QWA QWA NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2013
With the blink of an eye we are already at the end of the second month of the year.
Time waits for no man and so we need to plan ourselves well to get the most out of every day.
Mountain Ministries Church
The stage has been reached where we have now outgrown the classroom in which
services are conducted. The number of children continues to grow but the regular
The stage has been reached where we have now outgrown the classroom in which services are conducted. The number of children continues to grow but the regular congregants remains much the same. However, through prayer we are trusting God to usher the people in. Apart from our leaders, it is of particular concern that there are very, very few “men” who attend the sevices. As we know “men”throughout the world play a vital and integral role in any family. Sadly though this is not the case in many homes. Ancestral worship, alcohol abuse, sex , drugs, adultery, fornication and rape are very prevalent in this area. Captain Phoobi Moodley of the South African Police Force told me yesterday that, on average, in the Phuhaditjhaba area alone, fifty reported cases of rape are received monthly. What about the rest of Qwa Qwa ?
MEN DON’T RAPE
BUT MALES DO
Is it not time to re instate the death penalty for rape, murder ,incest and other crimes that violate and infringe on the dignity of a person ?
Help has arrived
We have been praying for somebody to help with the work here at Mountain Ministries. Julia O’Connell and her three children arrived in Qwa Qwa. Julia worked at Refilwe, situated very near to Lanseria Airport. She did outstanding work in the squatter camps and excelled in everything she did. Two of her children, Daniel and Jessica, are weekly boarders at the Retief High School in Kestel. The instruction is in english and last year the matric pass rate was 100 percent. You might be wondering “How can she afford this”. Well Julia can’t but as providence would have it God can. So how’s this for provision:
Free boarding
Free schooling
Free uniforms
Free stationery
Joshua has managed to secure employment at a textile factory owned by Rani and Chris who have become good friends of ours. Thank you Rani and Chris for being so willing in making this possible for Joshua. Julia is temporarily staying in the “Rainbow House” next to the Lusaka church. The house has no bathroom, no running water but does have a toilet – outside! Her situation is far from ideal and she needs to be here in Lefika.
Farming God ’s Way (FGW)
Wow. Thank you FGW team for coming back again and sharing your knowledge. The team have been so regular in their follow up visits, so diligent in their work and we really appreciate them.
On their previous visit they challenged the young people to start their own gardens and that on their next visit, they (FGW), would inspect them. Well ,well , some took up the challenge and began their gardens. During FGW’s visit just passed they inspected the work of the “farmers” who were advised as to what to do and what not to do in the future. All the “farmers” were greatly encouraged and were photographed in their gardens.
For their sterling efforts they were invited to a time of fellowship and sharing.
Tea, coffee and cold drinks were on offer together with cakes, sweets and biscuits.
Two Forthcoming Events
During the first week of the coming school holidays Scripture Union will be training potential facilitators in the “Life Skills” course.
This is an excellent course taught in schools and targets the Grade 9 and 10 age range. Once the facilitators have been trained they will be able to teach on issues affecting the lives of the teenager such as :
SELF ESTEEM DECISION MAKING VALUES LOVE
MARRIAGE DRUG ABUSE SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE
HIV and AIDS CARING SEXUALITY ANGER MANAGEMENT
BULLYING COMMUNICATION SKILLS MY FAMILY
CHARACTER BUILDING VOLUNTEERING DRUG ABUSE
There are more issues that are covered but this gives you an idea as to what the course entails.
Holiday Bible Club
This ever popular event will be taking place during the second week of the school holidays. The children always look forward to this event and they really enjoy themselves.
Food Parcels
“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 2 TH 3:10
A lot of time and effort is spent in the buying, and delivery of the parcels. The funding is received from “His Place” church in England. The condition of the funding is that the parcels be given to orphans who attend church regularly.
The recipients are those attending the “Lusaka Christian Fellowship” and “Mountain Ministries” churches. Unfortunately though there is an “atitude of NO gratitude” with not even a “thank you” forthcoming. After careful consideration it was decided that to receive a food parcel, each recipient must do eight hours work per month.
Are we being spiteful ? NO !
Are we being unfair ? NO !
Are we teaching them responsibility ? OH YES!!!
It was explained to the orphans of both churches as to why their parcels had been withdrawn and what they needed to do to have them re-instated. My oh my oh my. Protestation after protestation was the order of the day at Lusaka. Feeble excuses were offered as to why they should receive a food parcel and not work for it. We are adamant. NO EXCEPTIONS. Lets see what happens when the “hunger pains” really start hurting.
The response at Mountain Ministries was quite different. NOBODY objected and are quite happy to put in their hours. NO HUNGER PAINS HERE.
Appreciation
A big note of thanks to ALL OF YOU who support the ministry and ourselves personally. Without your support the circumstances would be rather dismal. God Bless you.
Prayer Items
As the Holy Spirit leads you please pray :
For accommodation for Julia
For Reg’s health – he is battling
For the Scripture Union team
For finance to fund the HBC
For the hard hearts of the people of Qwa Qwa
With all our love in Jesus
John, Reg and Cynthia
