Angels? Pink guardian Angels, Could it be?

Well, I am going (Lord willing) to blog. I awoke with with two separate revelations on my heart! As I look I haven't blogged in over a year. Probably because I have just come through one of the busiest, most trying years of all times. My first cross-cultural pioneer plant, Ukukhanya has come with many blessings, many heartaches, many defeats and many victories, but all have been part of an incredible journey I am in on with the One who loves us ALL beyond anything we can begin imagine.

I tell people who join me for a short or long outreach in Africa, don't worry if you can't share things when you get back to the states, it is something many struggle with.

Why can't we share things? I think for me, it is hard to recount the amazing things you experience and see God do, words cannot come to many of the emotions and people and feelings we encounter. We don't realize the miracles and blessings until we can sit and let Him reveal the miracle of it all. We are too busy learning something or doing something we often miss the mighty answers to prayers. Second I think people don't really want to hear. Sometimes they don't have time, or the desire to hear, and sometimes they do not want to know of danger, or suffering or poor, denial or a false guilt, none of which is ever the intent of the one sharing. Whatever the reason is, people say the emotions and experiences are such that words and pictures can't easily be put to the sights and encounters we have had. It is later we are able to see and share the wonder of our journey in this visible and invisible Kingdom of God!

This morning I woke up remembering a teaching I was in before going to S. Africa this April. It was on angels, and I saw my experience with them and had a desire to blog about them. Yes you heard me right, Angels!

You don't go serve as one of the only white people in a township in South Africa and not pray for angels to encamp round about you! I guess my point is .... we DO see our prayers answered and often times don't acknowledge them or realize they have been answered. And for those of you praying for protection and safety for friends and loved ones in dangerous areas, your prayers too get answered.

In this course I was attending there was a teaching on angels and being able to see them. Well I believe in the presence of existence of angels but have never physically seen one (still remains today). To set the record straight, it seems all angels are men (hear me right, all angels are men, not ALL MEN are angels) lol! Time was given after the class to experience seeing an angel and sharing with a neighbor (still didn't see one), however, I turned to my friends husband and said, I did not see one, but I sensed one standing by me. He said, same here it was right there and he pointed to a place, the same place I had sensed it. My dear friend (his wife) who I so trust her walk and journey with God, said, "well I saw it, it was there,(pointing to the same place her husband and I had sensed) and Penny here is where I think it sounds like I am crazy, but it was by you and it was big and pinkish in color," Pink? she was serious but we both laughed. It was funny on two fronts, first of all, when working with AIDS in America, let's just say I work with men who are extremely in touch with their feminine side, so a pink angel for the AIDS lady is appropriate, secondly.... pink IS my favorite color, I wear it, I painted the first group home (a pinkish peach), and when the sunset is especially pink, I say how "especially fond of me He is, because He used MY favorite colors", lol! So pink is special to me. We laughed and later I stayed on to have some time on my face with God, I was gearing up to go back to Africa in a few days, I had gone through as "the shack" describes it a "Great Sadness" and disappointment, and I knew I was about to enter a great battle for righteousness to prevail in the work we were doing and I was frightened, feeling alone, and vulnerable. As I sought Him for the wisdom to Go!... when I finally sat up (I was on the floor behind chairs on the side of a room. A man I know (who is known to operate in the prophetic), came over and said...."what was going on over here? (my friends had gone home and I had stayed on alone). I greeted him and said I was just having some God time, why did he ask? He said, well, I looked over and saw you lying on the floor and a Big angel just standing over you, but the wierd thing is the angel was pink!pink?!!! Well I did laugh out loud!!!! What is it about a witness of two or more? I know my God has a sense of humor, is creative, but I have to say I am convinced my guardian angel must be pink in color? I shared what I was facing in S. Africa, and the man prayed with me, encouraged me and we parted.

I know in 2007 when I spent my first 3 months in S. Africa and the car I was driving broke down in the worst area of the township, a place where I was told to run red lights and NEVER stop! It broke, and I called for the Pastor who had a car and was filling in for Prince (Khaye a Pastor and Policeman and now an Ukukhanya Board Member). My car broke it was terrifying, a man pushed me and told me to pop my clutch make the turn and keep going! It didn't work, I was dead on the side of the ramp leading to the highway. Suddenly, I was surrounded by about 10 zulu men maybe more, all looking under the hood, asking me to try this and that, I remained calm, peaceful actually, yet fully aware, it was not a good scenerio. Later I realized I did everything a missionary wasn't supposed to do, wore my best jewelry, had my purse in plane view on the floor, window cracked as no a/c and boiling and basically opened it to the man helping.....it was like a most natural thing to be receiving their help. When Khaye came they exchanged some words in Zulu and eventually I was towed by him and his family to safety. It was later, over lunch that he shared the man had asked who I was, and he said a lady from America who was here helping the church with people with AIDS, the man said, well you tell her, that her God is with her, we don't help people we rob, steal and kill. It was later that night when I melted down, realizing the danger I had been in, how helpless I was and it was in that quiet little room the Lord whispered a huge reality to me. "You are NOT alone"! He promises to never leave us nor forsake us!

Then in 2008 my first year living in S. Africa,at 10:30 in the morning, while waiting for the ladies to come out from a home assessment, on a main road in Ntuzuma, a man knocked on my window, motioning with a gun to get out of the car, as I squeezed between him and the partially opened door asking him to please not shoot me, he cocked what seemed to be an extremely LARGER than life pistol, and then an amazing thing happened, his hand began to shake violently, I slipped past him and ran for cover (shaking and crying), and he got behind the wheel and sped off (we did recover the car two hours later), But as I relived the event, I realized this man had to have seen something (more frightening than this grandma with a mission).

2009, found me in danger again, a man broke into my flat (in a nice area of Durban) on the second floor. He climbed through my bedroom window at 2:30 in the morning. I was on the computer in the lounge and realized it was so late, and turned off my computer(a barking dog, had brought me to the awareness of the time). I saw movement over my right shoulder, and thinking it was my guest from America who had gone to bed at a reasonable hour, I was not alarmed. As I turned I got the fright of my life, there running from the hallway door, into the lounge directly toward where I was standing was a zulu man. Charging my way! I jumped up and screamed and backed toward the gated, locked sliding door, unable to move and nowhere to go as the door was locked, I was cornered, immobilized trapped! He let out a growl and then a scream, reached over the counter grabbed my purse and turned and ran down the hall, jumping out the window to a gate he had leaned against the wall to break his fast escape, and over the wall (which was electric). I was terrified, and when all was said and done I realized, in all my encounters of robbery and vulnerability, not a hand had put laid on me, not a finger had touched me, that man could have at least shoved me down or something, but no, in all cases (he too looked scared and ran). Fortunately, I was awake and fully dressed. I don't think my heart could have taken opening my eyes in my bedroom to someone in my room, it barely took the shock of seeing him. The amazing thing was no matter what the scenerio, I had been protected, something had kept them from harming me and two out of the three cases the person robbing me, seemed to see something that scared them and they fled, without touching a hair on my head. My angel or God Himself? I don't know but I can now marvel at it, it is becoming more natural to know THE ONE whose eye is on the Sparrow, has my back!

As I woke up this morning I was recalling something that happened in June of this year. Trevor and Welcome and I had driven to Umlazi (another large township in the Durban area), we were on our way out of the township on a main road, but feeling a sadness at the closing of a season in Ukukhanya history and with our wounded friend Prince. I had my sunglasses down as I was a bit teary eyed and we were all fighting emotion, not saying a word, in our own world processing things, I describe it (when grieving) as on automatic pilot. A car came around mine and stopped in front of us (causing us to have to stop and make a plan to pass them), the driver jumped out, the car had a lot of people in the back seat and the driver was motioning for them to get out, I casually put on my indicator and was waiting for a gap to go around this car (which I assumed was broken). Trevor began to say "go, Gogo you need to go, go now, hurry", I was calm and said, "well trevor, I have to wait for a break in traffic" eventually it came and we passed the vehicle, (where the driver was still motioning for the people and arguing as to why they were not getting out). Trevor and Welcome had exchanged some words in excited Zulu, and finally after we are on the highway again, said, "Gogo, we were almost carjacked?" I said, "when?" They were amazed and a bit shaken, and told me the car that pulled around us was intent on carjacking us, but the people wouldn't get out of their car. I said, "well maybe the driver saw me as a white lady and thought I was an easy target, then when he got out saw your black faces and were intimidated, changing their minds". They said, "NO gogo, they would have attacked us all, you really do have God's protection and angels, you move around clueless to the dangers (and He protects you)." I later thought of Psalm 91:7-10, a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand: but it shall not approach you you will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked For have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling place. No evil will befall you Nor will any plague come near your tent"

I really didn't give much thought to it, until I heard them talking quite a bit about the encounter, then I realized we must have been in real harms way, and once again...... something caused those attackers to stay in their car and not follow through with their plans (much to the drivers frustration) I can now see him, yelling and telling them to get out of the car, and nobody moving from the back seat.

Well, I may be blond, and I may be clueless for MY King, but I have learned.....I AM never, (nor are you), ever alone! Whether it's a big pink angel, or God Himself, He IS with us! He is able, and He loves us!

Psalm 91: (Security of the One Who Trusts in the Lord, I have been for years on a long journey of learning to trust, so this scripture is so meaningful to me).

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, "my refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!"

For it is He wo delivers you from the snare of the trapper,

And from the deadly pestilence,

H will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wings you may seek refuge:

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,

Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes,

And see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you,

Nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,

to guard you in all your ways,

They will bear you up in their hands,

Lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra.

The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him securely on high, because he has known my name.

He will call upon Me and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him, and honor him.

With a long life I will satisfy him,

And let him behold My salvation."

A Brief Encounter

Tonight I want to write about one of our residents and her child. I wish to share what God has taught me in the last 5 days. He has taught me how simple it is to show His Love and words are not always necessary (which those of you who know me...know that is a huge feat). Of course I will change the names.

Sometime in the 6 years I have been coming to Ntuzuma, I met this girl, I will call her Miss S. She was the niece of one of caregivers and the cousin of a family we have helped with several orphans over the last few years. I didn't remember meeting til we got the call from her cousin that told us she had lost a baby and was very sick. We went to the house she stayed in and she was on a mattress on the floor of a tin attachement to the house. As is tradition she sat on a straw mat, with a candle burning on a saucer at the end of the mat and baby clothes folded. I believe she had lost a son about 3 weeks prior. Not only was she sick but heartsick as nobody was helping her bury the baby. No money and some family issues. We were called to see if we could help. We prayed with her and later I put out a plea and many of you gave and we were able to have a funeral for her child. While we were at the cementary I saw her other child, a spitting image of her mom a little girl 3-4 , I will call her Star. They were so grateful to get the baby buried and at the funeral a drunk man went to hug the little girl Star, (I think he was the father of the baby) and she fell down.

A few weeks later she was admitted to Ukukhanya Life Care Centre and brought her 4 year old Star as there was no place she was comfortable to keep her. They have been with us now a couple of weeks. Miss S. is 26, as a child she was abandoned in the township by her grandma and an auntie went looking for her and brought her home. So she was an abandoned child (I learned this over the weekend). Poor girl she had tremors so bad, she would sweat and her arms just trembled as well as her hands and even her head a bit. Friday we took her her to the hospital, I was driving the loaner car, she was in the back seat along with another resident waiting for the caregiver. Suddenly she says Gogo, I am going to throw up, we opened the door and called for a bucket. Bless her heart....we took her straight away with a caregiver to say with her.

She sat in casualty (ER) from noon til l0:00 pm when we left knowing she'd be admitted. What a night. She lay on a gurney with a drip, no pillow, a sheet, and oxygen mask. To her right about l8 inches away was an older lady who had abcesses on her leg open to the bone about 5 open wounds that stunk so bad. On the gurney on her left was another young lady who had several siezures while we were sitting there. The room was Chaos. People patiently and some not so patiently waiting for a decision. Usually it is a 3 hour wait from when they draw the blood, minimum. I arrived at 5:00 and the caregiver and I stayed on til 10:00. But what I observed in those 5 hours was amazing.

First of all you must understand that most of our patients dread going to this hospital, most have lost a loved one there and all fear theywill die if they go there. Miss S. did not want us to leave. So we waited til we were sure they were going to admit her (as it is risky to drive in and out of the township at the end of the month when everyone gets paid and drinking, and well....when you are white. So we waited.

A nurse made her way by each bed, and the old lady next to us who had been rubbing her leg and moaning in pain, there was an exchange in zulu and I asked my caregiver what happened... she said, the nurse told her "she'd be the last one they would help". Soon I went to her and asked if I could pray for her... she said yes and showed me her legs and then she cried. She just needed someone to care. Later she was struggling with a pillow to put against the wall so she could sit back, I went and helped her and felt the Lord say, these little acts of kindness are "compassion" you are putting yourself in their pain and feel what they are feeling. We asked the Lord to help them notice her and give her something for her pain. Sure enough in about an hour that very same nurse came and took her and bandaged her leg and gave her a pain shot.

The other lady had a spinal tap, now I don't know if they give something for pain in the states, but here she put her legs through the rail that wouldn't go down and bent over it. The dr comes with a cart and says she has to put a needle in her back. this moves the gurney closer to our girl (who is afraid to be there ) we are sitting accross from the beds in chairs. It is a huge open room we all see everything. The Doctor wipes a spot and jabs in a needle.... the girl screams, the worst scream I have ever heard, and begins to cry, the Dr takes samples of fluid I think... it lasts forever and I think....how painful it must be and how rough the Drs. are. My poor Miss S. the lady screaming inches from her face. The Dr. pulls out the needle and then the girl faints and begins to seize. The Dr. turns and walks away. Soon a nurse comes back as the lady has passed out now over the rail, and my caregiver and the nurse lay her in the gurney and she seizes several more time in the next few hours. I am sitting there thinking....is this what is coming to America? Will our government medical care be this way so insensitive, so rough, so limited? Nothing for pain, hours of waiting, and staff that are over worked and over whelmed. All I can say is God help us. But for me .....as we left that night, Do unto others as you want done unto yourselves." Simple.... just put yourself in their place.

Saturday I was afraid there would be no family, so went to see Miss S. again. Her cousins (who they call sisters) were there, Just looking at her and saying she'd be alright. I had stopped and gotten some amahewo a drink they like when they are so sick and berry energade, ice cold, the only think I could drink with the measles. She was in the ward, with her IV and I asked is she wanted the juice she said yes (I wonder if they had given her anything to drink as she can't lift with her arm tremoring. I lifter her little shaking head and gave held the bottle of juice to her mouth. It has a sippy thing so it is like drinking a bottle sort of. She drank and drank, when I pulled it down, she smiled, her teeth all red from the juice and she smiled and said "that is nice", I gave her more, and soon she had drank half the bottle. She was enjoying it!!!! A simple thing. Then as I was talking to her I said do you think you can drink it all, and she smiled and laugh as I couldn't leave her til the whole thing was gone. She enjoyed it so much. "I was thirsty and you gave me drink"

Monday I went again, it was right after visiting hours and I brought her more to drink, she drank about half. I asked her if they had told her what she had, she said "my funeral". Then this morning I got the word as I drove in to work that she had passed away. Thankfully we had talked about Jesus and she assured me she knew Him so I know she was in eternity.

26 and her life is over here on earth. Friday night when I asked who should care for her child if anything happened she said "you Gogo". Monday night as I went to leave little Star was trying to climb in my car, I asked Zipho what she was saying (another orphan boy living with us 9), he said she wants to come home with you, we all do....Oh my aching heart. And now this morning I have to tell this sweet little baby who waves to me when I drive in....that her momma isn't coming back. For her in about 6 weeks her family is all gone. Prince and I prayed and then Hillary and I spoke with her, I would say things and Hillary would ask her, but first she explained heaven to her an what had happened. We don't know how much she comprehended. She let me hold her on my lap for a long time and layed her head on my shoulder. And later she took crayons and made pictures for us while I worked she sat on the floor and drew pictures.
Oh my heart! I have never had to do anything like this before. And the sad thing...nobody has asked about her yet. I know tonight that "Jesus Loves the little children, ALL the children of the world" I pray she is resting in His Love tonight.

I know I don't preach a huge sermon to millions, or have crusades or healing services, nor have I seen mighty miracles performed, but I just want you to know that in those moments of bringing a smile to someone dying because you gave them a drink, or holding a child who is sad and lonely, or giving a pencil to an orphan who is writing with a 1/2 inch piece of pencil in school. Or transport someone to the Dr who can barely wallk, a smile, a prayer, and a kind word are pretty mighty in the bringing of His Kingdom and it is something we can all do.

I can't help but remembering my first trip to S. Africa preparing to go to my first township, and feeling some fear for seeing orphans and sick children and knowing there are many more capable people and fancy ministries that are so organized and efficient, and saying "what am I doing here? Africa is already responding"> And He told me the same face I see in the US with AIDS is the same face I'll see here. It is the face of fear, shame and hopelessness .....all over the world the face of AIDS will be the same, but as "the church", we have the Answer....Jesus, A loving personal relationship with the One whose perfect love casts out fear, He is hope,and He covered our shame. That is what the difference will be. I pray His Kingdom Come!

Orphaned & Vulnerable Children's Camp

OVC Camp is coming soon...

help bring a light in the darkness

Ukukhanya Life Care Centre is sponsoring this outreach to the community of Ntuzuma, a township in Durban, South Africa

June 13 - 17

the 2010 outreach will be from May 28th through June 19th with the OVC Camp the last week. The estimated cost is $3500.

commit now so we can book flights as it is the World Cup in South Africa. If flights go higher we might need to raise the price.

if you need more information contact: pennydu@juno.com

Ukukhanya Life Care Centre

Well, I believe it has been about 6 months since I last blogged. So again I don't know where to begin to share what all we are seeing happen here at Ukukhanay Life Care Centre. Since the last blog we began working on the facility and have remodelled the 7 rooms for patients, we added two bathrooms right outside the old sactuary, we have converted the sactuary into our "everything" lounge, we have the offices up and running and the kitchen is in full operation. By Princes room and the old bathroom we have a laundry room and we are only now preparing to work on the last 7 rooms and the existing bathrooms.

We opened the facility 3 weeks before I returned to states and over the period I was gone (Nov-Jan) they only had a total of 7 people max and only one baby with her mom. Upon my return with my friend Faith from Newton (for 3 weeks) and Rachel Griffis from Andover for 3 months. We have grown in leaps and bounds.

We had hired 4 caregivers, and 2 cooks and 2 security guards before I left. The Lord was so faithful to send some caregivers doing their practicals to fill and we hired them the end of February....by March we were so overwhelmed with patients we just hired 4 more caregivers, brought Trevor and Welcome on Staff, and 2 more cooks and one more guard....I'm sure the Lord knows our grown and our needs....things are quite tight.....but He has always been faithful.

We got two more babies in February a 4 month old and History the orphan we have helped with his Gogo for l8 months now. When the babies arrived we added the additional workers. Then we filled up all the beds. We now have the babies in the lounge. We have a mom with her l4 year old daughter and we have the 3 orphan boys we have been helping for almost two years. They were not making it at home with their brother....their mud house washed away during a rain storm and they were not eating even though they were now granted. The said they wanted to stay with us and well, it just seemed right. They are doing well. So that gives us 7 men 5 women and one is a l6 year old mom of the 4 month old, and 7 children. 19 in all. With the staff the kitchen cooks for about 32! that is a lot of food.

For those of you who have been here you won't recognize the place. We are up and running and daily people from the community come in to report cases. We actually have a waiting list.

Now a typical day is Rachel and I leave our place about 6:45 to get to Ntuzuma. By 7:l5 Prince and I are taking the girl to Inanda to school and the boys to lindelani to school. Then we have to pick up about 2:30 and 3:00. When we get back we are usually taking people to the clinic and dropping off with a caregiver. We have prayer and worship in the morning at 9:00 am when the office staff get in. Sometimes the patients join us and usually by then the singing is putting the babies to sleep as they have started their day very early. Since opening the babies started crawling especially History who was so underdeveloped with muscle tone. Trevor and Welcome love the kids so much....welcome got History to take his first steps this week and we were all cheering. For being and orphan he is blessed with many people who love him! His Gogo still comes over and goes to the Dr. with us and stays with him when he has to go to the hospital.

We have some very sick people, and some are actually getting stronger. We see them live better, with nutrition and people to care for them and they are beginning to thrive. We see people crying about coming in and now not ever wanting to leave. Many have come back to their faith and are receiving hope.

So usually we have l2 hour days....if we get out of there before dark, rachel and I call it a holiday!
We celebrate birthdays for the month. Prince and I are usually driving all over, it is good he can now drive the car without me so we can divide and conquer. I would say my worst day is grocery shopping day. It freaks me out to buy so much food. We go to the butchery and buy a freezer full of meat, and to Makro (like Sam's) and by bulk the other things. Then we go to fruits and vegetable stands for that part. Weekly we go to the store and fruits and veggies.

Baby formula and nappies (diapers) are a huge expense for us....we find many of the gogo's giving their babies waterd down porridge and tea to drink, so we supply those in our care with formula til they get granted.

We are building relationship with Welfare and they now come to us to see our patients. Welcome is really like a social worker and escorts the babies and patients to the Dr. Pretty does the medication and overseas the caregivers. Hillary manages the office, Trevor, does our forms, and helps with our building stuff, and we see him moving into our human resource part.

We serve several Gogo's and their positive grandkids in the community, when we go to Mccords hospital where are children are treated, Welcome packs sandwiches for about 6-8, and juice and yogert for the babies, the leave early in the morning and return in the afternoon. The good news is that won't be monthly now but 3 months soon. History goes with Rachel and Welcome and sometimes his Gogo, Luanda goes with his aunty sometimes and sometimes just with us, he is 9, sarah and her mom go, sphe the tiny baby goes with Rachel, we have another Gogo and her baby that goes. It is a full vehicle. But all the children are doing well and we thank God for this.

Recently we had a mom die and she had an l8 month old, and we had several others who had children to be tested, we went to their house and tested and all 5 tests were negative....we just pray first and everytime has been negative.

After school welcome has about 40 boys that come and play soccer and he and one of guards take them to the beach to jog in the sand and train. It is amazing. HMMMM, I guess when God told us to call it a Life Care Centre He knew why. We see life happening, we see church happening and it is all so natural and day to day. nothing spectacular in the natural, but we are seeing people helped, receiving hope, seeing them believe in the power of prayer, seeing them respond to a little Love and dignity.

Sometimes we labor and labor and think....Is God ever going to move, but when He does....it just comes into being before you know what has hit you and you just look back and stand amazed. His Love is Amazing, His Grace is Amazing, and His Faithfulness is Amazing. What and Amazing God we serve. Thanks to all of you who help support this work.....your support is needed and if any others are looking to sow into His kingdom here in Ntuzuma, it is needed as I only see us getting bigger and bigger.

I know His Grace is Sufficient.

Breakthrough!

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.

The goodness of the Lord is great. This is my favorit time of year in S.Africa. the township with it's block homes come alive with the big bright yellow flowers amidst them to give them life. In the middle of the poverty you see life.

Well, that is what I am beginning to see and I believe God to see more. Nomusa the mom of the baby who passed away a few weeks back is out of the hospital and doing so much better. Sometimes I feel I only write about sad things, but seeing her home and moving around reminds me of His ability to heal. Her two boys were with her, and the oldest son who was having trouble stealing and not going to school has agreed to come to chance, I think He just needs to know the goodness of our Lord.

About 21 students from america have come with campus crusade for an outreach....they decended on Ukukhanya only a week after receiving our funds, they are prepping the building for painting from the roof, to the exterior to the hospital beds, sorting clothes brought over for our orphans camp, and books for some local schools. Monday we start visitng the orphans and sick. Prior to coming to us they have been working on the University Campus with studetns. So I am asking God to prepare them for the things they will see.

Two girls came early to outreach here and arrived last night. Pray for Lizbeths lost luggage.
I guess I just wanted to write and ask for your prayers for this season of young people coming to help with our orphan camp, for God to provide for all the needs so all 76 kids can come! He will I am confident... He Loves them and is wild about each one.

RAINBOWS for Nothando

Greetings, this will be short as it is quite late again. This morning I was awakend by a call, I THOUGHT our caregiver for Nomusa (Grace) now in the government hospital, Fikile, I thought she was sick. I was worried about Nothando getting her TB meds, she had been released Friday from McCords the Christian Hospital after a 5 day stay, and appeared to be doing much better. I was a bit worried as she was in a home with about 8 small children but they were caring neighbors.

I called Prince to tell him I thought Fikile was sick throwing up and running stomach, but he was just dialing me. He said she figured I didn't understand her, as the news was that the baby had passed away. I was shocked! We had taken her to the other hospital where her mom was and we wheeled the mom out to see for herself how Nothando was doing. Both mom and baby seemed good, I hope to attach a picture taken in the lobby of the two of them.

Have you ever been so glad you did something? Well taking the time to take the baby there was the best thing we did. I actually sat there and thanking the Lord and thinking this was going to be a happy ending both would recover for a bit longer.

But now on this cool and cloudy and rainy day, I made my drive up to the township, embraced Fikile, she is such a great caregiver, we greeted the neighbors and waited for her brother to come. Then we went in to see the baby. I have seen lots of death in this line of work, but never a three month old little girl. I was grateful it was dark and there was no electricity.

Prince went to a church where the Pastor is a mortician and negotiated the rate (you see they have no funeral policy and no job even the brother is without a job, so no money to bury the baby). Rl000 a bit over a $l00 US. Phew! We left the brother to wait with the body for the hurst, and the neighbors went to town getting the house in order and the yard trimmed so with a sickle so the hurst could come in.

Prince, Fikile and I loaded into the car to go to the hospital to tell the mom. I was DREADING IT, When we got there, the nurse said, not to tell her. She was so weak, they were afraid she couldn't handle it now and her mourning would upset the ward. Well it was different, but honestly I was relieved...we will go back Tuesday and she will get a pass to go home and we will tell her then, and the funeral will be Wed. We think she might sense it in her spirit as she was so good Friday and today so sick again.

It was hard...we then drove the brother to inform a few relatives.
But through it all, I sensed the presense of the Lord so strong.
We couldn't promise to pay the funeral, but we got a break.
The neighbors were so grateful for the medical help they both got,
I was amazed at the neighbors pitching in and serving...it spoke so much to me of community and what that looks like.

As we drove the brother and an aunt back to the "shack", we saw a HUGE rainbow over Ntuzuma.... then a double one, whenever we turned a curve there it was. Always in front of us. I think I know what "chasing rainbows is". I said... maybe Nothando is learning to color! They were the biggest rainbows I'd ever seen and vibrant.

I guess all I can say tonight is Thank You Lord for loving us, Thank you for life, no matter how long, you gave that little girl life, and you knew she probably couldn't have handled all the strong ARV's she would start come Monday morning. She is with you Lord and you Love the Little Children. We trust you to comfort those that mourn and be with Nomusa...give her the Grace, she is named for. Thank you for your Promises and the beauty you create around us when we can be in the darkest storms, you Shine Through!