the Journey continues: details about my next year in South Africa!

...and the glorious journey continues!

i could not be more excited for or feel more certain of the things the Lord is calling me to!

HERE ARE THE DETAILS FOR MY NEXT YEAR!

I will be moving to Cape Town, South Africa at the end of January 2011 for an eleven month internship with All Nations. During this time I will be living with an All Nations couple who have graciously opened their home to me! (They are not only teachers from the school I just participated in, but they are my sister-in-law’s parents! What a blessing!) I will be spending my time (30-50 hours a week) in Masiphumelele, one of the impoverished, yet beautiful township communities in Cape Town. I will be pouring out my prayers, time and love over the people of this community. I will be specifically focusing on meeting with with VC children and their households. I will spend much of my time building relationship, discipling, encouraging and advocating for needs that arise. Weekly I will spend time distributing food packages and helping put on the a kids club for the VC children. One of my greatest joys is the long lasting relationships I have formed in MasiphumeleIe. I am so excited to be able to continue meeting with and discipling women that I have formed relationship with over the years of visiting South Africa! Lastly, I will also help out with any administrative needs in the office and be a part of an All Nations house church.

WHAT IS ALL NATIONS?

All Nations is a non for profit organization that seeks to partner with the Holy Spirit to pioneer simple Jesus-centered communities in homes, businesses, or anywhere Jesus is not worshiped. The All Nation’s family focuses on bringing the love and hope of Jesus in a holistic way, meeting people’s needs on all levels. The All Nation’s family is full of people who passionately love Jesus, desire for him to be worshipped by all peoples, and who burn to see justice come to the poor and oppressed. I am so eager to fully give myself to this beautiful family and to run after the Kingdom with them!

WHAT IS THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN PROGRAM?

Vulnerable Children (VC) is an All Nation’s program whose aim is to care for the needs of vulnerable children and their households in the township, Masiphumelele. The focus is to support children who have lost both parents, or may have a remaining parent who is ill, most usually from HIV/AIDS. Many of these orphaned children are either raised by the oldest child in the home or are passed around between different family members who in most cases can not afford to properly care for the children in their own families. Through sponsorship, VC helps with practical needs such as food, school supplies and blankets. Because the hope and vision is to see these kids and families raised up and empowered to live out the destiny that God has for them, VC volunteers mentor and disciple these children, as well as advocate for and empower the children and families through education, job training, and more. The Father loves these children and families, and desires for their lives to be transformed by his love, grace and hope!

For more information on the different ways that YOU

can get involved with Vulnerable Children program

go to:

www.vulnerablechildrensa.com

WHY AM I GOING BACK?

After spending five months in Cape Town, South Africa participating in All Nation’s Church Planting school, CPx, I have never felt more excited and committed to giving my life to see the Kingdom of God touch the ends of the earth! During my time there I received so much wisdom and strategy for bringing the love of God to spiritually desperate and hungry people, and making disciples of Jesus who will go and make more disciples. I was equipped to be a catalyst for movements that will transform entire communities. The Lord also began to speak to me about the dreams and plans he has over my life. He began stirring up in new ways things that he has placed deep within my heart; a passion to see oppressed, broken, hurting, unloved and abused children raised up to know God, to love him and to hear his voice. For families to be restored; fathers returning to their children, mothers healed and set free, and their children to live in families where they will be loved, treasured and raised up! This is so near to God’s heart!

For many years now, the cry of my heart has been for the poor, the unloved, the hopeless and the broken to be changed by the love and hope of their heavenly Father. I have grown more and more eager to give up the comforts of my life here to pursue the Lord’s Kingdom in the hard, dark places that so desperately need the light of Jesus! In recent years, the Lord has given me a passion for church planting movements (movements consisting of simple communities of faith whose aim is to see disciples producing disciples and simple churches producing more simple churches.) And now the Lord has led me to an opportunity to learn what it looks like to marry together my heart for the restoration of families and the vision for church planting!

WANT TO BE APART OF MY JOURNEY?

I will be working with All Nations as a volunteer. I will need $1500 a month (for basic living expenses), as well as $7,000 in one time costs (plane ticket and rental car). I am currently working to save money; however, I am in great need of help from my family and friends! If you are interested in giving monthly while I am there or giving a one-time gift I would be forever grateful! (There are directions on the right side of this blog page for how to give! or email me: WhitneyElise211@gmail.com for questions).

ALSO, I am building my prayer team! I am desperate for your prayers and intercession! Please email me (WhitneyElise211@gmail.com) if you would like to join!

much love,

whit