Dear Partner
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. I hope this note finds you well.
I would like to take this moment to share with you some of the work I have been involved with in Soweto. As you are aware, early this year I took sometime off from work and I dedicated 6 months to the ministry, working with the Soweto Vineyard, including disempowered and disadvantaged communities in Kliptown and Pimville. The work still goes strong, interesting and more challenging. I am glad that I took some time off work, dedicated my life to work for a greater course in and around Soweto. I have witnessed God touching lives and changing people, and I personally experience the inner peace and joy at what God is doing to His Church.
Few Things I would like to share with you.
Xenophobic violence and Glenanda Safety Camp.
The beginning of March, South Africa experienced the horrific actions and attacks on Foreign Nationals. We saw how people were brutally killed; children and women robbed of their homes and belongings. This was a painful experience which many South Africans condemned. As a Church, we did not only condemn such evil and inhumane actions, we worked together with other organisations like Boundary Crossing, Centre for Study of Violence and Reconciliation, organised meetings, and later in May 22 a big community rally was organised in Kliptown, Walter Sisulu Square, to help discourage such senseless actions.
Since then, the church has been working in the Glenanda safety camp with other organisations such as Red Cross and the South Christian Alliance (alliance of Christian churches in the South of Johannesburg). This temporary safety camp housed more than two thousand and five hundred people, women, men and children. They come from Mozambique, Zambia, Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, Somalia, including Zimbabwe. They live in tents provided by the UNHRC. Life is not good but certainly they have a roof and food provided daily.
Our involvement is basically on two levels, firstly to share the gospel with the all the people, children and adults and secondly to help serve food during feeding time. As a church, we have shared our lives with people who have lost faith in humanity, have played and brought smiles to children, and prayed with men who are discouraged. Our interaction in Glenanda did not only impact the people we serve but also changed the lives of many young people from Soweto who participated in the feeding and sharing the gospel
As you may be aware, the residents of this Safety camp are currently at war with the Department of Home Affairs, due to the registration, the Department wants to provide every one of them with six months id’s. Some people more, especially from DRC and Somalia are refusing to register for some reasons. Those who refused were arrested and sent to Lindela, repatriation centre and are threatened with deportations. The UN and several embassies came to persuade the people to cooperate, still they refuse, and actually they do not want anything to do with SA government. So the conflict is continuing. Please pray for the particular problem. The South Christian Alliance is the only accredited religious body operating in the camp, of which Soweto Vineyard is the member. We need your prayers
2. School Jerseys
Through the partnership with Vox United who donate about 1000 USD, we were ale to buy about 74 School jerseys for the school going children in the community we serve. Each child was presented with a jersey in a special service, at then end of the service, each child was prayed for. Their parents were invited to the church and were provided with an opportunity the hear more about the love of Christ.
3 Computer project
7 laptops were donated to the church to facilitate and fast track the computer skills to many people in Soweto. The project is going fine though slow. A new class of about ten people has enrolled to do 10 computer lessons as from August 1, 2008
4. Personal news
After 6 months of being at home, taking a break, I finally accepted a position with the Aids Consortium, as their Training and Development Manager in their training Unit as from the beginning August. I feel my break was great and helpful after working for one organisation for about 13 years. I feel excited about the job and I trust this is what the Lord is leading me to.
I would like to thank you for you personal interest in our work and the continued support you gave over the year. Your contributions and prayers have made so much difference in my life and the church too. I would request you to continue to pray for us and the work God is doing through us
Please pray for the
· Church family camp happening on the 5 – 7 September
· The work in Glenanda camp
· For my new work as I start in August
· The church leadership
· Finances
May God truly bless you
Mpho Putu
Soweto Vineyard
Tel: 084 836 0966
011 403 036
Email: mphoputu@mweb.co.za
