Wow, it has been an exciting month since we last spoke. 1st of all it has been very busy and I've been working hard because I am actually coming home to Colorado to visit family and friends in 2 days! I dont think I've told many of you, but Ive had it planned for a long time to come home during my holiday for the year.
But our work has really been exciting to be a part of these last few weeks. Our team is preparing to run a holiday camp for youth in the biggest township in South Africa in Johannesburg...unfortunately I wont be able to go because I already had my trip home booked. We've also recently been able to purchase and put up a centre for the youth in Khayelitsha. It is such a great step from the large tin shack that they were using for a couple years.
We also just launched our small loan program (Income Generation Project) in Khayelitsha as well. This is the main thing we've been busy getting off the ground before I come home. We have now distributed over R31,000 (South African Currency) to help 12 people from the community, whom are mostly unemployed, start their own businesses. Through this process we have also hired another local guy Zukile to work with me on the project and be able to manage and run the project. It is really exciting and now we just have to monitor things and trust these new entrepreneurs to do their part and for God to do His part as well.
We had an exciting celebration in Khayelitsha with the youth, their families, and the local community to celebrate the launch of the loan project and the opening of the new building. It was an amazing day for our whole team to see the community supporting it, God shining on it, and the fruits of our efforts. So Im getting on a plane to come home exhausted, but knowing that the first half of 2009 has been a success and that Africa Jam is having an impact in the places we are working. Please pray for the use of the building in the community for God's purposes, for the success of the loan recipient's businesses and for the youth we work with.
Thank you, and I look forward to chatting over the phone or seeing some of you when I am home. Peace
Ryan
