Author Archives: Joanna

December 20, 2019

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Merry Christmas!  Happy summer vacation!  Summer is here in the southern hemisphere, and while many people are flocking to the beach, we are trying to recreate some familiar Christmas traditions.  We have found a real Christmas tree and we are busy making Christmas cookies.  We are also counting down the days to Isaac’s arrival on Dec 23.  Having all our children with us will be a huge blessing!

With the approach of the end of the year, we have time to reflect and verbalize our gratitude to God.  We own the most amazing house with a beautiful garden that God uses to restore my soul!  Owning a house has enabled our roots to grow quickly, and gives us a sense of belonging and stability.

Ministry has been good this year, with the soccer team growing by leaps and bounds.  The team is pictured above with Alberto at the end-of-year braai.  Prison ministry has also been fruitful, with Restorative Justice conferences and counselling opportunities that have shown many that they are loved by a faithful father.

Alberto started a visitation ministry this year, whereby he visits family member of prisoners, and sees firsthand the effects of crime on the extended family.  Many times there is misunderstanding and anger, not to mention the loss of an income.  His goal is to listen to their struggles and offer a word of hope in Jesus.

On the family-front, we have had some challenges.  Violence has been on the increase in the city, and daily power outages have been difficult to work-around.  Power outages have been a particular challenge to Margaret, who depends on the internet for homework.  (No power=no internet and often no cell service.)  This, combined with challenging academics and the fact that she doesn’t have good friends at school, has made for a tough semester.  It was suggested to us that we test Margaret for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a possible explanation for her seeming inability to concentrate.  Sure enough, we received the official diagnosis yesterday.  Looking back at her academic history, it all makes sense now!  Grateful for more insight, we’ll see how things change in the new year.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Phoebe, on the other hand, has just been accepted at a new school, which sounds absolutely amazing!  They have an autism behaviouralist on staff, and an occupational therapist, physical therapist and speech therapist.  Her new teacher just came to our house for coffee, and seems lovely.  The school will focus on life skills like gardening, meal prep, and art.  Her last school was alright, and at the time, her only option.  But after some helpful input from an observer, it was suggested that we look elsewhere.  I had heard of a new private special needs school opening in January 2020 through the broker for our house!  (We’ve stayed in touch because we both have special needs children.)  We applied for Phoebe and have just received her acceptance!  Although this new school is considerably more expensive, it seems like a very worth-while expense.  I am very excited about this opportunity.

My mom recently shared this passage from Isaiah 35 with me, as it reminded her that one day Phoebe will shout for joy!  What a day that will be!  (Phoebe does have some words, but not a full vocabulary, and it is often hard to know her intent.)  Anyway, the passage shows the Glory of the Lord and the Splendor of God.  It is a reminder to us, the redeemed, of things to come, and the motivation for us to carry on.  I cut the passage after the water reference, since drought is particularly fresh in our minds!

Joy of the Redeemed

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert…

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Alberto sharing at the end-of-year Hope Prison Ministry gathering.  Next to him is  Willem, his ministry partner of a few years.  Anne May is also in the line-up!

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In a recent home visit, Alberto met Elna, whose son was recently released from prison, and causing her much stress.  Although they couldn’t track down the son, Alberto was able to encourage the mom, who has three younger children at home plus seven foster kids.  She lives in a particularly challenging community with few opportunities, where many children get caught up in drug use at a very young age.  Alberto was able to listen to her challenges and pray with her.  He gave her some food for the children and a blood-pressure machine to help monitor her high blood pressure.  It seems like a drop in the bucket of need, but God is faithful and Alberto will maintain contact with her.

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Phoebe has completed another year of therapeutic horse-back riding, thanks to donations through SARDA (South African Riding for the Disabled Association).  Although its not quite clear whether Phoebe enjoys being on the horse or not, she certainly has good posture to show for it.

Phoebe has been enjoying swimming lessons again.  She is slowly but surely learning to swim, which is an important skill to have for someone with zero fear of water.

The talented ladies from the WBS (Women’s Benevolent Society) made this quilt for Phoebe!  What an act of love from those faithful ladies who always keep in touch with us and pray for us.  Thank you ladies!

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We are loving having Ana home!  She is cheerful and encouraging!  She has reconnected with old friends, including one of her best friends from Hawaii who lives here in Cape Town!  She has also been accepted to YWAM Brisbane leadership school and coffee internship program.  This 18-month course will teach her how to run a coffee shop as a business and ministry.  She is currently awaiting her Australian visa.  Click on this link to read her letter.

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I continue to enjoy my weekly hikes around Cape Town with other moms from Margaret’s school.  It’s a time to decompress and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.  I have made some friends, and learned some of the challenges of the rotating culture at the school.

Current Address
P.O. Box 663
Noordhoek 7979
South Africa
Thank you to those of you who send us mail!  Some of you have our old address on file.  Please note our new address!

Merry Christmas!  God bless you and your families during this season!

 

October 28, 2019

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Our refreshing time in Boston seems like a distant memory at this point.  Thanks to Jess Herndon for the lovely family picture taken on Boston Common.

Thank you for supporting our ministry here in South Africa, faithfully praying for us, and being our friends year after year.  As of September, we’ve been in South Africa for five years!

Since we were originally sent out by Park Street Church as mid-term missionaries, which carries a five-year maximum term of service, our status has recently been updated.  We are happy to announce that we are now Partner Missionaries!  We are thrilled to have an ongoing partner relationship with Park Street Church, and appreciate the long-term relationship with the church and their validation for our vision for ministry in South Africa.  To have the support of our home church is very important to us, as it carries an emotional relationship as well as a spiritual connection and practical backing.

In terms of practical backing, Park Street Church has increased their financial support of our family to 12% of our budget (from 6% under our old category).  The bulk of our budget will continue to be made up by generous supporters such as yourselves.  Most of you give through the church, with a message that the funds are to be allocated to our family.  Please continue to support us this way.

Ministry has taken different shapes and forms over the years, but the goal has always been to preach the gospel of salvation and make disciples.  Looking back, we have seen much fruit, and give all glory to God.  It is an honor to be working in His vineyard.  Despite having a troubled history and a present plagued with extreme racial inequalities, South Africa is a land of hope.  Thank you to all of you for standing with us, and thank you to Park Street Church for our new Partner Missionary status!

Saturday soccer ministry continues to show the players that walking with God is a viable long-term option, and that God is faithful.  Restorative Justice conferences through Hope Prison Ministry continue to reconcile inmates with their families and God.  Sometimes this has lasting positive effects, such as the woman who left prison a changed person, put herself through nursing school in order to help others, and is currently planning her wedding to a wonderful Christian man.  Sadly, sometimes the effects are short-lived.  On Alberto’s visit to a recently-released man, he learned that this man had just committed a new crime and was on his way back to prison again.  We must be faithful in sowing the Word of God, as some people’s hearts require great persistence.

Happy 16th birthday, Margaret!  She is pictured above, on her September 17th birthday.  Life has not always been easy with moving and adjusting, coming and going of friends, and stress of high school.  Through it all, Margaret has maintained a song in her heart and a smile on her face, as my mom says.  (Actually, a song on her lips, as she loves to sing!)

Margaret’s best present was Ana’s arrival from the U.S.  No time for jet-lag, we immediately whisked Ana off for Margaret’s birthday celebrations, including a sunset photo shoot over the Atlantic Ocean.  What a blessing to have Ana back with us, at least temporarily.  The Lord has been good to us!

Ana is with us for a few months, now that she is done with the School of Biblical Studies.  She needs some family time before she embarks on her next venture, which you will hear about shortly.

Phoebe recently started wearing a glucose monitoring sensor, which allows me to check her glucose levels with a scanner.  I no longer have to prick her finger five times a day.  This is a huge step in the care of her diabetes!

Last update I asked for prayer to get an appointment with a Behavioural therapist.  We are still on the wait-list for the recommended therapist, but in the meantime I found another one who seems equally as good.  She observed Phoebe in school this week, so I am eagerly awaiting her feedback and recommendations.

We recently had the opportunity to raft down the Breede River, along with other families in our special needs support group.  I am always inspired by the perseverance of the children in this group, and the commitment of their families. Walking the special needs road is certainly something we never envisioned for ourselves, but has caused us to slow down and watch our roots in God grow deep.

Isaac is in his sophomore year at Messiah College pursuing a Computer Science major and Finance minor (at present).  He is enjoying his classes, track, investment club, and working.  Happy summer memories of being with him have now faded, although he will be home with us for Christmas in Cape Town!  He’s been gone for over a year, so I can’t wait to have him back!

Alberto recently spoke about his prison ministry at our annual YWAM conference here in Cape Town.  It was an honor to be chosen to be a speaker, and many people have since expressed interest in getting involved in the ministry.

I joined a weekly hiking club with other mothers at Margaret’s school, which means I am now climbing some of Cape Town’s visual masterpieces, while getting to know some lovely ladies.  Ana joined us on our last hike up Devil’s Peak, part of the Table Mountain National Park, with views overlooking Cape Town.

Sue Givens is a missionary in Paraguay who was instrumental in our years of service there.  She recently visited us for a few days, which was so much fun, and allowed us to talk about our happy years in Paraguay!  Here we are at the Cape of Good Hope on an unusually calm day on the point.  It’s usually very windy there, which partly explains the many ship wrecks.

Glow-in dark algae (bioluminescent plankton) at a local beach.  I’m not sure why it glowed in the dark on that specific night, but we got the alert and headed to the beach!  What a phenomenon, and evidence of God’s handiwork!

Phoebe is relaxing on our porch after a busy day.

August 20, 2019

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We are back in Cape Town after an amazing whirl-wind trip.  Thank you for welcoming us back into your lives with so much love.  It was as if we had never left, except for the fact that everyone’s kids had grown beyond recognition!  Non-stop invitations to get-togethers with old friends was sweetness to the soul.

We stayed with my parents during our Massachusetts visit.  Isaac was also there, so that was a highlight!  My sister and her children visited, as did my brother and his family.  I hadn’t seen my brother and sister-in-law in six years, and finally met my nephew, all pictured above.

We attended lots of meetings and presentations at Park Street Church, had seven appointments at Children’s Hospital, refinanced our Quincy house, and ran around visiting as many friends as we could.  For those of you who missed the five-minute YouTube video we showed at our reception at Park Street Church, please click this video link.  Thank you to our friend Wesley for filming!

In Pennsylvania we saw more friends, bits of Isaac’s life at Messiah College, and attended the phenomenal Family Camp with the Spanish Church (Primera Iglesia Bautista de Washington DC).  In the Washington DC area we saw Alberto’s two brothers and their families, and more friends!

Thank you for encouraging us in our ministry in South Africa.  We often feel lonely here, so being surrounded by people who are familiar with our work and lives is a blessing.  We have returned to South Africa overflowing with more happiness, more confidence, and more energy.  Prison and soccer ministry resumed immediately, and Alberto’s team is doing a Restorative Justice conference this week.  Margaret and Phoebe are back to school.  Please see their updates below.

As a side note, please delete my U.S. cell number from your phones, as that number is being reassigned to a new person!

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I loved being with Isaac again!  He and Margaret sold ice-cream at Faneuil Hall in Boston.  Isaac also took an on-line summer class in Economics.  His two scholarships were renewed for this coming year (Mary McKenzie through Park Street Church and Martin’s through Messiah College).  Praise God!  He returns to Messiah at the end of August.  It will be hard for me to not be there when he moves in, although I am grateful for his surrogate mother Leah Plante, and my own mom!

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Back to freezing cold Cape Town, where morning temperatures are in the 40’s.  That’s pretty cold, considering there is no central heat.  We are grateful for the wood stove in our new house, which is keeping us warm.  It’s been a cold wet winter, which means Cape Town is comfortably out of the drought crisis.  Praise the Lord!

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Clearly Phoebe is the most photographed member of our family!

Her appointments at Children’s were all positive: Gastrointestinal, Down syndrome, Endocrinology (twice), Hearing test, Dentist, Physical therapy assessment (for a special needs stroller we are hoping to receive).  Some of these areas we only check every two years, while others we check regularly in Cape Town (namely the diabetes).  I appreciate seeing the doctors at Children’s Hospital who have been following Phoebe for most of her life.  They always offer good suggestions, and don’t mind following her progress from afar.

Phoebe does have some challenging behaviours such as slamming doors, dumping her food, stripping off her clothes, etc.  I have been on the wait-list to see a behavioural therapist here in Cape Town for a very long time.  Please pray that we get the appointments we need, as I am running out of creative ideas and need some help.

Margaret started 10th grade the day after we arrived in Cape Town.  It’s been a challenging few weeks in terms of classes and friends.  Academically, she is taking her first AP class in Psychology.  She is doing soccer again.  Sadly, her two best friends left the country in June.  Please pray for new best friends to come her way!  The high turn-over rate is the hard part of attending an international school.

Having completed her School of Biblical Studies in June, Ana and team are on outreach in Oregon and Washington state teaching the Bible at various youth camps and churches.  Ana has been speaking on the Old Testament.  She finishes in September, at which point she will visit my sister in Denver, then spend a week in Boston before returning to Cape Town.  (Look out for her at Park Street Church on September 15.)  We are so excited to see her again!

She recently wrote an update on her time with YWAM, which you can read here: update link.

June 12, 2019

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We are packing our bags and looking forward to our time back in the U.S.  We arrive June 21 (after a few day lay-over in the U.K.) and leave again July 31.  We will be staying with Joanna’s parents in South Weymouth.  We would love to see you to thank you personally for your support!  Please contact us:

Home phone (781)337-1141
Email joanna@paradas.org, or simply respond to this email

At the moment, this is our Sunday schedule:

June 23: Holy Nativity Church
June 30: Park Street Church ministry update
July 7: PSC
July 10: PSC Missions committee presentation
July 14: PSC
July 21: PSC: reception
July 28: Iglesia Bautista de Washington

Praises

We are grateful for:
*Our house (pictured above, with flowering aloes).
*Your faithful prayers and supporting our mission here.
*Phoebe’s recent liver counts that came back normal, and that she has grown.
*Margaret’s completion of 9th grade, and that her financial aid grant was renewed.  Also that she won the “Most Improved” in Algebra.
*Getting to see Isaac soon! In addition, that his Mary McKenzie scholarship through Park Street Church was renewed, as was his scholarship through Messiah College.
*Ana, who finishes School of Biblical Studies this month, at which time she will bid adieu to Hawaii and start a three-month outreach.

Prayer Requests

* Safe travels during our flights and lay-over in the U.K.
* Good visits with friends and family
* Church presentations: that we could effectively share what we are doing, reconnect with our supporters, and add in some new supporters
* Phoebe’s appointments at Children’s Hospital
* Margaret’s reconnection with old friends and job at Sprinkles in Boston
* Isaac’s summer class and work at Sprinkles
* Ana’s outreach to the North-West states with YWAM
* Refinancing our Quincy house (to pay-off the South African house with its high interest rate)
* Finances to cover all the added expenses

May 17, 2019

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Here is our new house!  It is in a calm, beautiful setting, which makes it a blessing to return to after the stress of the day.  We are already enjoying lemons and granadillas (passion fruit) from our very own trees.  And there are no security bars on our doors and windows since we now live in a much safer area.  We have a long mortgage ahead of us, but at least we are not paying rent to a landlord looking over our shoulders.  (I’m still in complete awe of God opening doors for us.  It is so hard to get a mortgage in this country, especially if you have an unconventional income like ours!)

Although we are only over the mountain and 15 minutes from our previous home, it is still a big transition.  We didn’t know anyone in this area before moving here. While our neighbors are all lovely, we are starting from scratch, once again.  Although exciting, it is also exhausting and stressful.  We didn’t even know where the closest store was to buy milk our first day here!  (Siri, where can I buy milk?)  It strikes a chord deep within us that we don’t have a solid foundation here.  We are constantly reminded that God is our foundation, and that human connections are slow to come by.

We long to reconnect with people who know us well. And for that reason, we have planned a trip back to the U.S. in June and July.  It’s been two years since our last visit, so we are excited to see as many of you as possible.  Stay posted for more details.

National Elections

South Africa had its presidential elections last week, and the ANC (Africa National Congress) won once again.  President Cyril Ramaphosa remains president, and has the challenge to oversee Africa’s largest economy in a country with a 27% unemployment rate (most of which are young people).  Lack of job opportunities and corruption have made people weary.  This was the country’s worst election in terms of voter turn-out: only 65% of voters voted.  Six million eligible youth chose not to register.  The youth, traditionally politically active, have stepped aside in resignation.  They see no future.  (source: www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48211598)

What a challenge for us Christians!  These bleak statistics reflect the desperation many young people feel today.  The prisons are full of people who are capable of working, but have chosen the wrong path due to limited opportunities, and have entered into a cycle of crime.  But that cycle can be broken.

Psalm 146:7 declares:
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free.

Alberto participates in a prison prayer walk every month, pictured above, declaring victory against the powers of the enemy through the blood of Jesus.

There is Hope

Alberto recently met a prisoner from another African country who was the pioneer for the heroin market in South Africa. He used to give people free samples in order to assure a steady client base.  He was sentenced to time in prison for something completely unrelated, and will soon be released.  He recently participated in a Restorative Justice conference, and heard the Gospel for the first time.  He was Muslim.  Not only did he commit his life to Jesus, but he became saddened by the ripple effects of his actions and now wants to make amends.  Please pray that he can be a positive agent of change when he is released.

Ana came home for spring break last month.  Phoebe was so happy to see her that initially she wouldn’t let anyone else get close to her.  It was great to have Ana’s help and enthusiasm as we moved to our new house.  She returned to Hawaii just before her 22nd birthday.

Ana is in her last term of School of the Bible.  In June, her team will embark on a three-month outreach through the northwest U.S. states teaching the Bible at various churches.  Topics will include an OT overview, Messianic predictions throughout the OT, God’s covenants, and an overview of the NT (the later being Ana’s focus).  The team will also spear-head a youth revival conference.  We will sadly not see Ana during our U.S. trip.  (Photo credit: Ana Santos)

Isaac just finished his final exams and is back in Massachusetts with my parents.  He is taking a class and working this summer.

Margaret is about to start final exams for 9th grade.  The stress is on!  She’s had a busy term playing soccer and being in the school play, pictured above. She is excited to come back to the U.S.

Phoebe has had a challenging term at school because of the school’s insecurity about her diabetes, but things are improving, thanks to her doctor’s involvement.  Her facilitator is wonderful, and the teaching staff loving.  I wish Phoebe could tell me about her day, though!

Prayer Requests:

  • Phoebe: for wisdom to know if her school is a good fit, or if we should come up with a different plan.
  • Margaret: for peace as she prepares for her exams.
  • Alberto’s knees: which are both sore after painting our new house.
  • Prison authorities: to be willing to allow more inmates to participate in the ministries Alberto’s team offers.
  • Recently released prisoners: protection and guidance since pressure from their former lives is almost impossible to resist, plus they are seen as a threat in their home communities.
  • South African leadership: to seek God.
  • House-sitters: for God to send us good house sitters while we are away.
  • My friend: for healing as she undergoes her 3rd round of chemo for breast cancer.

 

 

March 19, 2019

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Prison ministry continues to thrive.  There is such a hunger in the prisons for hope.  Alberto’s team recently completed a week-long “Restorative Justice” conference.  The participants are prisoners who are usually quick to want to change, but struggle with its implementation.  The pressure to conform to their former lifestyles of crime is almost impossible to resist.  But Christ makes a way, and shows the path.

An integral part of the transformation process is support from family members, who are usually the ones who suffer the most.  They often have no idea why their family member is in prison.  They suffer ridicule and rejection in their communities, as their family member was a menace to the peace.  He was an agent of violence which often created a cloud of fear in the community.  And financial stress also follows when the incarcerated is no longer able to be the bread-winner for the family.

Alberto now spends one day a week visiting the family members and listening to their stories.  It is an excellent way to show the love and mercy of our Father, and an integral step in reconciling prisoner to family.  Sometimes the families are so destitute that Alberto buys them a bag of potatoes or mielie-meal (a corn-based staple) and a chicken.  They cannot believe that someone would visit without threatening them or requesting something from them.

Destitution is a huge problem here, and probably the thing that I struggle with the most.  It seems like an impossible challenge to address.  Immigrants pour in over the border daily looking for a better life here, only to be met with xenophobia.  People beg on every street corner.  Children come to our house daily asking for a slice of bread or cup of water.  Yet, the rich continue to get richer here and live lavish lifestyles.  It is a hard contrast to swallow, and one I hope I never get used to.  Please pray that we will always have our eyes on Jesus, and be a light shining to those who do not know Him.  And pray we will have the wisdom to know when or how to help, as the need is overwhelming.

Isaiah 42:5-7 tells us what we as the people of God are called to:
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

May we all walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

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Phoebe now attends a special needs school, which is going ok.  The staff is loving, although the school is incredibly under-resourced in terms of supplies and equipment.  Her facilitator Kirsty is wonderful, so thank you for praying for that connection.

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In case you missed the exciting news in our last update, we bought a house in Cape Town.  We move this week!  It has a lot of character, including a variety of fruit trees: passion fruit, olive, avocado, and lemon.  This is our fourth move in five years, so we are hoping for some stability going forward!

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Above is Margaret’s school picture from the American International School of Cape Town.  9th grade continues to be challenging academically.  Socially, there is a high turn-over rate among the students and staff since foreigners are generally issued three-year visas.  Margaret will lose another good friend in June.  But, Avy recently started at the school, and she is Christian!

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Ana is more than half-way through her School of Biblical Studies.  Click here to read her recent update.

She arrives on Saturday for her spring break, since tickets are much cheaper now than at Christmas.  We can’t wait to see her again.

She recently posted this on facebook:
These are some of the reasons I smile:
1. I am fully loved by Jesus!
2. He has given me the most incredible family who I get to see in 5 days!
3. I am surrounded by the most incredible men and women who I call family as we study the Bible
4. I live in Hawaii ?

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Pictured above is Isaac enjoying the snow with his friends at Messiah.  His engineering classes are challenging.  He is trying to add in a philosophy or business minor.  He is also working at Cick-Fil-A.  He is not coming home for spring break, which means we have not seen Isaac since August, and he has not slept under the same roof as us in a year.  This is the sad reality of living so far away.  I miss him.

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Praise God our drought is over, as rains were plentiful last winter.  Sadly, our next challenge has started: daily black-outs, aka “load shedding.”  The “load” (demand) is “shed” (decreased) by cutting power nation-wide anywhere from two to seven hours a day.  Unmaintained generators are the cause of decreased production ability.  Not only is this incredibly inconvenient, but also has a strangling effect on small businesses and traffic (since most traffic lights are down).  As most house stoves are electric, we are grateful for our gas camping stove.  And we’re grateful we didn’t have electricity outages at the same time we had water restrictions!

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Merry Christmas to us from our amazing Barnabas group!  It took almost three months to arrive, but better late than never. And how we loved all those thoughtful presents!

January 27, 2019

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Gratitude sums up our thoughts these days.  Thank you to everyone who donated money towards a new car for Alberto.  We were amazed and encouraged by the positive response.  Thank you!  The new Honda Jazz is pictured below.  It is already getting a good work-out transporting Alberto’s team around.  Now they can start visiting some of the inmates’ families again.

We have a big surprise to share, and one we didn’t anticipate…we bought a house!  Huge news, I know!  We were not looking to buy a house.  We just saw this one and fell in love with it immediately.  We actually didn’t think we could buy it without selling our Quincy home, but people strongly advised us against selling, so we started praying for an alternative.  My parents said they could help with the down payment.  Then we applied for a mortgage here, which we got.  We are amazed at God’s guiding Hand in what is usually a long and complicated process.  It’s been a month since we put an offer on the house, and yesterday we signed the last papers.

Not only are we grateful to my parents and our faithful renters in our Quincy house, but we are grateful to you all, who have faithfully been partnering with us year after year.  We honestly didn’t know how things would go for us in South Africa when we came in 2014, but door after door has opened, and now this!  The house is a gift from God, and we dedicate it to His purposes, hoping that everyone who enters will be blessed.  Please come visit!

In the words of our YWAM leader Edwin Fillies, “If we say we love South Africa and are not engaged on some level with [South Africa’s] reality then our love is superficial and hypocritical.”  Amen!  Our goal remains to love the marginalised as we share the Hope of Christ, and the blessings of our new car and home have further equipped us to do so.

Thank you to all of you who contributed to our car fund!  We raised enough to buy a 2016 Honda Jazz.  (The other car we were interested in didn’t work out, but this car is amazing!)  We are so grateful for everyone’s generosity.  And yes, it does look very similar to his last car, but is a better brand.

Alberto gave his old car to Willem, his South African co-worker.  Willem was overjoyed.  Blessings certainly have ripple affects.

Here is our new house!  April 1 is our move-in date, as we had to give our present landlord due notice.

Prison ministry is going well, despite the sad death of the Spanish inmate Alberto befriended.  Alberto had shared the gospel with this man, so we hope to see him in heaven!

Meanwhile, the picture above shows some of the wardens who are key people in prison ministry.  They can make things run smoothly, or make things unnecessarily complicated.  However, they have the same needs as everyone else: the need to be heard, and the need for hope in Jesus.

Sunday morning church services are still going strong in Pollsmoor Prison, which Alberto continues to be involved in.

Soccer ministry is going well, with the team growing each week.  Since the goalie’s shocking death, there has been an increase in spiritual thirst among the players.  They have a Bible study before each session.  Alberto was able to distribute Bibles to players so they can follow-up on the studies at home.

We attended an outdoor candlelight carol service at the botanical gardens with our YWAM friends.  It was a lovely kick-off to the Christmas season, although Christmas itself was very hard for us without Ana and Isaac.  We did invite another family over for the celebration, but it just wasn’t the same.

Ana and Isaac spent Christmas together in Hawaii, which they thoroughly enjoyed.  It seemed like the best solution, given the horrific airfare prices to Cape Town at Christmas.

Ana recently started term 2 of her School of Biblical Studies.  Isaac is back at Messiah College finishing up a Philosophy class for J-term, a concentrated study of one class.

Margaret is back to school in 9th grade.

Phoebe won a school raffle for a free family SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) session.  We each got our own board and set of paddles to explore the harbour.

Phoebe is pictured above standing tall on the SUP board with her instructor.  She loved it!

Phoebe’s free hypotherapy classes have resumed, much to her joy.

It was a long day for Santa and Phoebe at the YWAM Christmas party.

Phoebe is still on an extended summer break, and only starts her new school on February 5.  She will be in the autism division of the public special needs school.  There will be seven other students in the class.  The school day runs from 8:30-12:00.  Her teacher seems very capable and caring.  We are praying that it is a good experience for Phoebe, and that she will learn many new skills (including how to deal with an uncomfortable school uniform).

Phoebe’s new aide will be Kirsty, who is a wonderful Christian lady who adores Phoebe and has lots of experience with special needs children.  Thank you for praying for our search.

 

November 2018

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We have started attending the very dynamic Hillsong Church.  It was Margaret’s choice, as she was growing weary of our previous church.  Hillsong Church has amazing worship, and a simple message: Jesus Christ is Lord.  The church is full of young people, and reflective of the racial demographics of the area.  It is a joy to see young people take leadership roles in worship, greeting, collection, etc.  The sermons are seeker-friendly and Jesus-focused.  Last week’s sermon was “What is evangelism?” and today’s was “What is worship?”

This church is extremely active in reaching the community with the gospel and acts of service, which includes prison ministry.  Since many of their people work alongside Alberto, it is really good for our family to attend the church.  Alberto has been working with them (and the Mays) to launch a church plant inside the prison.  Today was the third Sunday service, with an incredibly positive response from the attending prisoners.  (At this point, only Alberto is at the prison church, while the girls and I are at the high school location.)

It is so exciting to be part of a growing Christian movement!  Young people are coming to the Lord in great numbers.  There is a thirst for Him that is driving them to their knees.  This is evident not only in the church, but in the prisons and on the soccer field during soccer ministry (soccer games are followed by a short devotional).  Questions of eternity become much more pressing when sad things happen, like the death of a soccer player due to gang violence.  Since this tragic event, the number of boys wanting to join the soccer team has doubled.  Boys who were hesitant to show their interest in Christ have since taken a stand for Him.

Another interesting thing is that occasionally Alberto runs into Spanish-speaking prisoners.  Who would have thought that Spanish would be helpful in a South African prison?  Sometimes Spanish tourists come to South Africa and commit crimes.  One prisoner came as a drug mule, since Cape Town is a strategic location for not only the gospel, but also the drug market.

Please pray for the prison ministry, the church plant and the soccer ministry.  Also please pray for a new car for Alberto.  His present one is old, and is constantly in the shop for repairs.  This is negatively impacting his off-prison visits to family members.  (Keep an eye out for our Barnabas group’s fundraising letter!)

Lastly, please pray for wisdom to know what to do about Christmas.  Having an international family is both a blessing and a challenge.  Expensive Christmas fares make it prohibitive for us to all be together.  Pray that we come up with a good plan, so everyone is happy.  (Send Isaac to Hawaii to be with Ana?)

We also want to thank everyone for your generous support. We couldn’t be here without you partnering with us. (Also keep an eye out for thank you postcards to all our amazing supporters!)

On that note, Merry Christmas to you all.  May the joy of our Savior’s birth be with you.

Ana is in Kona, Hawaii doing a nine-month School of Biblical Studies with YWAM.  It was challenging for her to adjust to a big campus far from anyone she knew, but she is adapting.  The vibrant Christian community and location help, as does the eye-opening Biblical teachings.

Ana’ss Bible course is extremely demanding, as it covers every book of the Bible in depth.  Each book is read five times while students diagram and chart the story of God’s redemptive plan for His people from the beginning of time. Ana is learning what I studied in seminary, although doing it in a more cohesive manner!

Isaac seems to be loving Messiah College: friends, classes, track, investment club, and food!  He also appreciates all the evangelically-sound churches in the area.  His scholarship requires that he attend certain classes on social justice, which has put him into contact with some other missionary/third culture kids.

Isaac’s track team is pictured above.  As you can see, he is still enjoying his long hair and beard!

Margaret is finishing up her first semester of high school. While she thoroughly enjoys the social scene, the academics are challenging.  She has a six-week Christmas/summer break.  Unfortunately, the ocean water in Cape Town never warms up enough for a comfortable swim, although it is beautiful.  We’ll see if we can drive to warmer waters at some point.

Phoebe is about to end her year at the Montessori preschool.  It’s been a good place for her, and Placky (pictured above) has been a great help.

These three pictures of Phoebe were professionally taken on school picture day.

Phoebe’s hand healed very nicely after her recent burn.  We’ve made many visits to the local Children’s Hospital, and the scar is already fading.

Phoebe will start a half-day at Glenbridge Special Needs School in January.  We are in the process of interviewing facilitators for her, as Placky has other plans.  We are looking for someone with autism expertise, who can connect with Phoebe, and will have the gift of helping her achieve her potential.  Please pray for this person, and also pray for provision for the salary, which is more than I had anticipated.  Professional facilitators come with a higher price tag.
Phoebe’s next unfortunate event was that she was bitten by a dog.  A usually-friendly dog was surprised when Phoebe backed into him, and snapped at her instantly.  I was right next to her, and disappointed that my reflexes weren’t fast enough to protect her from this incident.  But again, she healed quickly and without complication.

Lastly, Phoebe’s liver counts continue to be high.  A recent ultrasound showed no damage to the liver, and blood tests echoed no auto-immune activity.  That is a praise!  It is still unclear why her liver counts are high.  Fortunately, I am remain in touch with Phoebe’s GI doctor at Children’s Hospital Boston, who says that the local doctors are doing everything he would do.  Please pray that her liver counts normalise.

My mom and dad came to visit to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday!  Since they were both born in South Africa, there was much catching up to do with relatives and old friends.  Pictured above is my mom’s brother and his family, all living around Cape Town.

September 27, 2018

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Comings and goings…that sums up these past two months.  Ana, Isaac and Margaret returned to Cape Town last month, and then Ana and Isaac turned around and left again!  It’s really hard to say goodbye, especially when they don’t have return tickets!  Add to that some of Phoebe’s recent challenges, and it’s been a tough month (for those of us left behind).

Below Alberto gives an update on the prison ministry:

The correctional facilities are a tough environment. Every day is different from the one before.  As a Christian man, l try to rely totally on God.  The moment that l try to think that l can manage on my own strength, l give the enemy a chance to play games with me.  Lately, there has been much talk about human rights violations in the prisons, due to overcrowding.  Criminal activity has increased because of this, as prisoners want their voices to be heard regarding their rights.  Prison wardens are often the target of violence.  Please pray for this situation.  Also, please pray for the ones who are being saved by the blood of Christ, that they will continue to be encouraged to see Jesus as their final destination and not to let this world disturb them with its fake beauty.

PSC Short-Term Team came to minister in the prisons last month.  It was great to have them.  Tatiana is still here actually.  We also had a visit from Philip (a PSC friend), and Todd (who is also still here).  It’s always such an encouragement hosting people from home!

YWAM Conference  Our annual YWAM Muizenberg conference took place last week.  Entitled “At Home,”  all Cape Town YWAM staff came together to seek God and hear each other’s stories.

I am always amazed at what God is doing through my fellow YWAMers.  They have a passion for Jesus, and a heart for this city.  They are doing something about the poverty and brokenness surrounding us by engaging with the communities. They also disciple people in and through the city, as Cape Town is a strategic springboard to reach the nations.  YWAM is a diverse group of people in terms of race, culture, and socio-economic background.  It is the body of Christ, and I am honored to be part of it!

Ana returned from Boston with the news that she wants to do her Bible course (School of Biblical Studies) in Kona, Hawaii, instead of Cape Town.  As Kona is the international headquarters for YWAM and has more of a college-vibe, I understand the appeal.  She’ll be gone for about a year!  The Bible course is nine months, with an outreach after that.  YWAM is all about putting things into practice immediately!

In case you did not see her last letter, please see it here.  If you would like to receive updates or support Ana directly, please contact her at ana@paradas.org.

Ana is pictured above, leaving us!  I’m so proud of her travelling half-way around the world alone.  There’s a 12 hour time difference between us now!

Isaac returned from an amazing DTS (Discipleship Training School) outreach in Zambia and Zimbabwe in August.  He is pictured above with Virmz, the school leader, on graduation day.  He only came home for a few hours before we dropped him at the airport, where he then flew directly to Messiah College’s international student orientation.

Friends Dereck and Lea Plante picked Isaac up from the airpot and helped him set up his dorm, pictured below.  (Thanks for the picture Lea!)

I had many different emotions as Isaac left: proud that he is well-grounded in Jesus, relieved he was able to finished his DTS before college, happy that he has a vision for using engineering for missions in the future, sad that he is so far away, disappointed that I wasn’t there to help him move in, but overall overjoyed that he has the opportunity to attend college.

Margaret started 9th grade last month.  High school has been great, as the drama of middle school is now a thing of the past.  Finally, Margaret can say that she is happy here!  She has some great new friends, although we are still praying for a Christian friend.

She is pictured above on her 15th birthday, and below at the school’s Homecoming dance.

Phoebe has had a challenging last couple of months.  She burned her hand, and her school said they can no longer accommodate her.

Phoebe must have burned her hand on the electric stove.  (I don’t like electric stoves.)  Although she never cried, the blister on her hand was concerning enough to warrant a trip to the ER, where the blister was popped and wrapped.  The doctor’s concern was that the puss could affect her diabetes.

We returned to the hospital’s Burn Department for three more appointments, and had to wait on average five hours each time to see the doctor.  Being surrounded by seriously burned children from all over the province broke my heart, especially when the wounds were gruesome and visible for all to see (wounds are wrapped with plastic wrap while you wait for the doctor.)  As it is winter here, many poor people use fire for warmth and cooking, and children are prone to accidents in crowded settings.  I was grateful Phoebe only burned the side of her hand.  Now that the burn is healing nicely, our trips to the hospital are over.  Hallelujah!  (Thank you Tatiana for coming with me one of the days!)

Phoebe’s second challenge came when her preschool said that they cannot accommodate her anymore.  I was a bit frustrated by this, as we had received such a warm welcome last year and even have a wonderful aide, Plaky.  I know there are no other schools in the city equipped to work with a child with a dual-diagnosis, as I had called 15 schools last year.  Only the special needs public school could help.

Then in a miracle from God, the special needs school called us last week, saying Phoebe’s name had come off the wait list, which we’d been on for two year.  So, Phoebe (and I) went for a trail visit.  The staff seems lovely!  Phoebe can start there in January.  She will have the same schedule as she has now (8:30-12:30), which is ideal, as I can administer her insulin with lunch.  I am amazed at God’s provision and timing!

Now we are working on sending Plaky to a training program on autism recommended by the school, which will equip her with more skills and techniques to help Phoebe.  Unfortunately, neither the training, Plaky’s salary, nor the public school is free.

Drought Update

Thank you for your prayers.  We have had a cold, wet winter!  Water restrictions have been somewhat relaxed, as dam levels continue to rise, well above everyone’s hopes and dreams.  God certainly answers prayers without holding back!

Praises

  • Praise God for the hunger for the Gospel in the prisons.
  • Praise God our kids have the opportunities that they have!
  • Praise God for rain.

Prayer Requests

Alberto: the power of the Gospel to manifest in the lives of the prisoners, and that their changed lives will be evident to their families and victims, so that healing can begin
Joanna: grace as she adjusts to having Ana and Isaac so far away
Ana: fundraising for her YWAM course
Isaac: a good first semester at college
Margaret: a Christian friend
Phoebe: healing for her hand, and guidance on training Plaky
Financial Opportunity

Thank you to all of you who have made it possible for us to be here.  We appreciate your partnership!

If you would like to support our work in South Africa through YWAM and Hope Prison Ministry, please make a donation to Park Street Church with our name in the memo. The online giving link is parkstreet.org/give.

 

July 25, 2018

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A Restorative Justice (RJ) campaign took place last week at Pollsmoor Prison, which Alberto participated in.  Although it is open to all prisoners, only a select few decide to take the challenge and complete the six-day course.  Now that it is over, the follow-up starts.  Families and victims are contacted so restitution can be made.  It’s a long road for all involved, but Jesus is the foundation.  The number of men who commit their lives to the Lord each time is just amazing. Of course, the challenge is to walk out that faith.  The following verse encourages us all to do that.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents– which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. (Phil 1:27-28.)  Amen!  May we all conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.

August 9-23 PS’s short-term mission team will be here to do prison ministry.  We are very excited for their arrival!

Isaac is in Zambia, or possibly Zimbabwe.  If he hadn’t given away his phone, I’m sure he would communicate with me more regularly, right?  I got an Instagram account to follow some of his teammates, but even they have not been posting recently.  I think they are actually far from the reaches of the internet, thoroughly immersed in their two-month outreach as part of their Discipleship Training School (DTS).  (I am grateful for the one picture I have received!)

Isaac and his team started in Asia, as you may remember, and had an incredible time exploring God’s creation and delving into His truth.  It’s been life-changing, to say the least, and Isaac’s love and commitment to the Lord has grown exponentially.  He returns to Cape Town mid-August, just in time to catch his flight to Messiah College in PA, U.S.A.  I miss that boy!

Ana and Margaret are pictured above on the 4th of July at Camp Deer Run, where Ana is a counselor and Margaret was a camper.  This camp holds a special place in their lives, and we are grateful for the Christian community that makes it the girls’ home away from home.  Margaret just finished camp actually, and is now with my parents in South Weymouth.  She returns to cold South Africa next week, when school starts again!  I can’t wait to have her back.

Ana returns to Cape Town next month to staff the ETW DTS.  Ok, those acronyms stand for Experiencing The Word Discipleship Training School, through YWAM (Youth With A Mission).  Got it?  She is still in the process of raising money for this ministry, which you can read about in her letter here: Ana’s newsletter.  Please contact her directly at ana@paradas.org if you are interested in supporting her.

Margaret graduated from middle school just prior to her departure to the U.S.. She starts 9th grade on Aug 1.

For the second year in a row, friends from the Church of the Holy Nativity sent money to the preschool that our friends started in Worcester.

While the older kids were away during the winter break, Alberto, Phoebe and I went on a camping/road trip with friends to Namibia, the arid country to the north.  We appreciated the barrenness of the desert, lions in the game park, unusually-shaped rock formations, and refreshing hot springs.  My favorite part of the trip, however, was sitting around the fire talking to our Christian friends!

Etosha National Park, although almost completely dry, does have a few remaining water holes that attract animals from far and near.

Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa.

Phoebe was a great traveler and companion.  It was not always easy to get veggies and meat to make her diabetic-friendly meals.  I am in awe of God’s provision and care for her, as we didn’t have a single moment of worrisome blood sugar levels.

Our camping companions, friends from our days in Worcester.

Alberto celebrated his birthday in South African style, with a braai.

Phoebe celebrated her 11th birthday on May 30.

Today an autism consultant observed Phoebe in her preschool setting, and will give practical suggestions to Plaky (and us) as to how best work with Phoebe.  I am thrilled that the school is so committed to helping her learn and grow.  They really do love her!

Drought Update

Thank you for your prayers.  We have had some great winter rains lately.  Despite this blessing, our dam levels are still low, so our drought status continues.  That means we are still under tight water restrictions.  There has been no mention of the proposed desalination project.  I heard the project ran out of money.  (Budgeting is a bit of a challenge here!)
Praises

Praise God for openness to the Gospel in the prisons.
Praise God our kids have the opportunities that they have!
Praise God for our safe camping trip.

Prayer Requests

Alberto: the power of the Gospel to manifest in the lives of the prisoners, and that their changed lives will be evident to their families and victims, so that healing can begin
Joanna: wisdom as she coordinates details of kids’ comings and goings
Ana: fundraising for YWAM
Isaac: his team to touch many with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Margaret: grace as she returns to South Africa and starts school again
Phoebe: helpful guidance from the autism consultant
Financial Opportunity

Thank you to all of you who have made it possible for us to be here.

If you would like to support our work in South Africa through YWAM and Hope Prison Ministry, please make a donation to Park Street Church with our name in the memo. The online giving link is parkstreet.org/give.