June 2008 Newsletter
Graduation Is Near!
“For I know the plans I have for you…”Jeremiah 29:11
In January 2006, with great anticipation I left the home in falls Church, Virginia for Cape Town, South Africa to work with women who live with HIV and AIDS. God used the work of this internationally known organization Living Hope to open my eyes and heart to the needs there and led me to start this organization that is funded by special partners and by you to support my ministry here. Yet, I could never imagine all that God had in store for me to do.
Now, two and half years later , we have graduated 27 women and men from our sewing classes and on Tuesday July 8, will graduate 10 more women in the first of our two sessions this year. Our teacher Namgamso says this is the best class she has led. “They are so sweet and open to learn,” she said.
A Business Is Born!
If only we could look ahead and see as God sees! Often it is good we cannot since we would miss unbelievable surprises. Started two years ago as a way to help some of the women earn some money. Soon, Evangeline Bags will be formally handed over to Khumi Morare to manage and we will purchase the bags from her to sell to you. Khumi will lead our founding group of ten people each of whom will own their own part of the bags business. They will also participate in a savings plan to help them build capital to increase the number of bags they make and also build other businesses as they desire.
Beauty and Paul with Savings books with Pam Talley.
Working together with John Thomas, Richard Lundie and Mike and Pam Talley, part of the Living Way team, Evangeline Ministries had approved this plan to make the women self sufficient. Khumi is ecstatic! “O Wendy, she says, “I can’t thank you enough.” Yes, just two years ago she was at death’s door and today she is on the road to her own enterprise. She will have plenty of help from us as we walk with her until she can completely stand on her own.
Yes this has been a great journey, not without the stress of change, especially as I had to learn to follow God’s plans and not my own for South Africa, but His plans are so much greater and better than our own!
My heart is filled with thanks to God and to you my dear family, and friends all over the world who pray, give, encourage and yes, visit!! Thank you!
Sincerely in Christ
Wendy
“..Every path He leads us on is fragrant with His loving kindness and His truth (Psalm 25:8-10)
March 2008 Newsletter...
A hot day brought out our Easter hats!!
Dear Friends:
I greet you at this blessed Easter time and pray that the glory of our
suffering and now resurrected Christ will fill your heart and lives.
Because Jesus died and rose again, we can have that intimate relationship
with God as “Our Father”, “Abba father” and this marvelous truth was
told to Mary who had the privilege to announce this wonderful news!
My heart is full of joy this Easter because my walk with Jesus has
deepened as I work here in Cape Town. I often tell people that God
called me to Africa to teach me more about His ways and how to love
His people. Every day I thank Him for His love and care for me. Every
day I ask God to lead me, (Psalm 143: vs. 8&10) to show that love and
care to women and men who live with HIV and AIDS here in Cape
Town. I especially want them to know how much Jesus loves them.
Bibles for Everyone!
Bibles and tea!
The sewing and computer classes we hold are the practical ways to show
God’s love for people who are “the least of these,” but I also want them
to know Christ personally and believe His Word. At the end of each
class day, I share some Scripture and pray with them. This month I took
an extra step. I purchased a Xhosa bible for myself and when I asked
one of the ladies to read the verse, I immediately saw a change in the
way the women received the word. Now they were listening. This led
me to ask how many had a Bible. To my great surprise, there was
only one out of 12 that day. With the money you give to this
ministry, I purchased Bibles and also received some as a gift from
the Bible Society. Already I have given out 18 Bibles to present and
former students. Our Scripture study has come alive!! They now
bring the Bibles with them to class. Pray with me that each person will
come into a real knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For so
many there are huge cultural and ancestral beliefs to overcome. They
know church and yet, their hearts are very open to the Lord.
Hardships abound!
While it is so rewarding to see the women in class, almost every week I
am reminded of their difficult lives. One woman lost her son who was
knifed to death, another, her 19year old brother. How my heart broke
when I visited the shacks and saw one young woman so badly beaten, her
face was so disfigured. One student with two children asked me to help her as she lives on approximately $30 monthly! Violence, rape, hunger, they are all a part of shack life here.
We Are Helping!
I thank God for each one of you because we are making a difference
here. One of our computer students writes: “I am doing this computer
course which is free so I can get some experience, because I am
suffering, unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. Thank you Wendy for all that you do for us.”
Sweet Home Farms
God has placed on my heart to help women in similar circumstances in
other parts of Cape Town. I am delighted to announce we have been
asked to provide sewing machines for another group of women to
start their sewing project. They are the Siphuxolo HIV Support
Group in an informal settlement, Sweet Home Farm. For some time
now, I have been worshipping and working with The Warehouse, an
evangelical, Anglican justice ministry here. We will partner with them to make it possible for these women to learn to sew and therefore earn some income for themselves. I have
met them and am eager to join with Mr. Joy Klimbashe of the
Warehouse, to provide them with the sewing machines they need to start their program. We have a model with our classes here that interests many groups.
BAGS! BAGS1 BAGS!
There are 13 women and men who now make the animal print tote bags.
For almost all of them, this is the only income they get. Nolubabalo is
one of the precious women who sew these lovely tote bags. Unemployed
with no skills and no experience she says: “Thank you very much for
everything you have done for me. I was unemployed and I was
sleeping with no food in my stomach. The owner of the yard where I
stayed threatened to throw me out because I could not afford to pay
the rent. Now I do sewing and you let me do bags. Because of that I
manage to pay the rent and buy food. Thank you very much, you
mean a lot to my life. I will never forget you. I love you so much.”
I want to encourage you to purchase these bags for friends as gifts and
tell others about them. When you buy a bag, you help a woman in great
need. Pray for us as we work to make this a strong industry here in
South Africa with local entrepreneurs. To order bags: Contact Mrs. Audra Ryan –Jones for more information.
Email: umelliott@aol.com
Sincerely in Christ
Wendy
February 2008 Newsletter...
Dear Friends:
We are off to a strong start, the best one so far. Our classes are full and we even had to turn people away and ask them to come back in August. This year we will have two courses for sewing.
The sewing class, held twice a week has 12 students. Thanks to you our beloved partners we now have new machines in the classroom. There are three teachers, Namgamso, the lead instructor, assisted by Khumi and Paul. It was so special to sit with them and plan our course work. They have shown such enthusiasm and it is because they really feel they are a big part of our Evangeline team here with me.
On one recent day, the hum of sewing machines mingled with a baby’s cry and I loved it. Her mother had asked if she could bring the babies to class and I said yes!
Recently, we had a time of such thanksgiving for one of the students, Gladys. We have been plagued by huge mountain fires and one raced through her informal settlement, Red Hill. Her house was spared even though the flames came so close and she is back with us and overflowing with thankfulness to God.
COMPUTER CLASSES
We continue to offer computer classes to the sewing students and others at Living Hope who otherwise would never have this opportunity. Siphokazi, our teacher, works with 24 people and if we had more room and computers and teachers could do so much more.
JOB CREATION
I am awed at how God has worked in this whole program. There are eleven graduates from the last two years who sew the African print tote bags we sell. Through Living Way, a job creation program started by John Thomas, founder of Living Hope, other job opportunities are opening up for them. Living Way has also started a Savings club and several women have already joined up. Step by step, their lives are being changed.
OTHER CHALLENGES
I sense in my heart that God has much to do through Evangeline Ministries here in Cape Town. I have just met with another group of HIV positive women in another informal settlement, Sweet Home Farms and they are so eager to start a sewing program as well. We have an opportunity to partner with a great ministry of the Anglican called The Warehouse. The need is huge but step by step as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, God points us in the direction he chooses for us.
Your support, as organizations and churches and individuals makes all this possible and means the world to me. I loved visiting all of you at home for Christmas and invite you to come visit us here in Cape Town. I continue to need your prayers and financial help.
BAGS!!!!!
You can also order the African print tote bags from us! Contact Mrs. Audra Ryan –Jones for more information. Email: umelliott@aol.com
Sincerely in Christ
Wendy
January 2008 Newsletter:
SEWING CLASSES:
A total of 19 women and men attended two sewing courses that lasted the year-the beginner class of twelve women and that advanced class of seven students. The twelve new students received their new sewing machines at the December 11 graduation. The advanced class received certificates to mark their accomplishment.
We were pleased to have Merle Prince with us for an eight day teaching course attended by 17 students. As a result there is a new assistant teacher to the 2008 class.
For 2008, we plan to conduct two six terms courses with a maximum of twelve students. The first term which has started will end in July and the second will start in August and end in December. Thanks to the generous support of the VAWMU and others, we, for the first time were able to purchase new sewing machines for our classes.
COMPUTER CLASSES
During the year there were nineteen students, most of who came from the sewing class and six others who came in for a short time from the Living Hope Health Care Center. At our December graduation, eleven of the sewing students received Certificates of Completion for their computer work.
BUSINESS TRAINING
Eight students received certificates for their participation in a Business course taught by Rev. Steven Nicholson from ServLife. They also worked individually with a MBA student from the United States who went to their homes and counseled with them.
EVANGELINE MINISTRIES/LIVING HOPE/LIVING WAY
Evangeline Ministries works in partnership with the Rev. John Thomas, pastor of Fish Hoek Baptist Church and Chairman of the Trust of the Living Way Community Center I assist John Thomas with writing articles as needed. In 2007, I helped him prepare a submission that won him and the church the first International Courageous Church Leadership Award from Bill Hybels of the Willow Creek Church and World Vision. Because of the recognition this award gave him, Rev. Thomas was one of the featured speakers at Rick and Kay Warren’s annual summit on HIV and AIDS at the Saddleback Church.
As a result of the model set by the skill training and subsequent bag cottage industry by the women, Rev. Thomas was encouraged to start a new organization called Living Way to address the economic issues that underlie this growing HIV pandemic in South Africa.
SAVINGS CLUBS
Because the women and men in this project are often denied access to the banking system here, Living Way has begun savings clubs with our students to encourage them to save and help them grow economically.
LOOKING AHEAD
This South Africa project is now in its third year. We have seen great progress, especially in the style of project. We now use four teachers, all of whom are from the informal settlement of Masiphumelele from which the students come . For the first time this year, we planned the classes together and their input was very good. They are excited about their involvement. My prayer and goal is to increase their skills so they will one day, two to three years, be able to run this program, mostly on their own.
BAGS ENTERPRISE
In 2006, we began to make African print tote bags as a class project. This small business has grown and now provides significant income for 12 women and men. Plans are underway with Living Way to increase this work project. VAWMU has helped us by selling bags at the meetings and we would love to continue this.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Everything we do here is done in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and our intention is to make disciples to follow Jesus. Almost all of the students come with some spiritual background but little knowledge of the Bible. At all of our classes I read and discuss the Scripture and pray with them after our afternoon tea time. I can see the change already but even better is the testimony from one of our students, Beauty. She told me how much she loved the tea, but even more that time of opening up the Bible. Our sewing teacher Namgamso is now involved in a Bible study and Siphokazi is an evangelist in the neighborhood.
HOW WMU CAN HELP
PRAY FOR ME
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate those people who pray for me when sometimes I cannot do it for myself. I have a lot of responsibility to make all the things go, and the needs are huge and never ending. HIV and AIDS take a big toll on a person’s life,kills their self worth and makes them even poorer than they are. I cannot and must not do this in my own strength. Pray for:
-wisdom for the daily decisions I must make
-the teachers and students
-safety on the roads and at home
-an end to HIV and AIDS
-Living Hope which ministers to people with HIV and AIDS and runs prevention programs for children, youth and adults
-for continued excellent health
CONTINUE TO GIVE
Our program is based on giving women the tools to help them build better lives. This is the reason we give them brand new sewing machines when they graduate. Anyone who desires can help purchase a new sewing machine for US $130.
We desire to have South African businesses and people donate computer equipment but if someone desire to purchase one for the class, the cost is $US 800 for a desk top.
Information on Wendy's Work:
Current estimates show that about 6.3 million of South Africa’s 47 million citizens have the HIV virus. Every day 1,700 people acquire HIV and 600 die of AIDS-related illness. Through Evangeline Ministries, Wendy Ryan works in partnership with WMU of Virginia through its World Missions Unlimited(SM) initiative to show Christ’s love to women and children in South Africa that are affected by HIV/AIDS. In conjunction with Living Hope Community Centre in Cape Town, a Christian HIV/AIDS ministry of Fish Hoek Baptist Church, Wendy oversees the Capricorn Project, a feeding and educational program run entirely by women. She also manages the highly successful sewing project that provides skills and a means of income for impoverished women and men facing 
HIV/AIDS. Plans are also being made to start a computer class that will introduce the basics of working on a computer and using word processing and spreadsheets.
Let me share with you two lessons recently learned….
A Visit with a Student: So often we/I fail to see God’s blessings in what seems to be terrible conditions. Recently I sat at the home of one of my students. It was the birthday of one of her children and I bought a book and some cupcakes to celebrate. When I called her on my cell phone to let her know I was outside, she invited me in. I was delighted since that does not happen too often. It was also a cold, damp and rainy day and I looked at the mud through which I had to walk before I got to the house. Two big, black dogs jumping at me did not help either. But once I got inside, it was so good to be there. It was warm as I sat on the double bed. Next to the bed was a neighbor who read her paper as my friend and I chatted. My Dad gave our family such a precious gift, to be at home wherever and with whomever God places us and I have experienced this all over the world. This was one of those times. We talked about everything, including her dreams and plans, and at the end of our time together, we prayed. I left, so full of happiness inside!
As I thought some more about the visit, I realize that God’s blessings are everywhere you look for them! This home is perhaps the size of a tool shed, large enough to hold the bed, and a few other items. There is no indoor toilet or shower and truthfully, I am not sure I could live like this. People live stacked up against each other and this poses real dangers for them. All it takes is a fire in one shack for 100 to burn. What amazes me is how quickly they put them back up! On a Friday night, it is especially noisy because that is party night in Masiphumelele. But they also have a sense of community and value their neighbors. It reminded me of when I was a child in Trinidad, and our neighbors could come to us or we would go to sit on their front porches or in their homes. We knew each other and felt security in that. I felt Christ’s presence and as we prayed I thanked God that wherever His people are, “where two or three are gathered in His Name, He is there!” A palace is cold without His warmth! A shack is home, when filled with the fragrance of His presence!
Know Your Status : It is so hard at times to practice what you preach. The big push here by government and Non-governmental organizations is to encourage people to get tested to know their HIV status. Living Hope Community Centre had such a day at the mall and I went along as a reporter to take photos. While there, I had this bright idea. Get tested. Now I had already done this back home during my annual medical and knew well enough that I did not have the HIV virus but I wanted a photo opportunity to use later. Was I in for a surprise!
Before you take the test, you first have to listen to a wealth of information from a lay counselor. She or he describes what HIV is and it builds to the point when you are asked, “How will you respond if you are positive? By the time the counselor finished with me, I almost changed my mind about the test but there was no turning back. So I gulped and said, “I am a Christian and I know Christ will help me face anything.” I bravely put out my finger and got tested. After what was the longest 15 seconds of my life, the test came back negative. I held up that white stick and grinned broadly and asked someone to take my photo. How do you spell relief!!
When I was in Durban for a Women’s conference, I shared this in an HIV and AIDS workshop and discovered all of us who were tested had the same reaction. We learned that it really was a big step for us and perhaps an impossible one for people who know they are high-risk for HIV, and especially because a positive result sends your life on a downward spiral because of stigma. We must encourage people to know their status only if we are prepared to walk with them on what will be a most difficult, and sometimes heart-breaking journey. With God’s help we try to do this through our projects.
Ways to be involved for 2007-2008:
- Donate money for the following items:
- A new sewing machine (approximate cost is $150)
- Material and supplies (approximate cost per person is $100)
- General support of Wendy Ryan’s ministry
- Give regularly to the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions, which helps to support Wendy's work in South Africa.
- Start a bible study group to explore your church’s involvement in ministry to people with HIV.
- Please pray for:
- God’s healing presence in the lives of those affected by HIV
- Wisdom for Wendy Ryan and others as they lead the growing programs
- The work of Living Hope in health care and HIV prevention ministries
- The women and men in the classes who face a huge uphill battle for a better life
- The computers that are needed
- Teachers: Khumi and Namgamso and Siphokazi
- Plans underway for a business for the bags and other products we develop
- Cornerstone and its programs, and the writing class
- Safety on the roads
- Protection from any criminal act
THANKS: How I thank you for your wonderful prayer and financial support and how much I continue to need it from you.
“..Every path He leads us on is fragrant with His loving kindness and His truth (Psalm 25:8-10)
Contributions can be made to Evangeline Ministries through WMU of Virginia, PO Box 8435, Richmond, VA 23226.
