Happy spring to you all! And happy fall to us! We recently had the joy of welcoming the Lius into our home! They came to Cape Town to get better acquainted with the work of Hope Prison Ministry. Sitting around the table with them and the Mays was such a blessing!
Prison ministry is going well. Alberto and team recently did a Restorative Justice (RJ) training with the pastors from De Doorns, the small town in the wine country that they visited a couple of months ago. The goal of the training was to equip the pastors to expand their ministries to prisons in that area of the country, with the hope that they can visit the inmates and start to run RJ conferences there themselves. Another part of the training included how to welcome former-inmates back into their churches and into society at-large, which is no easy task.
Locally, at the maximum security section of Pollsmoor Prison, Alberto and his colleague Alexander (who attended the RJ program while in prison and now works for Hope Prison Ministry) are still allowed into the cells with the guys. Fifty or more men are crammed into an inhumanely small space while they await trial. Some wait for years. Yet, in this space, the Holy Spirit is present. As they study the Word of God, it’s amazing how many of them give their lives to the Lord. We are grateful Alberto still has access to the cells, as prison security has become quite tight lately.
Alberto and Alexander also recently embarked on a new ministry of serving coffee and tea to friends and families as they enter the prison to visit their loved ones. Visitors often arrive at the prison with heavy hearts, so appreciate a cup of tea, a listening ear, and a word of hope in Christ. Many prisoners are in for misdemeanors. One young lady was terrified as she entered prison property, saying it was her first time. She came to visit her mother, caught shoplifting.
In terms of family news, we are excited to finally be able to share that Ana is pregnant! She is due at the end of August. We are, of course, ecstatic! We hope to go to Hawaii in September to meet the baby boy. Before that, we are planning to be in Boston for the month of August. We will speak at Park Street Church on August 17 in both morning services, and possibly the evening service. We would love to see as many of you as possible. If you would like to get together, please email me by responding to this email, or call me at (781)267-8022. I now have a permanent US number (through Mint) which has been life-changing!
One of our biggest prayer requests is for Phoebe’s guardianship process. This is one of our goals for our time in Boston: for me to get guardianship for Phoebe. Phoebe turns 18 on May 30, at which time I lose all rights to access her medical records and make medical (and legal) decisions for her. We have appointments set up at Children’s Hospital to get the appropriate signatures to start the legal process. I am trying to get temporary guardianship at the moment, until the permanent guardianship is approved.
Phoebe continues to do well in school with her aide Nicole, and her language skills are improving! She recently had a long bout of diarrhea. It took us about two months to eventually identify the cause: E Coli. And then, I could not figure out the source of the E Coli, until I learned of the sewage drip into the ocean where she does surf therapy. Sigh. But, at least we know now, and the E Coli was immediately treated with antibiotics. Now we are back to trying the bladder control medication, which should kick in next month. I have not given up on toilet training!
Margaret is enjoying her second year of art school, loving her independent life in her apartment, and still looking for a waitressing job. She may start to look for a babysitting job of picking kids up from school and driving them to after-school activities. She has also had some stomach challenges, which we pray will be addressed by antibiotics.
We recently had fires in the mountains near Cape Town, dangerously close to our house. Over 7000 acres of land was burned, though no houses were destroyed. We actually spent the night with a friend when we saw flames from our bedroom window! It was very scary!
We are so grateful for your ongoing support and encouragement. Thank you!
Thanksgiving
*?? Ana’s pregnancy
??* Many lives touched with the Gospel
??* Continued open doors in the prison
??* Phoebe’s increased language abilities
* ??My role with YWAM on the staff services team
* All of you who read our updates and support us in word and deed
Prayer Points
* RJ graduates to stay committed to Christ and humble as they start reconciling with their families and victims
* The ex-prisoners who are struggling to find work
* Spiritual growth of the new believers
* An available field for soccer
* The guardianship process of Phoebe
* ??A good and safe job for Margaret
* Blessings and guidance for Isaac
* A healthy pregnancy and delivery for Ana
* Wisdom and the fear of the Lord for our leaders, and mercy for those who do not
Fire-ravaged land, that just recently was green with growth. Of course, out of the dust new life will come again and serves as a great analogy. Isaiah 61:3 speaks to those who are grieving. God will “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair.” This is particularly meaningful in today’s world.feel safe