So, what's been going on in the past month..
Went to Cape Town with Cheryl - spent one week in Blouberg Strand with Steve and Phil (short for Phyllis) - went to several meetings with folks discussing the possibilities for a ministry like Door of Hope - to establish a home to take in abandoned babies and orphans and work to get them adopted. The main problem we ran into is that the houses that the local Baptist association have available all have strings attached and are in unsafe areas for volunteers. There is one house the association owns and is currenly using for offices - they plan to leave the house eventually, but most likely have plans to sell it. We submitted a proposal to them to designate this house as a children's home - it is in a nice suburb and could be renovated to be a nice babyhouse - it is unlikely they will do this, but as Cheryl says, if God wants us to have a baby house in Cape Town, God will provide a way. After the week in Blouberg, Cheryl and I went to Gordon's Bay and spent a few days in her cousin's flat - had very nice views of the sea.
While we were there, we went to a book launch for a book written by Rachel Colenzo about her and her husbands near death experience clinging to the side of a mountain in a storm in Italy - she is donated a portion of the profits to Door of Hope. It was pretty cool going to the launch - I felt rather cultured. Rachel was very nice and down to earth. She is also doing about 12 hikes in the mountains around Cape Town to raise money for Door of Hope - the project is called Mountains of Hope - they have raised almost R100,000 so far.
Things are pretty much the same here in the flat - I spend quite a bit of time in my room - its more peaceful than out in the lounge with 2 year old Jordan and 3 month old Caeden. The good thing is that Jordan and I have become friends and he likes to hang out with me - I like to hang out with him too except for when he's having a tantrum - unfortuately, those happen quite a bit. I think he gets frustrated being cooped up inside since he used to live in the country and probably had a lot more freedom to go outside and play.
I think one of the biggest adjustments I face in the future is that Cheryl has submitted her resignation to the church effective January 31st. The leadership are now meeting to discuss the calling of another pastor. It will be strange for me to serve with someone else at Troyeville. Fortunately, I know the guy they are talking to a bit - if he is called, at least it won't be a stranger. I was telling Cheryl the other day that if we want to see each other after she goes, that it will have to be intentional because we have little reason to meet - the only organization we will work together on is International Door of Hope and right now, there is not a lot going on with that. Next year will be strange I think.
Its camp time for the YOuth - there are 20 signed up - hopefully 20 will show up on Saturday morning the 6th to go - I will be frustrated and a bit angry if someone just doesn't show up because I've already paid R770 for them to go and feel like it would be irresponsible and a waste of God's money - okay, not really a waste, I guess since it is going to the Baptist Union - but I'm sure they have paid for the student to be at camp and can't recoup their money either.
I had to make a really tough decision about camp - one of my guys was short almost R100 of the R300 he needed to raise to go. I had told the youth over and over again at every meeting we had that everything had to be in by November 2nd. I had given them many many opportunities to work at the church to earn their fees - I even allowed them to have friends work for them - even gave them books to read and write about to earn fees. This guy had ample opportunities to get his fees in and he waited until the last day to realize he didn't have enough. He did the same thing last year and I let him slide - couldn't in good conscience do it again. It was really hard to tell him he couldn't go - but I explained to him that he made choices all along the way the past 3 months that led to this conclusion. What really stinks is that he is graduating from high school and his family is moving to another area, so I may not see him again - he has so much potential, but is drawn into poor choices by non Christian friends - seems he's too weak willed to stand up to them and make good choices. Please pray for him - he is a good hearted guy, but he struggles - he waffles on his faith and I'm not sure if he has really chosen to follow Jesus or not.
Okay, so this week, I've been putting together Christmas bags for all the kids at church. We were able to get one suitcase full of stuff from the states. THANKS to my mom and dad's Sunday school class at Mt Vernon for collecting stuff at the last minute so a team could bring it over. That was quite frustrating! I contacted the mission board back in August asking if the teams coming could bring stuff - the team leaders were contacted, but it took several weeks for anyone to get back to me on it - finally one of the last teams coming agreed a week before they left to bring stuff - mom had to mobilize the class quickly to get stuff. The frustrating thing is that teams bring a bunch of donations, but they don't ask first what we need - so they end up bringing stuff we don't need or things that could wait until more urgent needs are filled. We could have gotten a lot more donations for the kids if I'd had better luck working with the teams - oh well - we got stuff and I was able to suppliment with stuff from here, so all the kids will get something.
I've got youth tonight - November 28th - we're going to have our Christmas Party since this is the last Friday night together before camp and before I leave for home for Christmas! I've been trying to think of something for us to do - figured Christmas Pictionary might be fun. Also have gifts for them and candy - hopefully they will appreciate it!
Guess that's all for now. HOpefully my posts will be a bit more regular - but may be not. who knows. Thanks for continuing to check.
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