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.

We are running out of water!  It’s a very scary time here in Cape Town, and people are panicking.  Feb 1 marked the strictest water restriction to date: 53 gallons/house/day (that’s 200 liters/house/day).  For our family of six, that works out to be eight gallons/day each.  Given the average American consumes 100 gallons of water/day, we have a challenge to meet!

At least we still have water running through our taps, though.  April is the month when taps could run dry and be turned off.  In preparation for this crisis, people are flocking to stores and buying out the drinking water.  The frenzy has left shelves empty in all the grocery stores around us.  Online drinking water is also out-of-stock.  Many people are now lining up for spring water at various sites throughout the city.  

How are we managing?  We are minimising our water usage by using only a few drops of water when needed.  We take two minute showers, and we recycle all water into buckets which are used to flush our toilets.  Soon showers will be replaced with sponge bucket baths.  Our dishwasher is being phased out.  I’m hanging onto the washing machine for as long as I can, but of course drinking water is the biggest priority.  Fortunately, we can still drink the tap water.

Meanwhile, we have stored about 100 gallons of drinking water for post-tap days, and we’ll continue to add to that collection, as we are able.  We hope we have enough to keep us from needing to stand in line for water, which is chaotic and time-consuming.  For our non-potable water needs, our neighbor has graciously agreed to share some of his well water with us.  As a last resort, we’ll use our pool water!

In case things turn ugly here, we will have to go stay with friends who live outside of the danger zone.  Please pray for us for wisdom as we create a contingency plan. We’ll attend a water crisis meeting at the American School next week to discuss their recommended contingency plans!

What is the long-term solution?  Desalination projects are underway, and should be viable by May.  Winter rains should come in June.  Will these two things be enough to restore water to Cape Town?  

Join us as we pray for rain.  Pray for God to have mercy on us and hear our cry.  We are praying He will supply all our needs. Churches are uniting and praying to God to send a wind that will unleash not only physical water, but also spiritual water, and that we will experience an outpouring of God’s spirit.  We are praying for a spiritual shift to take place, that people will see that God is the only true God.  I am reminded of the time of Elijah, when false gods were called upon, but only the true God showed up.  We are praying that God will likewise show Himself in magnificent splendour here in Cape Town, and that revival will be released.  That is our prayer.

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 41:17)  

Photo

On a more positive note, we are a full house again!  It’s a temporary blessing, which we are relishing.  Pictured to the left are the kids on a nearby beach on Christmas Day.  (Yes, our beaches are cool and windy in the summer!)

Alberto is energized and really excited to see as many prisoners come to the Lord as possible this year.  He was happy to get back into the cells after Christmas and work with the juvenile offenders again. His team recently participated in a prayer walk through the prisons where they prayed for the prisoners/prison system and anointed various entrances.  The theme for the year for prison ministry is God’s Revolution, which is based on 2 Cor 5:17, where we become new creations in Christ.

Joanna is chief schedule and planning coordinator for the family, which is not easy, given the range of activities and seemingly irreconcilable schedules.  She is presently gathering dates and numbers for the increasingly-complicated taxes for living abroad.  Her DTS students have been on outreach since mid-December.  She has been invited to speak at a women’s conference next month, which is new territory for her!

Ana is enjoying being at home again, after finishing her time with the DTS at YWAM.  She is trying to work now.  Her next project is to be a camp counsellor at Camp Deer Run in New Hampshire.  She leaves South Africa for the U.S. in June.  She is planning on doing YWAM’s School of Biblical Studies in September, which is an intense nine- month course.  

Photo

Isaac‘s school picture is above.  He is now out of school, taking the GED, applying for college scholarships, and preparing for his DTS in March.  His DTS will start here in Cape Town, but then moves to Asia!  Instead of sitting in a classroom for three months and then embarking on ministry for two months, this backpacking DTS is a combined five months of mobile classroom and ministry as the class backpacks through various nations in Asia, with a specific focus on the unreached. 

Read more about the school here:

http://ywammuizenberg.org/backpackersdts/

Margaret is back into the busy schedule of 8th grade.  She made honor roll last term, so we are proud!  Her friends have too much drama in their lives for Margaret’s liking, so that has been a challenge.  Thank you for praying for a good Christian friend for her.  A new girl just started school last week, so we are waiting to see!

Phoebe started a new year at her preschool, and now has an aide named Plaky (as recommended by the school), which has been a great addition!  Plaky is originally from Zimbabwe, and loves Phoebe!  We are actually in need of $150 per month to pay her salary.  Please let us know if this is something you can help us with!

Phoebe has started playing with her toys, which has been very exciting to see.  Playing with toys appropriately (as they were intended) is a challenge for children with autism.  Granted, she is not playing with them appropriately yet, but she is packing them into her bag, moving them around, hiding them, etc.  It’s a good beginning! 

Some of the water bottles we have accumulated over the past few weeks.  We have about 75 5-liter bottles at present, which is about 100 gallons.  Is this enough?  (This is creating another problem for the city…what will happen with all this plastic?!?) 

 Jeremiah 17:7-8

⁷ “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Amen!  We will trust in the Lord and be blessed!  I am praying we will not be worried in this year of drought, but will bear much fruit.  We will proclaim the faithfulness of the Lord.

Prayer Requests

• Alberto: a plentiful harvest in the prisons this year, clear communication with authorities, and health and unity among the Hope Ministry team
• Joanna: stamina
• Ana: guidance on Bible school applications
• Isaac: enough financial aid and scholarships for college, and finances for his DTS
• Margaret: a great semester 
• Phoebe: a good relationship with Plaky
• Support: more monthly partners to join our team
• Cape Town: water

Financial Opportunity

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. 

We need money for our water fund!  Please let us know if you can help with either this or Plaky’s salary. Thank you for your consideration!

Photo

Above is a practical breakdown of how to use 50 liters of water/day.  Large families are disadvantaged by the new law, which allows 50 liters/person for up to 4 people in a household.  Because of this, our daily limit is actually 33 liters/day (just over 8 gallons a day, as I wrote previously).  I’m slowly adjusting to the metric system!