Cape Town

Dear Friends and Family,

Friday was our last day of ministry in George as well as in Blanco. We led their ladies bible study. It was a very good time. I was volunteered to teach. Which I did and I had a great time. It was crazy cool how God opened my mouth. What I taught really flowed from my mouth, and even with translation it flowed well. I taught on how we are made in God’s image and how we need to live like we are. It truly impacted them.

We are now in Cape Town. We arrived on Sunday, after a 6 hour drive. We are in a suburb call Fish Hoek. It is a nice little area. We have a house. There are 15 of us in a pretty small space. So there are 4 of us sleeping in a tent. But we are glad for what we have. :) All in all it is very nice. We are like a 15 min walk from the beach.

We did our first day of ministry today. We are in a township called Masiphumelele (I can’t pronounce it either). We walked around and meet people so that we could tell them about Jesus. My group of three went and met this lady named Samantha. She is a follow of Jesus but had moved in the last year and has not had any opportunity to connect with other believers; due to not knowing any. Because of that she was feeling low in spirit. Our coming to her really made her day, as well as ours. A lady with us lives in Masiphumelele and is going to connect her to some worship times and more believers.

God has really blessed us on this outreach. Things that normally are harder are made easy. We praise God for all he has done and has yet to do.

Prayer requests: For our whole team (The names are: Katie, Caitlin, Brendan, Dorie, Tammy, Lara, Ageeth, Jarryd, Courtney, Paul and Michelle, their kids: Lola, Violet and Laim. And me, Haleigh), Travel safety (Paul and Brendan are driving us and it is a little different on the other side of the road), For open doors in our ministry, For boldness in Christ. And anything else you can think of. We welcome the prayers.

I want to thank you all for the prayers that have been already prayed for. We can tell can that we have been covered in prayer. It really has made a difference for us. Thanks so much.

I am sending my love towards all of you. I can't wait till I see you again.

Blessings,

Haleigh

Dandelion

The other day was free and I took a walk with a little boy named Liam. He is around 17 months and a very busy little boy.

Liam is interested in everything. Sticks, weeds, flowers, water bottles, rocks, chairs, broomsticks... Pretty much everything. He wants to know what it is and what you can do with it. I have watched him push a chair over, stand it up, and then do it all over again. He is in awe of the world and how it works.

We were walking along, taking time as he bent down and pick up a leaf or other weeds. Wanting to touch everything. not caring what is was. (I didn't let him touch all that he saw) I picked up a dandelion and showed him how to blow on it. He thought it was the coolest thing in the world. He would blow, not get far, then give it to me to blow. And after want another one.

It made me think. How long has it been since I was so much in awe of God's creation or in awe of God himself. There is so much that can put me in awe of God, yet it has been a while since I have allowed myself to be in awe. I see the world, but do not let it get to me. I want to change this about myself, and I challenge you to do the same.

Let us live life together in awe of God and what he has made.

Thanks to all who have read this blog. It means a lot to me. It is our last week in the city of Gorge. I am going to miss it. But I am excited for Cape Town. And what God is going to do there through us. Each day is exciting in that way.

Something that has put me in awe of God today is:
The kids at Kidstop. We prayed with some of them and seeing God work with them and them having emotional healing. It was pretty awesome to be a part of it. And seeing how God can work though people. God is AMAZING!

I love you all. Sending big hugs! :)
Haleigh

Blanco

One of the places where we work is a township called Blanco. It is a very poor place. There is a lot of drinking going on there. It is one of the highest places in Gorge (at least Gorge, maybe South Africa) for fetal alcohol syndrome. It is not a place where one would go on vacation or where one goes to see the beauty. There is beauty there, but it is hidden. Most people wouldn't see a beautiful place. But if you look closely into the hearts of the men, women, and kids who live there; you see beauty. Sometimes you have to look hard, they have lots of hurts and pain in their lives. But it is there. Just waiting to be found and appreciated.

But there are some who are making a difference in their community. There is a group of woman who are looking past their own hurts. They have sought and received Christ in their lives. And are making a difference in the life of their neighbors. These woman in extreme poverty, run a soup kitchen for the elderly. They meet on a weekly basic for a bible study. They don't believe that they can't make a difference because they don't have much to work with, they do what they can, and let God supply the rest.

We have worked a good amount with these woman and with the kids in Blanco. The kids have stolen my heart. We go up to a place where there are swings and a place to play. The kids gather, like ants upon a picnic. They are just craving love. That is all. But love is something that most of them are lacking. A statement I heard going though my DTS was that "Hurt people hurt people". It is true in all people but especially here. The parents are hurt and then the kids are hurt and the cycle continues. It is not something that can be changed by money. Yes, some money is needed; but what is needed more is people who care and can make a difference.

One of the kids who stole my heart name is Waldo. He is a six year old boy. Sometimes he is naughty, looking for attention that he doesn't seem to get all that often. But looking past that, there is so much more to him waiting to be discovered. He understands some English, but doesn't really speak it. But when I spoke about Jesus to him. And how much Jesus loves him, he had the biggest smile I have ever seen on him. He didn't understand it, but he got something from it.

One day, I was playing with Waldo and he beckons me to follow him.  I follow a little ways but then turned back. He wasn't too happy with me not following, but continued on. When he came back he had to pieces of candy with him. One for him, and one for me. Not knowing what it was, i put it in my mouth (it was tightly wrapped, so i didn't have to worry about germs and things), it turned out to be gum. (if you know me well, I hate gum and can't stand chewing it) But I chewed on it and enjoyed it. It was one of the few ways he had to share something with me. This poorest of poor kids buying me gum. Enjoying it with me and enjoying that he had something that he could give. It was quite important to him that I chewed it.

Waldo was the first miracle that I had a part in. He had a hurt very close to his eye. It looked really bad. Some people in my team prayed for it, and I prayed for it as well. A couple hours later it was greatly improved. It wasn't completely gone but it was better than it should have been. It wasn't normal how quickly it improved. It was totally cool seeing God work.

No matter how many times I have seen God work here, it never ceases to amazing me and to have me in awe of his power and works. The more I see of God and his works,  the more I want him in my life. God constantly amazes me and life is never boring with him. 

I pray that you all are encouraged by this note. Thanks so much for supporting me with prayers. All that I am doing would be a lot harder if I wasn't covered in prayer like I am. I am so blessed having all you in my life. If you have any questions, I encourage you to ask them. I am not the best at answering but I will do my best.

Love,
Haleigh