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.

Oneness

Oneness Ephesians 4:4-6 “You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.”_(MSG) God has brought together both young and old believers from four local Baptist churches along with the members of the Xhosa Student Ministry team to reach youth in seven different Cape Town schools this new school year. What does He ask for? Oneness. Praise God for the unity we share because of Him. Ask God to help us in everything we think, say and do to permeate Oneness in Him to others.

Cape Town

Answer to Prayer from Gail in Cape Town:
The doctor is releasing dad to go home tomorrow.  He will have an IV line hooked up into his arm for antibiotics and the nurse will visit him at home to start a drip each day.  She will also check his vitals.  My stepmom and others will be cleaning the house top to bottom before he gets home to get rid of dust and allergens so that nothing could make his coughing start again.  He is looking forward to being home for Christmas.  They know he will not be given chemo or radiation and he will not have surgery to remove the tumors so it is all about making him comfortable and healing what they can, the infection.
Please continue to pray for Gail, her dad, and the entire family, especially during this Christmas season.

Cape Town

Please pray for Gail's dad and her whole family!
Well, I have just received a phone call about Dad.  The cancer has returned in four places in his body which includes the lung and kidney he has left, as two of the places.  The specialist doctors will all get together on Monday to decide what to do.  Whatever they do, he must be rid of the pneumonia first.  Stepmom said the kidney, lung, cancer, and heart doctors will all meet and decide his case next week.  I must say I wasn't expecting that.  Please pray for the doctors. Pray that God will give them wisdom in their decision making process.

Cape Town

The Cape Town Baptist Seminary graduated a new army of ministers in November.  Some will return to northern Africa countries; most are from South Africa.  Pray that they will continue to follow the Lord’s promptings and receive ministry positions.  Pray that God will continue to provide for them and their families.  Pray that those who left families for four years to study in Cape Town will find family waiting excitedly and with open arms to see their returning ministers for God. 

Followup to previous request:

In the newest English class in Elsies River, Cape Town, South Africa, there are now 13 students from 2 major faith systems.  The exciting part is everyone  wants to be in a Bible study.  The even more exciting part is that a local Burundian refugee lay pastor, an elder from his church, and Gail, will be visiting all the students in their homes to prepare for this new Bible study that will be lead in their heart languages, Swahili and Kirundi.  A local Baptist church has offered the use of their building for when they want to become and official church.  Though there are only 13 students, these student with their families total almost 40 people.  Can you imagine the praises God would have when they all raise their voices in prayer and worship?!  Continue to pray for this group of refugees to grow to know and love the Lord and then, in due time, to take their faith back to Burundi.

Family Member's Surgery

Please pray Gail's mother on your prayer list this week.  Gail works in Cape Town.  Tuesday morning her mom will be having an operation on her shoulder to repair it from the fall she took earlier this year.  The doctors know she has a tear in the tendon around the rotator cup but may find a fracture as well.  She is a very active 71 year old and to have her shoulder to be immobile for weeks is going to be hard for her.  Pray for the doctors as they operate.  Pray for patience during the healing process.

Xhosa in Cape Town

Last month you joined the Xhosa Student Ministry Team in asking God to multiply His work among the Xhosa youth.  We are thanking Him for answering by 3's. Praise God for providing for 3 Xhosa nationals along with team members, Britnie and Sarah, to be able to attend a life skills training founded in God's word and Jesus Christ to use in the classroom.  Thank God for providing 3 new opportunities this month to show the Jesus film about the unmatched life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to students and parents from 2 schools and 1 church. Please join us in asking God to continue to multiply and draw many to come, to see, to hear and to desire to know Jesus Christ. Thank you.

From Cape Town

Here is an update on Gail's dad.  He is still having pain, so the doctor wants to try him on another kind of nitroglycerin until Monday to ease the angina pain. Since the doctor started him on lasix (anti-water pill), he has lost about 10 pounds of water on his lungs and around his heart.  He will continue to take that.  He has had to stop the blood thinners for 4 days before the catheter so is having to eat only certain foods that will help him during this time.  He will go to the hospital at 6:30am Monday for the cath.  He won't be able to roll over for 6 hours after the procedure so he won't be home until our night time, if all goes well.
Thank you for praying for him these past two weeks.  Please continue to pray for him, the doctors, and his wife.

CMET Worker's Father

I (Gail) spoke with my father tonight.  He sounded more positive about this waiting game.  He said he has been able to get a lot of fluid off his heart with the water pills and that has helped some.  He still would like prayers because the catheter is only scheduled for next Friday and 1) it is still a week away and 2) he wants prayer for his doctor while he does it and for his body as it is going through it.
Thank you so much for your prayers at this time.  My family, his siblings, seem to be the most concerned.  Please keep them in your prayers, as well.

Cape Town Refugees

Continue to pray for refugees who choose to live in poverty in South Africa instead of in war in their home countries.  Many have never lived in a place where the military is not fighting against a group within their country.  To live in a country where there is relative peace allows them to experience a bit of the Promised Land.  There are hardships, though, being away from their home country.  Most refugees come to South Africa not knowing how to speak English.  Some have work credentials that cannot be transferred for use here; thus, they are without jobs.  Refugees in South Africa are constantly aware that xenophobia (hatred of people from other countries for fear they will take the few jobs that are available) is almost always on the minds of South Africans.  What can God offer them?  Through your contributions, workers are able to teach them English so they can talk in their adopted country and so they can apply for jobs.  With English they can go to the doctor and be understood.  Also, in these English classes,  Gail uses the Good News to teach them a language and of the Gospel.  Eventually they read it for themselves in the Bibles given to them.  Please pray for these people who are also near to the Father’s heart that they would hear and understand the Word, that they would learn English and find employment, and that they and their families would survive in a new country.

Youth in Cape Town

In May of 2011, we shared with you about the astounding number of South Africans that are in their 20's and younger making up over 60% of the population, and we asked you to join us in praying for God to move in the hearts of national partners to reach the Xhosa youth with us in the most logical place to find them, the schools. Since that time God has opened up a total of 7 schools and continues to open more schools for students to hear about Jesus Christ through the platform of teaching life skills, after school clubs and holiday youth camps. We have seen God place His passion for reaching this younger generation within the hearts of Xhosa Pastors K, L, and B, and just recently a young Xhosa woman, T. Please pray for these partners that God would continue to fuel their desire to faithfully engage with and share about the hope in their lives from knowing Jesus Christ. Ask God to make a way for teachers, like Mama I, to attend a Life Skills training where they can learn more about Jesus Christ and share about Him with their students. Join us in praising God for His good plan in reaching the Xhosa youth and pray that we,along with our Xhosa partners might be faithful to continue follow HIs lead. Thank you.

Cape Town

Prayer walk through the townships of Cape Town.

Prayer Walk - Cape Town

August 09 Cape Town Prayer Requests

August 2009

1) Please pray for the team as they plan ministry for the 2010 World Cup.

2) Please pray for the people living in townships that they will keep strong in their faith and not of not go back to african traditional religion -ancestor worship.

3) Please pray for the missionaries involved in Xhosa language study.