Orphan Camp Update

If you haven't taken a few minutes to read about what is happening in Zimbabwe with the orphan camp, please take a few minutes to read the River Glen Blog. What a moving and challenging journal. I've included an excerpt from the blog below. I'm also planning to put together a short video once Allen and Janelle return.



Sunday, July 29th

"Lynn Nuzzo our children’s director and I bring you greetings on behalf of our Africa team from a Salvation Army camp far down a rutted dirt road near the heart of the Matopos National Park. Here the mountains are rugged and huge boulders balance magnificently on one another, on the top of the peak. On the wall of the building where we meet most it is stated that the mission of the camp is to support the psychosocial development of children. Here each of our 55 children here been wounded by the loss of one parent or more to AIDS.

First of all I want to thank you for your prayers. We have been safe in the midst of Zimbabwe’s deepening economic and political distress. Just 2 hours ago we finished our 3 day ZBS camp. We have felt God’s hand at work in many ways. Getting our supplies to camp after an unexpected delay, getting a flat tire not in the remote bush but in the city, seeing relationships form with the children and offering them spiritual encouragement from Isaiah 11 which pictures God’s new earth and from Psalm 23, the Lord is my Shepard.

We had a wonderful morning worship today where the children sang for us with rhythmic African movement. We gave the children a decorative cross, and I preached from Ephesians 1 reminding them that God knew their names even before the foundations of earth were laid. . ."

Click here to read more.

Thank you River Glen for all you've done to bless these sweet, sweet children!!!

Lisa

Zimbabwe Orphan Camp

I've shared several times this past year about the orphan situation in southern Africa and what God is doing to bring some relief to these children's lives. The River Glen Church, outside Chicago, supports 60 of our orphans in Zimbabwe. They have created a blotspot to keep us up to date with what is happening with the camp they are running for the children this weekend. Feel free to check it out when you have a moment.

Blessings,

Lisa

More on Zimbabwe. . .

Another update from Janelle.

"As many of you know, Zimbabwe has been in both political and economic turmoil for a number of years. It seems that the problems of all these years are now converging to bring on the population of this country great times of hardship. Those who have thrived in the past are now struggling to survive, those who have always struggled are now truly becoming desperate. Even the surrounding countries are concerned that they will be inundated with thousands of staving people.

And of course, the families of our children are those who are the most desperate.

Please pray for each family and caregiver as they look at inflation up to 20,000% per year and empty shelves and no food for their families. This is a time for totally depending on God for the next day's food."

Please Pray:
1. Thank God for all his provision up to this time.
2. Pray that God will give encouragement and lift the hearts of each caregiver and each child while the whole country cries in their desperation.
3. Pray that God will miraculously provide for these families.
4. Pray that God will give us, AOM, wisdom as we work to help each family.

A Light in Zimbabwe

If you have been following the news, you might have read about the continued collapse of Zimbabwe. The situation is incredibly bleak for a country that is literally starving. There is little food on the shelves, inflation is the highest in the world, and many have turned to prostitution in order to feed their children.

Allen and Janelle left yesterday for Bulawayo. Here's what she wrote in her orphan blog.

"This is going to be a very exciting time for our Themba children (this is our orphan program that helps support many of these children in hardship). From among the members of the River Glen Presbyterian Church of Naperville, Illinois, 60 children are sponsored and prayed for regularly! And next week, this church is sending out a group of 9 people to visit the homes of different children and to hold a weekend camp for 50 of our children. Lots of Bible lessons, stories, songs, and games are planned for the children. It promises to be an wonderful and exciting week for all of us!!

Thank God for this gracious church that has taken these children into their hearts and are working out that love in very tangible ways!"

PLEASE PRAY:

1. Thank God for the love within the River Glen church for the children of Zimbabwe.

2. Ask God for safety and to bless their trip over and all the travel that will be involved.

3. Pray for safety and protection as we travel within this troubled country.

4. Pray for JOY to fill the hearts of the children, and to fill our hearts as we minister and are ministered to by the Lord.

If you'd like to learn more about a tangible way to help the people in Zimbabwe, please check out our ministry website.

Blessings,

Lisa

Happy Seventeen years!

Yesterday Scott and I celebrated our seventeenth wedding anniversary! We enjoyed dinner at the Coach House, a lovely restaurant up in the mountains.

Love you, Scott. Looking forward to another seventeen plus years together!

Lisa

Table Mountain

Looking over Cape Town, high about the Atlantic Ocean, lies a sheer mountain rise called Table Mountain. The five minute ride by cable car takes you up the one kilometer precipitous, transporting you to a view over looking Cape Point to the south and beyond, the expansive ocean. The flat-topped crest can be seen 200 km out to sea, and white clouds billowing above the sandstone have been appropriately called a “tablecloth” at times. As you can see by the following photos, the view from this tabletop is incredible.

Enjoy!

Lisa

Ministry Update

As I mentioned a few days ago, we have some ministry news to share. And as I share with you, I’d also like to ask for your fervent prayers regarding our future. Both Scott and I consider it a blessing to live in South Africa and work across southern Africa. It’s a continent of beauty, but more importantly, a place filled with people who need to know the saving grace of their Creator.

For the past few months, I’ve posted photos of our work and dreams regarding Mozambique. Our hearts have been pulled with a desire to work there full time, while at the same time God’s hand has been clearly moving in the same direction. As the Fuentes continue to train and disciple new Christians, the workload continues to grow.


This prayerful process hasn’t been easy in many aspects. We enjoy living here with family close by. The kids are blessed to go to a good school and we have friends and the conveniences of living we wouldn’t have in Mozambique. But we also know that the decision has to be made by looking beyond the physical.


The final decision hasn’t yet been made, as there are still details to be worked out. We have sought the leadership and spiritual oversight of our board and will be meeting with them by phone this weekend. We also have to ensure that our oldest son is able to take the curative medicine for malaria as he’s highly allergic to the preventive medicine. Please continue praying for this work and possible transition for our family in the next few months. I’ll keep you updated as to our plans.

Blessings,

Lisa

Duiker Island

South of Cape Town lies Cape Peninsula, a stretch of land that splits the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Hout Bay is a quaint stop along the way, and for those interested, one can take a glass bottom boat out to Duiker Island to see Cape fur seals sunning themselves on a small rocky island southwest of Hout Bay. For many years, these Cape fur seals have been prized for their pelts, meat, and blubber, but are now more protected. We so much enjoyed the close encounter with the animals and their habitat. I've posted a slide show below with some of the photos from this part of our trip and short boat ride to the island.

Also, I recently sent out my first Yahoo! Newsletter From the Heart of Africa. What’s in it for you? Contests, recipes, and other book related news. With five books coming out in the next few months, there will be several contests, and if you’re signed up for my newsletter, you’ll be automatically entered! In this first July newsletter, three people won a free copy of Tara’s Gold. Feel free to sign up for this newsletter that I will send out every couple months, as well as the opportunity to win copies of Massachusetts Brides and Montana Mistletoe for my next drawing in September.



Blessings,

Lisa



Go to ImageShack® to Create your own Slideshow

I'm back!

After driving 16 hours across South Africa we're home! We had a wonderful time seeing Cape Town and the SA coast for the first time, and God blessed us with some needed quiet time and rest. This part of South Africa truly is a beautiful piece of God’s creation.

Unfortunately, my plans to post a photo journal along the way didn't work. The "always on" hot spot we planned to use wasn't on. So instead, I'll be posting several slide shows for the next week or so that I think you will enjoy. Many of the photos we took are simply stunning. The weather was perfect, allowing us a chance to take a boat ride to see some seals, view penguins along the coast, and even bogie board in the Indian Ocean. (The kids are hooked on this new sport!)

On another note, I’d like to ask continued prayer for our ministry. God is doing wonderful things in Mozambique, and we are excited to see what the future holds. I will also have some important ministry news to share soon, so stay tuned for that.

Blessings!

Lisa




Go to ImageShack® to Create your own Slideshow