Ministry Update

I realized it has been quite a while since we have given an update on our specific ministries, so here they are:

Preschool
We are still involved with the preschool in Block, which serves children aged 2-7. Recently a short-term team that came to Rehoboth donated money for land for a new school, and the land has been purchased. We are working on building plans and fundraising. We are also planning a Christmas party/”graduation” ceremony for mid-November.

Youth Center
Although we are still involved in the youth center, it is no longer the project that consumes the majority of our time. The building is now up to usable standards, and we are no longer working on construction. Sadly, one of the windows we replaced has already been broken. It is located near a couple of bottle stores, so we regularly have broken glass bottles left in front of the center. A group of community members has been meeting periodically to discuss the center; it is great to see local citizens taking ownership. We continue to lead the youth program with Kitty, and regularly have anywhere from 15-50 kids (with only the 3 of us to keep order). We hope to expand soon to include another day of the program each week. One need we are still praying about is local volunteers.

Hope’s Promise
Although my primary focus is counseling, we have tried to help out in other ways, too. Josh and I have been working together to construct a sign for the bead shop the organization maintains as a fundraiser. Although they already have a store, there is no sign, and it’s easy to miss. Also, we had the opportunity to work at a craft market for a couple of days, also for fundraising. As far as counseling, things are going great. I am doing group counseling with the kids on Saturdays, and that’s going really well. Unfortunately, I can’t see all of the kids on an individual basis, but this way I maintain relationships with them. Additionally, I hold weekly meetings with the foster mommies, and am developing a curriculum for this from scratch. I am actually really enjoying this part of my job, and it seems to be going well.

House Ministries
One of the unexpected pleasures of moving to the house is that we are able to serve more. On Fridays, a group of teenage boys comes from Block E to hang out for the afternoon. We feed them, play games, read stories, do crafts, and just spend time with them. Also, we have had the opportunity to house some visiting missionaries, and it has been so fun to get to know them. Lastly, we have also found ministry on our doorstep. We often have children come to the door begging for food. We ask them to do simple jobs, like water the flowers, and then pay them with food. They want to work, and they don’t want to be dependent. It’s great to see the pride they take in their work, if only given the opportunity.

Girl’s Bible Study
I have continued my study with high school girls living at a local hostel. We are currently learning about spiritual disciplines, and how to have a relationship with Jesus. I hope to do a sleepover and a volunteer day with them in the new year. They will begin exams soon, and I will not see them until January- I will miss them terribly.

Prayer Walks
Josh has recently begun doing prayer walks around Rehoboth, something that is SO crucial. There is a spiritual oppression here unlike any we have ever experienced. It is truly a battle for souls, and I am so proud of him for taking this on.

Youth Group
We continue to be involved with the same youth group we have been with since the beginning of our time here. They are currently undergoing a change in leadership, as the youth pastor is stepping down and a member of the youth board is taking over. As far as new events, we will be working a camp with for them for a week in December. We see so much potential in many of these kids, and hope to nurture that in some small way. Last weekend I had a sleepover with 2 of the girls, and the next day we took them to do outreach in Block E. One of them had been there only once before, despite having lived here her whole life. This generation can be the change in Rehoboth.

Block E Outreach
We have been doing Block E outreaches more often, in which we give kids apples or sandwiches or something else to eat. It is such a difficult situation. On the one hand, we don’t want to create a dependency, but on the other, we cannot sit by and watch them starve. After praying about it, God recently brought me to this verse, which is what I would like to leave you with:

“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God…As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.”- 2 Corinthians 9:11,13

God, may it be so.