My Dear Family and Friends,
I write to you today with a broken and heavy heart. I am gonna try my best to put into words what is going on here at Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa.
I must start first with what is so heavily on my heart. I work with three women at my minstry called Ithemba each have different roles at this ministy and have a passion for their community. This last week I have gotten to know Loucinda- she is a beautiful woman who loves to sing, dance, and and laugh. She has a contagious smile:) She has alot of responsibilty at Ithemba, but works diligently and has a wondeful sense of humor. The other day while we were speaking she humbly told me she had no deordant left at home and was worried she would smell to others. She asked if I would bring her some. I was completely humbled that she would ask, my prideful heart would never have been able to do it. So that is exactly what I brought to her the next day.
Another beautiful face I have gotten to know is Aya. He is a little five year old boy with tons of engery. He has the sweetest smile and laugh and loves to play and be a normal kid. The more I’ve gotten to play and get to know him- the more God has completely filled me with love for Aya. On sunday I found out that Aya is Loucinda’s son and that their situation is not very good. My leader told me Loucinda’s story- about her husband’s abuse, and the way he spends his money on achocol, and how Loucinda is worried about Aya and the unsafe neighbor they have to live in. She then told me Loucinda has AIDS. I was completely shocked. I didn’t know how to handle it or how to react. This life that I thought was so vibrant and healthy was completely sick inside with AIDS. I wanted to be mad at God, but I knew I couldn’t. God didn’t want this either. It is Tuesday and I am still processing it all and trying to talk about it. I never realized the helplessness I’d feel. So do I have the answers. No. But God is trying to teach me that’s okay. I just need to run to Him- He is my refuge. When I want to run away from the pain in this city- God wants me to run into it with open arms of love for these people.
On Friday my whole team of 55 will be traveling to Summerset East, which is about 3 hours away, to do a ministry called Beat The Drum. We will be there for 8 days- teaching about AIDS- how to prevent it, take care of it, and sharing God’s love. We will be helping the kids in school, the farmers, business workers, and townspeople. Please really pray for this! God has huge plans for this project and Satan defintely does not want it to be a success.
Pray for:
Funds would be provided for Beat The Drum
The spirit of sickness would leave my team this has been overtaken with sickness
Loucinda and Aya- their safety and health
God would keep breaking my heart for what breaks His
I have so much more to say, but not enough time. Please keep praying- God is doing amazing things here! He has a plan for the people of Jeffreys Bay.
Broken in Him,
Ellen
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