We have been reaching colored women in Ocean View with
the computer class, but want to expand to reach black
African women in Masiphumele.
At All Nations we set aside ten whole days in
December to give of our time and ourselves to love and
serve others as a birthday gift to our King.
It’s called 10 Day for Jesus and it’s an
annual event hosted by All Nations to mentor African leaders.
We teach them how to reach local townships with the love
of Jesus. They learn how to reach their local communities
by finding others who are spiritually hungry and starting
Discovery Bible Studies.
I had the opportunity to help mentor a few South African
guys attending 10 days for Jesus. Antonio is one of those
individuals. Our team met Antonio at Ocean View High School
during our outreach phase of CPx.
Let me tell you what I love about Antonio!
It was amazing to hear him share the
joy of being invited to fellowship with this family. He
couldn't quit smiling.
I was supposed to be mentoring Antonio, but
in truth he mentored me. In our meeting, I asked
him what his “high point” and “low point”
of the day was.
He said he just had two highs. First, his experience
that day of sharing God's love in Masi. His second high
was getting to talk about it. He said he had no low. WOW!
If I had to live where Antonio came from and experienced
daily the life of Ocean View, I know I could come up with
a few lows.
I hope to spend more time with this amazing young man!
Chapman’s
Peak Drive…listed among the top most beautiful drives
in the world. It hugs the side of a mountain, boasting
beautiful ocean views.
This Christmas season, instead of meeting in our usual
closet-size room at the local Ocean View library, I thought
it would be festive to take the Ocean View Ladies Bible
Study women up Chapman’s Peak Drive, for apple cider
and sweet rolls – to discuss what we are thankful
for and pray for each other.
Although this beautiful drive is a mere 2
miles from her home, Claudine had never been there.
None of these women can drive and life in a township is
about survival – not nearby scenic drives.
Claudine was amazed at the breath-taking views! She
couldn’t believe this had been here all her life.
My
grandfather, Theodore "Ted" Ostrand passed away
today. He was 81 years old and truly an amazing
man, born in the sand hills of Nebraska in 1928.
After marrying my grandmother and having two sons, he
contracted polio in his mid twenties. Knowing that he
must provide for his new family, he attended electronics
school driving 3 hours weekly to Omaha and coming home
on the weekends. He then opened Ted's Furniture and TV
which he ran for almost 40 years in his hometown of Ansley,
Nebraska.
Grandpa enjoyed shooting blue rock and hunting. He once
hit 100 blue rock in a row with a shot gun…100 out
of 100. A perfect shot. He could talk to anyone and make
them feel right at home, while drinking coffee in his
shop.
During his life he was faced with many times
of adversity including the Great Depression, the loss
of the use of his legs, the death of a son, and a fire
that wiped out his entire store inventory. He persevered
through it all. From his wheelchair he could drive a car,
lay carpet, repair roofs and much more.
He could have easily given up many times. I stand in
awe of his perseverance, cheerful attitude and kindness.
I loved my grandfather and will miss him dearly!
Click here for Grandpa
Ted Tribute movie.
I
have been coaching in a clinic this week for kids from
the local townships.
Some of the kids were very good players and some were
not.
The ones that were NOT, stood out to me. Why?
When some of them did something well, I told them "great
job" and "well done"! Words cannot express
the smile that was my reward! It made me wonder,
have some of these kids never been told "great job"
or "you did something awesome" or even "I
love you"?
That smile is burned into my mind. It's the same smile
I have when I think of God's love for His children - all
of them - in townships of South Africa and cities in America!
Ahh..the high school film club girls are back!
They want to meet weekly but this time combine
a Bible study with dance lessons (with the vision to be
able to do street routines to draw a crowd and create
an environment of worship in places where young people
gather).
Tonight I took three of the girls to Kingdom Dancers'
year-end recital. The girls are choosing a dance studio
and are considering this option. They liked the Christian
"message" behind the dances tonight, but will
also research other studios in the area. I am proud of
them for taking initiative!
Sisterhood of Success Job Skills Training Program
is being offered to some of the communities most down
and out women - some are prostitutes, many are addicted
to crystal meth- all are desperate for REAL jobs in order
to provide "clean" money for themselves and
their babies.
We decided to hold an information meeting for the women
in the community to learn about the program and get an
application.
IT
LOOKED LIKE NO ONE WAS COMING TO THE INFO MEETING
TODAY
This morning started off with rain (NO ONE likes
to walk to events in Ocean View when it’s raining),
our meeting room was locked, and at 10 am when our Sisterhood
of Success Job Skills info meeting was to start, not ONE
single invitee was there.
Bethany (Baby Safe’s Director) and I began to wonder
if we needed more weeks of prayer coverage before we would
see break-through in Ocean View.
As we sat on the cement outside the building, stapling
applications with the aid of about 10 African children
“helpers” – we literally said, "Let
faith arise and the enemy be scattered" and
“TODAY is the day of salvation.”
One lonely prostitute came at 10:15 am and another at
10:20 am. Claudine ran to gather more women interested
in making a change in their life.
Finally the man in charge of unlocking our venue
arrived to open the doors and by 10:30 am we had 9 women
in attendance!
We explained how the Sisterhood of Success course would
teach them to...
- change their thinking to become successful
- teach skills business owners value in employees
(to land a job and get promotions)
- learn how to start their own business
- discover what God is saying to them (through
Discovery Bible Studies)
Every woman was smiling excited at the mere thought
of changing the way they see themselves, getting a job,
and possibility of running their own business!
After
the meeting I sat with one of the prostitutes and said...
At the end of the meeting we handed
out applications and talked about how we would help the
women raise funds to pay for half the class.
We told the women, “No one else believes
in you, but WE believe in you. This is something you CAN
do!”
Please pray these women will have the courage and strength
to raise their portion of the funds and attend the course.
This will be a life-changing experience for them!
Read more about Sisterhood of Success program.
Karl
was busy this week helping plan the Christmas Soccer
Clinic. 
