Long walk on a short beach

^"But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise." Luke 19:40

It’s been a long week and I had a great desire to get out and get away today, but where to? I don’t know many places that would be a good escape and I longed for something familiar, something comfortable. I jumped in a car and started heading towards Cape Town maybe a movie at the Harbor or something? There are only a few roads that I know and when I hit a detour heading into Cape Town I was a little worried. But that detour brought me right to a charming little beach outside of Cape Town (Lagoon Beach). The beach, the ocean… the place I always go when I want to be near to my God, rejoice with Him or just cry out to Him. What a gift!

So today, I took a long walk on a short beach, walking up and down several times reflecting about my time so far and wondering how God will use the time I’ve dedicated to this journey. No answers, just a comfortable, familiar afternoon with my Heavenly Father in the heart of His amazing creation… walking down the beach with Table Mountain towering over the harbor, it was a beautiful sight to behold and I even found a piece of sea glass.

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came." John F. Kennedy

Click Here for Pictures

Pray for: God ordained moments with each kid before I leave & strength for the journey ahead (finish well at Bridges & mission to Tanzania)

My prayer for you: That you would have a sweet moment with your Heavenly Father today.

Because of you HIV/AIDS

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

This was left behind by a young girl in one of my classes, I'm starting to realize that often they will leave notes and things behind because they actually want me to read them. I've typed it just as it was written:

I had it all

but it went down

the drain

I couldn’t breath

my eyes were full of tears

my heart was cold

My parents were taken

away from me

friends, anyone I cared for

Because of you I have nothing

but I want to let you know

I’m not afraid of you

Because of you HIV/AIDS

I’m strong

you have not destroyed me

and for that you will not bring me down

All you do is give me strength

to fight you so bring it on!!!

Pray for the millions of kids who could claim this as their own around the world.

Hoop Prayers!

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:11

On Wednesdays I coach a group of 12 girls who have signed up to be on the "Basketball Team" at Bridges Academy, which is amazing since they have never really been on a sports team before and there are no other girls teams for us to play as of now. As you can imagine, trying to get them motivated to run 1.5km to the basketball court and then work hard on the court for an hour only to run another 1.5km back to school, is pretty difficult. The first time I made them run for taking too long of a water break they looked at me like I had two heads. So, I dug down deep and pulled out my best Coach Heather speech about being part of a team, sacrificing, feeling good about yourself... then I told them that I had no idea if they would ever play another team but that I was committed praying every night that they would have that opportunity. Two days later the school got an email from the organizer of the boys league saying they were going to start a girls league next term and the first tournament will be August 13th - I almost fell out of my chair when they mentioned it to me casually! I couldn't wait to tell them, some of them were beyond excited and others were a bit worried since they have never really played a team sport and one girl was most concerned about what color their uniforms will be (girls will be girls)!

This may seem like a silly thing to pray for in the midst of so many other predominant needs, however, this is about more than just basketball. It's about establishing self-confidence, being part of a team, competing and most of all... seeing their Heavenly Father care enough to give them a team to play.

Now, start praying for these girls to get some basics down and have fun competing! As for me, you might want to pray that I'm able to tone down my competitive nature - I think I'm scaring them a bit. I'll get some pics to you soon until then here is a link to pics from this weekend: Pictures from hiking

Sweet Home

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Today I was able to sneak away from the academy and go with Susan, Sisanda & Mama Lulu to the Creche in Sweet Home. There were twice as many kids as the first time. The first time I went, two weeks ago, many of the kids were scared of us because we were white (many have never seen a white person in their township), today when they saw me come in they mobbed me - It was a bit overwhelming! They saw I had a guitar so right away I played some songs - Yes Kristy we did "At a Time Like This" - and they even remembered most of the hand motions from last time. After that we tried to help with lunch but the kids were too anxious to play with us. With only a couple of us there it was challenging to instruct them to play games (since they don't understand English and almost all of them were 4 or younger) so I did some pat-a-cake and invented some jumping games - we couldn't go outside since most of the kids don't have shoes and the lot is full of rocks and glass.

After I tired from endless rounds of jumping and pat-a-cake, I decided I would just pick up each one vying for my attention and hold them for a minute and look them right in the eyes with a smile. Their reactions varied, some looked right back at me with a huge smile; some rested their head on my shoulder; and others were more interested in touching my hair and playing with it. Just about everyone of them gave me a kiss before I set them down and then they would get in line to be picked up again, well sort of a line. There was a moment when an older boy (about 7 or 8) reached out his arms for me to pick him up, so I did and he smiled bigger than the rest, and then it came to me... he was probably Nomokolwa's son (read the post "Ncuma") and he was at the Creche because he can no longer go to the school he's been attending due to her ill-health. I was so thankful God gave me the opportunity to hold him and show him His love through a smile.

As we drove back to the farm, I thought of how I go about my normal days in America and don't even consider how a simple smile or dedicated moment would bless someone. I'm thankful I get the opportunity to be here and walk the journey at Bridges Academy, Sweet Home, and with the Staff here at the Academy and in the Townships and I pray that I will take those opportunities to simply bless someone always and often in my life wherever I am. I pray the same for you.

Pray for the CHE volunteers who run the Creche (pre-school) that God would bless them and provide beyond what they can imagine for this community outreach, training, materials, strength and joy!

Bible Study Journey

"The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19

For those of you following the bible study journey, chalk one up to Miss Heather! Today I have the girls right before lunch which is an open invitation for a nap, so I asked them which they would prefer Romans 12 or to read another chapter in "Hinds Feet in High Places". They unanimously said to read another chapter, I think because they wanted a nap, so we did a little devotion and then I asked them to quietly get up and we walked around the farm and read the chapter as we walked together. Not only was it a victory against the nappers, but it was a beautiful day and the scenery here is right out of the book with the valley leading right up to the mountains - so close you feel like you could reach out and touch them. Today, for the first time, some of the girls actually read parts of the chapter - we stopped at an orange tree and picked oranges then talked about the similarities between our spiritual journeys and Much-Afraid's journey, the main character.

For those of you who may be thinking I had a total spiritual break-through, not quite. I asked them to be very quiet as we approached the school so they didn't disturb the other classes, then I instructed them to go "to the left" and they all broke out singing loudly "to the left, to the left, everything you own in a box to the left..." - yes they know Beyonce here too! Haha - busted! Tomorrow - back to Romans 12, I can't wait to see what the Lord will do tomorrow!

Pray for: Zanele, Vuyiseka, Mimitha, Asanda, Thandi, Yanga, Nolubabalo, Sive, Thandazwa to fall in love with God's Word!

Just let yourself go Miss Heather

"Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." Proverbs 6:5

Today was a busy day, it started with Mr. Courage knocking on my door at 7:30 to play, at which point I gladly welcomed Siya in to play a 10 round Jenga tournament! Next soccer (or futball) and then picking some oranges around the farm. Siya is Sisanda's son (CHE leader in Sweet Home) and I must say I have a soft spot for him that never ends, even at 7:30 in the morning!

This afternoon, the older girls came to my room and all of the sudden my room turned into "Salon Heather", I pulled out the nail polish and the next thing I knew they were doing my hair and had pulled out my make-up (which is not extensive)! Then they got a hold of my iTunes and turned the music up. Phola came and grabbed me to dance with her, once again I tried to explain my lack of dancing skills but to no avail. It was like Will Smith teaching Kevin James to dance in the movie Hitch... "Just let yourself go Miss Heather", as Phola said this I thought to myself "I've traveled across the world to let myself go and I still can't quite do it". Phola then said, "I just follow my heart... it's easy" Hmmm - once again I believe I've complicated things far too much!

Then I spent the rest of the afternoon with my discipleship girls, we spent some time in the Word together - but the nail polish (left out by the older girls) was calling their name, so I let them have at it.

Pray that this fun time with the girls will lead to conversations that glorify God and strengthen them (and myself) in their walk with Christ!

Click here for pictures

God's Word breaks though!

“As the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater so is my Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:9-10

I teach 9 grade 8 & 9 girls bible study classes 3 times a week and spend about 2 hours after school hours with those same girls in a discipleship group. When the director of the school told me she had been reading a novel to her girls and talking about biblical topics, I had the brilliant idea to read "Hinds Feet in High Places" a book that was very significant in my spiritual journey. After three classes last week, I found a pattern... I was reading them to sleep, literally at least half of the girls would fall asleep despite me yelling at them, making them do jumping jacks, and threatening with detention. At this point, I was ready to go the distance with these girls without ever seeing sign of seeds planted.

For our next class I planned something else since they couldn't stay awake, I went straight to God's Word, Romans 12 and taught an inductive bible study method (observe, interpret, apply). We talked about gifts and I asked them each to identify their gift in the list or have their friends identify it. They loved it! Our application was to put our spiritual gifts into action in a specific way and report back.

Today we started class and I asked them to report back and a couple actually did with some very general answers, then one girl (Mimitha) raised her hand and asked, "How do you live out the gift of leadership"? Great question! I gave her examples, one of which was to lead people who were heading in the wrong direction with their behavior back to the path God desires for us, at this point I had only lost two to an afternoon nap. I watched her process my words, and the next thing I know she's giving the elbow to my two nappers and telling them to sit up and listen as we study God's Word!

Nothing has more power than the Word of God! Nothing!

Hurry Miss Heather it's a bomb!

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" Matthew 18:20

First let me say, to all my teachers a heart-felt apology for being a pain in the “bum” and my gratitude to each and everyone of you! That goes to all of you who teach and are reading this blog… thank you for what you do. That being said, today was my turn to laugh!

One of my duties is to teach computers on Mondays and Tuesdays to Grade 8, 9, 10,11 & 12 learners here at Bridges Academy. I quickly realized that I needed to start with square one, so I am teaching them to type – that’s right Mrs. Whimmer – Heather Mason is teaching typing to High School kids, and English is not their first language and still difficult for many of them! We are using a typing program that works you through the keyboard and times you at different phases (I offer chocolate to the fastest and most improved as a little incentive). Today as I started my grade 9 class, Lazola started calling my name while I was helping another student, I could hear a nervous sound in his voice so naturally I thought he broke the computer. “Miss Heather! Miss Heather! Come quick I think it is a bomb (which sounded like bum when he said it)! I jumped over to where he was sitting and he was holding the laptop up to his ear, then I realized he had accidently turned on the metronome sound that you can use to guide your typing – it did sound a bit like a bomb ticking. It took a moment for the humor to set in, but when I sat down at my desk I started laughing so hard I could barely contain myself, which started them all laughing as well! A bomb in his computer – I love it!

My lesson in all this, we are on this journey together. I have given them much to laugh at… my attempts at Xhosa, my dancing, my funny American sayings and they have allowed me to laugh with them as well!

Pray for:

• · Continued joy here at Bridges Academy (even with non-stop wind & rain)!
• · The students to grasp computer skills as they are essential to go on to University or obtain a good job.
• · Give praise and thanks for all teachers, here at the Academy and throughout the world!

Ncuma!

"... there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7

Ncuma means smile in Xhosa. On Friday, I finally got a chance to go to Sweet Home Township with Sisanda and Ted. We started at the Creche (pre-school run by CHE's - the only school in Sweet Home) where we sang songs with lots of hand motions (since they couldn't understand what we were singing) and then helped out a bit at lunch-time. They were absolutely precious and one thing I learned, animal noises cross the language barrier, so I would pick up a toy monkey and start acting like a monkey... they would laugh and then pull out another animal - on and on! Not one word between us was understood but we had a wonderful morning together. We then got a chance to see CHE (Community Health Evangelism) training in action, next we went to Nomokolwa's home.

Sisanda had met Nomokolwa the previous week because she noticed some older kids coming to the creche, she asked why they were coming and they said they used to make the journey to school but their mom has been sick and they can't make the journey. So we went to Nomokolwa's home and talked with her for a bit (Sisanda translated) and she told us she was struggling to come to terms with her HIV diagnosis and worried about her kid's education. We asked if we could pray for her and we all got on our knees in the rain-soaked shack and prayed for her requests. Right after our prayer, Sisanda asked Nomokolwa a question in Xhosa and she replied with "Ewe (yes)!", Sisanda turned to us with a big smile and said, "She wants to accept Christ as her Savior"! Ted talked to her about what that meant and then we all prayed together. Ncuma, there is rejoicing in heaven for Nomokolwa!

Pray for:

• Nomokolwa's health, provision for her kids to go back to school and that she would get involved in the HIV support group run through the CHE's
• CHE's in Sweet Home that God would empower them as they go and visit with many others like Nomokolwa in their community
• For the rain to stop (not just because I don't like it) it creates horrible living conditions in the townships

Remember... Ncuma!

Click here for pictures from Sweet Home

Give and Go

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:8

This has been a busy and somewhat difficult week. The good news is that I've become a part of the fabric here at Bridges Academy, but with that comes the stark reality of the stories, struggles and literally life or death decisions the staff and subsequently the kids face here. I'll spare you details of these, as who needs another sad story out of Africa when there is plenty of hope and joy to be told of. So as I struggled a bit personally with all that I was taking in, I went about my responsibilities and set out to do them with excellence.

On Wednesday, in the midst of a driving rainstorm I had 12 girls sign up to be on the official girls basketball team (I teach all 35 girls basketball on Mondays). Since it was raining we could not make the 2 mile trek to the basketball court but there is a stand up hoop in the "shed" with what you might calculate as a half-court of space with pool tables and such on the outskirts. The girls all showed up anxious to go so we went for it, I made them run mini-suicides, ran through basic drills and then I taught them one play "give and go". Mind you, these girls have never played basketball before, so... much to my surprise when we played 3 on 3 competitions I saw the "give and go" executed perfectly several times without me even prompting them to do it. I yelled "That's what I'm talking about BABY!" and they fell on the ground laughing either at my excitement or my expression or both - I'm not sure?

For me, I realized that something is sinking in and if they get the "give and go", maybe they will take a few things away from our time in the Word together or the business & computer skills I am training them in. Even though I am just here to "give and go" I have to trust that God will use it to His glory and I will join these girls in their joy and laughter as well as pray for them in their struggles.

Today Pray for the basketball girls: Phola, Phumzile, Thobeka, Azile, Sive, Mimitha, Unathi, Zelda, Thandazwa, Yanga, Vuyiseka, Nolubablo for joy and perseverance.

Sunday at the Farm

"...for the joy of the LORD is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10

What a beautiful day out here at the farm (everyone refers to property Bridges Academy is on as the farm), the wind has died down a bit and the temps are around 24 (mid-70's). I decided to stay on the farm for the church service with the kids, a church outside of Cape Town has committed to send a pastor out each week to have church here. The message "The Way to Joy" the worship song "If You're Happy and You Know it" - simple message that spoke volumes to my heart. I don't know about you, but I tend to complicate things far more than I should... I'm sure that gives God a chuckle! Even now, at 9:00 tonight, I can hear kids across the way singing "If you're happy and you know it" - I love it.

This afternoon I wandered down to the school to watch the younger kids practice a dance they will perform next weekend for "Caregivers Weekend", they were awesome!!! After the practice the kids, lead by Azile on the djembe drum started a dance game where they would call a person to come to the middle and dance, after that person danced they would all laugh hysterically, but that person was not done... they would be called back two or three more times. It was a blast to watch, until... the name they called was "Miss Heather", I was somewhat anticipating this and decided to use one of my newly learned Xhosa words "Haibo (aye-bo)" which means an emphatic "no"! That did not excuse me from the game and so I went in and threw a little sprinkler move at them then left - they laughed so hard I thought the windows would break and thankfully they did not call me back into the middle! The rest of the afternoon was spent playing games and helping with their studies.

What is God teaching me? Joy is not that complicated!

How can you pray?

• Productive week at the Academy as I start teaching several classes
• God would bless this ministry here at the Academy and in the Townships
• Pray for Nqabo a boy at the Academy with whom I've had some great discussions about faith and God's Word.
• Pray for the staff to see even a glimpse of the fruit from their work here and for them to be encouraged.

Hamba kakuhle (go well) Sala kakuhle (stay well)!