Hello Friends,
I thought it was a good time for another update from Cape Town. I have been working a lot lately, especially at setting up The IGP (Income Generation Project) for 2010. I have been feeling renewed with the work and passionate about what's happening.
I have hired one local guy (Jason) who just recently graduated from the University of Cape Town to be our Branch Manager and we have been training/interviewing applicants from the Khayelitsha community to be our Loan Officers. One or two of them will be on board with us by next week and we will be beginning our process for marketing in the community to those who want to start businesses to provide for their families. We are also seeking more funding for the project to provide for what we want to do this year (25 business loans) but I am excited about some doors that are opening for us.
Part of the reason I've been working so hard is to establish ongoing foundations that would last even if I were to leave. Over the past year, I have been feeling the Lord leading me to apply to seminary in the States. So I have applied and am waiting on acceptance and financial aid responses from several schools. If I were accepted and felt that it was the right thing, I would start sometime in Aug/Sept. I am not 100% certain what is going to happen at this point, but I would really appreciate your prayers for direction and provision in this time.
Thanks for all your continuing support and prayers. Please also pray for the ongoing work in Khayelitsha. Loyiso our co-worker has ventured out to start some Africa Jam work in another province in the Eastern Cape. He has left the after school program in the capable hands of some great young leaders, but please pray for the youth in this time of transition and for Loyiso and his work. Thanks! ryan
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Beginning of 2010
Hello Friends,
I hope that you all had a great start to the new year. I had a great time at home over the holidays with family and friends although it was busy with work and a quick turnaround to Cape Town. The reason I had to be back so quickly was for our big Africa Jam youth outreach camp. We had a great week with the kids and saw God doing many great things. Also with the beautiful location and our leaders stepping up to more responsibilities, the week felt like a bit of a vacation for me after a very busy and somewhat stressful "holiday" at home.
Africa Jam has become very effective and efficient at running these camps over the years as this was the 10th in our history and the 4th that I've personally been a part of. At the end of camp, the kids spoke of how they had really experienced an atmosphere of love and how it was like a week of "heaven on earth." As leaders we were very excited to hear that. We also saw 8 kids come to know Jesus Christ for the first time and many more who had their fire for Him rekindled. Many great friendships were formed and bonds were built also.
Just after camp I welcomed down a man named Livhu who I had met at a previous trip to the Small Enterprise Foundation in the Limpopo province. He was one of their top financial overseers and they are the best microfinance organization in South Africa. He stayed with me for 4 days and we worked hard together to put in some improved structures and methods for our Africa Jam microfinance project (The Income Generation Project). It was a great week and really helped put in place some things that can carry on for years to come.
Finally, I have been excited about moving into a new house in a community called Observatory. I am staying with 8 other people from my church in this house. It is a great house and full of amazingly loving people every time we come home. We have named it the "Guest House" because we believe God gave it to us so that we can use it to welcome others in, bless them, and have many guests stay with us. Please continue to pray for everyone in our house and for continued direction in moving forward with our Africa Jam projects. Thanks! - Ryan
Africa Jam has become very effective and efficient at running these camps over the years as this was the 10th in our history and the 4th that I've personally been a part of. At the end of camp, the kids spoke of how they had really experienced an atmosphere of love and how it was like a week of "heaven on earth." As leaders we were very excited to hear that. We also saw 8 kids come to know Jesus Christ for the first time and many more who had their fire for Him rekindled. Many great friendships were formed and bonds were built also.
Just after camp I welcomed down a man named Livhu who I had met at a previous trip to the Small Enterprise Foundation in the Limpopo province. He was one of their top financial overseers and they are the best microfinance organization in South Africa. He stayed with me for 4 days and we worked hard together to put in some improved structures and methods for our Africa Jam microfinance project (The Income Generation Project). It was a great week and really helped put in place some things that can carry on for years to come.
Finally, I have been excited about moving into a new house in a community called Observatory. I am staying with 8 other people from my church in this house. It is a great house and full of amazingly loving people every time we come home. We have named it the "Guest House" because we believe God gave it to us so that we can use it to welcome others in, bless them, and have many guests stay with us. Please continue to pray for everyone in our house and for continued direction in moving forward with our Africa Jam projects. Thanks! - Ryan
Sunday, December 20, 2009
End of 2009
Hey Everyone,
I hope you are all well, enjoying the holiday season, and are getting ready to rest during some time off. I am currently back in the USA for those of you who didnt know. I've really been enjoying my time in Colorado and California. Ive had a bit of time to reflect on the past year and even though it has gone fast, it has been a great year.
I'm very thankful for 2009, for the opportunity to have been in Cape Town, for you all helping to make that possible, for God carrying me through many tough and trying times, and for Him doing and showing me many great things. I also feel the excitement to be returning in 2010.
Part of the reason that I am home is that I am fund raising to cover my travel and living expenses in 201o, so that I will be able to continue my work with Africa Jam. We have big plans for next year and I would like to invite you to continue to be apart of that. I will continue to need those who are willing to continue communication and who are willing to support me financially and in prayer. I appreciate any form of support you would give.
If you feel led to support me financially you can make checks payable to Arvada Covenant Church with "Ryan DeCook - Africa Jam" as the memo of the check. The address is:
Arvada Covenant Church
5555 Ward Road
Arvada, CO 80002
I am also pasting a link below to a video that my roommate made. He is a talented director and had to make a documentary for his film school. He asked to make me and some of my experience in Cape Town the subject of his film. I thought I would pass it along to give you some more visuals of where I am spending my time. The video is split into two parts, so if you just click the link below and then click the picture in the gray box, it should start playing the 1st part and link automatically to the 2nd part. Hope you enjoy it. Peace
Ryan
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=325593D7E1E0E615
I hope you are all well, enjoying the holiday season, and are getting ready to rest during some time off. I am currently back in the USA for those of you who didnt know. I've really been enjoying my time in Colorado and California. Ive had a bit of time to reflect on the past year and even though it has gone fast, it has been a great year.
I'm very thankful for 2009, for the opportunity to have been in Cape Town, for you all helping to make that possible, for God carrying me through many tough and trying times, and for Him doing and showing me many great things. I also feel the excitement to be returning in 2010.
Part of the reason that I am home is that I am fund raising to cover my travel and living expenses in 201o, so that I will be able to continue my work with Africa Jam. We have big plans for next year and I would like to invite you to continue to be apart of that. I will continue to need those who are willing to continue communication and who are willing to support me financially and in prayer. I appreciate any form of support you would give.
If you feel led to support me financially you can make checks payable to Arvada Covenant Church with "Ryan DeCook - Africa Jam" as the memo of the check. The address is:
Arvada Covenant Church
5555 Ward Road
Arvada, CO 80002
I am also pasting a link below to a video that my roommate made. He is a talented director and had to make a documentary for his film school. He asked to make me and some of my experience in Cape Town the subject of his film. I thought I would pass it along to give you some more visuals of where I am spending my time. The video is split into two parts, so if you just click the link below and then click the picture in the gray box, it should start playing the 1st part and link automatically to the 2nd part. Hope you enjoy it. Peace
Ryan
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=325593D7E1E0E615
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Oct/Nov
Hello Friends,
I thought I would send out a quick new blog just to update on what's been happening. Since I last wrote, I've had some good experiences. For a week at the end of Oct, the guy I work with on the loan project Zukile, and I went to the cities of Pretoria and Tzaneen which are both far north in the country. The purpose of our trip was to do some research for our loan project from leading experts in the field.
We stopped first in Pretoria at the Center for Microfinance at the University there. They have been compiling research for years surrounding the type of work we are doing and they were very helpful in providing information and advising us. From there we headed further north to the beautiful province of Limpopo. We stayed with a friends parents from my church who were an amazing couple just outside the city of Tzaneen. Our reason for being in Tzaneen was to visit an organization called Small Enterprise Foundation. They are the leading small loan lender in South Africa.
This organization, working mostly with poor woman in the rural areas is overseeing 60,000 businesses that have been started. They have been doing what theyre doing for about 18 years. It was amazing to see what's happening there and what was more amazing was to see their hospitality and openness to our visit as well as sharing information with us. Rather than being protective and worrying about giving away their "secrets", they were just excited to be chatting with other people who were joining them in the fight against poverty. The trip was encouraging for us, we learned a lot, and we even had an extra day at the end of the trip to drive through a game park and see some animals.
Please pray for continued provision and guidance for Africa Jam and our projects. As well as continued closeness with the Lord for our staff and youth. Thanks!
Peace
Ryan
I thought I would send out a quick new blog just to update on what's been happening. Since I last wrote, I've had some good experiences. For a week at the end of Oct, the guy I work with on the loan project Zukile, and I went to the cities of Pretoria and Tzaneen which are both far north in the country. The purpose of our trip was to do some research for our loan project from leading experts in the field.
We stopped first in Pretoria at the Center for Microfinance at the University there. They have been compiling research for years surrounding the type of work we are doing and they were very helpful in providing information and advising us. From there we headed further north to the beautiful province of Limpopo. We stayed with a friends parents from my church who were an amazing couple just outside the city of Tzaneen. Our reason for being in Tzaneen was to visit an organization called Small Enterprise Foundation. They are the leading small loan lender in South Africa.
This organization, working mostly with poor woman in the rural areas is overseeing 60,000 businesses that have been started. They have been doing what theyre doing for about 18 years. It was amazing to see what's happening there and what was more amazing was to see their hospitality and openness to our visit as well as sharing information with us. Rather than being protective and worrying about giving away their "secrets", they were just excited to be chatting with other people who were joining them in the fight against poverty. The trip was encouraging for us, we learned a lot, and we even had an extra day at the end of the trip to drive through a game park and see some animals.
Please pray for continued provision and guidance for Africa Jam and our projects. As well as continued closeness with the Lord for our staff and youth. Thanks!
Peace
Ryan
Friday, October 16, 2009
Eastern Cape
Hello Friends,
Here is the most recent update. Our Africa Jam team is back in Cape Town after our trip to the Eastern Cape. We had a team of 5 staff and about 30 youth from Khayelitsha in the small town of Willowvale. The first days were a bit slow and the weather was bad, but after that we had several effective days of kid's camps for the local youth there. One of the days out there was unbelievable however and was probably worth the whole trip.
Our whole team did some community outreach in the afternoons and was at a house helping to clear some soil for a garden to be planted. There were 15 people living in these 2 houses on this plot of land. After working in their garden, we all fit inside their living room and asked if they needed prayer for anything. An old woman, sitting in her chair with a blanket covering her lap, said she needed prayer for her health. She had lung problems and couldn't really walk (she just sat in that chair all day). So as our whole group began to pray for her and ask Jesus to heal her, she began to squirm in her chair a bit, then slowly push the blanket off her lap. We all kept praying and before we knew it, this old granny was up and running back and forth between her chair and her bedroom praising God! Her daughter was so overwhelmed that she started crying and said she was turning back to God and was going to start going back to church.
All of our group was overwhelmed and amazed, singing the whole way back to where we were staying. That night a couple of our staff explained to our youth from Khayelitsha (especially for those who do not have a relationship with Christ) what had happened earlier that day with the miracle and how Jesus can heal people and demonstrate that He is alive and real in various ways. So that evening 5 of the girls from Khayelitsha, having seen this miracle, decided to put their faith in Jesus and begin a relationship with Him. That day definitely made the whole trip.
As for you all that I'm writing to, I hope that you know me enough to know that I do not lie (often ;) or fabricate stories. These are things that I have seen with my own eyes and I have been completely amazed at the power and reality of Jesus Christ at work. Up unto about several months ago, I questioned if healing miracles happened at all. But I just want to encourage you as you read these updates that these are not things that are only in South Africa, or limited to certain peoples, or because of anything special that I or any of our Africa Jam team has done. To know Jesus personally, experience His love and hope, to see His power and be used for a purpose is something that is open and available to every single person. So as someone who deeply cares for each of you, I would urge you to consider and respond to the reality of Jesus just by looking to Him and inviting Him to be with you forever. Many of you knew my life before I came to know Jesus and I can testify that it was the best decision I ever made and would be the best decision you could ever make, the one thing that can radically change your life as it has mine. I hope you will at least consider what I am saying as someone who cares for you and as a sane person just testifying to what I've seen and experiened. I love you all.
Ryan
Here is the most recent update. Our Africa Jam team is back in Cape Town after our trip to the Eastern Cape. We had a team of 5 staff and about 30 youth from Khayelitsha in the small town of Willowvale. The first days were a bit slow and the weather was bad, but after that we had several effective days of kid's camps for the local youth there. One of the days out there was unbelievable however and was probably worth the whole trip.
Our whole team did some community outreach in the afternoons and was at a house helping to clear some soil for a garden to be planted. There were 15 people living in these 2 houses on this plot of land. After working in their garden, we all fit inside their living room and asked if they needed prayer for anything. An old woman, sitting in her chair with a blanket covering her lap, said she needed prayer for her health. She had lung problems and couldn't really walk (she just sat in that chair all day). So as our whole group began to pray for her and ask Jesus to heal her, she began to squirm in her chair a bit, then slowly push the blanket off her lap. We all kept praying and before we knew it, this old granny was up and running back and forth between her chair and her bedroom praising God! Her daughter was so overwhelmed that she started crying and said she was turning back to God and was going to start going back to church.
All of our group was overwhelmed and amazed, singing the whole way back to where we were staying. That night a couple of our staff explained to our youth from Khayelitsha (especially for those who do not have a relationship with Christ) what had happened earlier that day with the miracle and how Jesus can heal people and demonstrate that He is alive and real in various ways. So that evening 5 of the girls from Khayelitsha, having seen this miracle, decided to put their faith in Jesus and begin a relationship with Him. That day definitely made the whole trip.
As for you all that I'm writing to, I hope that you know me enough to know that I do not lie (often ;) or fabricate stories. These are things that I have seen with my own eyes and I have been completely amazed at the power and reality of Jesus Christ at work. Up unto about several months ago, I questioned if healing miracles happened at all. But I just want to encourage you as you read these updates that these are not things that are only in South Africa, or limited to certain peoples, or because of anything special that I or any of our Africa Jam team has done. To know Jesus personally, experience His love and hope, to see His power and be used for a purpose is something that is open and available to every single person. So as someone who deeply cares for each of you, I would urge you to consider and respond to the reality of Jesus just by looking to Him and inviting Him to be with you forever. Many of you knew my life before I came to know Jesus and I can testify that it was the best decision I ever made and would be the best decision you could ever make, the one thing that can radically change your life as it has mine. I hope you will at least consider what I am saying as someone who cares for you and as a sane person just testifying to what I've seen and experiened. I love you all.
Ryan
Friday, September 25, 2009
Miracle
Hey Everyone,
Normally I dont send out updates 3 days after the previous one, but I felt that this was deserving of a post. My friends and I took a train yesterday to a small coastal community to hang out for a public holiday (dont ask me why there's a holiday on a Thurs). As we were walking around a homeless woman approached us. She was asking for money. When I spoke to her more she said she wanted money for pain tablets for her arthritis that's affected her for 20 years.
We chatted more and she also said she was blind in her left eye. She also said that she was a believer in Jesus and loved Him. We talked for a long time and as we talked I just got the sense that we should pray for her injuries. I told her that I believed Jesus is alive and can heal people still as He did back in the days He walked around. So we prayed, just asking Jesus to heal her. After praying she starting moving her arms and her legs, looking shocked, and said that she had no pain anymore. I asked if there was no pain at all..and she said there was none! She started saying "hallelujah!, praise the Lord!"
Then I asked her how her eye was. She said it was still very gray. So we prayed again asking for the healing of her eye. She opened her eyes with this surprised, excited look on her face and started dancing around shouting "hallelujah". I asked her what she could see and she said she could see everything clearly! Her blind eye could see again. So immediately my doubts jumped in that maybe this homeless woman was putting on a show to try and get some money or food. But she never asked me for anything and was just dancing around on the sidewalk and smiling excitedly saying she didnt need pain tablets anymore. We were all amazed at God's active hand on this woman and Jesus' power to heal her. Just thought I would share this story of God's amazing love and power! Peace
Ryan
Normally I dont send out updates 3 days after the previous one, but I felt that this was deserving of a post. My friends and I took a train yesterday to a small coastal community to hang out for a public holiday (dont ask me why there's a holiday on a Thurs). As we were walking around a homeless woman approached us. She was asking for money. When I spoke to her more she said she wanted money for pain tablets for her arthritis that's affected her for 20 years.
We chatted more and she also said she was blind in her left eye. She also said that she was a believer in Jesus and loved Him. We talked for a long time and as we talked I just got the sense that we should pray for her injuries. I told her that I believed Jesus is alive and can heal people still as He did back in the days He walked around. So we prayed, just asking Jesus to heal her. After praying she starting moving her arms and her legs, looking shocked, and said that she had no pain anymore. I asked if there was no pain at all..and she said there was none! She started saying "hallelujah!, praise the Lord!"
Then I asked her how her eye was. She said it was still very gray. So we prayed again asking for the healing of her eye. She opened her eyes with this surprised, excited look on her face and started dancing around shouting "hallelujah". I asked her what she could see and she said she could see everything clearly! Her blind eye could see again. So immediately my doubts jumped in that maybe this homeless woman was putting on a show to try and get some money or food. But she never asked me for anything and was just dancing around on the sidewalk and smiling excitedly saying she didnt need pain tablets anymore. We were all amazed at God's active hand on this woman and Jesus' power to heal her. Just thought I would share this story of God's amazing love and power! Peace
Ryan
Monday, September 21, 2009
August/September
Molweni,
I hope you are all well and I keep you all in my prayers while I'm here. Please keep your emails coming my way, as I love hearing what's happening in your lives. There has been a lot going on out here in the last month. As I last updated we are still running with our loan project and monitoring the progress.
There are some who are doing very well and with others we are facing the challenges of working with women who do not have much financial or business experience. But it is an exciting challenge to figure out how to adjust constantly and respond to their needs as we move forward. We are already planning for 2010 and have made our proposal in which we have a vision to see 50 businesses started and those who receive loans to get consistent workshops and training in terms of business, life skills, and Christian spirituality. We are excited about what's ahead for that project.
This week we are gearing up to take our Khayelitsha youth group to the Eastern Cape for a week long outreach trip. The Eastern Cape is the rural area of the Xhosa people where many of the people living in Khayelitsha or their ancestors come from originally. So maybe I'll get some more chances to practice the isiXhosa language that I've been trying to learn (dont be surprised if you hear me using the languages' click sounds when I get back to the States ;). We are excited for the trip and are taking 30 people. We will be partnering with a local Church and Bible College in the small town of Willowvale.
There will be a day camp for young kids that we will be putting on, some drama and dance performances that the youth will be doing for the community, and some getting to know the local people through home visitations. Please pray that in the next week we receive the rest of the funding that we are trying to raise before we leave, for leaders from our Khayelitsha group to be raised up, and for the local community to be touched by the love of Christ. Thanks
Ryan
I hope you are all well and I keep you all in my prayers while I'm here. Please keep your emails coming my way, as I love hearing what's happening in your lives. There has been a lot going on out here in the last month. As I last updated we are still running with our loan project and monitoring the progress.
There are some who are doing very well and with others we are facing the challenges of working with women who do not have much financial or business experience. But it is an exciting challenge to figure out how to adjust constantly and respond to their needs as we move forward. We are already planning for 2010 and have made our proposal in which we have a vision to see 50 businesses started and those who receive loans to get consistent workshops and training in terms of business, life skills, and Christian spirituality. We are excited about what's ahead for that project.
This week we are gearing up to take our Khayelitsha youth group to the Eastern Cape for a week long outreach trip. The Eastern Cape is the rural area of the Xhosa people where many of the people living in Khayelitsha or their ancestors come from originally. So maybe I'll get some more chances to practice the isiXhosa language that I've been trying to learn (dont be surprised if you hear me using the languages' click sounds when I get back to the States ;). We are excited for the trip and are taking 30 people. We will be partnering with a local Church and Bible College in the small town of Willowvale.
There will be a day camp for young kids that we will be putting on, some drama and dance performances that the youth will be doing for the community, and some getting to know the local people through home visitations. Please pray that in the next week we receive the rest of the funding that we are trying to raise before we leave, for leaders from our Khayelitsha group to be raised up, and for the local community to be touched by the love of Christ. Thanks
Ryan
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