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.