Outreach Update (Jan 2nd)

This lovely update was written on January 2nd by one of my fabulous team members, and was emailed out. But for those of you who didn't receive the email and I haven't had a chance to chat with when I randomly had internet, here is a quick and belated update!

Dear families and friends,

This is the YWAM Performing Arts Team newsletter from Cape Town, South Africa! We have been here for 3 weeks now, and we have been enjoying it so much. 

Cape Town is considered the most beautiful city in the world not only by the people who live here, but worldwide. From everything we have seen of the city, we most definitely agree! It is a very diverse nation both culturally and racially. This blend creates an exciting atmosphere, as well as excellent food! There are also many striking thing about this country. None of us have ever experienced such stark contrast between rich and poor. Its as if it is a patchwork quilt. While the city and some neighborhoods are modern and picturesque, another only minutes away, is made of only tin shacks. 

We are staying at a small church called the Father’s House located in the Cape Flats just outside the city. This area is populated by the coloured people of South Africa. Our ministry here so far has been focused on a 2 hour Christmas production for the church that has been hosting us. We presented a different kind of Christmas to them this year, because we featured Christmas songs, skits, and dances from our homes in Scandinavia, the Islands, and America! Christmas is celebrated in almost every country world wide, and yet in such beautifully different ways. It was a pleasure for all of us to share our countries traditions along with the story of Jesus’ birth! The production was a great success, praise God!

We have also been helping out here in South Africa in other ways. The large amount of children in our neighborhood are always ready to play and are at our gate every day. We have had many opportunities to be their friends and show them God’s love. We also helped out a local church by cleaning some of their old rooms and kitchen. They were getting ready to renting it out to an organization planning on transforming it into a clinic, and needed it desperately cleaning before the deal was about to be made. It looked marvelous by the time we were done with it. We were definitely a great help!

As some of you know, one of our leaders fell and broke her ankle in the first week of our outreach. This set us back a  bit, but thanks to your prayers, God’s grace, and skillful doctors, she did not have to fly back to Australia. She was in the hospital for over a week, but during this time we were able to minister to the patients there by caroling, talking, and praying with them. She is back with us now, and getting better by the day! She’s not alone as she had plenty of family to be there for her.

Our Christmas was a joyful, but bittersweet because we missed all of our families and friends back home. It’s just not the same without you! However, we are here doing God’s work, and that brings us more joy than any celebrating could ever offer. After all, Jesus left his heavenly home to be born for us on the very first Christmas, and we have left you to bring that same gift to the people of South Africa. The week of Christmas one of the Aunties of the church and her family prepared dinner and desert for us. It was very special. Even the table was set with personalized cards with Bible verses for each one of us, and a package of cookies! On Christmas Eve, we attended the Hillsong South Africa service in Cape Town, and then had dinner as a family. The next morning we attended and performed at the Christmas Day service here at the Father’s House. Afterwards, we spent Christmas with our leaders family who live here in South Africa. The food was very different from what we are usually used to, but so good! We also had a secret Santa gift exchange that night, and watched Home Alone.

Since Christmas, we have already been busy with new ministries such as performing at a crusade (or camp meeting), and creating a Vacation Bible School for the children in our neighborhood. This has been our first day with the kids, and it has been amazing so far! We will have some more news about this for you very soon.

Prayer Points: 

Thankful for...

~ A successful Christmas production

~ Blessings with our finances and food 

~  Protection

~ Ministry opportunities. Although things didn’t happen exactly how we had planned, God has given us other opportunities!

~ Locals who have stepped in to help us

~ Transportation 

Keep in your prayers…

~ Our leader Tania who fell and broke her ankle. That God would continue to be in the situation and that is would heal quickly.

~ Our Leader Pate, who is doing a wonderful job leading a team of 11 girls! That he would continue to rely on God and lead us into higher and higher ministry each day. 

~ The Church and Community whom we are serving. That we would be able to truly transform this area and bring light! the kids whom we are building relationship especially. 

~ Protection. That we will be able to continue serving South Africa under an anointing of health and safety. 

~ Focus. That even though there may be much to see and do here in this beautiful country, that we will continue to remember whom we are serving and the people HE wants us to reach. Jesus be the center! 

In Christ, 

Anni, Helene, Ida, Karissa, Kate, Katie, Kristina, Megan, Pate, Sade, Steph, Tania and Teira.