Ups and Downs

Hey Friends and Family,

It has been great to hear from many of you and get updates on what's going on in your lives....keep them coming. I hope that you are all well. Since I last emailed, Africa Jam has pretty much just kept going with its daily work of after school programs. In Khayelitsha the group put on a performance in the community this past Thursday where they showed off some of their dancing, singing, and acting skills, while sharing Christ's love with those in attendance. Also, about a week and a half ago we performed a skit at an assembly in the community of Lotus River about what it means to be a real man/woman.

As for my life and living in the township, it has been very up and down. In my last update, I mentioned many of the positives of living here, but there is definitely another side too. Like I have seen so much in Africa (and everywhere) there are the positive things we hear less about and the negative that we hear far too much about. But, I have felt the weight of living in an oppressed community. It is a place where resources are lacking, opportunities are minimal, crime is present, and life can be very difficult. As I start to know the kids lives more, I'm starting to see some of the things they face. On top of these things I have started to be effected by unfamiliarity, loneliness at times, and my own lack of understanding. Day to day can be tough......BUT

The positive things still exist, the good is still here, and I can see God working here. There are times when I love being here, growing closer with the teens we work with, sharing guitar lessons with them, new friendships, God comforting me, being swarmed by the school of small children that live on the street. I can see the effects of these struggles on the lives of these youth and how for many of them it is strengthening their perseverance and character. They are overcoming their situation and becoming better people for it. So as I said, things here have been very up and down. Within in the same day I can think to myself, "I know this is where I should be" and "What the hell am I doing here?"

Please pray for me to better connect to and understand the community, as well as what I am and am not able to do. Please pray also for the continued change of the youth (and myself) to live in a new and Godly way. Thanks...also I have posted some new pictures (see link below). Some are in the "Cape Town" folder and there is new folder I put up called "CT Photo Project" which is a collection of black and white photos from around Cape Town in the first half of my time here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/decookr

Oh and one more thing, I will be home (like home, home...as in the USA) in about 10 days. I will be coming for my sister Christina's wedding and some time with family. I will be in CO from May 14-June 4. So if any of you are around I would love to see you and catch up, or at least on the phone. I will have my same old phone number that I always had in the States. Alright, love you all, and am looking forward to coming home to see many of you. Peace
Ryan