Hello everyone!  Happy Valentine’s Day!  We are pictured above on Christmas Day!  We are enjoying a long hot summer, which I am very happy about, despite the constant threat of wild fires. Every summer at least one fire blows soot and ash over our property, so we continue to lift up the firefighters and victims in prayer!

So many updates, where to begin…

Alberto has been following up with past participants of the Restorative Justice programs, and is one of the MC’s for the program that started this week.  Please pray for open ears and for God to draw the participants to himself.

Sam, one of the soccer players, gave his life to Jesus and got baptized!  Thank you for praying for this ministry.  Another soccer player, Peniel, whom we have mentioned in the past, just graduated with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, and is now starting a Master’s program.  With your help, we have been supporting his studies.

Isaac, our unofficial tenant, is now doing his DTS through YWAM in Durban, which is an intensive three-month Discipleship Training School and a two-month outreach.  He is loving learning more about God’s character and his identity as a child of God.  He calls us more frequently than our own kids do, as he has so many exciting stories to share!  We are thrilled doors finally opened for him, as Durban was not his first choice, nor second choice, and not even his third choice!

This struggle actually highlights some of the challenges people with a criminal history face, even if they appear to have superficially reintegrated into society.  It is impossible to delete a prison sentence from your history, and we as the church have many obstacles to overcome in terms of being able to truly welcome our formally incarcerated brothers and sisters, while simultaneously providing the extra support they need.

For example, in his Durban DTS, Isaac cannot do the required outreach with his team, as he would be in direct contact with school-aged children.  The law is very clear on this restriction, as it should be.  This is an impossible hurdle for anyone with a criminal past to overcome though, especially for someone who loves children, and whose criminal history did not involve children.  Of course there are alternatives, such as providing an outreach opportunity for Isaac that does not involve children, so that is what YWAM is trying to create.  I am grateful for their desire to meet Isaac where he is, and to not have closed the door on his face.

Isaac excels in fixing things, so before he left for Durban, he and Alberto fixed a friend of a friend’s house in Ocean View, which is the “Coloured” township not far from us.  (In South Africa, challenged communities have picturesque names.)  It is amazing how much better you feel with a proper roof over your head.  And it is shocking how people can survive in such challenged environments, and how thieves show no mercy.

Although I don’t mention it regularly, we are still involved in a feeding program in this community, which, sadly, seems to be growing in need and numbers.  At the Christmas party, 350 kids received small goody bags.  I can’t show you the kids’ eyes, but please know they are beautiful!

Speaking of Christmas, we had a wonderful time celebrating with Isaac and Margaret.  We missed Ana and Frenchie!  It always fills my soul to reconnect with my kids in the flesh, so Isaac’s quick visit was a blessing.  And Margaret’s presence here is an incredible blessing!

Margaret is happy to be back, and has maintained an impressive social schedule since arriving early December.  Now that her money is depleted, she has found a waitressing job at a restaurant down the street from us.  Originally she was going to live downtown, close to her college, but the accommodations we viewed were neither safe nor sanitary.  Sadly, the college does not offer housing, so students either commute from home or find group houses with friends.  Margaret is hoping to commute from home until she can find a good group of friends to live with.  The only challenge to this plan is the commute.  She does not have a license yet (though she has her South African permit!), so we are working on a carpool group.  Orientation starts this week.  We have had to jump through more hoops than I care to recount, but, we have made it through.  Now the real challenge will come with the start of classes!

Margaret is not the only one starting classes this year.  Phoebe started school last month at Beautiful Minds Learning Center.  You may remember that we hired Leigh-Anne to be her aide.  Leigh-Anne is calm and responsible, and has a sweet connection with Phoebe.  Starting school was understandably challenging for Phoebe.  Her glucose levels went hay-wire the first week.  The teacher called me in for a meeting and told me she wasn’t sure the school was a good fit, but they agreed to give her more time.  And sure enough, the following weeks have been much better, to the point that I now get happy reports from the school and Leigh-Anne!  We are so grateful for this opportunity, and for our generous donor.

Probably not the best in terms of timing, but definitely in terms of climate, is the fact that we started potty-training Phoebe again!  I am fed-up with the price of pull-ups, and have a firm conviction that we can master this.  It has been a very slow and long last two months, but she is making progress.  The biggest challenge is getting Phoebe to disengage from her current activity in order to go to the bathroom. No prize seems to be incentive enough for her, so, most of the toys travel with us to the bathroom regularly.   I have micro-analyzed every step of the process, and even have a virtual follow-up with the Toileting Clinic at Children’s Hospital soon.  Please pray we can do this!

In other news, Ana and Frenchie are well.  They are leading an outreach in Mexico during Carnival this week.  Back in Kona, Ana is leading a Brave Hearts women-only DTS this term.  Frenchie continues to teach on evangelism.

Isaac is skiing every spare moment he gets, and is getting used to the energy of elementary school-age kids at Park Street School.  It is most confusing having two Isaacs!

Prayer Requests

Open eyes and ears during this week’s Restorative Justice conference.
* A graduate from Restorative Justice, who was recently released from prison and given a job at a socially-conscious restaurant, is struggling in finding a balance between his new job and his new freedom.  Please pray he stays committed to the job.
* Isaac to soak up the presence of God during his time in Durban.
* Sam to grow in his love and understanding of God.
* Phoebe’s continued adjustment to her new school.
* Margaret’s first semester at school to be settling, after jumping around the world and considering so many options.
* Isaac (Parada) to have patience, peace, and joy as he teaches energetic kids.
* Ana and Frenchie’s outreach in Mexico to draw many people to Christ.