Here Comes the Sun...

The weather is crazy here! It is windy almost constantly…but I really love it. It is just now becoming Spring as of September 1st. So it is still pretty chilly and rainy at times. There is not heat in the buildings, so often times it is colder inside than it actually is outside. The landscape here is beautiful though, and especially when it is sunny, it looks like paradise! Even though we are not completely in the bush of Africa, there are still so many aspects of the typical Africa scenery that can be seen in the Cape Town area. We are completely surrounded by mountains and the ocean…its strange to see such contradicting landscapes all together! Its amazing though

The Lord is continually showing us how faithful He is. Even though I have only been here almost a week, it is incredible to see how God moves throughout this community every second! Not only has He been watching out for me, and delivering me from myself with my anxiety and worrying, but He is continually providing for the Living Hope community and the people here in the townships.

I have begun the internship aspect of everything at Living Way. It is going to be a great opportunity to explore my own skills in the area of non-profit administration and really learn more about the field. However, it is also becoming difficult to remember that my job in the office is just as needed and effective to the community as any other job. Hopefully next week I will begin working in the afternoons at a kids club in one of the townships nearby. I would really love that!

The people here are incredible! I have found that the blacks are probably the nicest I have met! The whites are nice, but they are not as receptive to new comers and are not as loving.

This week I have learned a lot about the overall set-up of the Living Hope Trust. It is unbelievable to see what kind of impact their services are having on the communities. I cannot wait to see the type of growth and development that will happen during my time here.

The Lord has blessed me so much in regards to my living situations and interactions with the other volunteers. I have met incredible people and great new friends! I can honestly say that I can see this as my home for the next year!

The main component of my internship is completed at the Living Way campus. Here I will be assisting with monitoring and evaluating the programs in place. One incredible thing that this ministry offers is entrepreneur development. Living way provides training and support for grassroot entrepreneurs in the Masi area. (Masi is short for Masiphumelele, and is the township neighboring LW) There are 4 up and running entrepreneurs on site in what they call business incubators. That system is where the new business rents, at a reduced cost, a business space on the LW campus for one year so that they can get their businesses up and running effectively and efficiently. Khumi runs a sewing business and makes beautiful purses, bags, pillows and placemats. She is a huge success story for Living Hope and has been highlighted in many of their accomplishments. Right now Khumi has been ill and in the clinic for quite a few months, so please continue to pray for her health and sustainability. Vusi is local artisan. He creates beautiful hand crafted candles, along with many wire-work Christmas decorations. He is currently working on a bath of candles that will be sent to Alabama to be sold for profit. Khumi and Vusi are both so incredibly talented and many of us have already and will be purchasing items from their businesses. Patience runs a Xhosa lesson business. Xhosa is the main language of the Xhosa people which are found throughout the townships. This is the clicking language! It is phenomenal! A few of the volunteers and I are going to be taking some classes with her next term. I cannot wait! Then there is Shadrack. He runs a computer training class here on campus and is also extremely successful. I don’t know much about his business but I do know that it is always full.

The individuals who are in these business incubators are such inspirations to everyone. They have taken what skill the Lord has blessed them with and used it to multiply their earnings and make a life for themselves. That is also one of the main aspect of Living Way that I love so much. Instead of just always giving out freebies, and offering services at no cost, which are all well and also needed, Living Way offers education in the business world in hopes of ending the vicious cycle of poverty. Individuals are more likely to continue with their goals if they have some type of investment of their own into their activity.

Tomorrow we will be getting a car…me and 2 other volunteers. That should be REALLY interesting considering they drive on the wrong side of the road here! LOL :) But at least we will have a form of transportation on the weekends and at night!

Write more later

Peace and Love,
Christina