Monday, September 29, 2008

General Assembly in South Africa


Celebration Night......


Sabelo, Beauty, me & Lizo Natalie & Natalie :)

Beauty & me Lauren & me Rita from Fiji & me

The tent and worship time...

Celebration night me & Soso Paul, me & Virginia (prayer partners)

Celebration Night Mavela from Swaziland & me Dickson from Mariuis & me

Emmanuel O'Chingi and his wife(African director)

General Assembly was awesome.. It was awesome to see so many nations and people coming togheter for the same reason. This year's general assembly was one of the biggest that YFC has ever had. We had between 800-1000 people present and close to 70 countries represented. I hope the pics give you a taste of this past week. Thank you for all your prayers.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Kangaroo Moms and Ubuntu House





Pictures from us with the moms at the Kanagroo Care Ward, we were making greeting cards, it was exciting because we had all the moms involved with the activity.
Then there is also a pic of me and one of Ruth, a new volunteer from Germany, assisting with taking care of the babies at the Ubuntu House. I think you can figure out which ones we are. :)
I had the time to truly bless the babies and their moms. I had the opportunity to pray with one of the moms on Wednesday, as she was leaving within the next day or two because her baby had reached the required weight amount. And I've been praying and singing worship songs over the babies at Ubuntu. They are soo sweet.
Please continue to keep them in your prayers.




Monday, September 01, 2008

Pray for South Africa- Disaster from Massive Storm this past week

Below is the latest information from the news reports on the storms that have been occurring this past week. It's been a crazy past week. They say it was the worse they have seen in seven years. .........

"There are still reports of minor localised flooding," said disaster management spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, adding that light rain continued to fall.
Most roads had been cleared after gale force winds and heavy rains battered the province.
"It played havoc with the electricity supply," he said, adding that an increased demand for electricity and trees toppling power lines had caused outages.

Johannesburg - It was a weekend of storms, snow and runaway fires, which in KwaZulu-Natal claimed the lives of at least seven people.
The Western Cape had to endure strong wind, rain and even snow, while the wind fanned veld fires in the eastern Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
In the northern parts of the country, cold conditions arrived on Sunday afternoon, right before the official start of spring.

The gale-force winds and heavy rains that hit the Western Cape brought destruction to several areas, reported Nurene Jassiem.
In one of the most serious incidences, seven people were injured when a roof collapsed due to wind at the Pick 'n Pay Hypermark centre in Ottery.

Several residential areas were flooded, power cuts were experienced and snow-covered regions like Sutherland, were cut off from the rest of the country.

Three Anchor Bay in Cape Town was turned into a white wonderland when a thick layer of foam was blown over Sea Point's streets.

Wind speeds of up to 100km/h were reported to the weather office at the George airport, reported Jackie Kruger.

Snow was visible on the Langeberg mountains and in the Heidelberg region emergency repair work was needed to restore power to farms.

Fires
Northern parts of the country experienced strong winds, which fanned a veld fire on the West Rand, which destroyed a 5 000 hectare area, including a third of the well-known Lion and Rhino Park, reported Cobus Coetzee. Four marabou stork escaped the flames.
The fire started on Saturday morning in Hekpoort.
Grazing was destroyed and damage ran into millions of rands. Jorrie Jordaan, head of public safety at the West Rand district municipality, said on Sunday the flames reached up to 7m and even jumped over fire strips of 20m.
Malherbe (Blikkies) Auret of the farm Rietfontein lost 100 hectares of grazing. "It is difficult to get feed at the end of the dry season," said Auret.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the fires claimed several lives and destroyed houses, cars and cattle.

A State forest at Dargle in the Midlands was covered in smoke on Sunday.
The weather service warned there was still a high possibility of fires in the province on Monday and that seas would be rough, with swells of up to 7m high in many parts.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Update on this week

My week has been going pretty good.. I feel a bit of a cold coming on, so pray that I don't get sick. There's been a nasty case of the flu going around and it's been hard to stay warm and dry in the rain and cold these past days. Yesterday was our first sunny warm day in a long time. I took advantage of it and did my first load of wash by hand. I guess that's something I should have been taught how to do. I'm sure there's a method to it, but I think I figured it out for the most part. lol :P

I've had the luxury of not driving to either dance or sing/worship practice the past two nights, which is nice, considering as there is practice for either of them every night during the week except Friday.

Today, we spent time at the Ubuntu house. I went there last time I was here. It's a transitional house for babies that are waiting for legal part of the adoption to go through. Edith, Emily and me went there and spent time taking care of the babies. They are sooo cute. I wanted to take the all home. :) Yesterday, we were at the Karl Bremer Hospital in the Kangaroo Care Ward. We spent the morning with the moms treating them to a hand massage, manicure or both. It was a great way to connect with the moms. I'm truly enjoying my time there and working with moms on a different level than when I was home.

Take care and thank you for your prayers and support.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Kangaroo Moms





The Kangaroo Mom Care program is for the the moms who stay with their babies in the hospital for anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Kangaroo care came about as a response to the high death rate in preterm babies seen in Bogota, Columbia, in the late 1970's. There, the death rate for premature infants was 70%. The babies were dying of infections, respiratiory problems, and simply due to lack of attention. Researchers found that babies who were held close to their mothers' bodies for large portions of the day, not only survived, but thrived. In the U.S., hopsitals encourage kangaroo care typically have their mothers or fathers provide skin to skin contact with their preterm babies for several hours each day.
In Karl Bremer, where we volunteer in the Kangaroo Mom Ward the baby is dressed in only a hat and diaper and placed on the mother's chest between her breasts. A jacket or blanket is wrapped around when it's cold. Baby remains in this position all the time except while you go to the bathroom. The baby is fed on demand. While baby is in the kangaroo position he/she stimulates the breasts to produce milk and is able to breastfeed whenever he/she wants.
YFC volunteers assist with being the support, encouragement, listening ear and spoiling the moms while they are at the hospital. We are there Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am-12.
Today, we made paper bracelets with the moms. it's a pratical thing they can do, easy and inexpensive. They turned out beautifully. The paper can be varnished prior to rolling it and then it will last longer.
I am truly enjoying my time with the moms and babies. it's a slightly different spin from what I did back home. Please continue to keep these moms and their babies in your prayers. Thank you!

Friday, August 15, 2008

The past week and half back in Kylemore


It's us at the kindergarten/creche' in Kylemore. I spent my time playing with the five year olds. It was constantly wiping noses and playing with them while all the screaming auntie. :P




These pics were taken in Franschoek, at the museum there.

These were taken in Kylemore this past week, as some site-seeing.

This adorable girl is Kate-Lynn, she has become very attached to me. She my adopted daughter in Kylemore. It was great being back in Kylemore, the community is wonderful and I've enjoyed connected with a lot of the teens within the community.

More than likely I will be away for the next few weeks as I assist Rolf with getting ready for general assembly and help out on this side until then. I do plan on going back to Kylemore, but I believe that for now I am needed here. So, here is where I'll stay.

It was hard to say good-bye to Maass yesterday, but I know that God used him in amazing ways and he truly enjoyed himself. Make sure you ask about pics and the stories. :)

I send you all my love and know that I miss you all dearly. Thank you for your constant prayers. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without them.
Love ya, me





Monday, July 28, 2008

A week In Kylemore













This week has been unbelieveable. Kylemore is a rural community about 45 minutes outside of Cape Town. We arrived on Sunday and stayed until this past Sunday. As you see in the pics, Kylemore is surrounded by mountains and is absolutely beautiful there.
There's a pic of the house that YFC is renting. The kids would come back to play after the school day was done. The team assisted at the kindergarten and the primary school during the course of the week. I helped Mano (Manfred), the colored guy in the pic, with teaching life orientation at the high school, which is working on basketball skills with the students and assisting in discipline, respect, etc.
God used my heart in a variety of ways during my time there. I hope to put more pics, but I'm having problems with facebook and upload pics.
I've had three God moments since I arrived about two weeks ago. On Wed. Thurs. and Fri. evening we were invited to join a couple local youth group programs. On Thursday, Steve and Shawn shared their testimony and then one of the college students who lead the youth shared her story. I had befriend, Danielle, a 17 teen in the youth group. The Holy Spirit moved within her while they shared and she started crying.. I was moved to pray over her. It was totally a God-thing...She opened up to me about what was going on at home. And then I prayed for her. Afterwards we went for tea and cookies and then headed home. When I arrived home, she txt'd me and told me that I was her angel. It was so cool.
I had the opportunity to talk with some of the teens there and what is truly going on within the community. I truly believe that God wants me there for the rest of the year. It would mean you would only hear from me weekly, but would be an awesome experience. It's evident that I'm already being used there.
It was hard to leave on Sunday. Zena, the girl who is playing with my sunglasses in the pic above had a very difficult time with me leaving that she started crying on Sunday and wouldn't stop. It was so hard to try to explain to her that I'll be back that I'm just in Cape Town for the next weeks while the team is here. I had a few South African friends, who work for YFC, who speak Afrikaans try to explain it to her, but it was still hard for her. My heart melted as the tears ran down her face.
It's been great having Maass here. He keeps me place and when things get a little stressful, he helps to lighten the load, which has been great.
Take care and email when you have the time. love and miss you all

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Building a home!!!

I wish I had pics to go with this post.. then you all could see Maass hard at work. :P Yesterday, the team assisted Habitat for Humanity in South Africa with doing foundational work for six families who are receiving homes. It was warm yesterday with the sun beating down.. Shoveling dirt, sand and stones. Though, it was extremely rewarding to bless the family and pray over the home. The rest of the house will be built in September. I hope to be a part of it and see the house to completion.

Today, we head to Kylemore.. continue to keep us in your prayers. Thank you!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Adjusting to South Africa

Hi- I have officially been in South Africa a week tomorrow. It has been a little overwhelming at times, and I'm not sure where exactly I fit in, but I'm sure it will be all sorted out after the team leaves.

On Friday, the team from Waupaca and Maass are coming. We will be building a house through Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, for a woman who will be moving out of her shack. Then on Sunday after church we head to Kylemore, which is a color community about 45 minutes outside of Cape Town. We will be leaving within the community and spending time at the kindergarten class as teacher aides and will be doing programs with local youth groups in the afternoon/evening. We will be having community morning pray walks and sharing our testimony with the teens during the youth meetings. We will be there a week.

Then off to the Blouberg house, my home next to the beach. :) We will be assisting the feeding scheme at Visserhoek, a primary school and at SOS Children's Village, which is an orphanage in the afternoon.

Then the last week we will staying in Pinelands, and volunteering at Maitland Children's Hospital, where children are heading into surgery or recovering from surgery. And then at SOS in the afternoon.

We will also be doing some site-seeing and possibly spending time at another orphanage an hour outside of Cape Town.

Please keep the team and me in your prayers over the course of the next month. I will keep you posted when I can.

Love ya!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

World Vision AIDS Experience Tent- Will you be a WORLD CHANGER?


Last Friday, I headed to my church to start setting up for the World Vision AIDS tent Experience. I've spent the last five days volunteering at the tent. It has been an unbelievable experience. Words can't describe how God has used this opportunity to challenge my heart and grow my passion for HIS people in Africa in new ways.

I hope you had the opportunity to experience the AIDS tent for yourself, if you didn't you can visit worldvision.org/experience and go through a virtual tour.


AIDS IS KILLING PEOPLE EVERY DAY, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT IT IS ALSO DESTROYING NATIONS AND COUNTRIES ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
DAILY PEOPLE ARE DYING AND
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ARE BECOMING ORPHANS DAILY.

THOUGH AIDS IS MORE THAN JUST A DISEASE
IT AFFECTS THE FUTURE OF COUNTRIES IN AFRICA
WITH WHOLE GENERATIONS DYING, NO ONE IS AROUND TO TEACH THE CHILDREN HOW TO PROVIDE, IE. FARMING, HERDING CATTLE, HYIGENE, ETC.

QUESTION:

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE #1 WAY THAT AIDS IS BEING SPREAD?
66% IS BEING SPREAD FROM MOTHER TO CHILD THROUGH BREASTMILK
SURPRISED?!?! I WAS

Though we can change was is ocurring. We have been given the power to do so, through child sponsoring and the purchase of caregiver kits and bikes to transport care
to those dealing with AIDS.

Christians and others have been partnering with WorldVision to become world changers.

Child Sponsorship
87% goes to the child and their community
13% goes to administrative costs
you can have the opportunity to visit your child

Caregiver Kits
providing the basic needs to a person facing AIDS

For more information visit worldvision.org

So are you going to be a world changer? I know I'm going to spend my life striving to be.


Saturday, May 31, 2008

News from South Africa

As some of you may know, RIOTS broke out in South Africa about two weeks ago. The poor "black" South Africans are feeling threatened by the poor "black" African foreigners who have entered South Africa. They believe they have brought violence, drugs, and more unemployment to South Africa. Though, it may be partly true.

The true is that violence is occurring within South Africa and that those of people have been displaced from their homes. People who entered South Africa ten years ago or longer because of the violence and civil wars within their own countries and were searching for safety. Now are facing the same obstacles within South Africa.

Please pray for peace within South Africa and reconcilation between the "Africans."

Thank you!


38 days and counting until I depart for South Africa! Still waiting on receive my VISA in my passport. Pray that I will receive it soon without complications.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

South Africa Here I Come!

Well that time is approaching us again. I want to first say thank you to each of you, who has decided to support me finanically and pray for me and the ministry God has laid before me.

Each time that I walked the road of fund-raising God sends new people in my life to bless what He is doing in South Africa by providing for me to return.

I am looking forward to this next adventure. I am planning staying at least a year in South Africa. I will be back at the Cape Town branch of YFC. Though the plans will be different this time. I will be living in a place of my own or rooming with someone, but not staying at the volunteer house. I will be assisting Rolf, the director, at the office by assisting with administrative work and then spending time counseling at the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

I am trusting God will be opening up additional doors while I am there. I have about $3,300.00 left to raise for this first year of my two year committment. If you would like to support what God is doing in South Africa, I would ask that you email me or call.

Please keep up to date with the Blog and I'll let everyone know my exact departure date the moment I do. Right now it's working on all the paperwork.

God bless you and may His light shine through everything you do.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Bringing Hope to the People of South Africa

Its the start of another year. With the New Year come those of us who make New Year resolutions to either lose weight, work on being a better friend, or make more time for our family...but who of us truly keep those resolutions.

Then there are those of us who reflect on the previous year and ask how we can make this year better than the last. For my family, this past year wa a year of heartache and hardships. I found myself wondering who would have I gotten through those difficult times without knowning about a Loving Father in Heaven who was there for me every step of the way. The truth is I don't think I would be writing this letter to you, if it wasn't for who God is in my life. God is everything to me! He's the reason that I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and a reason to keep pushing forward.

Though, it makes you wonder how those around us get through those difficult times when they don't know there is a Loving Father in Heaven who is there with His arms open wide waiting patiently to comfort them in their time of need. We can all think of at least one person, if not many who need a touch from our Heavenly Father during their time of heartache or hardship.

For the people of South africa, They are surrounded by heartache and hardship on a daily basis. It's easy to forget about them on the other side of the world, but I can't. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ and they ave a right to know about this Loving Father in Heaven who can comfort them and give them a sense of Hope that Only He can do!

God has called us as His servants to go and preach the Good News to all of His people, which include those in our neighborhoods, those we work with, and those half way around the world.

My heart aches for them to know the Hope that comes from having a relationship with our Loving Father. It's hard for me to sit here in the U.S. and not do anything about it. They deserve to know that there is more to this life than the hardships they face daily.

Every day that I am here is a day where I don't get to share God with those in South Africa. For a South African, a day is everything...Every 11 seconds a child becomes an orphan.. Daily children are going to school hungry.. 1 out 5 adults has AIDS...Daily children are burying their parents and learning to survive on their own.. This is what a day means in South Africa.

How can we not be moved to join in what God has called us to do?

Please join me in telling God's children of South Africa about the Hope found in Him, before it's too late and "Our Day" has passed.

Currently, I have about 50% of the first year raised to minister in South Africa. I am trusting God to send 25 people/families to join in supporting me $50 per month towards the Hope in Today for the people in South Africa!

Your Sister in Christ,
Natalie :)