These past few weeks have been quite a ride. For the last 3 weeks, we've been in complete Holiday Club mode. We just wrapped it up last night with a great program put on by the kids for their parents. The Lord provided for us in a big way. We had 6 volunteers from Calvary Chapel Cape Town come out and help us with the event, the farm provided a great hall for us to hold the VBS, and we saw God connect with kids in a radical way. There were games, food, prizes, crafts, and great Bible teaching provided for the kids for 3 days. It was awesome! Over 75 kids attended the Holiday Club, including kids from 4 different farms in the area. It was hard work, but the reward in seeing the impact that God has on these kids was priceless.
The theme was "Anchored In Christ". The kids learned about God's promises that He has for each of us, the importance in storing up our treasures in heaven, and the hope that God provides for His children. The kids were split up into 4 different age groups.
The 2 youngest age groups learned a song that week, along with motions, and performed it at the program last night. The next group memorized and recited 3 memory verses (Psalm 37: 3-5). And the oldest age group delivered a great skit that they rehearsed that week. Mike ended last night's program with a captivating gospel message. People got saved! Praise the Lord!We feel it is necessary to fill you in on the lives of these children. It has been grieving our hearts to see and hear about what they go through on a daily basis. Sometimes it is easy to forget because of the beautiful smiles on their faces and their excitement to learn and sing about Jesus.
We have so much fun at our weekly times together and we see the Lord in them. But, when we are not there they face the darkness and we know they struggle to be the light. 3 children from Vlakte Bricks were just removed from their home after being violently raped by their father. They will stay in a home in Klapmuts until they are told it is safe to return home, what ever that means. The majority of these kids are sexually abused and it is never dealt with legally. Most of the parents abuse alcohol which results in physical and sexual abuse. The parents also spend their money on alcohol, so many times they can't afford to feed their kids. It isn't unlikely for the kids to go without food for days at a time. These children witness physical fights, partying, theft and sexual immorality every week, sometimes daily. Our mission is to encourage them to secure their foundation in Christ, that they would not be swayed. The temptations are surrounding them and they don't have any other examples in their lives other than failure.We are teaching them to rely on God's strength to make the right choices. Hence the theme for Holiday club, if you are anchored in the Lord you will not drift away or be moved by the weight of this world.
We wanted to share these things with you to join us in prayer, as I know many of you already do. We have shared with you how amazing ministry has been here and all of the wonderful things, but we want to also be real with you. It is heart breaking and difficult to know these kids and know what they are dealing with, we need the Lord's strength as well. We are expectant that the Lord is going to use us and guide us in ways to reach these kids over the years.
The Lord has been teaching and growing us in so many areas. We were reminded recently in a message from Pastor Demitri to ask the Lord for a meaningful life not a comfortable life. While we are in the waiting process for a home and vehicle we must keep this perspective. We are excited for the opportunities we will have in 2008 with The Dream Team, the farms, and the Sunday Bible study. We have plans to spend Christmas with our church family from Calvary Chapel Cape Town, at the beach. Imagine that! How life has changed. We often think that when we are driving down the opposite side of the road, or Joy is hanging laundry on the line, or we want to grab a quick bite to eat and there isn't a dive thru.
Emerson is growing and changing so much too. She is now 18 months old, running, talking and singing all the time. She sings hallelujah at the top of her lungs with Anson and is starting to say sentences like, "I had juice mama". She is still such a little peanut though, but she's a toughie. We would love to hear how all of your families are doing and growing and changing. It is such a blessing for us to be connected with you, so please write. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Anson, Joy & Emme Lu
