October 2005 Newsletter

Greetings to all

It is hard to believe that 4 months have past since my last news letter, and I really do apologise for this.

Since the last newsletter we planned and held a fundraising dinner, which produced some profit, and was enjoyed by all. A big thanks to Rachel for all her hard work.

The sale of our house has just been finalized, and we will probably be moving during the month of December. We have not yet confirmed where we will be moving to, but we are trusting that God is going to direct us.

This move is necessary for the growth of the ministry, as we cannot take in any new babies until we have bigger premises. Funding is also imperative to the growth of this organization, and we are in need of a substantial amount of funding to establish this ministry on it's own property.

I will be on a fundraising drive in Canada and Switzerland during the month of November. I will be leaving on the 2nd, and returning on the 26th.

I will be in Vancouver for 1 night, and then in Regina, Calgary, and Toronto for a few days each, and then to Switzerland for a few days. If anyone has any contacts in these places where you would like me to share about our ministry, please email me, and I will see if I can fit anything into my schedule. I want to impart, to as many people as I can, the plight of the orphans in South Africa. Our children are being orphaned daily. There is such great need. These children are the building blocks of our nation and we want them to grow up surrounded in the love of Christ, not in poverty and despair!

I was reading Isaiah 1 in my quiet time on Tuesday morning, and what God said to His people through Isaiah, really moved me.

God told his people to turn from their evil ways. He said that while they were in the state they were in, they could offer up many prayers, but He would not listen. Straight after He told them to turn from their evil ways, he said to them: "stop doing wrong, learn to do right. Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead for the case of the widow." Then God goes on to say to His people, "come let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; …." I was struck by how God associated the case of the fatherless, the widow and the oppressed with turning from evil and doing good: rather than recite the 10 commandments to them. It just penetrated my mind again, the burden that God has for the fatherless, the widow and the oppressed. God is burdened for our orphans in South Africa!

We as God's servants, are His eyes, His ears, and His hands. It pleases God that we take care of the oppressed, the fatherless and the widows. We read what rewards He has offered us, when we are obedient. I was really encouraged by this scripture.

Please could I ask each one of you to commit this trip to pray, as we seek to raise the money needed to make a difference to the lives of our future generation. A future that looks very bleak, for many children, if we, as God's children, don't put the Word of God into action.

Through your support, each one of you is "defending the cause of the fatherless".

KIDZ NEWS:

All the children are doing well, and growing SO fast!

Justin will be 17 in January! Where did all the years go? I can hardly believe that my little boy is literally a grown man already. He is really working hard at school this term, and is currently preparing for exams.

Tazz, is growing into a lovely young lady and she too has been applying herself to her school work.

Siya is doing SOOO well. The last visit to the doctor revealed a CD4 count of over 1300 and an undetectable viral load. This means that the ARV's are working well. What an answer to the prayers of so many people! This little boy, who has defied such odds. Siya is pretty bright, and he just loves to be busy. He enjoys working! He works with the gardener in the garden (he uses Mary's dolls pram as his lawnmower if you don't mind); he helps cook the supper. He dries all the "bubbles" off the dishes. He sweeps up messes or mops messes off the floor. He just loves to be a helper. (I hope this is a long term thing).

Simon is such an angelic little boy. He is in between Occupational therapists at the moment, as we are not sure where we are moving to yet, so I will get his OT back on track in January. He has just seen the peadiatrician, who has requested some tests, and will be monitoring his progress as well. He had his birthday in October and turned 4. We took the kids on an outing to Gateway, and they went on the little train that goes round and round. Then we came back home for cake and sweets, and presents.

Little Mary is the little princess! She is going to be SO happy when she can go to "school" next year. She loves preschool activities. Hopefully we will also be able to send Mary to gymnastics (monkeynastix) next year (you should see her do roly poly and flip overs - she has a talent here! Mary is really bored at home now, and she really does need the stimulation of a pre school environment.

Jake is becoming a little boy. He is in the process of being potty trained and is doing really well. He is talking a lot more now, and he is such a funny little boy. His latest word is "please". I just can't resist his requests when he attaches this cutest little "pease, Mommy Pease" to the end of his sentence. He is still doing extremely well on the ARV's and looking at him, one would never guess he is HIV +ve. On the down side, Jake has discovered that he can terrorise Mary. He pushes her around and hits her - and instead of giving him some of his own medicine, she just cries. He has earned himself a new name. He is now known as "the bully baby". I am sure (Soon please Lord) that this too, shall pass!

Volunteers:

We bid Rachel farewell in September, as she went back to Canada, but I am very glad to say that she will be back in SA in January to complete her studies at the University of Natal. This means that Rachel will be able to be involved - hands on - at Sinakekele in her spare time.

It was wonderful having Carolyn back for another month (from Switzerland) and we were sad when we had to say goodbye. I wondered if Jake would remember her, as they had such a strong bond when she was here during 2004. Carolyn was the one who rekindled a snuffed out spirit in the heart of a very sick little boy. Jake is not one to take to strangers, yet when Carolyn walked through the door, Jake immediately smiled at her. I am sure he remembered.

I also had a surprise visit from another old volunteer: Cindee from Canada, who arrived in August for a 3 week visit. It was really wonderful having a house full of volunteers again. The photo says it all!

Yesterday (26th), I collected Tricia De Boer(from Canada); from the airport, and she will be very kindly helping to take care of the children in my absence, together with my dear mother and sister Daphne, and my three helpers, Thandi, Thuli and Cynthia.

Then of course there is my faithful local volunteer Stuart, who is also a great help and deliverer in times of crisis, and my church family who come to my resue when the wheels fall off. (Or, I should say - stoip turning. I very negligently ignored my engine light that came on on my dash board, and - not surprisingly I guess - my car broke down. I was without a car for a week! VERY STRESSFUL in this house!


OUR NEEDS:

We are needing finances, property and resources, in order to grow this ministry.
Our needs are still much the same, though the pending move, makes the need for property and funding a more urgent request. We commit this to the Lord, and pray for His provision. We also give thanks for His faithfulness.


OUR WISH LIST:

On our last wish list was a notebook. Imvo Technologies have donated a notebook to us.

Further, our wish for open doors to speak abroad have also materialized.

We really do give thanks to God for answered prayers.

My wish is now for bigger premises to grow this ministry, and for the resources we need to manage this growth.


And from my heart:

"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."
Psalm 126:6

May you feel the presence of the Lord everyday.

Yours in God's service Ruth


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