South Africa

Hello to YOU!! Oh how we miss you, love you and appreciate you.  Your prayers and support have and continue to mean so much to us.

 

Where is the time going?  Hard to believe August is here.  This past month was a bit busy for us, i(mitch) have been to the bank 15+ times and made as many phone calls and emails to rectify the account(still not open or functional) for operating Children’s Cup in South Africa.  (a VERY small example of differences between usa and Africa…as we say.. TIA (this is Africa). Along with that, we have started several more feeding locations and added on days of feeding at others- all in preparation of future partners and USA churches to come alongside.  We hosted a pastors conference, and have had many Swazi missionary visitors staying with us (we have been alone in our house only 6 night since we moved on March 15)- what a blessing to have a place where others can stay!  I am heading to Mganduzweni tomorrow.  We have been feeding children twice a week there on a neighbors land.  Now that we have built a stove there(and put in 4 other stoves this past month) we need to “secure”(purchase the land)-so negotiations begin tomorrow.  This is a PRIME site for a USA church plant with an African Pastor-right now- just the community kids and a local pastor helping us out(he already has 2 other projects and a full time church)

 

This month brings the NODAK and SODAK team(with a few folks from elsewhere) to stay with us and serve.  We will butcher chickens, host vbs, garden and machete a field down to prepare for future gardens to feed the kids in Mahushu.  We are SO excited to have a team to work with and show the community what passionate people can do.  We also have 8 tons of rice to haul over from Swaziland to feed our kids here through November when our first full 40’ container comes in with a years supply of food for 1700 kids!  We are planning the Christmas parties, back to school campaigns and outreach camps now, and believing for great things to come out of each of those.  Char is having ear surgery here the first week of September-as we believe for great results there as well.  Been connecting with a number of churches locally, and two local families are helping us build a church facility (poles and offcut wood walls) in Mahushu right now. 

 

Have to share this story with you and then we will leave you alone to your other emails and tasks.

I was in Nhlazatshe(en-shlaw-zawt-she) yesterday working with our builder as we finish the last stove for now.  He has 2 jobs lined up after other people have seen his work(hooray!) and will be able to make a business for himself now.  While there(at Pastor Daniels Church) we needed to get firewood-as they are cooking 6 days per week.  So Daniel took us(picture attached) to Babe(bah-bay)(Mr./Sir)Makhane’s place.  (he buys loads of wood, splits and resells as a business).  He was happy for what we are doing and gave us a HUGE discount on 1 ton of wood ($30)-enough to burn for 6 weeks for hundreds of kids 5+days per week.  Pastor Daniel looked at me and said “Mitch, let this be the last load Children’s Cup pays for.  The church(his church) needs to do their part-and they will need to pay for the wood to feed their children.  You have so many others you can help-take your resources to other needy people and start a new work there.  Please keep coming back and bringing bible clubs and tutoring to us, but as for wood- … we got this”  I was so blessed and in awe-this is the first time in 3 years that someone who could have taken advantage of a handout has said- NO-it is our job too.  I am LOVING the partnerships in South Africa- amazing hearts and amazing pastors.

 

We love you and miss you- it really boosts our hearts to hear from you! (hint?)

 

All our best,

M & C