying a mothers blessing over her child, and pastor prince as a fathers blessing. Wow.. tears flowed, words were proclaimed and His love extended, later I looked around and the children had been held and prayed for, time of ministry was about 3 hours and they all waited for their blessings....God is amazing!!! We had extremely grateful hearts, YWAM Durban, helped with the camp as well as our outreach team, staff, and friends of Ukukhanya Life Care Centre. Thanks to all who gave of themselves and finances. (of course they are hoping to go again next year).
One little boy got sick the last day and after settling the others at the game park, we raced him home to the clinic. He was diagnosed HIV+ and we are starting to get him situated with medical care and talking to the aunt. I never expected to find a 9 year old just now getting his diagnosis. We have so much to learn......
i had a great trip back to the states, but in 6 weeks stayed in 5 different states, and saw lots of you, it was great...but fast, and it is great to be back and digging in to the work here......I guess what made me want to write today was to tell you the importance of extending Hope and importance of prayer.
I feel I want to encourage the body of Christ to not dispise the dark times that come before a breakthrough. We have a real adversary....who loves to discourage us....after a huge experience that you can do nothing more than thank God for his goodness, and blessing for the children, then to return to discouragement.... the enemy whispering lies....that we are not making an impact, doing everything to distract, and discourage. Well, he looses....we are seeing the vision unfold and we give God all the glory!
The first 7 rooms are almost painted as is the meeting room "sactuary". The new bathrooms are walled up and plumbing to be placed this weekend. Fans and electrical things hopefully done this weekend. God has provided a stipend again for the current caregivers, and encouraged all involved in ukukhanya life care centre.
The more I see the staff reach out, the more I see God move. Recently we met a girl very sick with tb and AIDS in fact 2 CD4 cells. Ginger was with us and insisted we pray right away.... she was so right as we picked the girl up to transport to the welfare department to get her a grant for her and her children, she said, "It was the prayer...everything turned around after the prayer" Encouraged us to start a service so people could testify of what God was doing.
Then Fundi led me to a lady across from our offices, raising her 9 year old nephew, but so sick...oh I wish we could have done more for them, but we bought some food, arranged to take her specimen to the clinic and her to the dr in the morning, her boyfriend had just left (as he was not helping her as she got sick), he took her money and left her, very sick....she lost her boyfriend one day, found out she was positive the next, and her mom had to return to the rural area to care for the kids living out there. We prayed, and blessed and are hoping to see the same turn around the last two girls have had. Please pray Jesus becomes so real for her during the night and comforts the boy.
We had a day at welfare, where after a year our orphan boys (child headed household,) still don't have a grant, and actually now the one is l4 he won't qualify nor will the l6 year old. How do they expect kids to finish school when they can't eat and have nobody at home for them. We need wisdom and we will continue to keep buying food for the boys as the Lord has been faithful to provide.
Well..... I just wanted to share what we have been up to,, what we are seeing, what we are learning and that the hospice hopes to open the 10 of October... alot to do in a few short weeks.
keep us in your prayers and know He is Faithful to complete the good work He has started!
Trusting and Loving Him more than ever as He reveals more of His amazing Love and Character.
