"Celebrate good times, Come on!" - Kool and the Gang
We celebrated this weekend. Rehoboth Children's Village has been completed, by the grace of God.We had an amazing day with over 350 people there. I car guarded then braaied all day which was so much fun. Quite Ironic too. Being told how to drive by someone who can't drive and having an Engelsman braaing for you. The day was brillaint though and the main theme that ran through was that God had made it a reality but we also had to look forwrd to what happened next.
So where to now? Do we kick back and relax? Do we move elsewhere? Is that where God wants us to be? Where would we go if we did move forward?
In 2 John: 8-9, the aged apostle pointed out two special threats to ministry; the danger of losing what we have gained and the danger of making gains that are really losses. All of us, whether it be the leaders, trustees and workers of Rehoboth or you at home need discernment and wisdom to detect the dangers and overcome them.
As to the first danger, John tells us, "Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully." Sometimes we are so anxious to move forward that we lose focus of what we have already. It wiuld be easy for us at Rehoboth to just up sticks and move to another run down area and develop a new village. But then the children we care for at the minute would suffer emotionally as our focus would be diverted.
The second danger is that of making gains that are really losses. Verse 9 reads. "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God."
To go beyond the fundamental truths that we live by is to make gains that are really losses. We must know the truth, live the truth, defend the truth and share the truth with others. But we must never go beyond that truth.
This is why God's work is so important, and why it demands the very best that we can give it. We are on guard duty for God, staying alert to protect our gains and rejecting profits that are really losses. If you ask, "Who is equal to such a task?" (2 Corinthians 2:16), the answer is clear: "Our competence comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5)
As part of the celebration day on Saturday and having mentioned that I write poetry, I was asked to write a poem about a child coming to Rehoboth after being in the community. And as I wrote this poem, I felt myself in this child's position and it just reminded me how privileged to care for these children and throughout the time we care for these children we should never stray from the truth of why we are doing this work. And as the scripture says, even if we ask if we are equal to the task, we must just remember that our competence and our ability to do this work comes from God.
As I type this, the wonderful, magnificent people at Eskom (South Africa's only electricity provider) have decided to cut our electricity in what is known as load shedding, which is probably the worst idea since Abraham Lincoln decided he was bored at home and fancied a night at the theatre. For such a large country as South Africa to have to cut electricity to supply everyone is diabolical. The bright sparks at Eskom cut power to everyman and his dog in South Africa but gives power to Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique for free. Where's the logic in that?
So from the fat cats at Eskom, with their own generators, lighting cigars with R100 notes I apologise and I'll have to post the poem next week, power permitting.
Until Next Time
Rob
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Rejoice! Again I Say Rejoice!
"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8)
Throughout the course of history galvnization has occured through loss. It is evident in war and battle. When a side suffers a loss, that side returns galvanised, united by grief but also by hope and perserverence.
Last Friday, we lost a little boy to a convulsion he suffered whilst staying at the local hospital. Having admitted this little boy earlier in the week and remembering him resting on my chest, the loss made me wish to go back to that time we were in the hospital. They say hindsight is a beautiful thing and with hindsight there are things I would have done differently. Maybe I would've tried to make him laugh more, made him feel more comfortable, play the clown and generally try and brighten up his day. But what instead happened was that he sat sleeping on my chest, probably dreading leaving familiar settings for the scary and daunting hospital bed.
The week went past with people from Rehoboth going to see him every day just to let him know we were still around and that we hadn't left him. The weekend came and his Housemother went on leave for the weekend. She left on Friday knowing this little 9 month old had the medical attention he needed, and returned on Monday to the news that he had passed away at the weekend.
Devotions yesterday were a sad and sombre occasion as everyone got told of the bad news. People had heard at the weekend but the everyone heard on Monday. We then all had the tough task of trying to organise a celebration day that is happening on Saturday. I knew that it would effect the dynamics of the workers and staff and at first I thought that it would effect them negatively as many people cried, some tried to hold it together, others didn't know what to feel and his poor Housemother sat, in tears, wiping them from her eyes, trying not to let her other kids see. How could we celebrate when this was going on?
Then this morning happened. Devotions began with a beautiful song and the words read;
"Soon and very soon we are going to see the king,
No more crying there we are going to see the king"
Then amongst the silence and murmurs of kids whispering, Thandie the housemother of the little boy who passed away, broke into song. She sang with emotion, feeling, love, despair, joy, pain all in one. The tears rolled down her cheeks as she sang so sweetly, until she broke down. As I mentioned galvanisation often occurs after loss and as Thandie sobbed into her hands, it was so uplifting and amazing to see children, workers, other mothers lend hands of care, offering support, giving what they had to comfort her.
Alfons then taught from Philippians.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!"
It was the perfect message for the situation. It was a message we all needed to hear.
Before we left, Alfons asked for a translation of the song Thandie sang.
Mak, the Rehoboth driver responded;
"It's about the glorious and beautiful house God has built for us in Heaven. We cannot see it with our eyes but only in our hearts can we see it."
For that moment the squabbles and infighting were put to the side. Mothers sat with each other, comforted each other, worked with and for each other. Rehoboth had been galvanised in the event of this death. Yesterday I thought this might have had a negative effect on the village but now I believe we can celebrate properly. We can celebrate the blessing of life and the promise of Christ that one day we will all walk with him into that glorious and beautiful house in Heaven.
Rob
Throughout the course of history galvnization has occured through loss. It is evident in war and battle. When a side suffers a loss, that side returns galvanised, united by grief but also by hope and perserverence.
Last Friday, we lost a little boy to a convulsion he suffered whilst staying at the local hospital. Having admitted this little boy earlier in the week and remembering him resting on my chest, the loss made me wish to go back to that time we were in the hospital. They say hindsight is a beautiful thing and with hindsight there are things I would have done differently. Maybe I would've tried to make him laugh more, made him feel more comfortable, play the clown and generally try and brighten up his day. But what instead happened was that he sat sleeping on my chest, probably dreading leaving familiar settings for the scary and daunting hospital bed.
The week went past with people from Rehoboth going to see him every day just to let him know we were still around and that we hadn't left him. The weekend came and his Housemother went on leave for the weekend. She left on Friday knowing this little 9 month old had the medical attention he needed, and returned on Monday to the news that he had passed away at the weekend.
Devotions yesterday were a sad and sombre occasion as everyone got told of the bad news. People had heard at the weekend but the everyone heard on Monday. We then all had the tough task of trying to organise a celebration day that is happening on Saturday. I knew that it would effect the dynamics of the workers and staff and at first I thought that it would effect them negatively as many people cried, some tried to hold it together, others didn't know what to feel and his poor Housemother sat, in tears, wiping them from her eyes, trying not to let her other kids see. How could we celebrate when this was going on?
Then this morning happened. Devotions began with a beautiful song and the words read;
"Soon and very soon we are going to see the king,
No more crying there we are going to see the king"
Then amongst the silence and murmurs of kids whispering, Thandie the housemother of the little boy who passed away, broke into song. She sang with emotion, feeling, love, despair, joy, pain all in one. The tears rolled down her cheeks as she sang so sweetly, until she broke down. As I mentioned galvanisation often occurs after loss and as Thandie sobbed into her hands, it was so uplifting and amazing to see children, workers, other mothers lend hands of care, offering support, giving what they had to comfort her.
Alfons then taught from Philippians.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!"
It was the perfect message for the situation. It was a message we all needed to hear.
Before we left, Alfons asked for a translation of the song Thandie sang.
Mak, the Rehoboth driver responded;
"It's about the glorious and beautiful house God has built for us in Heaven. We cannot see it with our eyes but only in our hearts can we see it."
For that moment the squabbles and infighting were put to the side. Mothers sat with each other, comforted each other, worked with and for each other. Rehoboth had been galvanised in the event of this death. Yesterday I thought this might have had a negative effect on the village but now I believe we can celebrate properly. We can celebrate the blessing of life and the promise of Christ that one day we will all walk with him into that glorious and beautiful house in Heaven.
Rob
Monday, January 7, 2008
Nice to have a niche
Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin lookalike competition and came in
3rd. But more about that later.
So with the Christmas festivities at an end and relative calm restored, I returned to Rehoboth, refreshed, revitalised and ready to go. I had had 10 days of brilliant relaxation with family and had a great time with Ali Clark who came for a mid-year break.
It was of course brilliant to see the children again and it was nice for the kids to have their climbing frame returned to them. They were also ecstatic to see Ali again, as she seems to have a real way with children and they love to play and chat with her.
However as soon as I arrived I had a sense of coming home. I'm a firm believer that the best feeling in the world is coming home and getting into your own bed. And it felt so good after nearly 2 weeks of travelling and moving from here to there, to finally plonk my head down on my bed.
If I didn't feel at home after the first night in my bed, then my workload definitely made me feel like I was back. It's amazing how many things build up in the way of promotional material while you're away. I have been working non stop since last wednesday. This is all in preparation for the 19th of January when we are having a celebration day here at Rehoboth in celebration (obviuosly) of Rehoboth being completed inside 7 years. It gives us a chance to invite everyone who has supported and sponsored us in the past 7 years.
So with possibly 300 people coming and everyone needing to be accomodated, alot of the promotional work has fallen on my broad and mildly burnt shoulders. It is however fine because, due to my misspent youth computers are right up my street. It had also given me a purpose here, a purpose I was struggling to find a while ago. I seemed to do little jobs and worked on the fringes but never really headed up getting things done. And now this event came along and created a niche that is perfect for me. So I am thankful for the oppurtunity given to me not only in my work but by the fact that God placed me here for this purpose. He did however give me another talent, being big. This week has been a testament to my size. Merely hours after Ali and I stepped off the plane in Durban I was in the pool throwing the kids from here to there, something that they'd been deprived of while I was away.
Also on Monday, one of our little boys got admitted to the local hospital. Yvonne has ben certain since he arrived that he had not only TB but meninigitis and everytime was told to get antibiotics and see what happens. So we went back on Monday, Yvonne and myself and this 9 month old baby and was told that he did indeed have TB and meningitis. So after 2 and a half hours and a sore head from trying to understand the Zulu nurses Yvonne finally got admission forms. All the while this little boy, struggling to breathe, having spasms every 30 seconds, cuddled into my chest, or what my grandmother lovingly calls puppy fat or what my brother not so nicely calls, "man boobs". Anyway, this made me think that if I was skinny and boney, his wait with me wouldn't have been half as comfortable. That leads me on nicely to Charlie Chaplin.
When I heard of this tale, I just thought they didn't recognise him in the lineup and passed him by. And as this week has progressed it made me think that they never saw what was in front of them. The same can be said for us. We search far and wide for something that is actually right in front of us. We search for talents we want and can't see what we have. I hadn't seen my size as much of a benefit until I came here. I didn't think my computer skills would be much use, I hadn't recognised what was right in front of me. So the message I want to leave with you this week is, don't hurt your eyes. Don't look too far for something that is more often than not right in front of you.
At time of writing the little boy is still in hospital and isn't doing too well. Please keep him in your prayers.
Until Next Week
Rob
3rd. But more about that later.
So with the Christmas festivities at an end and relative calm restored, I returned to Rehoboth, refreshed, revitalised and ready to go. I had had 10 days of brilliant relaxation with family and had a great time with Ali Clark who came for a mid-year break.
It was of course brilliant to see the children again and it was nice for the kids to have their climbing frame returned to them. They were also ecstatic to see Ali again, as she seems to have a real way with children and they love to play and chat with her.
However as soon as I arrived I had a sense of coming home. I'm a firm believer that the best feeling in the world is coming home and getting into your own bed. And it felt so good after nearly 2 weeks of travelling and moving from here to there, to finally plonk my head down on my bed.
If I didn't feel at home after the first night in my bed, then my workload definitely made me feel like I was back. It's amazing how many things build up in the way of promotional material while you're away. I have been working non stop since last wednesday. This is all in preparation for the 19th of January when we are having a celebration day here at Rehoboth in celebration (obviuosly) of Rehoboth being completed inside 7 years. It gives us a chance to invite everyone who has supported and sponsored us in the past 7 years.
So with possibly 300 people coming and everyone needing to be accomodated, alot of the promotional work has fallen on my broad and mildly burnt shoulders. It is however fine because, due to my misspent youth computers are right up my street. It had also given me a purpose here, a purpose I was struggling to find a while ago. I seemed to do little jobs and worked on the fringes but never really headed up getting things done. And now this event came along and created a niche that is perfect for me. So I am thankful for the oppurtunity given to me not only in my work but by the fact that God placed me here for this purpose. He did however give me another talent, being big. This week has been a testament to my size. Merely hours after Ali and I stepped off the plane in Durban I was in the pool throwing the kids from here to there, something that they'd been deprived of while I was away.
Also on Monday, one of our little boys got admitted to the local hospital. Yvonne has ben certain since he arrived that he had not only TB but meninigitis and everytime was told to get antibiotics and see what happens. So we went back on Monday, Yvonne and myself and this 9 month old baby and was told that he did indeed have TB and meningitis. So after 2 and a half hours and a sore head from trying to understand the Zulu nurses Yvonne finally got admission forms. All the while this little boy, struggling to breathe, having spasms every 30 seconds, cuddled into my chest, or what my grandmother lovingly calls puppy fat or what my brother not so nicely calls, "man boobs". Anyway, this made me think that if I was skinny and boney, his wait with me wouldn't have been half as comfortable. That leads me on nicely to Charlie Chaplin.
When I heard of this tale, I just thought they didn't recognise him in the lineup and passed him by. And as this week has progressed it made me think that they never saw what was in front of them. The same can be said for us. We search far and wide for something that is actually right in front of us. We search for talents we want and can't see what we have. I hadn't seen my size as much of a benefit until I came here. I didn't think my computer skills would be much use, I hadn't recognised what was right in front of me. So the message I want to leave with you this week is, don't hurt your eyes. Don't look too far for something that is more often than not right in front of you.
At time of writing the little boy is still in hospital and isn't doing too well. Please keep him in your prayers.
Until Next Week
Rob
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Showing my face.
As some of you may know, I have spent Christmas and New Year away from Rehoboth and have spent the time with my family in Johannesburg. The festive time was a really nice time of relaxation and just a time to chill out and put my feet up. I have missed being at Rehoboth and on Christmas day I was thinking how excited the kids would have been opening their presents and playing with their toys.
I feel like the George from "It's a wonderful life" getting to see things at Christmas as if I weren't there only this time everyone is happy and not sad.
On top of the Christmas with the family, I spent 5 days at the Kruger National Park with Ali who came out for a mid-school year holiday. We had a great time, seeing lots of animals but the elusive leopard still wasn't found. It was nice to catch up with stories from home and share stories of Rehoboth.
We return tomorrow and then it's back to the hard work for me and time for Ali to see the kids again. Its also time to get things sorted after a break at just the right time.
I hope you have all had a wonderful time of celebration. And I pray you all have a blessed and prosperous new year.
Until next time.
Robbie
I feel like the George from "It's a wonderful life" getting to see things at Christmas as if I weren't there only this time everyone is happy and not sad.
On top of the Christmas with the family, I spent 5 days at the Kruger National Park with Ali who came out for a mid-school year holiday. We had a great time, seeing lots of animals but the elusive leopard still wasn't found. It was nice to catch up with stories from home and share stories of Rehoboth.
We return tomorrow and then it's back to the hard work for me and time for Ali to see the kids again. Its also time to get things sorted after a break at just the right time.
I hope you have all had a wonderful time of celebration. And I pray you all have a blessed and prosperous new year.
Until next time.
Robbie
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