Its Been a Slow Week for Me

Its been a slow week for me. I spent Sunday bunking church to hike Table Mountain with a few girls from the yellow house. A few minutes in to the ascent we all begin to breathe heavy, and take a breather. This hike is supposed to be an average 3 hour hike, I felt like there was no way we would last.  Breaks, water and music keep us going as the hike turns in to stairs, or giant rocks that are worse than stairs. Two and a half hours and we made it! An amazingly beautiful view from the top, we are higher than the clouds and watch as a plane flies next to us. It was well worth it, little did we know going down would be worse. My shoes had no traction with their foam like soles, not too far in and at lease 10 falls, I take my shoes off. I spent about half the hike down barefoot, and on top of that, my knees were killing me from the impact of each "step" down. Proud to say I accomplished it, but if I ever do it again, I'm taking the dang tram down.
The next day I was sore, but went on my work day laughing about my slow pace. Tuesday I woke up, attempted to stand and fell on the floor, my calves felt like rocks. I slid myself into the hallway and told Shelby there was no way I could make it today. He laughed, understandably so, I looked pathetic. I went back into my room and had someone bring me frozen veggies to put on my legs, and spent the whole day there. At dinner I got myself up and stumbling around for one of the girls birthday parties at the yellow house. Some friends of mine that I had made across the street in the flats joined us, under the condition that the young boy (who loves to sing and is amazing), would sing K a song for her birthday. He sang to her a beautiful song about the Lord, and then ate until the food was gone.
It was quite a lovely night, followed by another stiff morning, and what I thought were allergies turned out to be a gnarly cold. i spent our prayer meeting standing by the bathroom with a horrible cough, and a runny nose that began to bleed. I assisted in a few meetings, but motley felt like i was getting people sick by being there.... this was why my week was slow.
        Friday was Women's Day, I went to a celebration in OV for tea, and then picked up about 8 girls (two separate trips) and took them for a day at the beach. Always nice dancing and singing and pretending like (and sometimes do) understand their afrikaans. Sunday came along and I spent it reflecting on the 4 years that had passed. Then picked of one of my girls "biscuit" and we went to Masipumelele for a night of worship at the Jesus House. It was amazing and the guys had such BEAUTIFUL amazing voices that could comfort any soul. All in all a good "slow/sick/injured" week.

Nicole- Monday morning

One day weekend.

Sunday was another flare up with Timmy, a story for another day. Since last week I have been attempting to track down "Lacie" the 14 year old girl who lost her premature baby. She's been avoiding seeing me, her mom thinks because she's scared to talk, to have that freedom. I was doing some calls with my friend and one led us to the clinic. I was surprised to see Lacie there with her friend. I told her I had been looking for her, I was happy to hear she knew. This means she knows I care. I confirm a trip to the beach this weekend... I'm not taking no for an answer, and she agrees.
I'm happy to be being tossed around between Shelby and my friend "A" who works with young kids an new moms. In between their schedules today I had some time to visit with a girl who came to see if we had medicine to make her feel better. She wasn't feeling well and was sent home from school, but came to the yellow house. We had nothing but tea and I had time, so we sat and talked. She is in 11th grade, wants to be a doctor, loves Jesus! He is her "hero and mentor" :) She is staying with a family friend, but needs foster parents. She has no family or support aside from all her "auntie" can provide. A sweet bright girl who I just wanna give a home to.
After she left for home some girls who hang by the "tulip" flats were hanging out, sitting on the tires. I walked over having nothing to do, and began to chat. One of them I had told I would bring to the beach, and a few of her friends. Sassy I call her cuz she is quite that. So we sit and talk, play music, and sing haha. A few more girls walk up and bring us a fruit that grows from the trees, it's yellow, sour and yummy. I can't help but notice two of the girls staring at me weird and I tease them, we all are teasing each other am laughing. I ask "why are you staring at me like I'm an alien?! Haha last I checked I didn't have green skin." They laughed "because your a white girl sitting with us, just hanging out... It never happens". I was shocked. These girls live right outside the yellow house and are shocked that I am happy to be just hanging out with them. It's strange for me, I'm brand new here and apparently crossing new lines that are invisible and were never really there but in a mental way. I love it. Now all I want to do is just go find a million girls hang out all day with them and end with a bible study. It's so simple but seems like an effective way to reach people.
New exciting things God is bringing amongst the group! For now....


- MsSpeaker Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Last Few Days..

A few stories for you, examples of the dire need for a safe house here in the valley, and why i need help raising money.

    Wednesday. We were having our morning prayer team meeting in the yellow house, when a woman comes to the door. Two of out friends go outside to speak with her, find out what help she needs. Its quick and soon enough they whisk her away. We follow the prayer meeting with more meetings with the schools and social workers, and carry on throughout the day.

    Yesterday. After our prayer meeting I sit awaiting the next step, when the woman comes back with a back pack. She has been being horribly abused for years by her boyfriend, addicted to tick with him until her daughter was taken away. It was then she made a break for freedom. She made the choice to get out of the relationship, get clean, follow Jesus, and get her daughter back. Her back pack has all she will have for weeks to come. The next step is finding her a safe place to stay while a rehab solution is figured out. It can't be in Ocean View, OV is too small, someone will tell someone where she is and her plan foiled. Another need for a safe house.

     Today. We hear of a young girl who can't take living at home anymore. Her mother is a drug dealer, and the men that come into their home threaten and abuse her, she has no relief. she needs a safe place to go but there are no safe houses.... This is another case I give you as an example for how much I need to raise money for a safe house.

    After the meeting. We have a list of high school kids and their addresses that haven't come back to school since the first quarter, and we are going to speak to each one of them. Getting them back in school will help keep them off the streets, and possibly get them a grant to college. The drop out rate is extremely high, parents are unsupportive, and often don't care if their child has dropped out. The third house we stop at... 10th grade girl. We are invited in and sit, and inform the grandmother why we are here. She tells us that the girl we have come to speak with (we will call her Laci), had a baby, but it died after a month, and this is why she hasn't come back. Laci comes and sits, we make small talk, ask her how old she is...  she is 14. We ask her if she has spoken to anyone about the baby, she freezes, traumatized by the thought, and says "no". She continues to say she doesn't want to speak to anyone, it won't help, and so on. We leave on the note that i am picking her up tomorrow to go to the beach. Prayers are always appreciated!

On a lighter note

Yesterday was one of our cases birthdays! He turned 5, we came to his little party with a cake and it was lovely. I made new little friends and chased them around the streets with a dead snake.... Apparently not expected by the drug dealers on the corner laughing and shocked by the sight of a white American with green hair chasing children with a dead snake in a township of South Africa. I think I might be the first lol. Smiles are an amazing remedy even when your painfully ill. Seeing Timmy smile when we visited him at school today was such a relief. It's been a few days since he has shown his shy smile we have come to love. This boy just needs a safe place to live. Pray for encounters of the Lords will tomorrow.

Ocean View

     You would think such a beautiful place, with a beautiful view of the sea would bring happiness to people. That though at one point persecuted, their new found freedom would encourage them to thrive; not in Ocean View. Government housing apartment blocks and small houses are over ruled by the shacks built out of tin and wood. Often 4-9 people live in a single "windy", or multiple families in one room of these tiny flats. The children run around outside in the dirt and broken glass, wearing the same clothes as the previous 3 days, many of them are clearly malnourished, have rotting or missing teeth. 
    
    All this seems like the typical donate to children add, but its the secrets of a town that truly make this place in need. Most parents hide in their shacks and flats leaving their children to fend for themselves while they binge on Tik. Tik is crystal methamphetamine, it is the main drug of abuse in Cape Town area, even when alcohol is included. It is highly addictive and creates long term side effects including anxiety, depression, suicide, violent behavior, etc. Alcohol and weed are also widely abused in Ocean View; people lost inside themselves. All these elements lead to naughty behavior beginning at an unbelievably young age, and abuse amongst each other. Abuse is either seen by them or has been inflicted upon them, causing them to return the treatment to others. Kids grow up beating, raping, stealing, and abusing substances here and it is looked upon as normal. its not a matter of if these things will happen, its just a matter of when. Even when mothers strain to support and protect their children, it seems unavoidable.

      The first thing you want to do when you come across another case is be angry, angry and the perpetrator when you see the sorrow in the victims eyes. You can't though, because you know it has to have been influenced upon them. Overwhelming is an understatement, however, nothing is too much for our Lord. To see the hope in each child build, and to see them smile bigger than you've ever seen is enough to know every little bit matters. BUT more is needed....

     The dream is to have safe houses for these children being abused, especially the special needs children, and the children living with their perpetrators. An escape from the slum that has kept them in the vicious cycle of the generations before. Ideally a compound sort of idea, property with a couple safe houses. Split between more permanent residences, and some for temporary relief. To give them love, encouragement, skills, knowledge of the potential of life! How amazing is the dream we have to give special needs kids a place to run around freely in safety, and abused children won't be scared to build relationships. Hopefully giving the proper nutrient filled diets that they have been lacking, to escape the visual influence of a culture so corrupt. 

     More information on how to help us raise money and support will come soon. Thank You, Pray, and keep reading our combined blogs!!

<www.therenderfam.blogspot.com>

My Heart is Sore.

Im still clenching my teeth. I've never seen my sweet "Timmy" like this before.. crying none stop. We were supposed to spend the day together with the fam at the beach or the park. We drove into the township, excited to see Timmy, however once we arrived at the safe house, we were informed that his mum had taken him. The story told was that he needed a check up at the hospital a good ways away. We decided to visit, at least to give them a ride home, though half way there we get a call. The below house girls tell us that Timmy is there, looking for us. Once we arrive we instantly see something is wrong. We are accustom to Timmy running up to us excited for the adventure ahead of him, today he is sullen. We attempt to talk with him, all he says is he is afraid. Timmy loves riding in the car and chocolate cake, so we set on our way to the mall. On the way there we continue to ask him why he still is crying, what is scaring him; then he tells us... in his own words, what happened last time, happened again. His mum had left him at the flat she lives (where he is being sexually abused) and goes to "her friends shack" (most likely to get drunk from personal encounters with her) and it is then that he is again assaulted.
We take immediate action, calling everyone we can think to help us. We end up heading to the police station. we are there for 3 or so hours, trying to have Timmy tell the legal councilors what he told us.... this was difficult. finally after 2&1/2 hours he talks.
Now we head to the hospital, at this point every time Timmy sits down its in my lap with his head on my chest. He falls asleep this way quite easily. I can't help but feel sadness and love for the 12 year old boy huddled up on my arms again my chest. Timmy thinks like a 5 year old and has been through more than any 12 year old should have. I'm comforted by the fact that he feels safe in my arms, but i know this can't always be where he is. I really wish i could take him.
He won't eat, not even his favorite meal... before or after the exam. again he sits in my lap all the way to the safe house.
Until tomorrow Timmy.



- MsSpeaker