TOUGH TRANSITIONS...

From teaching kids how to swim in the hot, South African, summer, sun...



... to Colorado's "HOLIDAY BLIZZARD 2006"



This past week and a half have been hard for me. I left South Africa a week ago, Tuesday, and after about 26 hours of flying arrived back in my home state of Colorado. I was truly so excited to see family and friends again, and be in the comfort of "home", but I haven't been able to shake this pervading sadness. So much changed in my life in just one day (where I live, the people I spend time with, my job, my physical surroundings, the weather, how I spend my time, and the food that I eat). I am trying to get my feet on the ground and figure out how I fit back into this American culture that I have been so removed from. The truth is, I am mostly just sad. I am sad that I had to leave and say goodbye to the kids that I love so much (and a country that I love so much). It isn't that I am not excited to be home, or excited to spend time with my friends and family (who I also love so much), it is just that I am mourning the loss of what was. Change is hard for me, I think. Perhaps it is hard for all of us. So, I am trusting God and leaning on Him. I have peace about my decision to leave South Africa and come back home-- I know the timing is right. However, the transition is still hard. Some things have been pretty exciting though-- like the recent snow storm, or shall I say, BLIZZARD!
Let me share with you a bit about what is being called the "Holiday Blizzard of 2006"...



The top picture you see is of the door to our back yard (which my mom very carefully opened in order to take the photo). Two days ago it started snowing, and snowing, and snowing, and snowing! The wind was blowing quite strongly and soon the blizzard warnings were in effect for most of the state of Colorado. The snow kept falling and only late yesterday did it finally stop (but only after close to three feet of snow had fallen)! Above is a photo of Dad and I after our attempt at trying to clear away the thick blanket of snow that covered our driveway.




The airport soon closed down (with close to 5,000 holiday travelers stuck inside for the night). The governor called in the National Guard and the Red Cross for assistance. By the end of the night all the highways were officially closed down. This is a picture of our house taken from our back yard!




This is a picture of one of the doors to the outside of the house after all the snow had fallen. Don't think we will be going out that door anytime soon. As of yesterday the blizzard warnings had been lifted and the roads were beginning to be cleared. However, all the malls were shut down yesterday, as well as schools, the postal service, government offices, restaurants, and most other businesses. We were quite literally "snowed in" which made a great excuse to stay in pajama's all day, eat soup, and spend time watching old family videos!

It feels a lot more like Christmas here in Colorado, but I still miss sunny South Africa and the all of the precious kids there from Orphan Support Group. Please keep them all in your prayers as Christmas can be a sad and lonely time (reminding them of what they do not have). Thank you!

Love,
Jen (from snowy Colorado!)

p.s. Please also pray for stranded travelers who have had to spend two nights sleeping on the airport floor in Denver waiting for flights out of town.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL-- Angels of God Summer Camp 2006



The following are some pictures of this year's summer orphan camp, which was held at the new farm! It was such a wonderful week full of great teaching (thanks to Dennis Wadley as well as Mama Lulu, Babalwa, and Refiloe), art, crafts, ping-pong, volleyball, jumping on the trampoline, swimming lessons, free time in the pool, a talent show (the talent coming from all of the kids!), horse back riding lessons, and a visit from Santa Claus on the last morning of camp. Each of the children received a new soccer ball from Santa as well as Christmas cards with personalized letters from people in the States which were particularly meaningful to the kids. I really enjoyed spending time with the girls in my cabin, who ranged in age from about 8-11. My favorite times were at night when we all retired to our rooms and I got to tell the girls stories, laugh with them, and go to their beds-- one by one-- to tuck them in and give them a goodnight kiss. Many special memories were created at camp-- for campers and leaders alike. I will never forget moments worshipping with the kids, beading necklaces with them, throwing a ball around outside while waiting for dinner, splashing around in the pool with excited swimmers, seeing the kids play with their new soccer balls, and helping them create Christmas crafts and ornaments to give to loved ones. Thank you for all of your prayers during this week of camp. Lives were truly changed and I believe the kids (and the leaders) left with a greater understanding of just how much God loves them. Many of the kids also came to know and truly believe during this week of camp that God wants the best for them and has great plans for their lives.



This is a photo of two of the older girls working on making beaded slinky bracelets. Notice the camp T-shirts they are wearing!



This is Ben, a Bridges of Hope co-worker of mine, with a group of kids shortly after Santa had visited their rooms. The World Cup soccer tournament is being hosted by South Africa in 2010 so a case of "soccer fever" is spreading like wild fire throughout the South African youth!



Some of the younger kids enjoying time spent jumping on the tramp!




This is Anita, one of the youngest (and newest) girls in the Angels Of God orphan support group. She was in my cabin group and I really enjoyed the chance to spend a lot of time with her and get to know her better.



This is Dennis Wadley taking a group of guys on a ride through the farm on the 4-wheeler (it is amazing how many kids can fit on the back of that trailer!!)

Precious Kids...

Today, more than 6,000 children will lose a parent to AIDS

This past Friday (Dec. 1st) was World AIDS Day. It was a day to bring AIDS awareness worldwide as well as fight the stigma that is tied to the disease. I thought a lot about the kids that I work with in the Orphan Support Group (most of whom have lost their parents to AIDS) and was very aware of the fact that the pain, suffering, and sigma associated with AIDS doesn't just affect the person with the disease, but it affects his or her children as well. Many, many, children are left parent-less and alone to trying to make it in this harsh world. I know that God desires that we care for the orphans and it is so exciting to see people all over the world proactivly working to protect and care for orphans. I recently read the following in an article written by Chuck Colson:

"The United Nations reports that some 143 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents. That's roughly equal to the population of Russia. In 2003 alone, 16 million children were orphaned. Every fourteen seconds, a child loses a parent to AIDS. Genocide, war, famine: These are just a few of the reasons for so many orphans. And in our own country, more than 800,000 children pass through America's foster care system each year. Some 120,000 of them could be adopted.
This month, Focus on the Family, Family Life, and Shaohannah's Hope, founded by my good friend Steven Curtis Chapman, along with nearly fifty other organizations will join together in the Voice of the Orphan campaign to raise awareness and encourage Christians to become involved in this issue of global concern. If we truly value life, what better way to show it to the world than by caring for life in its most vulnerable forms"

Please pray for the kids around the world who are orphaned. Also, please pray for the group of 56 kids in the Orphan Support Group who are coming to camp this week! We have been working hard to get the farm ready for the kids and it is now prepared (bunk rooms, trampoline, playing field, library, game room, big worship room, ping pong, pool, etc.) I am very excited for this upcoming week and would love your prayers for each child and leader who will be present. Please pray that hearts would be softened and that lives would be changed. Pray that healing would occur, walls be broken down, and that the kids would know and experience the deep love of God. The children have all experienced a lot of hurt in their lives (more than I have ever known) and I hope and pray that God would meet them in their suffering and draw them to Himself. The theme of this year's camp is "Love Conquers All". I know it will be a memorable experience for all involved. I can't think of a better way to spend my last week in South Africa than with the kids that I love.

Thanks for your prayers!

Love,

Jen

Cultural Experiences

I have had many fun opportunities recently to enjoy Xhosa culture; music, festivities, food, and traditions. Let me tell you a bit about the church dedication ceremony in Philippi-- but first an explanation of the white face paint you see below...

In Xhosa culture, the face is decorated with white paint during times of celebration or for traditional festivities and ceremonies. We have had a lot to celebrate lately! Most significant is the new church building in Philippi that was just completed! Let me tell you about the church and the recent dedication service and celebration of this new building... The photo above is the interior of the new building taken from the top balcony looking down. This church is one of the tallest buildings in Philippi and the cross on top of the tower can be seen from long distances away. This building serves not only as a strong and beautiful structure for the people of Philippi to worship, but also as a physical symbol in the community of hope, growth, peace, change, and development. "UZUKO KU THIXO" means "Praise be to God"
Directly following the dedication service we enjoyed a Xhosa feast which we helped prepare the day before. A cow was slaughtered right on the church grounds (after being led over to the church on a rope). A man leaned over to me and said, "...this is the freshest meat you will ever eat!" I was fascinated to see how every piece of the cow was put to use. The "mama's" (older women in the community) traditionally get to enjoy the brain while the eyes are saved for the oldest and most respected man. I got to see the whole process of cleaning, scraping, shedding, cooking, and serving-- it was really something! I now know that there is a lot of work that goes into making those nicely cut slabs of meat that are cleanly packaged in Saran wrap for us at our local grocery stores. As I was sitting in the kitchen of the new church peeling potatoes with a group of mama's I was shocked to see a pile of about 15 goat heads under one of the tables on the kitchen floor (right next to where we were working). One of the girls in the room must have seen my shock because she smiled and picked up one of the heads without even thinking twice! I couldn't believe it! Needless to say that little goat head is now in the stomach of a nice, happy, church-goer who celebrated with us the new church building God provided in Philippi! "Celebrate good times, come on"... (African style!!!)

Beautiful South Africa

Lately I have been profoundly aware of just how beautiful South Africa is! Last weekend I spent the day at the beach (pictured above) and enjoyed watching people play volleyball, wind surf, and casually walk along the waters edge.
These past few weeks I have spent the majority of my time working at the farm (Bridges Academy/Retreat Center), which is shown in the picture above. Each day that I drive out to the farm I am struck by the brilliant green of the vineyards and hills complemented by the magnificent blue sky. It is so beautiful!
This is a photo of some of the mountains ("hills" if you are from Colorado) that surround the town of Stellenbosch (where I live). At night, when the sun sets, the hills turn pink and purple against the darkening sky-- it is amazing! I have a view of these hills from the window of my flat just above my kitchen sink (which makes doing the dishes a little nicer)!
This is another picture of Bridges Farm where we have been spending a lot of our time painting, scraping, tiling, and remodeling to prepare it for the upcoming orphan retreat in December.
Above is a picture of the coastal route which runs along the Southern edge of South Africa. Tomorrow I am leaving for a long weekend get-away to enjoy this stretch of beach. Three friends and I are taking this road and stopping along the way to surf, eat at fun restaurants, enjoy leisurely walks on the beach, play volleyball, and maybe throw the frisbee around. Our final destination is a beach town down the coast. I am truly so blessed to live in this beautiful country and experience God's creation by going on road trips, hiking, backpacking, camping, working on the farm, and looking out of my kitchen window!

Stuck in Stellenbosch

--Taxi Strikes in Cape Town--

Yesterday was the first day that we were advised by our Philippi staff not come into work, but instead to stay at the office in Stellenbosch due to heightened violence, tension, and chaos in Philippi and around the Cape Town area caused by a large taxi strike. Today things have escalated and the unrest gotten worse because the strike has gone national. Please pray for the Bridges of Hope staff who are in Philippi. Pray for their safety as well as the safety of all involved. Please pray for a quick and peaceful resolution to this strike. Selfishly, we are bummed to be missing things that are going on in Philippi (a CHE monthly meeting yesterday, orphan support group today, and possibly a committee meeting on Monday), but really just desire that no one gets hurt and the whole strike ends quickly. We will have to wait until the roads have reopened and we have received word that it is safe before we go back in (and we hope that is sooner rather than later).

FROM THE LOCAL PAPER...
Chaos as CT taxi drivers strike 26/10/2006 12:24 - (SA)
Cape Town - A bus was set alight and two hijacked during a violent protest by taxi drivers in Cape Town on Thursday morning, the Golden Arrow bus company said.
One of the hijacked buses had been used to block off the N2 highway.
"There have been numerous stonings and several bus passengers and drivers have been injured by shattered glass," said the company's general manager, Francois Meyer.
Because of the danger, the company was currently not operating in the Nyanga, Khayelitsha's Site C, Potsdam and Du Noon areas.
Police were not immediately able to confirm reports that members of the force fired rubber bullets to disperse drivers as they embarked on an illegal march from the Cape Flats to Cape Town.
In a memorandum of demands distributed to the media, the drivers protested against what they said was harassment by law enforcement officials.
"Officers must stop hiding behind bridges and bushes," they said.
They said no taxi driver should be arrested on the road as this left commuters stranded.
'Sick and tired'
They also asked for "separate cells" at police stations, and called for the cancellation of all outstanding traffic fines and warrants "as they were accumulated because of the problems we are highlighting.
"City police must stop assaulting and harassing taxi drivers should this continue taxi drivers will be forced to defend themselves," the statement read.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association spokesperson Alfred Maseti told Sapa that when drivers began marching from ranks including Nyanga and Khayelitsha, the police stopped them as the march was illegal.
"And then the rubber bullets fly," he said. He had not received any reports of injuries.
He said it was the drivers themselves who had decided to go on strike, rather than any of the recognised taxi associations.
"We did try to stop them on several occasions, but at this point in time it was beyond our power. They said they are sick and tired," he said.
Law enforcement officials said one of the roads blockaded with vehicles by taxi drivers was the Borcherd's Quarry road, which is the access road from the N2 to Cape Town International Airport.
There was a strong police presence at various points along the N2.
Democratic Alliance provincial spokesperson for transport Robin Carlisle said the taxi blockades and demonstrations had to be dealt with firmly and as a matter of urgency.
"The public not only expects the police to disperse the taxis, but that arrests are made and taxis are impounded," he said.
"Both provincial and municipal officials have at last commenced with regulating the taxi industry. If they lose their nerve now the industry will be out of control for years to come."
Cape Town - Police fired rubber bullets on Thursday to disperse protesting taxi drivers on the N2 highway outside Cape Town, SABC radio reported.
About 200 protesters were on their way to an illegal meeting in the city, and many were armed with pangas and sticks.
The road was cleared after the police action, and traffic flow restored by 07:00.
A few taxi drivers were arrested.
The drivers intended marching to city to show dissatisfaction with the way they were being treated by the police and metro police.
Meanwhile taxi ranks at Khayalitsha were empty as commuters used buses to get to work, the radio report said."

FUN TIMES!

These past few weeks have been full of many fun events and experiences that I wanted to share (complete with photos!) fundraiser, dances, playing with cute kids, weekends at the new farm, and nights spent laughing with my awesome roomie! I am a lucky one! Here are some things I have been up to...

My friend, Siviwe, and I at a fundraising dance/dinner/auction for a local charity

My tennis bud and all-star doubles partner, Riette, and I having fun at the end-of-the-year tennis dance and awards ceremony last week
Myself enjoying time with the kiddies at Tuesday's orphan support group. The little kids (6-12 years) come on Tuesday afternoons and the older kids come on Friday's. On my lap are twins-- Zinthle and Zimkhitha
Myself and the other staff members (and visiting potential staff members on their "exposure" trip) at the farm dedication weekend where we celebrated the new farm that we recently purchased in Franschhoek. This was a fun weekend of good food, games, laugher, late nights talking, and a time of communally praying over the property and dedicating it to God.

My roomie, Lizette, and I having fun in our little flat one evening. A local who is studying at the university here in Stellenbosch, Lizette has a lot to teach me about South African language (how do you pronounce that word again?) , culture (you mean it's not polite to eat burgers with my hands? Oh, come on-- you know how much of a mess I make when I try with my fork and knife!), music (what is that noise I hear coming from the other room?) and foods (banana, hamburger meat, and mushrooms on pizza, what?! ...are you sure?!) We have a lot fun together and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful roommate!

Building a Bridge

Above is a photo of a bridge that I drive over every day on my way to work. Most days I mindlessly pass over this bridge, thinking about nothing of great importance-- perhaps little details of the day ahead or about the cup of coffee soon to be made. However, this morning was different. As I drove over the bridge I was inclined to pull over and take a photo! So, I impulsively jumped out of the car and traversed through some tall flowers and bushes near the bank to get the angle that I wanted (the students walking by on their way to class must have been curious!) As I continued on my way to work I thought about the function of a bridge and remembered back to when I was first arrived in Africa over a year ago and the strong desire that I had to help build a bridge between the "haves" and the "have-nots", between you and the people I work with in Philippi. I don't think I have done a very good job thus far and for that I am sorry. I want to thank all of you for the ways that you have been involved with Bridges of Hope so far (through prayerful, financial, and emotional support) and I also want to provide opportunities for those who are interested to get involved and connected in some new ways...

1. Scholarship fund: There are a group of about 25 South African facilitators who live in Philippi and volunteer many hours each week to work with the children in the After School Program and Orphans and Vulnerable Children ministries that Bridges of Hope runs. Most of these facilitators are young adults (21-30 yrs. old) who have finished high school but find themselves jobless and at a dead end. They love working with the children, but many of them are yearning for the opportunity to pursue college, trade school, or a university degree in order to gain the necessary skills and credentials to get the jobs that they want. These are extremely gifted individuals who are driven and ambitious but are stuck in a system that is still so limiting and confining to the poor and underprivileged. By contributing to the scholarship fund you can help pay for the tuition of one of the facilitators (who will have to go through a Bridges of Hope application process) and I will make sure that you get connected with the selected person and can maintain email or "snail mail" contact if you are interested. This would be a great opportunity for you to provide a young adult who has a lot of potential the chance to gain the skills and hopefully the job that he or she has always dreamt of.

2. Construction teams: We are in need of teams who are willing to come over and work on various construction projects on the farm which will be a retreat center and eventually an academy for orphans. Right now the needs are demolition, irrigation, clearing and planting of a grassy playing field for the kids, and various other building and remodeling projects. If you, or a group of people from your church or workplace are interested in coming to South Africa to stay on the farm and work for a few weeks that would be a huge need met!

3. Sponsoring a staff members salary: We currently employ 5 Philippi staff members who live and serve in the community. Mama Lulu is employed as the area director of Bridges of Hope and Mama Elizabeth is the project coordinator. Refiloe is the director of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children ministry and support group and Manelisi (soon to be a dad!) and Babalwa coordinate and facilitate the After School Program. If you are interested in sponsoring one of their salaries, or contributing to this fund please email me and let me know. I would also be happy to pass along their email address to you and help you build a relationship (as much as possible half a world away!)

4. Sponsoring food parcels: Every second week the children of the orphan support group receive a food parcel which contains food that will sustain them and provide vitamins and nutrients for them as they grow. If you feel inclined to sponsor these food parcels a contribution can be made to the Orphans and Vulnerable children fund and the money will go directly towards meeting this very real physical need for these children.

5. Long term staff: One of the most significant needs currently is for long term staff. Bridges of Hope is in need of individuals or families who are willing to commit at least 18 months to live in South Africa and work on the farm (retreat center/orphan academy) as teachers, curriculum designers, program managers, farmers, care givers, administrators, and retreat facilitators. Sound Fun?! Oh Yeah! Pray about it... :-)

6. Soup for clinic: Right next to the church in Philippi where we work, there is a brand new clinic that just opened. They are in need of donated soup to serve those who walk in the door sick and malnourished. If you desire to donate money to go towards this cause, please email me. I would be happy to email you some photos of the clinic and of the neat ways they are meeting the needs of the hurting people in Philippi.

7. Teams to host retreats at the academy: We desire to offer training retreats to be held at the new retreat center and would love it if people were interested in coming over and hosting a training workshop or seminar for people in Philippi to attend. The subject of the seminar could be something that you know a lot about, or that you are passionate about. For example, 3-4 day seminars on parenting, marriage, managing personal finances, conflict resolution, health care, counseling, etc. Would be much needed and appreciated.

8. Continued prayer support: We are moving into a new phase of ministry with the purchase of the farm and the development of new programs, dreams, projects, and staff. We could really use your prayers! Also, please pray about ways that God may be calling you to get involved (and perhaps coming over for a visit!) :-)

My deep desire is to bridge these two communities that I care so much about-- my "home" back in the States and my new "home" here in South Africa. I want to try and create ways for needs to be met, relationships built, and meaningful connections made.

Love,

Jen

p.s. As I was driving to work after tramping through the tall shrubs to take my bridge photo I felt something on my leg. As I looked down I noticed this brightly-colored WORM peacefully crawling down towards my knee! Ahh! I frantically swept it down to the car floor and luckily it stayed there until I got to work and could safely evacuate! Below is a photo of the sneaky perpetrator-- looks dangerous, huh? (okay, okay, maybe not!)

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Get out your hats, sunscreen, and flip flops, folks-- winter is officially OVER!!! (okay, okay, I know...for most of you it is yet to come, but for all of us here in the Southern Hemisphere, it is over)! September 1st marks the first day of spring according to South Africans. It is known as "Spring Day" and is celebrated by many who walk around town with floral printed clothing, shorts, sandals, and flowers or ribbons in their hair. I could not be more excited for the onset of spring, especially because this winter has been particularly cold and wet. I am also excited because, in a way, I have felt quite "wintery" this past month-- emotionally I mean. It has been a hard month for various reasons (explained below). However, things are warming up and I am feeling better. Spring is here, indeed!
As I mentioned in my last email we have been dealing with a very difficult, sticky, situation involving the caregiver of one of the orphan homes that Bridges of Hope supports, who we discovered was abusing the children living in the home (physically and emotionally). This was a huge blow to us because we thought that we knew this caregiver well and we really trusted her. (Side note-- I just realized that it has been a month since my last blog update in which I explained this situation to you. I am sorry for being so "absent" and taking too long to get back to you with an update. Thank you for praying none-the-less!) We ran into many dead ends as we tried to find a safe place for the children where they would be cared for and loved-- no one could (or was willing to) take them in. We found ourselves in a tough spot with two bad options-- 1) leave the kids in the abusive home, or 2) send them to live in overcrowded government institutions (that statistically tend to produce gangsters and prostitutes). We were way in over our heads and out of options. So, we handed the whole case over to Child Welfare Services who are qualified to deal with situations such as these and who promised us they would interview the kids, discover the extent of the abuse, and try to work with them to find a good "third option" so the kids could stay in the community, yet be safe. This is where the situation stands, out of our hands, but being dealt with in a way that will hopefully benefit all involved and bring about justice and healing.
This situation has weighed heavily on my heart. We weren't dealing with children who were unknown to us, but we were dealing with 7 children close to my heart who we have come to know and love. I was so hurt to hear about the extent of this abuse and even more hurt to see some of the ways that the kids have been acting out in negative ways due to the abuse. Please pray for healing and safety for these children and pray that they would be brave enough to be completely open and honest with the social worker that will be meeting them at school to talk about this situation. Also, please pray for the oldest boy in the family who, it was discovered, has been sexually abusing his younger sister (3 years old). Pray that "safe" houses would be quickly discovered in the community and that all the children can receive the love, nurturing, and counseling they so badly need.
This has been such a hard thing to deal with this month, but also hard has been the fact that all the US staff left to go back to the States (except for my directors Dennis and Susan). The office suddenly became a very quiet and lonely place. There were also lots of details to take care of that had usually been dispersed between all of us, but that became the responsibility of those of us who remained. I think it was good that I had a lot to keep me busy, but I still felt lonely. With this devastating uncovering of abuse, the mass exodus of staff, and the cold, rainy weather I found myself pretty down. My usual enthusiasm seemed to disappear and in its stead was a general "blah" feeling. I wish I didn't get down. It would be nice if I could be happy, enthusiastic, and joyous all the time. But I am not. I am optimistic, though, that things will get better--in fact they already have.

Staff member Grace Chisholm returned back to South Africa just last night from a month long holiday in the States. I am so happy to have her back. The office is brightened by her fresh enthusiasm and I love the extra activity. Tennis has started up again and I am enjoying the opportunity to get out on the courts after work each day and play with the team again. The weather is getting warmer and the days longer. Spring is coming and flowers are in bloom. My heart isn't as heavy, and I don't feel as down and "wintery" anymore. Thank you for your prayers and support. Thank you for allowing me to be "me"--the good, the bad, and the ugly! I appreciate all of the love and prayer you offer.
Some people have asked me about ways that they can become more involved with Bridges of Hope. I have thought about some ways to get those involved who want the opportunity-- but at the risk of boring everyone with a really LONG entry I will make that the topic of my next update (and I promise you won't have to wait a month this time for the next one!) Thanks again for your love and support!
Gratefully Yours,
Jen (with a flower in my hair and flip flops on my feet!)

UPS and DOWNS

These past few weeks have been weeks full of significant ups and downs in my life and in Bridges of Hope ministry as well. I would like to share with you some of the current happenings on this side of the world...

Up, Up, Up! We have had many short term teams visiting from the U.S. this past month and a half, helping and serving in various ways. The Ocean Hills team came and led an Orphan camp for about 60 orphans in the beginning of July (see previous blog posting for more details). Next came two different teams from Rolling Hills Covenant church. These teams started construction on three shacks in Philippi as well as taught workshops on parenting, managing personal finances, and marriage. One of the Rolling Hills teams also led an after school camp for children where they made crafts, played games, learned about Jesus and gained helpful life skills.

On July 21st my good friend, Michelle, arrived for a two week visit. We had a great time together working on the construction projects that were started earlier in the month (pictured above), going to a game park where we saw wildlife and went on a horseback safari, and eating out at my favorite local restaurants. We hiked Table Mountain, enjoyed a church service in Philippi, and spent time taking walks, drinking latte's, and catching up. My spirit was lifted seeing such a good friend and sharing with her all that God has been doing in the community of Philippi and in my life. Her enthusiasm, insight, encouragement, and comforting presence was a timely blessing in my life.

DOWN! I think that I have cried more this week than I have this whole year. It has been a week of good-bye's. Michelle left on Tuesday along with Grace Chisholm (a fellow staff member who is going back to the States for a month). On Friday staff member Erik Anderson returned home after a year long service with Bridges of Hope. He left straight from a tearful orphan support group after the kids had all lined up and said their good-byes one by one. On Monday I will be making yet another airport run to say goodbye to Matthew and Melinda Talley who are also staff members who I spent the past year with. They are moving to Southern California so Melinda can start a M.F.T program at Fuller Seminary. It is so sad to be saying goodbye to all of the people who I have worked so closely with for the past year. They have really been like family for me here in South Africa and provided a huge sense of comfort, love, and support. I am mourning that things will never be the same and I am already feeling twinges of loneliness creeping in as I imagine walking in to work with them gone (I will be the only U.S. staff member for a month until Grace returns). I will really miss working with Erik and with the Talley's. Please pray for safe travels and smooth transitions back into life in the States for Erik, Matthew, and Melinda. Also, please pray that Bridges of Hope will be able to find just the right staff to come and work with us in Philippi and at the farm.

Even more painful has been a situation in Philippi in one of the orphan homes that Bridges of Hope supports. I am going to copy a section of an email that the Bridges of Hope director, Dennis Wadley, send out last week that describes what has been going on...

"From Bad to Worse...PLEASE PRAY!!
Last week I told you that we were facing a crisis in one of our Bridges supported orphan homes and unfortunately, the situation got much worse as the week progressed. We really need your prayers! At the orphan retreat last month, a lot of trust was developed between our leaders and the children attending. Some of the children gained the courage to share about abuse they are facing in their homes. We discovered physical abuse, emotional abuse and even sexual abuse. The toughest situation has occurred in one of our supported homes that we have a caregiver in. It was uncovered that the caregiver has been beating the children, swearing at them and manipulating them through threats and emotional abuse. As our staff and church leadership began working through this situation, we found out that one of the children in the home has sexually abused a younger sibling and another child who was staying there temporarily. We love these children and want to protect them from abuse of any kind, so we need your prayers.
Please pray for the church leadership and Bridges leaders as we try to do what is best for the children. A social worker met with the church leaders today and told them that there are no other foster homes available and that if the situation cannot be remedied in this home, the children would be divided up by gender and age and distributed around the Cape Town area into institutional orphanages. We and our staff have visited most of these institutions and they are heinous places. Statistically, 80% of the boys who live in these institutions are in jail within 1 year after turning 18 and being released from their care. A similar percentage of the girls in the institutions are pregnant either before they leave the orphanage or within one year of leaving. Please pray."

Thank you for all of your prayers and support, especially during hard times like these.

Love,

Jen

2006 Winter Orphan Camp

60 campers + 14 Ocean Hills Covenant Church short term team members + 5 Bridges of Hope staff members + 2 full time cooks = a crazy, fun-filled, life changing 4 and a half days!!!

Let me give you a snapshot of this years camp...
A time for crafts and games! Above is one of the younger orphans who attended camp this year, Thandile. She, along with many of the other kids, really enjoyed the free time where they could work on beading projects (notice Thandile's necklace!), paint, rest, or play outdoor games in the field. Above is a photo of the back of this year's camp sweatshirt. The Ocean Hills team came to South Africa with bags packed full of games, books, crafts, lessons, candy, "agape letters", and these cool sweatshirts for each child to have. This camp was a time where the love of God was really lavished love upon these underprivileged kids. I noticed how much this meant to them (many of whom have never received such care, attention, and affection).
A time to deepen relationships! This is a picture of Nontombi and I before dinner one night. I really connected with Nontombi at camp and cherished the opportunity to be with her not just for an hour or two on Friday's at support group but day and night for almost 5 days straight. Camp was an opportunity for me (and the others) to deepen already-existing relationships with the kids and spend much desired quality time with them in an environment where they felt safe, loved, and protected. A time for the kids to bond! Our vision for the orphan support group has always been that it would be a place where the kids would really connect and form a "family" of brothers and sisters that could support each other, encourage each other, and understand more of the hardships that they are going through (we are so limited in our ability to truly relate with the kids and understand the pain and suffering that the deal with). Camp was a time for the kids to grow closer together and share deeply about topics and issues on their hearts and minds. In this photo the boys are really getting into a fuse ball game (most of them had never seen such a table before)
Pillow talk! It was fun for us to be with the kids at night and tuck them in and sing bedtime songs (though our voices aren't nearly as nice as theirs are!) :-) One night in particular I got the chance to be in one of the older girls rooms (pictured above) before bed and start asking questions about their lives and hearing more of their stories. It was a real bonding time for us to share and learn more about each other.
A time to celebrate!!! At the end of camp there was a big party for all of the campers. At the party we enjoyed a talent show (all of the talent coming from the kids!) and had lunch, cake, and passed out presents (a new hat and scarf) to each person. We also had a dance party at the end in which the kids showed off their great moves (all dressed in matching hats and scarves)! It was a great way to conclude a fun, truly life-changing four and a half days! Praise God for the ways that he worked in the kids lives (and in the leaders lives as well) and showed His DEEP, UNCHANGING, LOVE. Pray that the kids will not leave camp and forget about all that they learned and experienced but that they would hold these memories close to their heart. Below I have included some of the specific prayer requests that the children wrote down during camp. I left the spelling and grammar exactly as it was written on the sheet of paper. Please join us in praying for these precious kids and for some of their specific needs in the weeks and months ahead. Thank YOU!

Orphan Prayer Requests

Dear Lord, Would you please make me trust you. I need to feel your love. I want the sadness and anger in my heart to be gone, Lord. I give my heart and life to you. Lord, fill my heart and life with love and joy. With Love, Nono

For Sonwabile and that he may have a miracle recovery. (Sonwabile is HIV+)

Dear God, please forgive me on all my sins. I ask you, Lord, to please lend me your hand so that I can get strength to become a better person. Amen. Zakithi (Nolusinsido)

Lord, please help me grow old and protect me from all the bad things.

God, I offer myself and I my life to you, and I ask that you may use it as a tool in your service in anyway you want. Sinathemba

Keep us in your warm hands, Holy Spirit.

God help me. I have no parents and I'm only have grandmother at home no one working it's a stand only we got money only for food that way.

Dear Lord, It's me, your child again. I just say thank you for the nice food and please can you make me a nice child and I promise you I am going to change and I am going to my shape because I love you and I need you love too and I don't want to lose you just because you know my status (Thembakazi is HIV+) so I need your help. I just want to say thank you for everything can do for me. From: Thembakazi

Dear Lord, it is me again, your child. But what I know you know my status so I want to tell you I have a lot of sins but you are the only one who can help me in my sins. I want you to treat me in my pain because I have pain and I don't know a Doc for can help my pain, so I came to you. You are the only one in my heart. From: Thembakazi

I want God to help something for me because are not have parents.

Dear Lord, Yesterday we talked about ideals and now my ideals are to find myself, to trust you in everyway. I want to be able to cry because my heart has too much grief and anger and to believe in my self I want to change people's life. I want to change the students of my schools negative life living. I believe with your help anything is possible. Love, Nono.

Lord, can please look after me, I lost my parents and I need love that I got from them.

I want some things you can help me every time I pray to you because I want you to help me each and every time I pray. Thank you, God, you promise me you can help me.

I need to be look after till I finish school. Lunga

Jesus, I want you to help me about my cousin. She shout at me everytime and she threaten me everytime at home so I want you to help me about that. Ernest

Thank you, Lord, for keeping and protecting us in your hands.

Graduation Day!!!

This Wednesday we celebrated the graduation of 31 CHE's (community health evangelists) and sent them into the community to continue the ministry and service that they started 4 months ago when CHE training began. I wish that all of you could have been there to witness the excitement on each face as they were called forward to receive their new Bible, official "CHE" badge (pictured above) and certificate. In order to share the experience, I have included some photos and short stories highlighting just a couple of particularly touching events...
Above is a photo of Sindiswa. Last year this time she was on her death bed-- literally. Sindiswa has AIDS and last year became extremely ill and was bedridden. A CHE in Philippi started visiting her and caring for some of her immediate physical and emotional needs. Soon, Sindiswa's health took an upward turn and before too long she was back on her feet. She attributes this miraculous healing to the power of God. Sindiswa felt inspired to pour back into the community by receiving CHE training and becoming a CHE herself. So, Wednesday's graduation was particularly meaningful to her as she went from helplessly dying to, now, helping others live.
Buyiswa, also HIV+, came forward in the middle of the graduation ceremony and recited a powerful poem called HIV, Don't be Proud. She had us all hold hands as she spoke beautiful verses of human strength and unity. She also spoke of the power of God and how His people can be stronger together than any virus or disease. At the end of each stanza she repeated the phrase, "HIV, don't be proud, HIV, don't be proud." It was an image of battle and the final theme conveyed is that human spirit will be victorious, even in the face of a deadly disease.
This is a photo of myself with a fellow staff member, Melinda (far right), along with four recent CHE graduates at the conclusion of the ceremony. I believe that the CHE's really left the graduation ceremony with a new sense of purpose and increased determination to continue making home visits and sharing what they have learned with those in need. The CHE's have really come to believe that they are capable of being the change that they want to see happen in the community. They now know that they really can make a difference--
It was fun to watch some of the plays and skits that were prepared for the ceremony. This little guy made his way to the front a couple of times during the ceremony. Dressed in traditional Xhosa clothes he added to the celebratory feel of the graduation and made it especially meaningful. We sang many Xhosa songs throughout the course of the event and a few times a woman would loudly sing a verse or chorus of a song while walking up to accept her certificate and awards.

Overall, the 2006 CHE graduation ceremony was a joyous occasion that was deeply impacting and served as a celebratory commissioning for those involved to go out and serve the community!

Praise Him!!!

Update!

It has been way too long since my last update! I am sorry, and really appreciate your faithful thoughts and prayers despite my not-so-faithful updating. Above is a photo of last weeks CHE meeting as we broke up into small groups to discuss passages of scripture giving reasons why we should make God the first priority in our lives. I want to begin by giving praise to God for this year's group of CHE's and thanking you for all of your prayers. Things have been going so well and I see God working in and through the CHE volunteers. We will be having a graduation celebration in a couple of weeks (complete with certificates, official CHE badges, and new Bibles) to celebrate the CHE's and motivate them to continue making home visits and sharing the information they have learned. Last week was great as we discussed nutrition and the priority of our relationship with God. We learned that most of the CHE's diets consist of a loaf of white bread and butter each day. Sometimes a bowl of porridge is enjoyed in the morning or soup in the evening, but white bread with butter is the core of most meals. This is the case throughout Philippi as well. Unfortunately, most people rarely (if ever) get fruit, veggies or protein in their diets. We discussed affordable and easy ways to incorporate some of these foods on a daily basis.

I was personally convicted as we later discussed how our relationship with God should be our number one priority. The question was posed, "If we say that our relationship with God really is the most important thing in our lives, why don't our lives show it?" It was neat to be able to talk about how to show the degree to which we value our relationship with God through how we spend our time, money, and resources. Many people's lives were impacted through CHE last week (including mine). Please pray for us as we discuss two very important topics this week 1. Abstinence and 2. How to deal with anger in a healthy way. Abstinence is not very accepted in Philippi and youth are pressured by friends and family TO have pre-marital sex instead of to abstain from it. This is especially dangerous with the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS as having sex can be a literal death sentence). Please pray that fruitful discussion would be had and that the CHE's would be bold and courageous to share these difficult lessons with friends and family.
Lastly, I would like to update you on what is going on in Philippi in regards to the violence and strikes that were previously mentioned. Though the violent protests have subsided, the security guard strikes continue. We heard this morning that many security guards are in financial crisis and don't have enough money to feed their families because they have been out of work for so long. They can't go back to work because breaking the strike could mean death for them at the hands of fellow security guard strikers. So, the situation is quite bad for them now. Please pray that the conflict would be resolved quickly and peacefully and that the workers would not be exploited but rather get the wages that they deserve. Thank you for all of your prayers!

Love,
Jen

VIOLENCE IN CAPE TOWN

Friends and Family,

I have attached some photos taken from a local newspaper article which documents some of the recent violent uprising here in the Cape Town area. I am asking that you guys please pray that peace would be restored in this community. We are all a bit nervous that this situation will break out into something bigger and more violent than it already has (and less containable as well). Below is a brief paragraph from Dennis Wadley (director of Bridges of Hope) and following that is a newspaper article telling about a train bombing (related to the striking) that occurred in Philippi yesterday.
Hi Friends,
The security workers in SA that are union members have been on strike for weeks. Yesterday they marched on Parliament in Cape Town and the march erupted into looting and violence. You can check out pictures at:
http://www.news24.com/Die_Burger/Gallery/Home/0,,18-2380,00.html
Today a commuter train was hit with a fire bomb. One of our friends from Philippi, Benson (the chef...for those who know him) was on the car that was hit. He is ok, but had to be treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation. (see news article below)
Our Orphan Caregiver event scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed because another march was planned for tomorrow, but may be shut down by the government. If it is, there are fears that the violence will spread throughout the community. We will have a morning of prayer in place of this event, so please join us in that if you can.
Please pray for safety for our friends in Philippi. Ask God to bring this issue to an end and to help us to be wise regarding our return to the community.
Thank you for your prayers.
God bless,
Dennis

Commuter line closed after train is torched in Philippi
By Johan Schronen
Arsonists set a train alight on the Mitchell's Plain line early today, forcing Metrorail to cancel its service on that route until further notice.
The attack took place shortly after 5am. It followed the petrol bombing of Heideveld station's ticket office late last night.
Police suspect both incidents could be related to the strike by security guards.
Railway police said a ticket office staffer saw a gang of men douse the second coach on a Cape Town-bound train with petrol at Philippi station at 5.10am today.
The arsonists set the coach alight as the train pulled out of the station.
Police on the train raised the alarm and stopped the train at Nyanga station.
By then the coach was burning fiercely and about 30 passengers who were in coaches further back got off at Nyanga.
The fire brigade arrived within minutes but could not do anything until power to the line was cut.
Metrorail technicians took some time to cut the electricity.
Meanwhile railway police rushed to Philippi station to look for clues.
They also searched people and their bags, on and around the platforms, looking for anything which might have contained petrol or other flammable substances.
Detectives were also hoping that closed-circuit television cameras at Philippi station had been rolling to capture images of the culprits.
Police sniffer dogs and bomb squad members combed the gutted coach for clues at Nyanga station before the empty train left for Cape Town station.
The train will be inspected again at Cape Town station.
Fingerprint experts were also called to Heideveld station to search for clues there.

Please, please, join us in prayer for this situation. We are not allowed to enter Philippi for the rest of the week so we have decided to fast and pray as a staff for the next 30 hours. We are praying that the violence would calm down and that the conflicts would be resolved. This country is in such a fragile position as racial tensions are high and the wounds are deep (going back many generations). So, we pray that events like these would not cause a nation-wide, violent, outburst of pent up anger and pain.

Please pray for the following people who are suffering with HIV/AIDS. Winter is approaching which means wind, rain, cold, and the potential to catch life-threatening illnesses. Pray for strength, safety, comfort, peace, and protection from illness for...

SINOXOLO
BUYISWA
LULAMA
THOBELA
THEMBAKAZI
NOLUTHANDO