Tshepisong, Soweto

One morning this week we tagged along with home based care (HBC) givers from Boitshoko Community Center. In 2002 three people began Boitshoko to assist the community of Tshepisong and the surrounding squatter camps (informal settlements). As they say here in SA, they have "gone from strength to strength". There have 5 divisions and have a hospice using part of their facility.

Five days a week, 14 health care workers visit with 123 home bound patients. Not every patient is seen every day. Some people are recovering from a surgery, some have AIDS, and others another chronic condition. They no longer have the funds to take food parcels. They offer encouragement, wash wounds with salt water (antiseptic is no longer available) and listen.

After visiting in one house, I had a conversation with one of the workers. "Beth", she said. "yes, Z", I answered. "No, now you are Z and I am Beth. What can you say to this woman? You can do nothing for her, yet everyday you have to come see her. It is depressing". I had no words in response.

Please pray encouragement for these care workers. Pray that the government would soon be providing what they have in the past. Pray for those who are receiving care, some getting better, some dying. Pray for the partnership we have begun with Boitshoko and 'FUGE and International World Changer teams. These Southern Baptist programs for high school and college-aged youth with mission awareness, involvement and overseas mission's trips. And ultimately people will be saved and join together as believers.

Transforming A Nation in Durban

TAN (Transforming a Nation) will host a discipleship round table discussion for workers in KZN onFebruary 26-27 at Westville Baptist Church.  Pray that this time of sharing would encourage the participants to implement discipleship principles in their local context.  Pray that many would share the gospel and see more come to faith as a result of their attendance.

Door of Hope in Soweto

The morgue reported that 200+ babies are abandoned in Joburg (Johannesburg) every month!  Many are abandoned on the street or in a river.  In order to give mothers a better option, for many years, one Baptist church/orphanage downtown has had a door in their wall where mothers can leave their babies with caretakers.  Now, Pastor C and Joburg team member, Kurt, are hoping to install a door and orphanage home in Soweto.  Pray for their meetings with two pastors in Soweto.  Pray that through these meeting they can finalize a church home for the door so that construction may begin.  Pray for God's plans are clear.

Mapping the City of Durban

Petrol in the car…check.  Road map...check.  National partner…check.  Sounds like someone is ready for a trip, right?  Only if that trip was in your own city!   One of the strategic things Urban Team Leaders are doing this year is mapping out their city.  Joined by a national partner, Durban team member, Charles found there to be 22 mosques in just one small section of Durban, South Africa.  Pray the people living in this part of the city will hear the Good News and give their lives to the One True God. 

Church in Windhoek

For the second year in a row, New Song Family Church (NSFC) in Windhoek chose to fast and pray throughout the month of February. Even children chose to eliminate certain foods in order to mark the seriousness of their prayers before God. The church was unified in prayer each day through a sent out prayer calendar, as well as the members coming before the Lord with their individual requests.  The congregation entered the month of fasting and praying with great excitement and anticipation over what God would do through that time of NSFC’s people humbling themselves before God and seeking His face through prayer.  Some of the prayer requests have already received God’s answer, while others are still being eagerly awaited.  Please pray that the people of NSFC will stand firm in all that they have discovered about God through February’s time of fasting and praying and continue to seek God for His victory over sin, His spiritual protection over families, His salvation for family and friends, His spiritual, physical and emotional healing, His direction and purpose for the future, His raising up of spiritual leaders, His drawing the people of Namibia to Himself, His will to be done through the governmental leadership of Namibia, and a renewed passion for sharing Jesus to a world that is desperate to know Him. 

Refugees in Cape Town

Many of the people with whom Gail, worker in Cape Town, South Africa, ministers to are refugees from Burundi.  These people come from a country with internal strife.  In the 1980’s and 1990s, over 1.1 million of the people of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes were murdered as these tribes fought each other for equality and power within Burundi and Rwanda.  The instability from this as well as from unstable government leadership in this third world part of Africa has lead many Burundians to set out for stability and a place to call home that will give their children a future.  This home for many of them is South Africa.  These people have left family in the capital city and tribal lands.  In January 2013, a very large fire engulfed the tin covered open-air outdoor market in the capital city of Bujumbura.  Many people lost their homes and all means of a livelihood for themselves and their families.  Burundians all over South Africa were heartbroken and amazed at this vicious infernal outbreak that could take people’s lives, homes, and sources of income.  They were even more amazed at the report that it was set by the police.  Please be in prayer for these people loved of God as they struggle to get back on their feet, rebuild homes, and mourn their losses.  Pray for them to search for the peace and harmony that only the Lord can give.  Pray that, in the midst of this loss and confusion, people will give their lives to the Lord and follow Him.