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