Finnie, Dean and Paula - South Africa
Finnie main page
Prayer Letter September 2005 (click here for Acrobat pdf version)
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jer33:3
As we write, we’re wondering how the wildcat strike at Heathrow is going to be resolved and when it will be as our oldest niece was due to arrive this morning but now we don’t know if she’ll make it. All will have been resolved by the time you read this, but this side of things it feels quite unsettling.
Chris Nissen Park
Ronco’s with Ouma Sophie outside her shack
Our work in the community seems to be growing which is great and we’re beginning to have an impact as a family which is something we had hoped for from the outset. Paula not only leads a cross-cultural cell group on Thursday mornings but she now regularly visits folk every Friday morning, mainly visiting the sick and praying with them. Then on alternate Tuesday evenings Paula meets with a group of ladies in the community and does a short bible study followed by a time of prayer. The ladies are really enjoying Paula’s visits and seem to be keen for her to develop this in a more evangelistic direction.
Dean is continuing to visit daily (except Tuesdays) and is building some good relationships within the community. His Thursday morning bible study group has grown with five men now regularly attending. One of the men (Alfred) actually comes from Lwandle
- the Black township opposite CNP - and he is being a real blessing to the group as he is quite a mature Christian. Alfred’s presence is great as he lends the group a cross-cultural element which none of us were expecting also, Alfred is a good reader which makes a huge difference to a group in which two members are illiterate.
We’ve had a number of deaths in the community, primarily HIV/AIDS related and through these we have been able to build bridges with the local hospice. Dean is now able to refer folk from CNP directly without the hassle of going through the hospital, which is a real blessing. We’ve also been liaising with one of the key Dr.’s from the Anti-retroviral Clinic at Hottentots Holland Hospital as to how we can get members of the community onto the ARV drug programmes. As a result of our liaison with the hospital we now have a clear procedure for referring folk to the clinic. We have yet to use this process but we know that if it works properly then this could have a really positive impact on those who need these drugs.
Family Life
Joel
Joel continues to amaze and delight us, he is growing too quickly and Paula misses her ‘baby’. We’re also amazed at how he’s changed from ‘toddler’ to ‘vandal’ in a very short space of time. Never underestimate the destructive capacity of a 2 year old- he’s already had to lose his hair and been found all the way at the top of the burglar bars at one of our windows! This morning Joel came out with his first 5 word sentence which had mum & dad in stitches! Joel has really settled well at nursery -he goes to a local one called Twinkle Tots- and appears to be a bit of a star with the staff.
On the children front, we want to share our ongoing pain with you… we would dearly love to have another child but simply don’t have the luxury of being able to plan for this (how hurtful it is to hear so many parents talking so flippantly about how they’re planning number 2 or 3 with no regard for others) and we have investigated the option of adoption. Sadly, each time we approach this avenue, doors seem to swing firmly shut on us which is very frustrating as we’d dearly love to adopt an abandoned baby. We really believe that our God is not only able to provide us with another child. We’ve been doing our bit, but would really covet your prayers for us in this area. We’d love to be able to announce that we are pregnant again, but without another miracle it simply won’t happen. PLEASE PRAY with us!
Social Life
Rastas in Palace shirts
We are continuing to slowly get to know people. It is a long, slow process, but people assure us it isn’t us… it is a ‘Somerset West’ thing! Please pray that we would continue to make good, solid friends who we can rely on particularly in the absence of our own family. We have enjoyed the visits of several friends lately, including a lovely time with Mary Higginson, our Pastoral Director at Crosslinks. This was a great time for us to talk, laugh and pray through issues relating to work and family life. We are now beginning to make some quite big decisions regarding our future and will update you in due course.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We do value your partnership with us so much.
With lots of love
Paula, Dean and Joel
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