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
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Return to Cape Town
Hello Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well. It has been about a month since I returned to Cape Town after my visit back home to Colorado. My time at home went by fast, but it was great to see my family and some friends while I was there. My family got some time to rest in the mountain town of Telluride, which is such an amazing place. If any of you Coloradans get a chance you should go check it out.
While I was gone our team went up to the largest township in South Africa called Soweto (in Johannesburg) and led a camp in which many youth learned about HIV/AIDS and many committed their lives to Christ. Since Ive come back, after I adjusted from the time change, I hit the ground running. We were picking up where we left off. It has been cool to see the businesses in Khayelitsha that started while I was home. Most of the business owners are doing quite well in their different ventures such as selling chickens, running a fruit and vegetable stand, selling frozen meat, and selling photographs and business cards.
The young man, Simphiwe, who started a photography business has also gotten involved in another project outside of Africa Jam. Along with some members of my church we have initiated a project called Freeway Football. There are soccer players from some of the townships of Cape Town who find themselves playing the sport they love off the side of the main Freeway in the city. We want to tell the story of these teams and their players, as well as using local photographers like Simphiwe to receive training and document the stories. The hope is to raise up and train local photographers in order to make a book that will be sold, with profits coming back into the communities where the soccer players are from.
It has been amazing to see the progress of the project so far and God's hand in it. Already for our pilot phase, Nikon has come on board to sponsor and provide cameras for Simphiwe and another local photographer. There is already a publisher willing to publish the book, and we are trying to line up more sponsors. If you are interested in checking out more of the project you can check out the website at www.freewayfootball.org. Please keep praying for this project, for Africa Jam, the success of the business owners, and for vision and direction for myself and others involved. Thanks so much for all your continued support. Peace
Ryan
I hope you are all doing well. It has been about a month since I returned to Cape Town after my visit back home to Colorado. My time at home went by fast, but it was great to see my family and some friends while I was there. My family got some time to rest in the mountain town of Telluride, which is such an amazing place. If any of you Coloradans get a chance you should go check it out.
While I was gone our team went up to the largest township in South Africa called Soweto (in Johannesburg) and led a camp in which many youth learned about HIV/AIDS and many committed their lives to Christ. Since Ive come back, after I adjusted from the time change, I hit the ground running. We were picking up where we left off. It has been cool to see the businesses in Khayelitsha that started while I was home. Most of the business owners are doing quite well in their different ventures such as selling chickens, running a fruit and vegetable stand, selling frozen meat, and selling photographs and business cards.
The young man, Simphiwe, who started a photography business has also gotten involved in another project outside of Africa Jam. Along with some members of my church we have initiated a project called Freeway Football. There are soccer players from some of the townships of Cape Town who find themselves playing the sport they love off the side of the main Freeway in the city. We want to tell the story of these teams and their players, as well as using local photographers like Simphiwe to receive training and document the stories. The hope is to raise up and train local photographers in order to make a book that will be sold, with profits coming back into the communities where the soccer players are from.
It has been amazing to see the progress of the project so far and God's hand in it. Already for our pilot phase, Nikon has come on board to sponsor and provide cameras for Simphiwe and another local photographer. There is already a publisher willing to publish the book, and we are trying to line up more sponsors. If you are interested in checking out more of the project you can check out the website at www.freewayfootball.org. Please keep praying for this project, for Africa Jam, the success of the business owners, and for vision and direction for myself and others involved. Thanks so much for all your continued support. Peace
Ryan
Monday, June 22, 2009
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
Sunday, May 17, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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
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
Sunday, March 8, 2009
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
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
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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
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
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