Making donations to South African ministries

This is something I don't usually write about...but I was recently asked by a friend and I found myself saying yes to their request.
As an American in Africa I am constantly asked to let people back home know about the financial needs of ministries here. Usually I hold back and just share with people when they ask about where or how to give. But right now is a particularly difficult time for ministries here, so I decided I would share about a couple of them here on this blog.
I had a South African friend say to me one day that having no food in the house for Westerners means there are only stables and there is nothing enjoyable to eat. For lower-income people in South Africa saying there is no food in the house means the cupboards are empty and you have not eaten a few meals.
The same saying can be said for financial difficulties in ministries. I've been through financial strain at ministries in America, but it does not compare to watching ministry staff here go without pay while praying fervently that God will provide basic food for those they serve.
When I arrived in South Africa last year America was at the peak of the financial crisis while the news stations here declared that South Africa would feel the crisis in a few months time. It seems a few months time has arrived. Today on the news I heard a report from the Global Economic Summit that one of the internationally operating banks has studied the economic crisis and estimates that 100's of 1,000's of people in Africa will fall from the edge of poverty into dire poverty this year in Africa.
In light of all of this, I would like to ask you to pray about giving into ministries who are making a difference in people's lives. There are 100's of these ministries out there. I know of a handful that are dear to me.
Since I am serving at Eagles Rising, they are very dear to my heart. This ministry amazes me. I am close enough to see when they are desparately trusting God for money to keep food on the table, and yet they have never once made a request of me in regard to finances. That is huge. All it takes is hearing my American accent to keep my days full of requests for financial help. And, yet, the leaders at Eagles Rising have kept their eyes focused firmly on God for their provision (I'm not implying other ministries are not doing this, it just surprises me that as often as I am with them I have never received a request for finances.) They work with young adults ages 17-23 to provide Bible classes, life growth opportunities, and skills development to prepare these young people to live as children of God while entering into employment and education opportunities for their future. You can learn more about them at www.eaglesrising.org.za
Another group I work closely with is Benaiah Multipurpose Resource Center. I'm on their advisory committee as we get this new ministry going. This ministry is beginning in one of the most disadvantaged areas in Cape Town in order to see complete community transformation by providing skills development and resources for developing sustainable community programs to meet the needs of all age groups in Sir Lowry's Pass Village. Benaiah is at the building phase right now. There is currently a commitment from a German-based group to match half the cost of building if finances can be raised to cover the other half.
Many people want to know about helping ministries addressing children's educational needs in South Africa. The crisis of education in this nation has recently been highlighted in a major American publication and has people's attention at the moment. Dear friends of mine work closely with Eagle's Nest Ministries (www.eagles-nest.org.za). This ministry also works in an extremely under privileged community in order to provide quality education for children who would not have it otherwise. You can learn more about them through the website.
If you have other questions about where to look if you are wanting to donate in some way towards impacting South Africa, please let me know. For those of you that support me being here, I just want to say thank you!!! What a blessing it is to be a part of what God is doing here. God is allowing me to make beneficial impacts in the places where I am serving and I couldn't do it without sponsorship to make it possible for me to live here. And several times throughout this past year I have had extra finances come in so that I could give into these ministries financially where I saw the most critical needs. Thank you for helping to make this possible!!
I hope this information helps you if you have been looking for a trustworthy place to give in South Africa.

Where I live in South Africa

I just had a great question from my grandmother about where I live, so I thought I would share my answer with everyone.
First, just to explain, South Africa is extremely diverse. Every area in South Africa is very different. So let me just say that I can only explain this from the perspective of living in Cape Town.
Secondly, even within this one city the cultures and areas are extremely diverse. South Africa has both 1st world conditions and 3rd world conditions. I do community work in some of the 3rd world areas of South Africa but at this point I am living in the 1st world areas. It is where God has me right now. I really prayed intensely about moving closer to the 3rd world conditions this year, but constantly I had people encouraging me to stay in the 1st world right now. Honestly, I think I need to be where I am right now to be able to learn about all the cultures here and to see more and more how people living comfortable lives need Jesus as much as anyone else, its just that they usually don't realize it. Just a few weeks ago I looked out my front window in my 1st world area and wept for this community as I read Revelation 3 about the lukewarm church. Vs. 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" The section goes on to say God is vomiting them out. We spend most of our time looking at things through natural eyes. Because one person is naturally wealthy, we forget to see their spiritual poverty. Another is physically poor and we spend all our energies ministering to them without recognizing the depth of spiritual wealth they often possess.
God has taught me a lot living in a wealthier area while working most days among the poorest of poor.
So, I stay here in this nice area. I live in the suburbs. I never intended for this. Most people who know me know my dislike of suburbs, and yet God keeps sending me to these areas. It works against all my stereo-types of missionary life. I waste many of my days trying to explain to God how this is not right and I should be living in bad conditions somewhere. And God keeps breaking down all my ideas so that I can see His ways are not our ways.
The suburbs I live in are very much like the suburbs of America...or at least Texas, since in reality that is the only part of America I know, and even then I don't even know anything about whole parts of south and east Texas....just goes to show how we make huge statements based on what is often a very limited understanding. Anyway, suburbs here in Cape Town are very much like suburbs I am familiar with in Texas, but with one huge difference. Everything here is surrounded with security gates and fences...even in the impoverished areas this is true. So in my suburb area every house is surrounded by gates and security fences. I live in a slightly smaller house, somewhat similar to a duplex. So what is done is that a whole "duplex" community of anywhere from 20 - 100 duplexes are all together inside of one gate...therefore it is a gated community. Or in South Africa it is called a security complex. I actually live in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, which is widely known as the Afrikaans speaking white area of the city. Its where middle-class families with kids live so that their kids can be in safe schools. People live here by choice (versus poor communities where people are placed without choice many times). People here tend to pay a huge rent on their house. Most houses from what I have seen are not owned. Many people pay so much on their rent to be in this "safe" area that they actually hardly afford to live. Maybe I'm a bit in that category since I definitely spend more than 1/3 of my income on rent to stay in this safe area. While things look nice and safe on the outside, most people here live month to month and they live in fear...not just because of finances but they fear the loss of their physical safety if they can't stay in this area. They fear what would happen to them if racial issues erupt here. They fear because they know the masses of people in South Africa are very poor and they don't know how to relate or help in a way that is actually beneficial. They fear because everything in South Africa today is so different than what they grew up with and they don't know how to relate to the South Africa of today. They fear for their children's future in a nation where things are changing so quickly. They fear because they are South African, they know no other home, but because they are not black they are not seen as belonging to Africa. So, then, where do they belong?
This is where God has placed me right now. I live in more comfort than I expected in the natural. But spiritually my heart is torn in two for the "wealthy" of South Africa and it breaks a little more each day that I live here among them.
The bigger situation here is so complicated. Before living in the suburbs, most of my attitudes towards white South Africans were very negative. I only knew the media version and stereo-types of these people without actually knowing the people. It is easy to find examples of people who fit into the negative image of white South Africans until you start to see the hurt and fear lying behind some of the attitudes easily encountered here. But living here I've discovered that is actually even easier to find white South Africans who do not fit the negative stereo-type. So, maybe another reason God keeps me in the suburbs is to slowly breakdown any judgments I have held before. There is enough division and judgments among people here. The least helpful thing I can contribute is to add to this.
So, there is an explanation of the area I live in here.
To my South African friends who may read this....I hope I have not offended you. If I've given a wrong account of anything, please comment and correct it.
And I hope this helps everyone at home know a little more about where I am living and working.

Totsiens, Susan

On behalf of South Africa I just want to say “Totsiens, Susan.”
My former professor, Susan, from HSU back home just visited. She was actually suppose to be bringing students from the university she teaches at now. The class didn’t make, but out of her love for South Africa she came anyway and brought her son for the first time. So, they have been here for two weeks and it has been great!
The first time I came to South Africa was as a university student. Two professors helped in the process. Dan came and helped me settle in at the beginning and Susan came to evaluate the work at the end. These two professors have both been key influences in my life along the way. And over the years they have become friends.
Well, Susan fell in love with South Africa and has been here 6 times in the past 9 years. One of those times the two of us travelled here together for a fantastic summer of research.
All these years later Susan remains one of the people that God has used to have some of the greatest impact on my life.
It was her class on community practice that first opened my eyes to doing community work verses direct practice social work. Over the years I have seen in God’s Word how He loves communities and people groups. He has a great heart towards nations, tribes, tongues (i.e. people groups) and has shown me pieces of His heart towards communities and nations.
Later, after the research trip to South Africa with Susan years ago, I came home with plans of graduate school to learn more about theories around community practice. Susan always inspires me to go deeper, take the time to better understand the circumstances people struggle through, and to believe we can be part of making a difference. God has used her to touch my life many times over!
Now Susan believes her season in South Africa may be finished. She has new work to begin in a community near to here in the States.
I’m so thankful I got to spend these past two weeks with her in South Africa. I have shared so much about what I am doing here. She has once again spoken wisdom into my life and inspired me to press on. God has used her to help me in my journey again.
So, since I know she follows my blog, I wanted to take this space to say thanks!!! Thanks for all you have poured into me up to this point. Thanks for all you have poured into South Africa. You have given of yourself in a way that truly has made a great impact!! The ripples of your touch in this place will carry on.
I know you will continue to help me with questions via e-mail and you will continue to be an inspiration to me in many ways. But I’m sad to know you won’t be back here in this amazing country any time soon. I still believe one day you might come help with some group work in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village….one day. But between now and then, “Totsiens, Susan.” Thanks for your visit! Thanks for all you have invested in my life! I appreciate you so much and love ya lots, J.

Christmas and New Year's in South Africa

I had a lot of people ask about how my Christmas went this year. It was fun. It really didn’t feel the Christmas holiday I’m used to. I’m visiting home in a couple of months, so it feels about like Christmas hasn’t arrived yet. But I enjoyed spending time with friends here in South Africa during the official holiday time.
South Africans celebrate Christmas in a variety of ways. I had time with two families, both of them had beautiful formal dinners.

First, on Christmas Eve I was with Jose, Glinys, their daughters, and Glynis’ mom.
They had a beautiful table set.I made sweet potato casserole (marshmallows here come in packets of white and pink together….I started to only use white ones, but I threw in the pink ones to add some South African flare to the dish : )















We had Christmas crackers.




















And then watched movies.














On Christmas day I headed to Eagles Rising. Since I had packages to take the staff and a few students staying for Christmas, I had a car trunk full of presents….now that felt like Christmas!





I had a lovely lunch with the ER director and her family. She also had a nice formal table set.




















This is a typical South African Christmas lunch. I took small portions to see how things were first. That meat with creamy sauce on it is ox tongue….never imagined I would eat that! It was okay. Definitely needed the sauce on it!




The desserts were so fancy!



















A lady from Abilene sent presents for all the ER staff. I got to pass them all out. It was so much fun!!






































Later, we went to the beach!

















Then, came New Year’s Eve. I went with friends to a concert at Kirstenbosch Gardens (Cape Town’s botanical gardens). It was so beautiful and a lot of fun.