Exciting June

Hey Everyone,

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

April/May

Hey Friends,

I hope that you are all well. It has been about a month since I wrote to you. There has not been too much to update in terms of new events or things happening. The major thing that is happening is that Africa Jam has recently ordered a building for a community center in Khayelitsha. It will be delivered and put in the community in the next few weeks and we will be able to have our afterschool program there. Also, we will be launching our small loan program in about 1 month, which will be exciting to see people starting their own businesses.

Other than that, we have just been continuing with our day to day activities. The past month for me has really been a time of personal struggle and growth however. For the last couple of months I have been wrestling with a whole variety of things such as questions, doubts, negative emotions, and feeling a bit overwhelmed with life and community work. It has been a difficult time but I am starting to see so many good things coming out of it.

These struggling times have forced me to really get honest with myself, with others, and with God. It has been so liberating to get back to being more authentic and transparent. Sometimes the most freeing thing is just to share something you're struggling with. And as for my faith, I have become very real and open with God. Rather than pretending things are perfect and feeling good, Ive really been realizing I can tell God anything, the good and the ugly. As part of that I have been finding different ways to creatively express myself. Ive been spending much more time writing, coming up with poetry, playing music, doing photography. I think it has been really healthy and helpful to have those outlets.

So it really has been a good month, as I'm seeing all of the good things coming out of these struggles. I am feeling more free, more alive, more close to God than I have in quite awhile. I'm once again seeing the amazing ways God can use our difficulties for good. So thanks for all your continued prayers and support. Please continue to pray for 1) The Loan Project we are starting 2) The youth we work with 3)Me and my fellow workers to continue to grow and be changed in healthy ways. Thanks! Love you all
Ryan

News

Hello Friends,

I hope that things are well with you all and that you had a great Easter weekend. Mine was great as I spent time with some friends from my church about 6 hours up the coast in a beautiful place called Plettenberg Bay. We spent the weekend just relaxing and swimming at the beach which was well needed after a busy month and a busy week leading up to it.

Things have really been going well in the community of Lotus River. At the end of February we began teaching in a primary school about sexuality, choices, and HIV/AIDS. Since we are working with 6th and 7th graders, believe me it is not the easiest task in the world (you can imagine some of the comments), but both Africa Jam and the school felt that it was a very necessary thing for a lot of these kids who just get educated on these issues from word of mouth through peers.

Then all of last week, before the Easter weekend, we had a holiday camp with 3rd-5th graders at that same school. We spent the week playing games, singing, sharing Bible stories, having competitions and lots of fun. There were about 150 who attended the camp. On one of the days after we acted out the story of Jesus and how God had used Him to bring people back into a relationship with Him, we asked if there were any student who wanted that for themselves, and every single student stood up to respond to God's love.

It was a great week and needless to say, we were exhausted by the end. But things are continuing with our programs in Khayelitsha as well. I have recently met some people who have gotten involved in the planning of our small loan program and are helping push us closer to launching it. So please keep praying for us here. Please keep your updates and prayer requests coming. I would love to hear from you all and want to stay connected to home as time passes. I miss you all and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Peace
Ryan

Feb/March

Hello Everyone,

The past month has flown by. And it was a seriously hot month. I think that February is the warmest month of the year with several days reaching up to nearly 100 degrees. I sweat driving around town, but thankfully I now have those tinted windows (courtesy of the guy who stole it) on my car to keep some of the heat out. Haha.

The day to day work that Africa Jam has really gotten back up and running for the year. We started our after school program in the community of Lotus River again with over 40 kids coming. Its quite a challenge to try and quiet down and teach guitar to such a large number of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders though, haha. We also started our tutoring program in Khayelitsha again, bringing University of Cape Town students from my church to be with our youth once a week.

A lot of my time recently has actually been spent brainstorming and meeting with different advisers to get input into the loan program we want to launch in Khayelitsha in the next couple of months. It is exciting that we will be putting something in place that will be helping better provide for the needs of the youth and their families through helping them start businesses, but it is a bit daunting to do it well and work out all the details.

So please pray for this program and for all of Africa Jam's projects to be led forth by God's Spirit. Also please continue to pray for the youth we work with, specifically the ones I mentioned last time who were dealing with the rape recovery and the drug addiction. Thanks so much and please send me all of your updates and prayer requests. Peace
Ryan

January Summary

Hey Everyone,

I apologize that it has taken me so long to get back to you after my last email and update about camp. I have been waiting to get pictures from our camp so I could post them and send you all the link (pictures always make the words more clear). But I have to update give an update about our big youth camp that happened from Jan. 4-9. It was an incredible week. Out of the last 3 camps I have been to, it was the best yet. This was so amazing to me coming out of a year with such transition in the organization - to see God work it all out in the end showed me that He is still behind all that we are doing.

We had 200 people from all over Cape Town and a large visiting group from the US. Once again it was so cool to see all the relationships that were built, fun that was had, and walls that were broken down. Since camp has ended I have spoken to many who tell me how much God did in their lives over this week. And it incredible to hear about the diversity of things that God did in each individual life, including introducing Himself to some for the first time.

Riding on the wave of excitement, we have been planning and preparing for the year for our day to day work in the schools and with after-school programs. I am especially excited about planning our small loan project to help provide income for some of the youth and families we work with. So as the schools have gotten back from vacation, we are getting back into the swing of things.

However, we are always faced with the hard realities of life, humanity, and some of the communities we work in. Just this past week, I had a youth come to me and share his battle with drug addiction. And a girl heavily involved in one of our programs was abducted, forced to witness robberies, and was raped. Thankfully she got away and is in the process of proper counseling. So I would really ask for prayers for these two youth specifically for healing and comfort. As well as wisdom from our team as how to better serve the youth. Thanks so much for all your continued support and prayers. Peace
Ryan
http://picasaweb.google.com/decookr (pics of things this year in "Cape Town 09" folder

Back to CT

Hello Friends,

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and holiday season. Mine was amazing, especially since I got to see or chat to many of you. My few weeks in the states were very busy with fundraising and catching up with friends and family, but it was a great time.

Two nights ago I arrived safely back in Cape Town. It was a long flight and Im a bit worn out, but adjusting. It's always hard to leave home, but much easier to arriving in a place where Ive been able to build so many great relationships.

The main reason I had to return so quickly was our big youth camp for the year. We are starting in a couple days (Jan 4-9). We are trusting it will be a great camp as it has been in the past, with 150 youth from all over Cape Town attending. So...

Please pray for: 1) Camp to run smoothly and for local leaders to be raised up - 2) Everyone attending to be touched by the love of God

Thanks for all your continued support and prayers. Looking forward to walking forward with you in 2009. Peace

Ryan

Finally

Hello Everybody,

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you with this update. I have been holding off on writing because I wanted to be certain of my plans for next year. But, in all my thinking, writing, discerning, and praying I have come to a decision for 2009. While I still feel that I will do grad school, it will likely just be pushed back a year into 2010. And I have felt God calling me back to continue the work in Cape Town with Africa Jam into 2010.

From when I wrote my last update and was uncertain, I was feeling very overwhelmed and anxious about what was ahead. Now that I have spent the time to seek what God wants, and have made my decision, I have felt very at peace, revived, and excited about next year. I will still be back to the US on the 10th of December, but could be back in Cape Town as early as December 31st for our big camp of the year.

I am stoked to see what 2009 has in store, as I will be continuing with some of the work that was started this year. My main responsibilities will be continuing with leadership development, mentoring the youth, Bible studies, teaching guitar, and organizing our tutoring program. I'm very excited about our Microloan Project (business generating) that I will be in charge of restructuring, implementing and overseeing. We see it as a great way of battling poverty in the lives of the youth and their families. I'm excited about moving forward with Africa Jam and seeing youth impacted spiritually, socially, emotionally, and physically.

This decision is made completely in faith. I am trusting that this is where God wants me, so He will provide for me. While Africa Jam will be covering a few of my costs, most of my living expenses will have to come from elsewhere. Many of you have supported me faithfully financially, in prayer, in encouragement and I'm truly grateful for that and the deepening of our relationships through that. I ask that you would consider that into 2010. If you would like to partner financially with me, please send tax deductible donations to:

Arvada Covenant Church
5555 Ward Road
Arvada, CO 80002

*And make sure the memo says "Ryan DeCook - Africa Jam" on it *

Thank you for all your support and prayers. Please pray for the detail of my return to be worked out and for Africa Jam plan well for 2009 to really be able to impact the youth here. I continue to pray for you all and hope that I will get to see many of you during my visit home to the US. Please let me know if you will be around or available to spend time together in December. Peace

Ryan