SYG News

Merry Christmas !!

2011-12-23T08:06:50Z

Good morning, Cant believe its 2 days to Christmas, hope you all are organised and ready for it. I had a lovely time in Cape Town with my friend and her family. My date for finishing with YFC was originally was on the 25th November so i had arranged the holiday with them before returning home on the 13th Dec. Now as i extended my time i have an extra month to spend here in Knysna and i am so happy about it as was able to attend all the Christmas parties for the Soup kitchen children and am now going to Youth Week in January. Our plans for over Christmas are, Christmas Eve night we are having a braai on the beach. (not to rub it in that its roasting here)lol. Christmas Day, Nathan our host feed the homeless in the morning with roast chicken and rolls so us volunteers are helping and sponsoring it this year. After that we are going to have dinner together. On Christmas Day all my family are coming together at my Uncle Trevors so im looking forward to getting to speak to them all. The past few days we have been on the Main Street in Knysna spreading the word on the work that YFC do and getting people to sponsor them. It been going well and the sales talk has came in handy. We have met loads of lovely people, one was a professional Golfer who has played all over the world. We are expecting more people from Germany into the house today so we willl have a full house for the next few days. On boxing day me and the other volunteers intend to go to the Cape Town volunteers house to spend a few days with them itll be nice to meet them and i heard there is people from Northern Ireland there too. Well i hope you all have a lovely Christmas, eat loads, fall asleep beside the lit fire and watch all the good christmas movies on t.v. Take care and Godbless. xx

Good evening !!

2011-11-27T18:41:06Z

Hello all im writing a bit early as i go to Cape Town tomorrow to meet my friend and her family and return to Knysna on the 13th December, so my next Blog will be then. I hope you are all keeping good!! This week was a really nice week , i went to Sinethemba on Monday and Romeo (one of the guys who attend) wrote me a lovely letter, it made me cry, Ive got really friendly with him. So on Thursday when i went i got some photos of us together and printed them and gave him a pressie just as a goodbye as i wont see him to January now until sinethemba reopens after the christmas period. He was all smiles. On Friday it was our last Scripture union class in the primary school, i have loved helping there, its made me see what being a teacher would be like lol, we had lots of fun and enjoyed teaching them from the bible. By helping there every Friday its been a great way to build relationships with the kids and often we see them about Knysna town , a few week s ago me and some friends went canoeing at the weekend on a beautiful river with mountains on both sides of the river but soon into our adventure my canoe tipped and it was a boy from my class that was playing at the riverside and came to the rescue. Today we went to an Afrikkans church and i also met a young girl from class. I didnt realise it was her church and after a fantastic service the pastor made a call for anyone who would like to become a Christian and approx 30 young children came to the front including the young girl. I t was such a priviledge to see God working and drawing her close to him and witness her making a commitment to follow Christ. Once again tears came to my eyes and i gave her a big hug. Im so happy for her. Im crying far too much lately ,lol. Im seeing God really work in the young peoples lives its so amazing. On Friday night we had a Braai to say goodbye to everyone who attended Youth Alpha, i also cryed . The youth Alpha has been one of my main projects that i have been involved in from arriving here. I was involved in the training of the Churches, assisted as one of the leaders and speakers so we have all became very close, it was a sad night. My ankle is really good now, i went to a phiso and she gave gave me free treatment for 8 weeks, she was such a blessing! we'll im going to go now upstairs for a cuppa and a chat with the other girlies, we had thankgiving today as our hosts wife is American,we couldnt have it on thursday so we had it today It was yummy. Im thinking about you's and yous are in my prayers. Hi to everyone in home group,missing our discussions. Ni nite, Godbless. xx

Good Morning !!!

2011-11-15T06:41:45Z

Hello all,

We had great time away on our canoeing trip, we canoed for 2hrs to a hut in the middle of the mountains and enjoyed a braai and games. Myself and one of the volunteers Carolyn slept outside in our sleeping bags beside the camp fire all night. Ive just been told that one of my work collegues child is on a life support machine, she is just one, her name is eve, they are making the decision whether to turn off the life support machine or not. Please pray that she will make movement and make a full recovery. I will let you know what happens. I cant believe my time here is nearly over, we have made such good relationships with the kids it will be very hard to say bye to them. This Friday is the last Youth Alpha, again we have got to know so many young people really well. We have had the opportunity to pray with them and have seen their circumstances change. The Youth Alpha has been AMAZING !!, the difference in what our first session was like to what it is now is massive, At the start everyone was very much reserved but now young people are all praying together for each of their needs, if someone shares they need healings immediately young people swarm around the person to pray, i have seen many healings and God working here. The Youth Alpha has not only helped the young people in their walk with God but also ours, the leaders. Next Friday we will be having a Braai for everyone who attended and are all looking forward to it. Because im now staying to January i get the opportunity to go to Youth for Christ youth week, up to 800 people from all over the world come. im so thankful im getting to stay and go because everyone talks about how good it is and i thought "awh im going to miss it" but praise God i get to experience it. I just want to thank you all for your help and support in helping me get here, I am so thankful to our Church and my wonderful family. You are on my mind alot and are in my prayers, I have learned so much and it has been life changing. Anyone considering mission work or a mission trip, one word, GO FOR IT !! The children and people you meet will bless your heart and give you memories to cherish Forever. Ill never forget how the young children thank us for just being there, i wish i could help them so much more. they have moved all our hearts with the love they shown us. take care Godbless.

i tried to get it bigger but it turned out blurry, sorry, this picture is of some children at Pre-school from Sinethemba.

Good morning all!!

2011-11-10T07:25:35Z

Hello,

this morning we are just getting ready to go on the Youth for Christ teambuilding trip, so i have my sleeping bag ready to go! we are heading today at 11 then returning tomorrow afternoon. we will be Canoeing down the river then walking a bit and having a braai tonight, cant wait! My friend Janine and her family are coming soon, we will stay in Cape Town then travel down the Garden Route a bit, looking forward to seeing them. we had a great week with all the children, we shared a msg on God's power and showed a clip from the Prince of Egypt, they loved it and listened very well. Time is going in very quickly and we are planning what we are doing over Christmas, Nathan our Host family feed the poor on Chiristmas Day with chicken and veggies so we are going to join him and help. I hope you are all keeping well .xx

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2011-10-25T07:20:00Z

"Rise n Shine" !!

I hope you all are keeping well. I have some exciting news , im staying to January, im so looking forward to experiencing Christmas here and Braai on the beach,lol although i will miss my mum's Christmas dinner. Myself and the other volunteers are going to spend New Year in Cape Town in the YFC volunteers house, it sits right on the beach. Im just back from our Youth Alpha Holy Spirit weekend, IT WAS AMAZING, young people becoming Christians, many were touched by the Holy Spirit, us included, Many of us who were there had never experienced anything like it. One person who became a Christian on the Saturday night and then when i look round at him on the Sunday and he was praying for people, it was so encouraging to to see the unity and trust between youth who dont really know each other, everyone was open and being honest with each other and peoples lives were impacted by it. the weather is lovely here now, some days are cloudy but they are getting less and less. hope you all have good day,

Godbless

Good morning

2011-10-11T07:14:07Z

Hello all !! Staff conference was absolutely brilliant, we had such a good week of teaching and singing afrikaan songs one was called Bambalela (get Annes to show you the moves on sunday,lol. yesterday we went to Annies soup kitchen which is set in the centre of the township, please pray for her and her husband, God is using her greatly there to build strong foundations in the children lives. pray also for the children, protection for all their lives, they are so innocent and beautiful and every week we are touched by them. Yesterday they thanked each of us and said " thankyou for what you are doing for us"it melted us . they really are a very special. Viola (one of the other volunteers from Germany shared the msg and told the children how special they are she gave them finger paint and got them to put it on their thumb then onto a bit of paper and expalined each of us has a different fingerprint and how God has made us that way no one else has it. Each of the children understood it well as the big smiles on their faces said it all. i am having such an amazing time here and feel very blessed to be in YFC Knysna we are all one big team and work very well together we have such good fun together and laugh ALOT!! well i better go as we are heading to Cia at Knysna High school, it s great to see so many young people come it when they have the choice of a break or Cia,its a youth service from 10.30 - 11.00 with music and someone shares the word. you's are in my prayers.

Godbless.

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2011-09-27T09:39:04Z

Hello all, hope you are all keeping well.

I got up early this morning at 5.30 to go cycling with a couple of friends, it was so nice to see the sunrise over Knysna. it really is a beautiful place and such a blessing to be here. This week I've have been helping Nathan our host, as he is just out of hospital so ive been driving him places that he needs to be. Today we are going to soup kitchen in the afternoon then having a Braai tonight for dinner, these Braai's are great and i could get used to them. (not as good as Annes tho) Next week we are all going to Magaliesburg (outside Joburg) for youth for christ's staff conference, we leave on Monday and back on Friday, so my next Blog will be tues 11th October, i hope you all have a good week!! love you all.

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2011-09-13T17:11:10Z

Hello!! just arrived home, we went on a Township tour this afternoon. They explained how very many of the people in the townships are still without running water and electricity. alot though already have homes built for them by the government but the housing list is very long and they can wait many years before they get a house built for them. the tour company that took us always bring sweets and the kids love to see them come. It surprised us too see how far some children will run for a chew sweetie. one lady called ella runs the township tour and has built a safe house for abused parents and their children. Ella is doing great things and at the minute is looking after 8 children. One small girl approx two years old was brought to her by the police, she was often seen on her own walking about when she first arrived she was skinny and mulnuriced and when was put into a bed would get up and lie on the floor at night. Now she cant stop eating, talking more and is sleeping in bed. just as we were leaving another boy had been found who seemed to have a broken arm. He was taken to the hospital, they didnt know where his parents where. Please pray for their work, strength to continue and for all the children in their care. thankyou. hope you are all keeping well. Godbless.xx

Good morning

2011-09-07T06:32:41Z

Hello all, just arrived down at the office and it's already getting warm, our 1st session in youth alpha went well and the Holy spirit weekend is organised for October. Ive now moved into the volunteers house as two more volunteers have joined YFC from Germany, Caralyn and Viola. We are enjoying getting to know one another and trying out each of our cooking skills. I feel very settled now and enjoying each day here. I joined in on one of Sinethemba's house visits, we went to visit a boy called Elvis who had dropped out of school and is joining the program at Sinethemba. Please pray for him that he will get back into school and his family, that they will eventually have there own home and for happiness within it. Sinethemba is a great place for teens but it's aim is to give the teens skills that would not normally be open to them and deal with personal issues that they have and get them back into school, work etc. Have a great week all!! xx

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2011-08-23T12:43:40Z

Hello all, so glad to hear you's had a nice time in Namibia, thanks for the update. Been thinking about all you guys in the youth and youth leaders, Not long too you are back in school, heading to uni or venturing into full-time work. Whatever you's are doing i hope it goes well and that yous are all keeping good, you's are in my prayers. Jeremiah 29,11 Proverbs 3,5. It was a really nice day here on Sunday and i went out on the bicycle for a while and got sunstroke, ive been in bed but feel soo much better now and will be going back tomorrow. Youth Alpha training went very well on Fri and Sat everyone got alot from it. we are starting our course this Fri which is the launch night, it is a mafia theme. We have a large team involved and are looking forward to getting started. When i was at Sinethemba last week i had the opportunity to talk to a young man called Romeo, he is 17 i dont know his background but i think he's having a bit of a hard time, please pray for him and all the young people that come to the shelter. they have faced so much already in life and are still only teenagers. I hope you all have a great week. Big hello to Annes and Edward. Godbless.