Despite the stunning scenery I see in my hikes (above), it has been a very challenging past few months. In March, we received the news that Alberto’s 92-year-old father had had a brain aneurysm and was rushed to the hospital near his home in El Salvador. His mother asked Alberto to come quickly. 50 hours after his Cape Town departure, he arrived in El Salvador. Initially, his father was not in a good state, and we all sent our goodbye messages. Then he miraculously started to improve! He started getting out of bed and walking with assistance, and slowly started sipping on soup. Alberto helped his mother for a month, after which time his sister took over. Needless to say, it was hard on his family when Alberto left and returned to South Africa.
While he was away, I continued with life and ministry here. I had the opportunity to take a two-week class at YWAM on Trauma through the Trauma Healing Institute. We looked at our personal traumas and discussed how Jesus meets us there and helps us heal. It was a very powerful course, and now we, as YWAM Staff Services, are planning to lead small healing groups for the rest of the staff missionaries at YWAM, seeing that only a handful of us took the course. The DTS and Bible staff have shared with us that there is a definite rise in trauma and anxiety in the younger generation, and they do not feel equipped to deal with their students’ emotional needs and would welcome training.
Meanwhile, Phoebe had her share of challenges. She picked up a stomach bug, hand/foot/mouth disease, and a penicillin rash. When I needed her most, Nicole, Phoebe’s aide, took a week of medical leave to deal with the stress of working with Phoebe. That was my hardest week, as Phoebe cannot attend school without her aide. But gratefully, it was not during my class!
When Alberto returned, we were grateful, but exhausted. After a short break, he jumped back into prison ministry and has just now finished a six-day Restorative Justice conference in nearby Malmesbury. The first five days are spent listening to speakers discuss what crime is (sin) and how that separates us from the love of God. Through Jesus death on the cross, we can have restitution to him and start to make restitution with those we have hurt. Small groups of men gather to process what they have heard with a facilitator. Alberto was the facilitator for three Muslim and one Christian men. This is what he has to say about the week:
It was very interesting to share the information with the men. They have respect for Jesus, although obviously don’t consider him the Messiah. Through the material, we could dialogue freely about the concepts of sin, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is a process, and the small groups provide a platform where we could speak respectfully about our beliefs. I will continue to journey with the four men. I’m praying with hope that our good Lord will reveal his character to them, and bring his kingdom to them. I humbly give thanks to Jesus for giving me the opportunity to co-work with him in his mission.
Our Trauma Healing class attracted people from all over the world, with a small core of us from YWAM Muizenberg (Cape Town). We are pictured above at our YWAM location, where the mural shows the two hands together with the Zulu word “Ubuntu,” meaning “I am, because we are,” showing the importance of community. In the center is the river of life, the Holy Spirit, which enables us to work together to go to the nations with the message of hope and reconciliation found in Jesus.
I meet with the above-pictured ladies every week as we work through John Mark Comer’s “Practicing the Way” on the Christian disciplines of Sabbath, Solitude, Prayer, Fasting, Scripture, Community, Generosity, Service, and Witness.
On the side, I am reading “Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools” by Tyler Stanton. I’m also finding the Lectio 365 app very helpful in reminding me to stop and pray morning, noon and night. I especially liked their Lenten series on the desert mothers and fathers.
Phoebe is pictured above at school. She recently became interested in balls! We have been working on kicking for over a decade, so I am thrilled!
It is a joy to see Margaret so frequently. She is in her final year of school and will come back to Boston with Phoebe and me during her winter break in July.
Thanksgiving
* Recent Restorative Justice processes and lives changed for Christ
* Another Restorative Justice process happening next week
* Alberto’s trip to El Salvador and his father’s recovery
* Phoebe’s recovery
* Margaret’s, Phoebe’s and my upcoming visit to Boston
* Protection in the recent storm we had
Prayer Points
* Revelation of Jesus the Messiah to come to the three Mulsim men in Alberto’s small group, and sensitivity to him as he follows-up with them
* Healed relationships, protection, and jobs for ex-offenders
* Blessing on our Boston trip June 23-July 16
* Complete healing of the residual rash on Phoebe