GLORY.

"and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." isaiah 60:1

i am constantly surrounded by the beauty of nature here in cape town. there are moments where i am completely overwhelmed by it. i was walking on the beach one morning as the sun was rising, causing a vibrant display of clouds over the mountains. truly the glory of the Lord was being displayed. i kept thinking i was made for the glory of the Lord! but then i felt the Lord say to me that nature is wonderful and it was created by him to display his majesty and splendor...but that the crowning piece of creation was when he made man...in his image. it hit me that there is nothing more GLORIOUS than watching the redemption of the Lord working in a person's life. witnessing the Creator restore and redeem and "transforming our lowly bodies that it may be conformed to His glorious body!" philippians 3:21. seeing lives of emptiness, brokenness and shame being filled with HIS glory!

now THAT is what i was made for! i was made to see the glory of the Lord rise upon his people!

The epic tale of a miraculously functioning computer.

i believe in miracles. even ones that involve electronics.

april 18th began just like any other monday. i arrived at the all nations office early, made myself some coffee and sat down at my laptop to get some work done. i reached for my coffee, and before i knew it, i had dropped the mug leaving a pool of coffee on my (fairly new) computer that i had saved foreverrr for. eeeeek! i immediately grabbed my computer, poured the liquid off and (thanks to my friend bowen who knows much about computers) i turned the power off.

my friend, bowen, quickly ran home, grabbed his computer tools, and began taking my computer a part.

about an hour later, my computer was COMPLETELY taken a part and placed in a bucket of rice to soak up the liquid. and that is where it sat for the next three days. the amazing part of the whole experience is i just had such a confidence in my heart that it would all be okay. my motto for the whole process was "I will not be intimidated!" i chose from the first few minutes to not give into being overwhelmed by this unfortunate event, but to choose peace and joy! the very thing the enemy wants in times of hardship, trouble or misfortune is for us to give into despair, sadness, self pity, fear...but what is the Father saying in these times?

"take courage my beloved! for I work all things for your good; I am with you and nothing is impossible for me...if you just have a little faith! "

so that is just what i did. i decided to have faith in the One who is so worthy of my trust!

after the third day (which just so happened to be Good Friday!) my computer was reassembled and, alas, it actually turned on!!! wow. i was overjoyed! there was only a few things that weren't working, the biggest things being the space bar and the delete key. BUT soon bowen had figured out how to pull up a keyboard on the screen. "i will not be intimidated!" i rejoiced in the victory!

SADLY, a day later my computer shut off only to stay shut off :( it would begin to start up and then just die. oh man. but truly, i did not feel discouraged. even though everything was telling me that this is the end of the computer, i felt in my heart that the fight wasn't over.

my computer then sat dead for about a month in my room. bowen decided that he would try and get my hard drive off my computer so i could at least recover all my documents and pictures. he discovered in that process that my computer actually would turn on!!!! but here is the catch: if you do not move the mouse every 8 seconds the computer will shut off! yikes! BUT hey thats a small problem compared to it being completely dead! i was once again overjoyed! AND not only that but the space bar and delete keys NOW worked! oh my goodness..."i will NOT be intimidated!"

after about two weeks of moving the mouse constantly...i was beginning to form a twitch :) i then discovered that if you just hold your hand on the mousepad it will stay on...which led to me discovering that if you put something heavy on the mouse pad, it will hold it down and keep the computer on! (hence the stapler.) WOW. victory after victory!

auntie pat, who works in the all nations office, gave me this beautiful rock, that i have lovingly named the 'rock of contentment' (i have NO idea why, but it is a name that has stuck with me and amy.) at that is the end of this epic tale!

**note: as i wrote this blog post i turned away for a minute (well about 9 seconds to be exact) only to find that my computer had shut off, losing this post that i had not yet saved. arrrg. there are many moments of frustration because of the after effects of that devastating coffee spill. however, each time I remember to stop my grumbling and rejoice for the fact that i have a functioning computer! it truly is a miracle and i am choosing to celebrate every victory the Lord gives!

God is a Redeemer!

God is a Redeemer.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending the weekend with ten beautiful 15 and 16 year old girls. A few months ago, two members of the Ocean View CPx outreach team, went to the principal of the Ocean View High School and asked him to give them the ten roughest, most troubled girls in the school. The principal happily agreed and they began meeting once a week after school. It did not take the team members long to see that these girls were not “trouble makers” but treasures waiting to be discovered. So they decided to have a camp just for them. A weekend dedicated to loving them and speaking truth into their lives. These girls have seen the harshness of the world. Most are addicted to drugs. Many are involved with gangs and have been abused by family members and boyfriends. These girls come from broken families and cycles of addiction and violence. They don’t have people in their lives telling them what they are really worth. No one is telling them they were made for greatness. No one is believing in them. So we did. Each girl had their own “big sister” for the weekend. It took me about 10 minutes with these girls to absolutely fall in love with them. It was a joy to get to know them and to share a cabin with them. It was so fun to watch them get the chance to simply be teenagers. I loved laying in bed at night listening to them talking and laughing, while eating junk food and listening to music. They told us that this was the first time in a long, long time that they were going to bed sober on a Friday night. wow. But most of all it was a privilege to witness the beauty of their hearts. They shared so much with us. Throughout the weekend we had different “sessions.” The first was about self worth and true identity. Another was about the truth behind a life of drugs, gangs and sex, giving them the hard facts. Another session was dedicated to encouraging them to dream for their futures. And for the last session they brought in women (from the girls' very own community) who have risen above lives of addiction, teen pregnancy and gang involvement, and are now living beautifully redeemed lives because of Jesus! wow. After each session, we would have one-on-one time with our “little sisters.” There were many tears, as they began realizing who they were made to be and the Love and greatness they were created for. After one session, my "little sis" shared with me all about her struggles and some deep secrets of some bad things that have happened to her. She told me that she really did want to leave her life of drugs, but that she didn't know how. “I believe in you.” Such a simple phrase for most, but ground shaking in her life. Tears filled both of our eyes as she began dreaming of a life of freedom and hope. Afterwards, just before she went running off to play volleyball with her friends, she told me that she felt free and happy! She said it felt like a heavy thing was lifted off her heart. wow. What a pleasure to be able to experience the Redeemer working miracles in these young girls lives and to be able to witness the furious love of God begin transforming in their lives. Bit by bit, these girls are finding freedom and life. Why? Because the Lover of their souls delights in them and is pursuing them. He has destined them for greatness and believes in them wholeheartedly. I am thankful that I got to spend a weekend with these girls and catch a glimpse into his heart for them.

jacob.

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,

Israel for His special treasure. Psalm 135:4

Last yearI had the wonderful privilege of being roommates with a woman named Nicole during CPx training school. I was constantly learning from her and being challenged by her relationship with the Lord. She trusts and listens to the Father without fear and with great faith. And because of this trust and faith the Lord moves mightily in her life and entrusts her with much. During CPx, the Lord began speaking to her about a dream that had been in her heart for many years...to adopt. no wait. This story begins far before last year. This story begins before the beginning of time. It begins when the Father began dreaming of a precious boy that would be born. He knew his face. He knew his name. He knew the plans for his life. He knew that he would call Nicole to South Africa and that she would be willing. Willing to lay down her life for another. To give up all the comforts of home and family to move to a distant land. To sacrifice her life to care for a child whose young, hurting mother could not care for him. Last March, Nicole and Jacob's lives crossed in the All Nations office after he had been taken into BabySafe's care. (Babysafe is an amazing ministry connected to All Nations. For more info visit www.thebabysafe.org). The story of how the Lord confirmed over and over again that Nicole was to foster Jacob is an unbelievable story of the Father's beautiful orchestration and I am so honored to been a first hand witness to it. Nicole has been fostering Jacob since last December and was recently officially named Jacob's foster mom for the next two years! Jacob's mother is still in contact with him and is being mentored by a Babysafe member, in order for her to finish high school and be in a place where she can eventually raise her son. She is an unbelievable foster mother. She is laying solid foundations of extravagant love and sowing seeds in his little life that will forever change him! I am so blessed to get to be a part of Nicole and Jacob's lives here. I often get to babysit Jacob and spend time with him. He is an absolute joy! I am so in love with him!

I just wanted to share Nicole and Jacob's story. God provides miraculously for Nicole and Jacob weekly! Recently, Nicole enrolled Jacob in school and is really trusting the Lord to provide the $250 a month for the tuition. If you, or anyone you know would like to sow into Jacob's life and sponsor his school fees, please let me know and I will give you the giving info! Or you can contact Nicole directly at lalli911@gmail.com or read more about her at www.lalli911.blogspot.com.

with Love,

whit

princes and princesses :)

His royal children...

this past week at kids club, Anna asked the kids, "Who is the King who lives in heaven?" One child raised her hand and answered, "God!" Anna then asked, "Well then who are His princes and princess?" One of our sweet girls quickly shot her hand up. She answered, "PRINCESS FIONA!" I just began laughing knowing exactly what she was referring to...the princess from SHREK :) We laughed really hard and explained, "Yes Fiona is a princess but so are each one of us!" Oh the joys of spending my time with sweet kids!

a fresh commitment! and stories from my life.

I have not been very good about sharing my stories through my blog in the past month or so. Two weeks of being sick, Easter and several South African holidays, and then the devastating fire in Masi has taken a toll on my amount of blogging. BUT I am making a commitment to blog more frequently; to share my daily life, the little happenings, funny stories, revelations, pictures. My heart for this blog is to bring my amazing family, friends and community along with me on this journey. So here we go!

update from the fire:

Jehovah Jireh. God provides.

We are still receiving donation after donation for the Masi fire victims. Food parcels, clothes, boxes and boxes of brand new shoes, furniture, mattresses, pots and pans, dishes, and building material... lots and lots of building material! We received a phone call that 12 truckloads of building materials were being donated to Masi from the sets of DENZEL WASHINGTON'S new movie that was being filmed in South Africa!

God has prepared a HARVEST among the people in the Wetlands who were in the fire. He is not only wanting to rebuild and restore shacks and possessions to his people, but he is wanting to rebuild and restore hearts and lives! He is preparing his people to be transformed by HIS love, goodness and grace. He longs for a people whose lives are built on the Rock, who will not be shaken. People who will rise above the ashes and walk in the glorious future he dreams of for them! God is faithful.

let faith arise.

it is easy to fall into routine. to get caught up in business. It is easy to forget to take time to stop and really dream. this past week, a fresh measure of faith has been rising up in my heart. I am made for the impossible. to see Light dawn in the hardest, darkest places. there has been a stirring in my heart to live for these things wholeheartedly! To press into the Father's great love and to dream with him without limit!

I have recently started meeting with a family full of drunkards. I was sitting with them at 2:00 in the afternoon the other day as they proceeded to drink one glass of alcohol after another. They are looking at me and telling me all the terrible things that happen when they are drunk. One tells me her boyfriend beats her. The mama, who is a half hearted witch doctor, tells me that she got the cast on her arm because a man kicked her when they were fighting over alcohol. One of the women is skin and bones, and is very ill. They tell me they want to quit living like this...as they pour another drink. It would be easy to think they are just a lost cause. to throw in the towel and find another family to spend time with. But I feel the Father whispering, "Stay. My love is always greater than the darkness." I am believing for the miraculous. I am believing for life and freedom for this family! Let faith arise!

story of the week.

A fixture in my week has been my run-ins with Maria. Everyone knew Maria as being "crazy." She was often drunk or high from drugs, and she would say she was schizophrenic. Maria would often come up to just about anyone and begin telling them about her life and about the abuse she has experienced from her previous husbands, family members, her neighbors...just about anyone. She would talk about how she has no money and that she sometimes sells her body for money. Several weeks in a row Maria would show up at the shack where me Nosipo (the amazing girl I spoke about in a previous post) were meeting. Each time, after pouring her heart out once again, me and Nosipo would minister to her, speaking truth and praying for her. It seemed a bit hopeless, but I truly believed that the Father had more for her.

Two weeks ago Maria comes up to my car. She looks beautiful. There is a brightness in her eyes that I had never seen. She tells me that she has meet Jesus. I really could not believe my eyes. She tells me about how Nceba (a friend of mine who was in my CPx class) prayed for. She tells me that when he prayed something happened inside of her. She says that it is as if her mind suddenly became clear. He told her to quit drinking and drugs. So she did. She has been sober for three weeks now. She has been meeting with a group of women that meets on Thursdays. I am in complete awe as she tells story after story of the miracles that are happening in her life daily. She has experienced the love and power of Jesus and it is completely transforming her life! Even her friends who are also trapped in a life of alcohol and prostitution are seeing the transformation. They are asking her "what is different?!" They are telling her "we want what you have!" And she tells them, "Its Jesus." He really is enough! The power of his love is real. And I have seen it in Maria.

a few pics for you to enjoy!

beach day last month with some of my favorite kids. i am missing those warm beach days now that it is nearing winter here!

I LOVE spending time with these funny girls. They are always singing and laughing!

Sunrise breakfast with friends on Easter morning!

Suretha, a friend from CPx last year, got married last month! So fun to attend a South African wedding. It was all in Afrikaans, but luckily we had George (on the left) who could translate for us :)

with Love,

whit

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap... (ps. 113)

One of the biggest fires Masiphumelele has ever seen swept through the Wetlands (the poorest part of Masi) early Monday morning. The fire trucks arrived soon after it started, however because of the wind and the location of the raging fire in the back of the wetlands prevented the firemen from getting to where the fire started. The count of lost homes on Monday was 1,500.

It truly is a devastation for the community. Thousands upon thousands have been affected. The fire spread so quickly that most of the people I have spoken to were not able to salvage much of their belongings. This fire effected 8 of our Vulnerable Children families. And in our All Nations family, we have many more BabySafe clients, house church members, and friends that have lost their homes, as well.
I spent all day Monday in Masi doing whatever I could to help. I spent time connecting with each of our VC families, assessing needs and comforting them as best I could. We partnered with the disaster relief efforts, volunteering our time and service organizing donations and serving food. I spent time with some of our VC children who had no where to go while their parents worked on registering with the government, clearing out the debris and gathering supplies. We "set up camp" at our prayer shack in Masi, providing them a place to rest and food to eat. We thankfully have space in our Africa House to house some of the families that lost their homes and had no one in the township to stay with. Our families are beginning to make plans on how to start again. They have all registered with the government in order to receive aid. On Monday, they received two thin blankets and food from the government. They will also receive five tins and some wood. This will not build a shack, but it is a start. We are hoping to provide clothing, coats, school uniforms, blankets, building materials, furniture and basic household items for our VC families and some of the families that we have relationship with. We are also continuing to partner with the local efforts to provide assistance to as many families as possible.

It truly is overwhelming. But I am filled with comfort as I turn to the Father who cares. He cares for his children. He is not abandoning them in this hour of crisis. At times I feel to overwhelmed to even know where to begin to pray for the multitude of people who have lost so much. But the thing that the Lord speaks to me over and over is HOPE. I am crying out for the God of comfort to fill his people with his HOPE. I am praying that they would be filled and overflowing with the reassurance that the Father is with them. I am praying that the same hope that drew me to Jesus in my most desperate hour would fill each and every hopeless and desperate heart. Please join with me in praying this over the people of Masi!

If you would like to give financially toward the fire relief efforts in Masi you can send donations to:
All Nations Family, Inc
c/o Walsh Washburn
5360 College Boulevard Ste. 100
Overland Park, KS 66211
**Please enclose a note that says "Crisis Relief Fund, Cape Town"

If you live in the Cape Town are and would like to find out how you can help please contact me at Whitneyelise211@gmail.com and I would love to send you more info!

A picture (taken by a friend who lives in Masi) during the height of the fire early Monday morning.

Have you ever seen such big pots?! The government brought in a hot meal Monday evening.

That is a LOT of rice, people!

There was a huge rainbow as we drove into Masi Monday afternoon! Thank you Lord. You are faithful and loving, and your promises are always sure.

We gathered our sweet VC kids for a fire safety presentation just last Friday. When I found one of our young VC girls on Monday after the fire, she proudly told me that right as the fires started she told her mother that they must call the fire department and then told her the number! (very few people here know the emergency numbers and it often takes a while before the fire dept. is called). So proud of our little one!

Oh how I love these kids! Friday afternoon kids club.

Blessings to each of you! I will write more soon.

with love,
whit