Snip snip

Officially conqured my first afro "pruning" fears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sing along, “Its NOT  beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”

Ha you know this whole holiday thing away from home is a lot easier when it doesn’t actually feel anything like one knows those red fuzzy feelings to feel.  Besides some real tacky golden Santa that have been up since November  1 at the grocery store, there just really isn’t much of the ol’ season’s spirit building. The two biggest things, family and that nippy weather are nowhere to be found, thus the potential lonely girl missing home factor also remains mia. Blessings in disguise I suppose. The closest sparkly tinsel feeling Ive had so far was attending Carols in the Park, here in Muizenberg…though its still hard to believe its that merry time when the ocean waves are splashing away beyond the stage with the smell of hotdogs (bore Vorst) in the air.

Moving onto the work front, we have received some wonderful reports of previous women whom were residents of S-cape really finding their feet in their jobs and family they were placed in after leaving the home.  What a miraculous Christmas this must be for them when looking back at what Christ can do after one year. Amazing grace. 

I continue to plug away at my “how to run a safehouse manual,” lets just say the table of contents alone is 5 pages and counting. I just really believe all the more that if we can really invest in setting a solid foundation of thought out operations, this ministry will build long term pillars in the future, and I would love to see nothing more. 

We also had a night prayer vigil last Friday. I had never done anything like this before but really believe all the more, that unless Christ establishes the work that he has begun, whether we raise a million dollars to buy a house, nothing can really start to change as the root of human trafficking begins with the greedy heart of man which only Christ can change. So it was great to pray into the night about these issues that in our day to day meetings we don’t take the time to do. There are such beautifully bold and courageous prayer men and women whom I get to watch walk right up to their “Daddy’s” chair and with unwavering faith, eye to eye, and ask for what is needed. My prayers are so safe in comparison.  Thank goodness faith is a process and God is so patient. 

So tomorrow for church we are going to gather outside on one of the rare patches of green grass around here, and eat breakfast as a family. What could be better on a Sunday morning?

Lastly, in my attempt to ‘get in the festive mood’ Ive still been attempting to collect some Christmas décor. So from the second hand store I purchased home-made star decorations that I needed to be re-strung before I could put them up on my mini tree also purchased there… yep, Im really becoming the ultimate thrifter, Grandma Fast and Grandma Braun-cheers to you!

And on a feathery light note...

It is high time for some sunshiney news dont you think? I surely do! Lets even use some fancy fun bullet points after all these sermons shall we?

1. There is so much high end meat consumed around here, sausages, steaks, ostrich, and big ol pork chops that chicken is considered a bit of a common girly vegetable...infact if you dont serve meat at a meal, its been considered as a light snack
2. No joke, you know how we race dog teams through the snowy tundra...well I was walking along the beach the other day and sure enough, the rumor was true, I witnessed my first summer dog team being trained for beach races, the sled, huskies and "mush mush" sounds included!
3. My first calus appeared this morning post my first guitar lesson
4. Ive officially been here 2 months today, happy anniversary!
5. Im doing my first bridal party hair this saturday for a friend
6. I recieved my first care package full of chocolates and a hair magazine, what could be better my dear Friesen family!
7. Ive been using the guise of night to find random patches of Aloe Vera for my poor pink skin
8. The first cockroach spotting has occured in our kitchen, apparently many more along with the summer season
9. Im leaving in 20 minuets to bring my first hair model to a local salon to "show them what Ive got" a little extra deoderent to be applied
10. Finally, yesterday a dear friend of mine prayed for a new light hearted spirit of peace to replace this heavy weighted heart Ive been carrying around here since Ive arrived...and honestly in that moment carrying through till this morning, Ive got a feathery light peace inside and even working its way outside, physically affecting even my body as the once constantly rumpled forehead of mine has relaxed into a calm, easy and open demeanor. Today when Ive smiled, I really mean it. It feels really good. The COOLEST part is that during the time she was praying I kept getting this picture of all these lovely feathers falling around me and in me. The thing is, before she had prayed for me, her and her prayer team received this word picture for the evening that the Holy Spirit was going to use feathers to joyfully tickle and bring a light hearted peace to the spiritual feet of those that came to be prayed for that evening. AS if!!

So breathe in breathe out, your prayers, my prayers, are not in vain. Thankyou thankyou thankyou!
Love, Char

Sighhh

Im sitting in the sun on one of the first hot Muizenberg afternoons...should probably apply some screen but then think why not get a little pink just to say I can?

So in take a look at Hosea 6 with me,
``Come, let us return to the Lord, For he has torn un, that he may heal us; He has struck us down, and he will bind us up...he will revive us...he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord: his going out is sure as the dawn;he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth``.

Very personally, this is what He`s doing in my heart. As he`s brought me to this place where everything is new, where very little is what I expected, any last legs of self preservation, strength, confidence in my abilities or experiences have run out of speed. Im at his mercy. And its scary. My pride, guilt, self-condemation and judgement of 1000 people a day is so alive and well and ugly.    And his grace is way too good for me. You know when all you want to do is get away from yourself, but the thing is you keep following you around, no matter now fast you run. 
So never mind am only I stuck with me, but Christ is stuck with me...and he`s been whispering to me that he wouldnt have it any other way.

He`s telling me to trust him, that he wants to grow my faith and there`s no short cut. No matter how I feel about myself, He knows my heart better than I do, (``For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything``(1John 3:20) and has a plan to make me the  `` crown of beauty in his hand``(Is 62:3) that he has had in mind for me before he started ``knitting me intricately together in my mom`s womb (Ps 139:13).``

Yesterday I met  a beautiful sunshiny director of a women's shelter who started our meeting with taking a page from the American thanksgiving holiday and led out in giving thanks for a million things in her life. She beams the gentle, humble light of Christ as she does this. Then, during her presentation she mentions the death of her sister last week, like LAST WEEK. Ive met several folks like this since being here, though outwardly their stories are horrific, there is the sweetest Spirit of hope in things unseen pouring out from the inside, as they have leant to trust in the love of Christ, especially in circumstances when it makes the least sense. Though miraculous healings or instant answers to prayer are incredible, this daily resolve to give genuine thanks in all circumstances is the most beautiful, indisputable work of God that I`ve ever seen in process. There is nothing logical about this, but ``but for the joy set before him, He endured``.(12:2).
Despite every inch of inadequacy I see in me, I have a hunch this is the deeply rooted path of rich faith Christ is leading me, leading you, towards.
How his hopes can be this big for us is beyond me.
Praise Him who is Faithful when we are faithless.

Sorry for these less then fluffy and fun last few reports...if you`ve stuck with me til now, you truly are walking in this with me and I deeply thank-you.
Love, Char

Wkd shots and thoughts

Living the Dream

My avocado that is bursting open after only 1 month...versus 9 months of waiting on my plant at home to show a crack

Looking down on the view of my stomping grounds from the heights of Muizenberg Mtn

A Couple Six in the AM thoughts...

So there’s few questions that keep coming to mind this week, as our ministries’ construction zone keeps breaking up more ground.  It feels like things are starting from scratch in a lot of areas and we are wondering in which direction God is taking us on often at days end.

First question, as only God knows when this whole transition period will actually transition, and the pestering thought of “what meaningful work did I actually achieve today” keeps daily pestering, this quiet voice also said yesterday, “what if I brought you all the way to South Africa to accomplish nothing more than to receive my love?” 

“WHAT whoa Jesus do tell how could I measure that on the successful missionary scale to my supporters? I mean getting to know who You are and how You work are great and all but IVE GOT STUFF TO DO…LIKE NO I KNOW HOW THIS MUST SOUND BUT REALLY, JESUS IVE GOT A SERIOUS AGENDA TO ATTEND TO HERE…”

 I’ve been on this journey of God challenging me to consider what “success” really is. How much do I really equate my worth in my eyes, others eyes and Gods eyes according to whether I feel like I have worked hard enough, and accomplished something significant. I’m hitting the old wall of being challenged to accept a new, undeserved grace in this present situation. The thing is I will be no more loved or significant in his eyes no matter what I do or do not accomplish.

He loves me because that’s who He is and what I was created to know, receive and express back to him. So my pride needs to take a hit one more time and realize whom his love rests on has nothing to do with any of our actions.  I could have the most successful ministry here, but if my heart is not operating first out of the love Christ has for me, I might as well come home for a merry Christmas. And of course this is true where or in whatever we put our hands to, with or without a fancy missionary title.

So then, second question, how does one go about receiving the love of Jesus Christ? Its going to be the work of his Holy Spirit in each of us individually, drawing us deeper into his heart as we seek him out, wholeheartedly with our body, mind and spirit. “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it,” quotes the Psalmist of 81. Are our mouths and eyes eagerly open to taste and see Him anywhere, are we daily going to the word, asking Him for an appetite for his love to satisfy us above all other relationships or substances this world offers us?

My friends, together let us pursue his love until “it is better than life,” (Ps 63:3) the ultimate achievement.

A new reality

My family,
What is a new reality for me, is not so for many of our Nigerian brother and sisters here. A wonderful pastor couple (Jacob and Juliet) and their two young sons whom are very supportive of us personally in prayer and encouragment and for the S-cape ministry, have just recieved some horrific news. The persecution of Christians in a primarily Muslim area in Nigeria where they are from, has been heightened severely in the last year with many dying by bullets or bombs. Many Christians are terrified and are not going to church sunday mornings as it is common for cars, with a bomb attached, to be run into the side of church buildings while sunday services are being conducted.
This weekend Jacob's brother, a successful engineer and faithful follower of Christ, was shot in the head as he was followed coming home from work. His wife and two children need to leave as flee as quickly as they can as things are especially not safe for them now.

Pray especially for our family in these ways:
-That Christ would comfort deeply in this time of darkness and pain
-That the wife and children could escape to a safe place
-Due to unavailable funds, Jacob and Juliet have no choice but to stay here and grieve apart from their family, so pray too that the light of Christ would feed their they souls with hope

1 Peter 4:19
Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

It is a privilege to share these burdens from one family to another. Thank you.
Char

Shnetja and South Africa Picnic Well Together

Picnic posing...Dont fret, Claudia, my beautiful encourager and Malawian queen will capture those surfing pics that have been under huge demand shortly

Yep thats right, shnetja (spell?) (moms best menno buscuit) on the beach where it belongs!

Heres to Missionary Surfing

My friends!

Yes you read correctly, Ive been dreaming and schemeing of finding a way to get my feet as close to walking on water as possible and at long last...with a few additional bruises, a few blows to the pride cause wow did I fall, Im officially living the Surfer dream! Of course only after I had paddled my arms off and heart out and had reached the 'perfect zone' my instructor comments how impressed he is that Im not afraid to come out today as there were two sharks sightings an hour previous! My aching body must have overridden any rational thoughts of fear at that time as I thought "Heck Ive made it this far, surfs up dude!" Sorry mom if thats a bit much for you? I would say I was standing on my board for a total of 10 seconds in 2 hours...gotta start somewhere right?! Really Ive been grinning away out there just to be splashing around in all these ways God made for fun and beauty and enjoyment with Him.
So then, back to 'real missionary buisness' its been a bit tough as the house that we have been setting out sights on to purchase was just this week sold out from under us, so back to square one of looking for a new location. Pray for our leaders as I think its harder on them then they let on, to continually pray with joyful expectation when things just seem to continuously coming to a halt. Pray that our whole team can trust in God's better, bigger, wiser plan then just filling our short term vision as I really do think alot of very necessary ground work can be done in this time inbetween to really have a healthy long-term ministry. Pray for a growing unification in vision and in relationship.
We are also having a meeting with a local market tommorow to establish potential conections there to sell the produce from the greenhouse project that is still in the works...so thats exciting! I dont know if ill become a farmer till after christmas, so dont send your pitchforks via post just yet.
It is so clear, despite the initial chaotic scenario here, through all the growing peace inside of me that Christ is answering your prayers. I'm finding indeed that "In him is life, and the life is the light of men" (john 1:4). 
I appreciate every last comment shared as you are so very much involved in undertaking this new journey alongside of me. Courage on your own journey's towards the Light of Life.
Love, Char


 

My new pretty pad

Totally made my first ever pot of Butternut Squash soup here in my morning sunshiny kitchen

Home sweet home!

I dream about my hardwood and wide window sills all night long

 

 

 

Time for an honest chat

My beautiful family with all that has happened in just over two weeks that I’ve been here, I am certain it is your faithful prayers to our faithful Father that have kept me from jumping ship. So can I ever say thankyou enough? The situation is this.

As Ive mentioned there has only been one resident living with us in our home due to S-Cape House being forced to move out of the former safe house, and without funds to purchase the new house YET. Thus, as its always much more enjoyable to give positive updates then debbie downers…its been a bit quiet on my end, but here goes.

Its been hard. Two of the hardest weeks of my entire life. After too many frequent traumatic events occurring in our home, this beautiful resident has now gone back into psychiatric care and will not be returning to stay with us. Our house hold is mourning the reality of another victim being victimized by what it far too often seems their inevitable tendencies to revert back to old ways of living. In contrast, we are singing songs of freedom as there is an unimaginable air of peace breezing through our household since my arrival. Lessons of personal limitations, boundaries and caring for oneself as one cares for others, are being learnt through this whole process in the hearts of four wilty house moms who remain.

So you may scratch your intelligent head and at this point ask, “So uh Charlene, whatcha up to these days with no girls, and no house to put them in if they came, “ of course in the most kind and considerate way. This is where I start to get excited. It is not completely clear yet, we may still host 24-72 hour crisis situations in a potential temporairy home the government may lend to us for free, but at this point the ministry is entering a different season.  We want to spend this time assessing what was and was not working in the former safe house. How healthy and balanced was our own staff and the roles they play, how much better we potentially need to be connected with local churches and covered with prayer, how capable are we again to take in minors when this scenario we have now discovered with our latest resident was not the ideal set up. We want to use this as a time for networking with other well run organizations, researching available resources and support, and re-structuring our initial vision with the one and a half years of experience behind us in order to build a foundation for a sustainable and successful future.

Now get this! One of these investments of our time and energy right now is going to be starting a greenhouse under the experienced management of none other than hairstylist now Farmer Fast! A ministry that has a vision to see South Africa’s bottomless chasm between the rich and the poor bridged through training and helping set up these self-sustaining greenhouses is willing do this for S-Cape House! This will provide us with consistent support, as we only have one donor right now, and will be an option for our women to learn an incredibly valuable skill to bring home to their own communities upon departure. I will be going for a three week training course in the next month.

This update is far too long, but if you have survived with me until this point, I hope I have been able to convey the many reasons. Again, “I thank my God every time I remember you,” as you prayers for protection, wisdom and direction have been answered. Psalm 20 is true.

Love, Charlene

Ps. African Proverb of the Day: 

When testing out the strength of an unknown aged hammock on a cement porch, place a matt beneath. Your tail bone will remind you next time if you don’t uugh one can never have too many frozen mixed veggies on hand.

And Touch Down!

Hello my fine friends!

Get this!
As per usual I had an eventful African flight experiance...missed one, re-booked another, couldn't get ahold of ywam to tell them I had a new itinerary. Thus, upon arrival I had no idea whether someone would be here to meet me at the airport. So I gather my courage along with my luggage and am about to exit into customs when, I look across to another luggage carrousel and there waiting for his luggage, is the one person I know in all of South Africa! I met Wil ten years ago during my ywam and havnt seen him since! His family was waiting there for me so I got to meet them immediatly and when I found my contact person Wil came over and made sure that ywam staff was on the up and up and gave me the okay to go with him! Ha as if our God doesn't take the best care of me right off the bat!
So Ive sort of settled into a house here, Im not sure what is going to happen as S-Cape House is really in transition right now and Im actually living in it with 4 other staff and one 16 year old girl who is a resident. We will see how this all works out.  The sooner funds can come for the new safe house the sooner everthing can get settled again and I will be able to actually give you an idea of what my days look like here. The word random thusfar would descibe my day to day experiance.
None the less, did I mention as I took my first jog along the ocean beach this morning the tides were carrying the first surfers inland, sun rising beyond them? No? Well there it is!!!!! Ha!!! I found a few other german girls who want to learn to surf from some french guy...so we will see when this dream begins to set sail!
As I dont have the www at my home, so I'm a bit limited at this point to respond to your emails. But please please by all means comment away as I dearly love hearing from any familiar voices.
Ok off I must go, Joshua 1:9 has been my lifeline.

Char

In honor of Queen Victoria, "Let them eat Cake"

Well my lovely friends,
Im not sure if many of you were aware, but I got to spend the last two weeks helping prepare my dear friends wedding with many others here in Germany. But alas, the last slice of cake has been cut, and let me tell you these people do cake like Ive never seen before, and Im off to Capetown tommorow.
Your prayers for strength and courage in these first few weeks away from home have been answered  by some incrediabley encouraging friends already here before I even get to South Africa, so thankyou for every one of them.
I wish I had some  beautiful German wedding pics to post but of all things to loose in the first week, my camara is MIA. But rest assured the bride had some pretty lovely hair...just saying, eh hem, yep thats right, in the most humble manner, the people of Germany think Ive got some super gut skills!

 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7


Char

Something tells me its time to fly south...

Alas the time has come for this prairie bird to join one of those honky flocks overhead. All of your goodbyes couldnt have been any harder, thanks for that tear jerks...I mean there were alot of tear jerkers...proof of the sheer goodness of the rich relationships I've been blessed with. Thankyou.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
Well then lets go see how great our God is shall we?
May the peace of Christ rule in your hearts until we meet again,
Love Char