Youth Outreach

The Youth Outreach ministry is a new partnership this year for East Mountain. It is an organization that serves children that come from unstable homes or environments. There are currently about twenty children staying there from ages 5 – 18. Some of them have parents back at home who are addicted to substances, while others were sent there by their parents to avoid the gang infestations in their communities. There are also children that come just during the day as day visitors in order to receive some food and tutoring help. 

     The part of the Youth Outreach program that East Mountain specifically works with was started when several youth from a local youth home started attending Stellenbosch Baptist Church. The little kids went to Sunday school, but there was nothing for the older kids to be a part of. So the youth program was started to create a special space for the older youth on a Sunday afternoon.

     After several transitions in leadership, it was presented as a ministry partnership opportunity to East Mountain for the residents. Two residents from this year, Rei and Fazlyn, go with Marcie (a staff member) on Friday afternoons. The time is broken up into several sections, the first of which is a check-in on how the youth’s weeks have been as well as some games. Then they all watch an Alpha video together. Alpha is a course of video and discussion times that allows participants to engage in deep questions about life and faith. 

      After the Alpha video, the youth break up into groups to discuss it together. Fazlyn has thoroughly enjoyed seeing the youth open up and share during this time. There are usually between seven and nine youth present from the ages of 14 – 18 years old. The youth themselves have really enjoyed the partnership with East Mountain, and the specific safe space that has been created for them to have fun, build relationships, and engage in life’s deeper questions. Please keep this new partnership in prayer as deeper community and trust is established with these young men and women. 

Butterfly Ministry

  If you drive down the R310 towards the N2 towards Cape Town on almost any given day, you will see a small cluster of women sitting on the side of the road in a bush area. With two to seven or eight of them gathered on most days, they come to this area to work as prostitutes on the side of the road. They crouch on stacked tires or rocks as they chat amongst each other and engage with clients, the ground around them littered with trash and condoms. All of them have one or more children to feed and put through school, and they are often without a partner to help them. Most of them feel this is one of their only choices in order to survive. 

     Marcie Harris, one of our EM staff in Stellenbosch, had been feeling a tug on her heart for these women who she drove by on a weekly basis. It turns out she wasn’t the only one. Soon, a small group from local Stellenbosch Baptist Church came together to form a ministry team called The Butterfly Project. The name was inspired by the growth and transformation caterpillars go through as they become butterflies.

The Butterfly Ministry Team

     In the ministry time with the ladies each week, those on The Butterfly team strive to get to know the women more as well as lead them through Bible studies in the book of John. The team has also handed out CV (resume) materials to help the women build their CVs and potentially find new jobs. Then there is always time spent in prayer where the women stand up off of the stacked tires they have been crouching on, and join hands with the team in prayer. The requests most often center around protection and provision for children as well as a new job. The team also once made a home visit to one of the women who had been in the hospital. Spending time with her and her neighbors in her home was incredibly special.

     Much of the inspiration for the ministry comes from a well-established ministry called Straatwerk that works to bring women out of prostitution on the streets of Cape Town. There is much to learn from such a ministry, and much to learn from the specific women that The Butterfly team works with. Being a humble learner is a huge part of the process. 

     The Butterfly team is currently trying to figure out which of the women are seeking and more open to relationship, and may start giving out vouchers for fun activities that will help the team build deeper relationships with the women. Trust has to be built, and the women have to be empowered to take the steps for their physical, emotional, and spiritual benefit. Please keep this fairly new ministry in prayer as the team members discern what the next best steps are to take in terms of lifting these women up and helping them to leave their careers of prostitution behind them. 

Women's Month Ministry Focus

 In honor of women’s month in August, we would like to put the spotlight on three ministries that East Mountain partners with that focus entirely on women and the unique challenges and joys that they face. 

     First off is Her Voice. Situated in the rolling hills of Kayamandi, a black township in Stellenbosch, Her Voice seeks to holistically empower young moms. Every Sunday, Her Voice holds a session that could address any number of topics from heritage, to getting medical questions answered, to discussing what safe boundaries in relationships are, to dreaming of next career steps. Every session that is attended by a woman in Her Voice gives her points that she can then use to purchase baby products, food, toiletries, and even a doctor or dentist appointment from the Her Voice catalogue. 

     Her Voice also recently started up a grief support group run by a local Xhosa social worker, and has two birth doulas that are currently in training to serve their community. This incredible organization started with a handful of moms in a tiny room, and now has a long waitlist for the sessions they run in a big building. In fact, the group has gotten so large and in demand over the years that it is primarily run through the format of small groups. These groups are led by long-standing members who are themselves being mentored, equipped, and trained throughout the year to lead. The Her Voice ladies throughout Kayamandi are slowly but surely changing their community, their relationships, their motherhood, and the lives of the next generation for good. 

      A little further down Baden Powell road from Kayamandi is a bush area near the N2 freeway. When one drives by on any pleasant day, you will see a group of women sitting on the side of the road with men occasionally approaching them. This group of ladies is comprised of individuals who have turned to prostitution on the side of the road in order to support themselves. The Butterfly Ministry, a ministry out of Stellenbosch Baptist Church (a partner church of East Mountain) goes to the ladies once a week to chat with them, pray with them, and run a Bible study going through the book of John with them. There are also plans to run a resume (C.V.) workshop to practically help the women be more prepared to find another job. Though it is painstaking work, trust and rapport is slowly being built with these ladies. 

     Last is The Zoe Project, an NPO that is based out of Retreat but is in many MOU’s throughout the greater Cape Town area including Mowbray Hospital, Hanover Park, Mitchell’s Plain, and Gugulethu. Zoe provides a spectrum of care for moms from pregnancy through the first 1,000 days of the baby’s life. This care process includes mental health assessments and counseling, support groups, antenatal classes, doula birth services, practical help with food and basic baby needs, and postnatal care. Lives are being transformed everyday as 70 plus volunteers show up to impact the lives of women throughout Cape Town with quality, professional pregnancy and birth care that emphasizes dignity, compassion, and education to empower moms everywhere. 

     Women’s month always serves to draw our attention to the specific challenges that women in South Africa face such as gender-based violence, pregnancy and birth challenges, and poverty. East Mountain is proud to partner with Her Voice, The Butterfly Ministry, and The Zoe Project. And in doing so, we are particularly grateful for the opportunity to empower and uplift vulnerable women throughout the greater Cape Town for the glory of Christ and His Kingdom. 

School in a Box: training4changeS

A long-time dream has recently come to fruition at training4changeS, one of East Mountain South Africa’s ministry partnerships. training4changeS uses the sport of futsal to holistically change the lives of young boys. Since 2019, they have strived to address the educational needs of the boys they serve. As of about a month ago, the long awaited program called School in a Box came to be in use, and has transformed the way these needs are approached.   

Before this dream became a reality, Caleb Duttweiler, one of East Mountain’s staff, had been the primary content creator of the curriculum that the boys engage with in their weekly educational sessions at training4changeS. He alongside the East Mountain residents placed at training4changeS would look up stories, design games, and create math lessons for the boys. This involved a great deal of prep work, and placed the sustainability of the educational program primarily on Caleb’s shoulders. 

     In 2020 while visiting another ministry site, Caleb saw School in a Box for the first time. This incredible program is a literal box that plugs into the wall and needs no WiFi, as it contains its own router. It is an entirely South African based program running from Grade R to 12th grade, and has a variety of levels within it in order to adjust to individual learner’s needs and growth. This kind of individual attention to a learner’s particular needs is rare to find in a normal school setting because class sizes are so big. The program updates automatically, and uses South African stories and educational terms. Once a learner demonstrates mastery of a certain level, they move on to the next level. This even allows Caleb and the other teachers to introduce a points-based rewards system that will help motivate the boys to move through the levels.

     After first seeing the program, Caleb brought it to the attention of Daniel Thomae, the founder of training4changeS, and conversations began to take form. Some intense fund-raising efforts from Daniel and East Mountain’s founder Rodney took place, and people from all over came together to financially support the vision of transforming the education aspect of training4changeS for the boys. Soon after, School in a Box made a grand entrance in June, 2021. The educational program within training4changeS is now more sustainable, the time needed for lesson prep work has been drastically reduced, and teachers are able to more easily assign which activities to give which child ahead of time according to the learner’s level. There is even a hope that using this material may provide the credentials that t4c needs to one day become an official school, which has been a long time dream.

     “It’s exciting to have a locally created and innovative resource that is geared towards the specific challenges our boys face in the South African school system,” says Daniel. “We are grateful to be able to integrate technology into our weekly lessons, and to continue building on the amazing work Caleb has done over the last few years to develop individualised academic support structures for our boys…. Caleb and the residents have done such a good job of making learning fun for the training4changeS boys; we have seen a clear increase in confidence and ability in each child. We look forward to using School in a Box… hopefully for years to come.”

     Several other partners of East Mountain are also using School in a Box, and some of the current year-long residents of EM have used it in their own educational journeys. “It is amazing that the boys at training4changeS get to use it now, especially since a lot of them come from different backgrounds and different schools which offer different levels of education…. It’s really helpful to cater to their needs and where they are,” says Fazlyn, one of East Mountain’s current residents. Another resident, Reinhardt, has been encouraged to see the efficiency that the School in a Box brings to the lessons, and it has been neat for him to bring his own experience with this tool into the classroom as he engages in ministry work at training4changeS. 

      Overall, this little box is big step toward fun, individualised, and sustainable educational assistance being offered to the young men that attend training4changeS. Daniel, Caleb, and East Mountain are excited to witness the boys not only learn material, but learn at levels that are most beneficial to them and their growth. We hope that this innovative program will change their educations and their lives for the better.

Summit Reflections

From mid-May to the end of June, we welcomed four young adults into the East Mountain house to live with the residents and participate in a compact version of our leadership and theological development courses,(one from America, two from Zimbabwe and one from right down the road in Kayamandi). It was an incredible 6 weeks of growth and awakening for these young adults. We thank God for how he stirred in their hearts and are excited to see how he continues to work in and through them as they go back into their communities empowered to continue growing and sharing about who God is. Read one summiteer's reflection that he shared at graduation.

“Five weeks ago, an American, two Zimbabweans, and one Capetonian who didn’t know one another from Adam came together to experience something new. Many of us arrived feeling tired, used up, alone, and out of our elements. We didn’t know what to expect of the summer looming before us or of the people we’d be living with. Hardly had we stepped through the East Mountain threshold, however, before our fears were put to rest as the residents and staff opened up their hearts, lives, and homes to us. Five weeks later, we can confidently say that all our lives have been changed for the better.

Dave has done incredible work in walking us through his intimate understanding of biblical theology. We’ve been able to grow in our understanding of scripture and to begin to apply that understanding in our own lives and in the communities we’ll be returning to. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen the glory of the full story of the Bible revealed, the beauty of the task we were originally created for, and the powerful need for our many relationships to be restored. We’ve gained new understandings of the character of God and a new determination to fulfill the tasks which fall to us today.

Mark and the Phillips introduced us to our own stories and reminded us of the identities we have in Christ. We learned the power our pasts can hold over our present and our futures and the need to better understand ourselves before we can understand and invest in others. We’ve learned who we are and of the masks we hide behind, and that knowledge will continue to serve us long after we move on from East Mountain and step into the roles God has for each one of us.

Caleb, Marisa, and residents, thank you as well for including us in your lives, your ministry programs, and your friendships. You are the ones who truly made us feel at home here, who modelled leadership in action and who gave us opportunities to step into your domains and lead. You are also the ones who had to put up with all our little quirks and eccentricities, and for your patience we are especially grateful!

The workshop leaders devoted long hours toward equipping us with practical means for living out the gospel. You have made us stronger, healthier, and more biblically grounded, and we will take our lessons home to equip our own domains. Marcie and Lindsay out in endless hours overcoming numberless obstacles just to make Summit 2021 happen and it has not gone unappreciated.

Each of you—our leaders, our mentors, those who cooked and cleaned and drove us all over creation, and everyone working behind the scenes—have made an incredible impact on our lives. The work you’re doing doesn’t just ground and develop our own spiritual walks; it will also be taken home to impact our own communities and lives which we may never know of or hear about. Thank you for pouring into our lives on such a personal level, for listening to our stories, and for offering your encouragement and hope. Thank you for serving us, thank you for praying for us, and most of all, thank you for loving us.”

Q&A Reflection with Rodney and Kathy

Why are you transitioning out of South Africa?

There are family realities factors as well as other variables leading up to the decision to transition out of South Africa. We sensed our parents’ need for care increase over the past couple of years. We also have not lived close to Jessica and Julian for many years. There has been a rising desire to establish a home and welcoming space for our children and their children in the years ahead. We also want to create a ministry space for reconciliation, renewal, and relationships that really is our own. We sensed this vision and passion coming from the Lord and His work in our lives. We believe leadership does have a lifespan. I think eight to ten years of leading an initiative allows a direction to be set, innovation to be fresh and new leadership developed for a next stage. I’m a visionary developer. I feel like the visionary work Gabe and I started in 2012 has since moved into a stage of setting up systems, establishing structures and coordinating management.

What do you hope to do in this next chapter?

We have a few plans in place for our next phase of our journey. On the ministry side we are envisioning how we can care for people who are seeking to go into cross cultural settings and for those returning from cross cultural settings to the US. We love listening and walking with people. We want to continue to seek funding for the work of East Mountain around the world and particularly in South Africa. We love telling the impact stories of EM and inviting others to join with us in the work God is doing. We want to live in a multicultural setting in the US to bring the gospel of Jesus and healing of relationships through Christ into those settings. We feel excited and ready. We also feel like we need time to adjust and adapt to a new culture for us. We have lived in Africa longer than we have lived in the US! There is a lot we need to learn about our new culture.

What did you learn from your past few years at East Mountain South Africa?

Mama Kat and I learned a lot together. We learned more about our gifts and passions such as her creativity in art and my writing. I learned the axioms are true as we live them. To say them makes us sound clever. To live them changes our lives and the lives of those around us. It is much better to step into the uncomfortable conversation to confront unChrist-like actions and reactions than to allow resentment to grow. We do believe a clarifying conversation is better and more loving than allowing speculation to grow. We believe fear and ignorance keep us from truly engaging one another. We have to step toward others to know them. It is important to keep your promises small and keep your promises.

We became more convinced that investment in people is worth it. We often don’t know what our impact really is, in this life. Others see how God uses us and the holy impact more than we do. We have tried to minister in a variety of ways in SA. Our strongest efforts, at times, give us the least personally satisfying results. Yet, they can be the most impactful for those to whom we minister. I thought I failed in communicating or presenting to a group of people multiple times and yet others shared how the message or talk gave them what they needed. Huh? That is God’s work. Our best laid plans, often do not live up to the hype. We’ve learned to prepare well and share what I have to share the best way we can. Then, we leave the impact to God. It is less stressful. I learned, as one of our board members says: “life doesn’t go in a straight line.”

What were some of the biggest challenges you came across and had to overcome while at EM?

Navigating the exhilarating and the disheartening elements of relationally driven work has brought the most challenge over the years. The cross-cultural realities we encouraged and invited into our community added more challenges. The crucible we created with the temporary learning communities of the residency and summit were designed to push lives together to get deeper into soul life and interpersonal relationships. The idea was right and the execution over the years was a struggle. We are convinced, however, that we have gotten better and better each year.

When we first entered the country there were tensions of being misunderstood by partners and church leaders. We had financial struggles during the beginning and at different stages of the process. Staying on task with our mission and vision was and is a challenge. There are always new ideas and potential new directions suggested by ministry partners or financial donors. An important task for leadership is to keep the main thing the main thing and to remember the Why. Vision stays constant and tasks or activities in accomplishing the vision must be adapted to the context where we work.

What were some of the highlights of your work at EM?

We have learned the depth and breadth of relationships in a trusted community. I love how nicknames are bestowed and stories are remembered at EM. I recall with fondness the development of the names General, Admiral, Legend, Bishop, The First Lady, Reverend, SteveO, Lutz, Mama Kat, Captain and many more. There is a joy in the familiarity of relationships which giving nicknames provides.

We really enjoyed presenting our story multiple times with each Summit group and each group of Residents. It brings us joy to share how God has been at work in us and through our struggles and victories he can still use us. We also loved doing a marriage seminar at Christ church Stellenbosch early in our time there and even premarital counselling for some of our dear friends!

I, Kathy, am so grateful for the encouragement from everyone regarding my attempts to create art and beauty. I love the Mama Kat title and will take it with me and maybe even use it as my artist name. I wasn’t sure what people would think of my painting and folk art. I often didn’t think it was great, but the encouragement I received from the EM community kept me going.

Climbing mountains was a highlight. We have climbed Lion’s head, Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak with many different groups. I love how each adventure provided opportunities for teamwork, encouragement, fun and struggle.

We loved all the baptisms at the EM house. I, Rodney, was particularly honoured and humbled when Andrew Barnes said he and I should baptise Alechia together at EM because East Mountain is her community as well as the Trinity Church community. We are all followers of Christ on mission with God in the world!

I, Rodney, remember a leadership team meeting at the moment when Kathy was trying to get to the US after her mom’s death. I got a call from Kathy as she was en route and the miscommunication from her family and her own grief made it trying for her to keep it together. After the call, the team stopped, listened and asked how Kathy was, how I was, and how they could help. I was upset. I was unable to think clearly. They just stayed in the moment with me. We didn’t rush to the next point on the agenda. They didn’t tell me to push down the emotion I was feeling. They prayed for Kathy and for me. They were amazing. I realized what a great place EM was in that moment.

I remember the final staff meeting I was leading. We were giving updates and people were all over the place. Some were excited and optimistic others were a bit down or feeling melancholy. Then Ronn and Aladrian shared about their lives and the difficulties they were facing and Lindsay shared how she was doing and the tough things she was facing. We all stayed attentive and concerned and prayed. Then, in that safe space the Elmores and Lindsay mutually encouraged each other! I was moved to see and hear the prayers that were lifted in that moment. We truly prayed for one another. We wept for the pain that others were feeling. We rejoiced with progress that others experienced. We prayed more times in that meeting than any other gathering I believe. Then Abigail shared Psalm 121. I was tearing up then and I am welling up now as I reread Psalm 121. When she got to verse 8 she looked over at me and said “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” That was a powerful moment and the Psalm means so much to me even as I reflect on the next chapters the Lord will open for us. That was a special moment. Mama Kat and I long for that type of space in the months ahead. We know it won’t come without effort or intentionality. The model of a truly loving community is powerful and an example of what we desire in our next phase of life.

If you were giving a "State of the Union" type address about East Mountain right now, what might you mention (where is it and where is it going?)

For seven years the East Mountain community has offered a way to be, to learn, and to grow. We start with ourselves. We abide in Christ. We love one another. We live in community. We partner with others engaged in Kingdom ministry. We disciple leaders. Our staff is committed to being who God wants us to be and allow the message of salvation and reconciliation to come from God through Christ and then through us to the world. We will not waver in our vision to see men and women grow in their understanding of scripture, their skills in leading and in their relationship with Jesus. I believe we have gone through changes, pruning, adjusting, adapting and right sizing over the past few years. I believe we have a gifted and passionate family of people who are committed to Christ and to His desire to see people from every nationality, ethnicity, language group and people come to faith and grow to maturity in Christ.

There have been hundreds who have experienced an East Mountain event, training workshop, seminar, residency program or summit program. There are churches and schools who have benefitted from the ministry of East Mountain. There are many who carry with them the knowledge, skills and close walk with Jesus into their next phase of life. It is heart-warming to continue to walk with them and hear their stories.

Our East Mountain community has gone through enough difficulty to make us stronger. We have sadly experienced enough manipulation and deception to make us wiser. We have done the work at times with tremendous resources and at times without many resources at all, which makes us dependent of God for all our needs. We have experienced pain and loss together. We have experienced joy and triumph together. We have lived this ministry enough to have accumulated some amount of knowledge and know how. We also have enough wisdom to know there is still more to know and learn.

What would you like to say to those who have been supporting and praying for East Mountain and even you personally?

Thank you! We are humbled and honoured that you have stood by us in prayer and financially through the years we have served with East Mountain. We are grateful that you took a risk with us we launched into a new way of developing and discipling leaders. We had ideas and dreams of how we could respond to the growing need for ministers and leaders in Africa. We had circles and charts, quotes and research. We had experience, knowledge, and skills but we needed your support and encouragement. You gave that to us. We seriously could not have established East Mountain and seen hundreds of women and men impacted through God’s work in their lives through the ministry without you. You are our partners. You are a vital part of the team. You are part of the body of Christ in South Africa seeking to share the good news of Jesus and disciple leaders in their context to continue the gospel work for years to come. We say thank you for your love for the Lord and His work in the world. Thank you for choosing to participate with us in our small part of an immense Kingdom. Please stay with East Mountain in this amazing work that God allows us to do for his name and for His glory! God Bless you.

Partnering with Grace2Learn

Grace2Learn (G2L) has long been a name known around East Mountain along with the name of its founder and director, Brad Sitzer, whose face has been seen at our community braais for some time now. However, it has been more recently that East Mountain’s partnership with G2L has matured. From first only visiting G2L every so often for an annual cleanup service day to this year sending our residents there on a weekly basis for ministry, our partnership has not only grown wider in scope, but deeper in engagement as well.

G2L is a learning hub that deals with both online as well as on-the-ground learning in Mitchells Plain, South Africa to help learners earn a high school diploma (The GED). Their online program was a huge asset recently in lockdown. Some other services they offer alongside working towards high school completion are discipleship, mentoring, career planning, digital skills development, financial literacy and even small group interactions to create accountability. Moreover, G2L offers a learning experience that is more individually tailored to each learner than the traditional classroom setting. Students, many of whom are from the under-resourced Cape Flats context, are empowered to drive their own education experience with a blend of dedicated facilitators and global digital learning opportunities in a unique and supportive environment. They are developed holistically through mind, body, and spirit, which lines up well with East Mountain’s core values as we seek to holistically develop leaders through the head, hands, and heart.

One of our 2017 East Mountain residents, Carlo Bam, came through G2L back when they were first starting up. Carlo is now in full-time university study and spends time with the students at Grace2Learn from time to time. Three years later, East Mountain is excited to announce that a new resident for 2021 will be coming to us from G2L. Part of this development came from the diligent deepening of our partnership with Grace2Learn and Scripture Union, with whom the new resident has served for at youth camps as a junior leader alongside East Mountain staff.

This year for the first time ever, East Mountain sent some of our residents to G2L to engage in a weekly ministry partnership. Residents Sarah (New York, USA), Seth (Port Elizabeth, SA), and Coco (Retreat, SA) took the initiative to participate in a wide variety of activities at G2L such as discipling high school students through intentional relationship building and mentoring, leading workout activities to promote physical health, and conducting Bible studies. Several comments have come up from our residents regarding how much they enjoyed working with G2L this year. The Grace2Learn students were also majorly impacted as some of them admitted to having never been mentored or discipled before so the experience was overwhelmingly positive for them! It has truly been an amazing testimony to see the partnership not only between G2L and East Mountain strengthen, but between G2L and other churches and organisations in the Mitchells Plain community.

2020 was a rough year for everyone, but we are certainly grateful for the maturation and growth of our partnership with G2L that came partly as a result of it. We look forward to our continued work alongside them, empowering them to empower those they are educating to make an impact in South Africa and the world. If you would like to read more about G2L, please check out their social media page.

East Mountain Community Garden

  What started out as house dad Caleb Duttweiler’s new hobby to alleviate boredom during South Africa’s lockdown has become an opportunity for individual and corporate worship, service, and creativity in the East Mountain community. Caleb started the garden to see if he could grow some food and try something new out in nature. He also began composting in order to reduce waste and better steward what was being used in the house through recycling. But as the garden grew, so did the vision for the garden. Today, Caleb’s creative approach to creation care has become something “made by the community and for the community.”

As planting and growing increased, Caleb reached out to a friend in the States who studied agriculture and got some advice on how to improve the garden. Knowledge in hand, two work days were held with EM staff and residents involved to prepare the soil and use the compost to create raised beds for new seeds to be planted. Carrots, cucumbers, corn, peas, spinach, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce have all been planted with broccoli, potatoes, and peppers still in the works. Tending the garden has been a particularly unique activity for the EM residents--many of whom have never experienced anything quite like it before. 

     But the hopes and dreams for the garden go far beyond getting one’s fingers dirty in the physical planting and growing. Caleb desires the garden to be a place where EM staff, guests, and partners can come take food for whatever they need. The gift of having the garden is not only the availability to produce food for those who may want it, but also the chance to give something to people that the EM community was “able to take time to grow, to care for, and to nurture to fruition.” 

     Moreover, the garden also serves as a great opportunity for the residents to practically see many of the Scriptures that relate to agriculture come alive at the tips of their fingers. Imagery from the Garden of Eden, the agricultural realities of many of Jesus’ parables, and metaphors of God’s people as vineyards and trees are now more relatable than ever. The practical experience they are receiving as they work to nurture and grow in the garden can be expounded upon in the table talks, theological discussions, and workshops that make up a robust part of the resident’s weekly schedule.  

   And as Biblical imagery and principles are better understood through the keeping up of the garden, so too is the practical application of service and compassion. A long-term goal for when the garden even grows more is to partner with local ministries in the community to see if some of the produce could be contributed towards programs that help to feed the homeless. As social justice issues have become more prominent in today’s world, East Mountain desires to steward what is already on the EM property in order to give to others in the community who don’t have--especially those who cannot give back anything in return. Other ideas around sending kids from local ministry partners home with seeds, or even selling the compost being collected to raise ministry funds have also been brought up. 

      Overall, God has taken what began as a hobby and transformed it into a holistic vision for a community of people. As the food grows and produces a crop that physically feeds many, our hope is that the space of the garden and the time that visitors spend there will also nourish hearts as people receive the fruit of hard work and a desire to serve. So if you have any plans coming up to make stews and other veggie dishes, come and see us!

Where are the 2019 Residents Now?: Azola Vetezo

East Mountain is always hoping and praying that through development of leaders within our walls God would raise up disciple-making servant-leaders in townships and other communities across South Africa and the world. God has truly been answering this prayer in many ways, one of which is Azola Vetezo's ministry in Khayelitsha. 

Last month, Chosen Generation church in Khayelitsha township assigned our very own former 2019 resident Azola (“Stix”) as leader of a life-on-life Discipleship Residence for young men in Khayelitsha. Stix has embarked on this new venture to start a sort of mini residency at his church. He is hoping to be able to provide a safe place for young men to spend time reading and studying God’s word together and keeping each other accountable as they do life together. This is a win-win situation for Chosen Generation church because Pastor Dumisani has been hoping to get someone to live at the church as caretakers of the property and is happy to support his own mentee, Stix, as a caretaker and disciple-maker in this space. 

Dumisani has always been passionate about creating a space where all kinds of people coming from difficult backgrounds can come and not be judged, experiencing immeasurable grace and getting to know Jesus and what he means to them. Dumisani says that Stix’ community outreach and discipleship efforts since returning from East Mountain residency in December have caused church attendance and excitement to multiply immensely (until setbacks from lockdown). 

Stix was mentored by Dumisani for a long time before finally becoming a believer shortly before coming to residency in 2019. Stix grew astronomically throughout the year to the point that he has begun returning to Chosen Generation church to preach occasionally. At the end of the year after sitting in the congregation and watching Stix deliver an impassioned sermon on unity from Ephesians, Dumisani stood up with a look of amazement on his face and hugged Stix and asked, “Is this the same young man we sent to East Mountain at the beginning of the year?” His growth was a beautiful picture of different mentors doing sowing, watering, and pruning with a willing heart from Stix, and ultimately God doing the cultivation as part of his larger kingdom plan. Stix is now taking that next step by trailblazing this new residency program. 

Deep relationships and dynamic spiritual growth are already forming amongst the current men who occupy and manage this property together. Stix and a few others have moved into the house but they are still gathering appliances to furnish it. "Thank you for your concern and working in our lives," Stix says. "Our prayer request is to lead guys to salvation and also through them other people may be saved. We also pray for Love, wisdom in leading and for Unity." 

Stix came by the East Mountain house a few weeks ago with some of the young men he is discipling to pick up some appliances and furniture East Mountain donated to his residency and we had the opportunity to encourage and pray with each other. Please continue to pray for perseverance and wisdom for Stix and Siya, a 2018 East Mountain residency alumnus who is helping him with the discipleship sessions. East Mountain South Africa sees it as a privilege to play a small part in the growth of young leaders like Stix.

Partners Helping Partners

East Mountain South Africa has never sought to force new trails or impose our customs on people, but to come alongside partner organisations in our region who are doing God’s work and could be benefited by our leadership development program. From our soccer academy boys getting into a high school we partner with to leaders of Her Voice bringing non-profits together to form Stellenbosch Unite, one theme we have been delighted to see this year is how many of our partners have been collaborating with each other.

A strong partnership between the pastors and the congregations of Stellenbosch Baptist Church and Kayamandi Baptist Church has enabled SBC to learn and grow from the influence of their sister church. This connection has also meant that SBC was able to connect with residents in Kayamandi township to help during this pandemic and economic crisis in South Africa. East Mountain staff Mark and Marcie Harris were excited to be able to participate by helping with food parcel delivery programs to show care for their neighbours. 

Shortly after the initial announcement of lockdown, the leaders of Her Voice, our partner in Kayamandi township that supports pregnant women and moms, formed a crisis care team, partnering with over ten other NGOs and churches all across Stellenbosch. They moved forward with an initiative to provide basic essentials and care for those in Kayamandi and Cloetesville. Hundreds of donations came flooding in as soon as the news went out. Around ten thousand fliers with information on the virus in Xhosa, English, and Afrikaans were distributed across town to inform people. The various communities of differing ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes represented in Stellenbosch united in an unprecedented way this past week before the lockdown. So many people who have never interacted with one another before strived to be the hands and feet of Jesus to their neighbours. Out of a time of fear and uncertainty came generosity, love, and kindness. In a space that could easily be filled with fear and shutting down, many have courageously chosen to love and to serve.

One of our staff members, Lindsay Shifflet, has been working closely with Her Voice over the past few years. Her involvement has grown over time as Her Voice has grown, and now she has the chance to help with the monthly newsletter and mentoring the ladies who are leading their own small groups throughout Kayamandi. Lindsay has also had the chance this year to work with the ZOE Project in Retreat. This ministry serves pregnant ladies and new moms with various services, including free counselling. ZOE has a partnership with Her Voice, and has been working alongside the another partner, the Ubomi Project part to help provide training for new doulas. It has truly been a privilege to work alongside so many amazing women in such compassionate ministries striving to empower women who will, in turn, change their communities, the lives of the children they raise, and ultimately the future of South Africa.

Training 4 ChangeS, the soccer academy where several of our staff and former residents have helped with coaching and academic tutoring, has been dropping off food and other necessities with the families of their boys every month. Resident and Staff Members, Sarah and Caleb Duttweiler have been able to provide 4-week lesson activity bundles to send with these parcels every month for boys to continue learning despite not being able to go to school and, in many cases, falling behind as other class mates are able to continue learning online. Last month we celebrated a huge win for East Mountain partnerships when all of their soon-to-be grade 8 boys were officially accepted into Calling Education, a high-performing Christian high school that is also one of East Mountain’s partners. East Mountain has often sent residents and staff to volunteer leading mentor/connect groups with high school boys at Calling Academy. We hope this is the beginning of a strong bond between two great organisations that we support! 

We have also seen other connections, such as Trinity and other REACH denomination churches working to support Grace2Learn, Trinity Children’s Centre and other ministries to the Cape Flats that we parter with as our residents attend a weekly REACH theology class. 

As we take a step back and look at the spaghetti bowl of ministries in the Western Cape that we are involved with, we can’t help but see glimpses of God’s master plan working in and through all of these individuals and groups for a common goal of his Kingdom! 

Hindsight is 2020: Looking Back over the First Half of the Year

We are so thankful to all of you for the prayers and support over the past year and for encouraging us through an eventful journey of ups and downs and a lot of “look at God!” moments. With your support, we’ve been able to be a part of some amazing Kingdom work in South Africa in 2020. 

The residency team was busy in December and January revamping our program, thinking through our goals, the best ways to provide each element of the program and recruiting and selecting a new group of residents that God brought to us. February and March were packed with bringing new residents though orientation, workshops, and discussions as they built relationships and visited all kinds of different churches and ministries to get a broad view of God’s work in South Africa.  

The past few months have certainly looked differently than what we expected when we spent those weeks planning out the year in December, but we have learned a thousand times by now about God’s unstoppable work despite human short-comings and worldly circumstances and we have been amazed by the ways God has moved in the time of COVID.  

Because of your continued support, we have been able to remain connected to residents during this time of social distancing. East Mountain continues to support residents through this time of uncertainty and send them data each week to carry on with Bible study, theology, topical discussion sessions, character development activities and mentoring. One resident recently commented during our Bible study, “I’ve never heard of this book but I feel like it was written for me.” These kind of realisations keep us motivated to continue despite inevitable frustrations with wifi and screens. 

We believe that the fact that every resident has been engaged in theological education, self-discovery and hands-on ministry during these months of lockdown is truly a God-thing that was beyond our ability to plan or execute. From helping to develop lesson packets for the kids who can’t go back to school yet, to tutoring and watching out for neighbourhood kids, to posting workout ideas, to distributing food, to finding creative solutions for church connection, the residents have been ministering in true “2020” creative and courageous fashion. 

While we have enjoyed zoom discussions and stories of God’s work through these ministries, we can't wait to pick up with our in-person program when residents are safe to return on August 22!  We hope to finish this year of development with them strongly and faithfully and to send them out well-equipped for works of justice and compassion and conviction in their ministries and communities.  

We have also used this time to begin planning for next year’s residency! Although 2021 is a huge unknown, we are welcoming any young adults to join us in this step of faith by applying to the program and beginning conversations about participating next year. If you know of any 18-25 year-olds who may be interested in a year in Stellenbosch studying the Bible, getting involved in local ministries, and learning from life in a diverse community, please send this info along! 

A Chosen Generation Rising Up

On the first full day of the 2020 residency, the residents and some staff members went to attend the Sunday service at Chosen Generation church and to hear the stories of Pastor Dumisani and his team. The residents were able to introduce themselves to the church and experience what was, for most of them, a very different style of worship then they are accustomed to in this small charismatic setting near Mandela Park in Khayelitsha township. The youth got up to sing, the preacher got up to sing, and intermittently throughout the service, the congregation burst into singing. The room was full of the Holy Spirit and smiles and hugs warmer than the summer air around us. 

     After the service, we gathered around and ate our vetkoeks (South African meat pies) as Pastor Dumisani shared Chosen Generation's “origin story”: How he would show up in rough parts of Khayelitsha with a soccer ball and get young men involved in gangs and other less-than-constructive past times to literally lay their weapons down to come play soccer together. He did this for weeks, building rapport and a safe atmosphere until finally bringing a Bible and sitting down with them to begin a Bible study. “Some of them ran the other way and some of them stayed. That was the beginning of the church,” Dumisani said with a smile. 

     Dumisani is passionate about creating a space where all kinds of people coming from difficult backgrounds can come and not be judged. “I told them they could take off their masks and even ask the difficult questions here,” he said. He felt called to make a place where his community members could belong before they believe and slowly get to know Jesus and what he means to them. This includes community members like Honey, who had been a drug-dealer and gangster, in and out of prison for years at a young age. Honey found sanctuary in Dumisani’s church. Now he is preaching in Chosen Generation and other churches, sharing his testimony, and even being published in books and magazines. 

     Previous residents Siyabulela (Steve) and Stix (Azola) are among the young men impacted by Dumisani’s soccer club, as well as Ananda, who was present at our conversation on Sunday. Ananda shared how his life was changed the day he began playing soccer with Dumisani’s group and even more so when he decided to believe in Jesus. Ananda is now the one leading those soccer groups and Bible studies as Dumisani leads the church and disciples other leaders.  

     Steve grew up at Chosen Generation and then participated in East Mountain residency in 2017 and 2018. He now mentors boys at one of our other partnerships, a high school called Calling Academy, where he is a soccer coach and teacher’s aid. 

     Stix was mentored by Dumisani for a long time before finally becoming a believer shortly before coming to residency in 2019. Stix grew astronomically throughout the year to the point that he has begun returning to Chosen Generation church to preach occasionally. At the end of the year after sitting in the congregation and watching Stix deliver an impassioned sermon on unity from Ephesians, Dumisani stood up with a look of amazement on his face and hugged Stix and asked, “Is this the same young man we sent to East Mountain at the beginning of the year?” His growth was a beautiful picture of different mentors doing sowing, watering, and pruning with a willing heart from Stix, and ultimately God doing the cultivation as part of his larger kingdom plan. Stix now works for a coffee company in the hopes of eventually starting his own coffee business/ ministry. 

     East Mountain South Africa sees it as a privilege to play a small part in the growth of young leaders like those that God is raising up, often out of brokenness and difficulty, at Chosen Generation.

Partnership spotlight: Her Voice

Partnership Spotlight: Her Voice

In the context of Kayamandi, life for a young, single mom can be a difficult one. Kayamandi, like many townships in South Africa, is plagued by generational cycles of poverty, fatherlessness, and substance abuse among other issues. Typically, women of color are the members of society who bear the brunt of racism and the repercussions of apartheid. When they become pregnant, their vulnerability to the circumstances around them increases. Resources that many of us do not have to worry about, such as transportation or access to a working computer, are daily concerns for these young moms.

     Yet, even when it seems like the world is set against them, these mothers can absolutely thrive. And that is the vision of Her Voice, one of East Mountain’s partners. A vision to lift up, empower, support, and encourage these amazing women, moms, and heroes of Kayamandi as they strive to flourish and raise their children who themselves represent the future of South Africa.

“We’re a sisterhood of women who’ve decided to allow 
our unique stories to make us better than the world we see around us.”

     Her Voice started when Alex, a native Southern Californian, moved to Kayamandi in 2010. She worked with young people while learning Xhosa before marrying a local from Kayamandi named Odwa. They now have three children, run Her Voice, and own a coffee shop and arts space called Amazink for the purpose of unifying people and creating space for racial reconciliation in the township context. Her Voice specifically was started when Alex and several others saw the need for a ministry to reach out to young women, especially moms. What began as a small group of women gathering every other Sunday has now quadrupled to a weekly Sunday meeting of anywhere from forty to seventy moms. If you were to stumble upon one of these gatherings, you would be dazzled by the array of colors as women pass by in their Sunday best. Sleeping babies are slung into towels and blankets for warmth while other children dart between chairs and people alike, screaming with delight. The full, rich sounds of Xhosa, Sotho, Zulu, and Tswana reverberate around the room in between bouts of outrageous laughter as the ladies catch up with one another.  

     Mingling with the ladies are the Her Voice staff, comprised of Xhosa, American, and Afrikaans women. Each of them brings unique passions and gifts to the table that enable them to provide invaluable support. However, it is the Kayamandi moms themselves who are the true owners of Her Voice. They are the ones being challenged and encouraged, and they are the ones who are going out to change the world they live in because they have the strength and potential to do so. They are the leaders who are supporting one another and taking opportunities to share the hope and support that they’ve received. Her Voice simply acts as a safe and empowering space where the ladies can thrive in a supportive, loving community.

     There are several ways that Her Voice equips and empowers the women who attend. First, with each session that is attended, the ladies earn points that they can then spend using a catalogue that Her Voice constructed. Popular items to purchase with points include nappies (diapers), wipes, and baby foods. Points can also be used for visits to the doctor or dentist. Staff from Her Voice help with transport and payment so that the ladies have options in the medical care they receive, but still take ownership of it by paying with points. At the Sunday sessions themselves, the ladies meet in small groups to catch up, pray for one another, and go over either a Bible passage or material from workshops. The workshops happen on a bi-weekly basis and cover a variety of relevant topics from nutrition to Godly parenting to self-defense skills. In between workshops, the ladies meet in small groups in homes throughout Kayamandi. The groups are led by some of the Her Voice ladies who have shown commitment and initiative. As they lead the groups, they are simultaneously being invested in and mentored by the Her Voice staff.

An arm of Her Voice that has recently started is a birthing ministry called Ubomi (means “life” in Xhosa), started with the help of East Mountain staff member Rachel Conley and her amazing team of doulas. The doulas are local Xhosa women who have trained under Rachel and are now taking up the task of being doulas for women in their community. Rachel started attending Her Voice in 2018 with a desire to work in a township context and joined the leadership team soon after. One of the main goals of this ministry is to celebrate new life. Becoming pregnant in Kayamandi, especially as a single mom, can carry with it an element of shame and fear that is derived from the local culture and sometimes even church. Her Voice desires to instill hope and celebrate new life, no matter the circumstances. The journey of motherhood, however difficult or even unexpected it may be, is a beautiful one that bonds mothers together while breaking down barriers of cultural or racial biases and prejudice. Read more about Ubomi in an upcoming post!

     In the end, as so many different women come together each Sunday from a wide variety of languages, backgrounds, dreams, and worldviews, the Spirit of Christ and the powerful experience of being a mother unites one and all. Though challenging at times, the culture of Her Voice is a rich and beautiful one. With each passing year, month, and weekly session of Her Voice, it becomes ever clearer that these mothers from Kayamandi are not victims of circumstance. Rather, they are everyday heroes who defy the barriers that they face together in an effort to change their own lives and the lives of their children. East Mountain is thrilled to partner with an amazing ministry like Her Voice that builds up local leaders and communities. We are especially excited for Rachel and her team as they step into this new birthing ministry to further the cause of new life and motherhood.. For more info on Her Voice, check out their website and Instagram page: 

Website: http://www.hervoice.co.za

Instagram: @finding_hervoice

Schools without Walls: Academic Sessions with a Futsal Team

When Katsi first walked into the training4changeS (t4c) academic support session, the primary school boy from Kayamandi felt the walls of limitation and struggle around him. A typical classroom for his age would have one teacher to around 40 students and very few resources provided. Katsi had been struggling quite a bit in school with math and reading and even counting. He had been discouraged countless times by his marks and negative feedback from educators. At the t4c academic session, however, Katsi’s walls began to be taken down. He had tutors come alongside him in the subjects with which he struggled, gaining the opportunity to read material that interested him and learn math through activities that amused him.  

training4changeS (t4c) is a non-profit whose Futsal Academy brings at-risk boys ages 9-12 from diverse South African backgrounds together onto one team that creates a safe place for holistic learning, coaching and mentoring. The boys receive high quality coaching from a former national futsal coach and mentoring from their coaches, who care deeply for each child. 

“In addition to pursuing excellence on the pitch, we are using futsal as a means to bridge existing socio-economic gaps, promote tolerance, celebrate diversity and create a shared learning platform for the community,” says Daniel Thomae, t4c co-founder. 

One way that t4c has ventured beyond futsal coaching to pursue holistic development within the boys this year is to create a space every Thursday for the boys to improve their math and reading outside of the school walls. After meeting with the parents and teachers of these boys, t4c identified this need to come alongside them in academics to help create more opportunities for their future and help them in areas they are struggling in. 

“At the t4c class, I learned to count and read,” said Katsi. “I like the stories we read. Before these classes it was much harder for me to read. I like the coaches too— they help me a lot.” According to Katsi’s coaches/ tutors, he has worked very hard in these sessions and they are seeing great improvement. “Katsi is improving a lot in math. He didn’t know the signs for adding and subtracting, but now he knows them.” said Azola, one of his coaches. “I’m excited to see Katsi each week.” 

Many educational and societal walls are broken down by these sessions with Katsi and the other boys on the t4c. The students gain self-value from individualised tutoring in an environment that maintains an average ratio of 1 teacher for every 3 learners, compared to their normal school environment where there is 1 teacher for 40 students in a classroom. The walls that make students think education is limited to abstract numbers on a test are broken down as well as students do interactive activities and apply reading and mathematics to areas of life that are directly relevant and interesting to the life of a 12 year old boy who loves soccer. 

Racial walls are also torn down in these afternoon hours. Not only are Black, White, and Coloured (mixed race) boys gathered together on a futsal team, but they are led by Black, White, and Coloured coaches and taught by Black, White, and Coloured tutors.

Caleb Duttweiler, who  has combined his experience from years of teaching with his passion for futsal and creativity to help t4c start this initiative, says, “Part of our goal at the Thursday sessions is to help students not only improve at academics but also to show the students that they’re skilled in other areas as well. Katsi struggles in almost every academic area, but when we did an activity that requires problem solving, he led his team to solve it. By doing that we’ve given him space to struggle in the areas he is behind in, while feeling supported, and then allowing him to excel in areas that the more academic boys might find more difficult.” 

Tamson Jacobs, has added a new element to the initiative’s leadership team with her female presence and has had a hugely positive influence on the boys. “I love to be part of impacting little ones,” Tamson explained. “Teachers don’t always focus on one person, so it is great how we are able to do that and show value to the boys. It’s cool seeing them growing not just academically, but we can see it on the field and how they interact with each other.” 

Another volunteer Azola Vetoza, grew up in Khayelitsha township and understands the backgrounds that a lot of t4c boys are coming out of each day. “I’m passionate about working with kids and applying what I’ve learned to give them guidance.” Azola said. “I want to make sure in the future they can make good decisions for themselves and be a light to the environment they live in and an influence to other kids. We need young leaders. We need the young people to not limit their dreams. Boys from Black and Coloured townships tend to imitate wrong role models. I want to change that.” 

training4changeS’ commitment to supporting education outside the school walls and holistically developing the minds of young South African boys has been transformative not only for the boys who are doing better in school and beginning to see learning as fun and creative, but also for the coaches and tutors who get to come alongside the boys each week. They see growth and enlightenment happening, and it shows as every time the boys confidently stick up their hands when they know the answer, when they smiles as they turn over a page in their story about soccer, and when they linger at the end of the day to hug their coaches that they know will support them through their struggles.

Where are they now? - Siya

The mark of any great process or organization lies not only in how a mission or goal is carried out in the present, but also by the mark of a legacy that is left behind. One such legacy figure in the history of East Mountain is Siyanda Landzela. Hailing originally from the Eastern Cape, Siya has spent much of his life with his family in the township of Khayelitsha. Though Siya treasures the sense of community and support found in Khayelitsha, he recognizes the cycles of violence, substance abuse, and fatherlessness that continue there generation after generation. A lack of positive male role models in homes is a pervading problem, and one that affected Siya personally as he grew up without a father.

     Although he grew up attending Sunday school, the thrilling lure of soccer soon captured Siya’s attention each Sunday. It is on the field that he met Dumisani, a pastor from Khayelitsha, and his life was radically altered. He played on the soccer team that Dumisani’s church had and later started attending church as well. Both church and soccer became important areas of passion in Siya’s life, especially because they introduced him to father-like mentor figures who invested in him. Up to this point, Siya had been following the direction and influences that his friends and others were going. Encountering Christ in church helped him know himself better and consciously choose a more positive direction in his life. As he was poured into my various role models, Siya began wrestling with questions about who he was and what he wanted from life. The natural next question soon became, “How do I get that?”

     One part of that answer came in 2017 when Dumisani informed Siya of East Mountain’s six week Summit program. Siya’s highlights from Summit were having a mentor hear his story and pour into him as well as having access to a fun, diverse, and caring community. Impacted by his Summit experience, Siya signed up to be a resident for 2018. Growing up in Khayelitsha where there is one dominant culture, Siya was surprised and challenged by the many and varied perspectives he found presented by the multiple cultures and individuals represented at East Mountain. He saw different forms of leadership than he had ever seen before, and was able to learn from those around him. He brought much wisdom and joy into the resident house, as well as screams of terror whenever he would hide behind corners and grab passerby’s ankles, a favorite pastime of his. 

      Walking away from East Mountain, Siya marvels at how the programs offered can help any South African. East Mountain “takes you as you are,” and trusts that God will work. He shares that his time at EM prepared him for his next season of life and gave him the tools to grow and live a life of leadership and impact. Being a part of East Mountain for him was, and is still, equivalent to being a part of a family.

      So, where is he now? Glad you asked! Siya was connected by an EM staff member to a coding school in Cape Town where he is thriving and continually being challenged. He hopes to use this skill to impact the church. Yet his greatest desire is to be a role model for others in his community of Khayelitsha. Siya’s life was changed by the Lord bringing role models into his life to invest in him, and now he is walking that same road with others to bring lasting change not only in the lives of individual people, but also in the church, the community, and the next generation. 

Community Enrichment with John Scheepers

This past week, East Mountain had the opportunity to participate in a community enrichment workshop on the history of the church in South Africa. The workshop was led by John Scheepers, the founder of a local organization and training centre called Isiphambano which strives to pursue cross-centered theology in response to the injustices seen in South Africa. These same injustices seen today are the repercussions of generations of racial and economic discrimination, including slavery and apartheid. A particular aspect we honestly examined was the painful legacy of the church’s involvement with many of these injustices. Colonialism and its consequences were deeply entrenched in the lives and even the theology of the same people who sat in the pews on Sunday. And yet the workshop also looked at the ways that God has worked, is working, and will always work in spite of humans. As painful as the history of the church in South Africa is, stories still emerge that show that the gospel is greater and bigger than we could ever hope or make it to be ourselves. In light of all we learned about the difficult history of the church, we as the body of Christ now have the responsibility to ask good questions, recognize that we will make mistakes, and think deeply and practically about what it means to pursue reconciliation as we love our neighbor well.

New 2019 Residents

     Once again, as in years past, East Mountain ushered in the new year with a braai to welcome our new residents: Tamson, Jacques, Matt, Jordan, and Azola (Stix). The braai was covered with meat, the kitchen sink was full of dishes, and the house echoed with laughter and conversation as our community gathered together to commemorate the beginning of a new season together. After some ice-breaker games, a meal was shared before a powerful time of worshipping, listening to the Word, and praying with one another. We were reminded of the importance of fixing our eyes on Jesus and asking Him to help us love God and our neighbor well. The 2019 resident welcome braai signifies the beginning of a focused journey full of learning more about God and loving others.

       As the evening came to a close and people drifted off to their respective homes, our five new residents stayed behind for their first night in their new home. These residents represent five lives that will be challenged and changed this year for the sake of the Kingdom because they said “yes” to God’s call on their lives. Five lives that will experience new relationships and opportunities that will delight and stretch them. Five lives that will be empowered to impact the world with hope, love, and wisdom in profound new ways at the end of this year by the grace of God. 

     With this first braai, the cusp of the unknown for this new year has been breached, and the way to go is forward. We look ahead with anticipation to see what incredible and astounding plans God has in store for our new residents, the East Mountain community as a whole, and our fellow South African communities.    

A Small Role to Play: Trinity Children's School

On any given Monday or Wednesday afternoon, you can find the EM Spark cruising along the 310. Enveloped by the sprawling township of Khayelitsha on one side and the rolling Atlantic Ocean on the other, our fellow EM residents hang a right toward Mitchell’s Plain, one of the largest coloured townships in the Western Cape. Vibrantly colored houses line the streets. Each sidewalk corner boasts a unique display of wares for sale that include anything from 30 rand sack of potatoes to a puppy to a left boot.

     In the midst of it all, you can hear the sound of children yelling with joy as they are released for their bi-weekly sports time at Trinity Children’s Centre. Zach, Zuzu, and Will stand out in the sandy yard, bracing themselves for hugs from kids running towards them at breakneck speed with all the joy and anticipation of children who have been in classes all day and are ready for some action. The air rings with affectionate cries of “Coach Zach! Coach Zuzu! Coach Will!”

Trinity is five years old now, and each new year of its existence marks the beginning of a new grade added to the school. Students who started at Trinity as preschoolers are now in grade four. The school strives to approach the care and education of the children from a holistic perspective. The kids learn English in their classes, study Bible verses, and learn gospel themes from an early age. Even their meals are prepared with deep intentionality. No junk food is allowed, and the kids are given well-balanced and nutritious meals twice a day to encourage healthy eating.

     This concern for physical health links right into what Zach, Zuzu, and Will have had the opportunity to engage with this past year with their physical education classes. Some of us may shudder as we have flashbacks to middle school P.E. classes. But the P.E. classes at Trinity are not only an absolute blast, but powerful in their formation of the character of the children. 

     Sports time starts off with some laps, stretches, breathing exercises, and prayer. Then the games begin. Hula-hooping, jump roping, bean-bag-tossing, soccer, can-jam…. You name it, it’s been played in the Trinity yard. The teachers, affectionately referred to as coaches, use this time to help the kids develop their physical health, motor skills, and basic sports skills such as catching and throwing. There are also lots of opportunities to teach valuable themes like teamwork, respecting authority, sportsmanship, and healthy competition.  

     Despite the fun, teaching the P.E. classes isn’t always easy. The realities of gunshots, drugs, and gangsterism are ever-present in the backdrop of Mitchell’s Plain. Trinity lies on the border between two warring gangs, and the teachers have to be prepared for anything. Another significant challenge is the diversity of backgrounds represented by the kids. For many of the children, the realities of living in Mitchell’s Plain are real and tangible within their own homes. The difficult home settings that some of the kids come from every day creates a context around misbehavior in class that can be hard to understand and address. Even within the grades, there is a wide array emotional ages and maturity levels present. Zach, Zuzu, and Will have all learned this year how to engage effectively with kids who are acting out in class with compassion and a more thorough understanding of trauma and its effects, especially under the guidance of Autumn who works at Trinity on a daily basis.

     As our EM residents grew to understand the kids and their contexts more, there came a desire to invest even further into the kids beyond the P.E. classes. A vision for more intentional one-on-one time and engagement was born, and mere weeks later, Wednesday afternoons became a space for an after-school program. The program focuses mostly on grades three and four. In the township context, these children are on the cusp of having to grow up very quickly. This program provides a chance to encourage and connect with them in this influential and important time in their lives.

     After a brief time outside to play games and expend energy, the kids are split into boys and girl’s groups for homework time. The snacks are quickly busted out, and it’s down to business as class projects and tutoring are tackled. Afterwards is an engagement time where our residents get creative in order to connect with the kids on a deeper level and keep their attention. The kids talk about what has been going on in their lives and share prayer requests. Overall, the program serves to provide a safe place for the kids, and allows Zuzu, Will, and Zach to more fully present with smaller groups of kids and build stronger relationships with them. 

     The P.E. classes and after-school program hold one common theme: they are comprised of many small efforts, words, and gestures that build up to make an impact. And this impact takes on an array of variations. In the span of one minute, you can hear one coach saying “No, you cannot take you pants off right now,” to one kid as another coach leans down, looks a child in the eye as they face a daunting activity, and says, “You are capable. You can do this.” The latter phrase is one of many small ways that our EM coaches invest in the kids. A seemingly small gesture such as remembering a child’s name shows child that they are seen. In that moment, they are known. 

     And it is in those many small moments that Zach, Zuzu, and Will have been able to join in the grander holistic mission of Trinity. This mission is seen in the enthusiasm of a kid showing off a new trick or dance move, the warmth of the bone-crushing hug from three kids at once, and the joy of a five year old sharing the same funny story again because they are heard and they are loved. They receive encouragement and positive affirmation that crowns them with dignity and enrobes them with the truth that they are worthy of love, no matter what they experience or hear when they aren’t at school. 

     For our EM residents, it has been amazing to see how these small gestures and moments have added up over time. The love and respect the kids have for them is evident. Zach realized after talking with Andrew, the pastor at Trinity Church, how important kid’s ministry really is. The realities of preparation, the need for flexibility, and the importance of managing expectations are all challenges of the children’s ministry field. A well-structured vision and picture perfect plan goes awry more often than not when working with kids, and Trinity is no exception. And yet, God works in grand ways amidst plans gone awry. In chaos and uncertainty, He uses things we would never expect to form the heart of a child. In Zach, Zuzu, and Will’s small acts of faithfulness to be present with the kids and love well, God is faithful to do more than we could imagine. The few hours a week they spend there play a small yet vital role in raising up the future generations of Mitchell’s Plain. A small role that will send ripples throughout time as these little children grow up to one day become leaders and role models who will affect great change in their communities, and their country. For they are certainly capable, and the school yard is not a bad place to begin reminding them of that. 

Partner Spotlight: Helder Valley

Tucked neatly within the hills of a farming community off of R 44 in Somerset West is the Helder Valley Community Learning Centre. Standing stoically like a proud and seasoned soldier, the rugged main building embodies the space of joy and safety that this center has been to generations of children. The sound of Afrikaans melds with snatches of dialects from Zimbabwe and the screams of delighted children. Soccer balls are the hottest commodities, and there’s a feeling of joy in the air synonymous with the freedom that comes at the end of a school day.

     Helder Valley Community Centre serves many purposes, and has for years. The children that are served by this centre are from families that have lived in the surrounding farming community for generations, and they range from grade R up to high school. Homework tutoring in reading and math is provided, but the most powerful impact of the centre is the space that it creates for the kids in the community to spend time with their friends in a place that allows them to be what they are--kids. For them, the community center is a place to come after school that is safe, fun, and engaging. This is no small blessing. With drugs, alcoholism, and abuse being stark realities in their lives, the environment that the centre fosters in the community cannot be overstated. 

     The centre also acts as a place for the kids to be poured into and challenged. The Rouse family who serve as missionaries with East Mountain come to the center several times a week to build relationships with the kids and love on them. This could include anything from helping with after-school tutoring to playing rounds of soccer to baking muffins for someone’s birthday. Their time at the center embodies much of what East Mountain desires to focus on in regard to building relationships and discipleship. They work in partnership with Louise, a woman from the community who was herself impacted by the centre growing up. She is an integral part of everything that happens there, and her passion to serve the kids is evident not only in the commitment she has to pour out, but also in the respect that the kids show her in return. The work that both she and the Rouse family do embodies a very natural and organic kind of ministry that is conducive to building trust and strengthening relationships. This allows for tough questions to be asked, and truth and encouragement to be shared.

     Lastly, occasional workshops are offered at the centre. East Mountain resident Marlyn teaches a couple of dance classes each week for different age groups. The younger kids delight in the way that she combines dancing with games, singing, and yelling. The joy radiating from that class is contagious. With the class for the older kids however, Marlyn shifts her focus to lessons underlying the dance moves she teaches. As she instructs dance, she also focuses intensely on leadership by asking her older students to help her lead the younger students, and expecting them to give her 100% effort. Amidst the kindness and fun Maryln brings to her class, she also expects the best from her students, and they respect her for it. She does an incredible job choreographing dances, but she also develops character and inspires young leaders. She believes in them, challenges them, and loves them. 

     The relationships and natural opportunities for discipleship that both Marlyn and the Rouse family are able to engage in at Helder Valley are tangibly affecting the young people that come to the centre every week. In the many small things of life such as a hug on a bad day, an answer to a tough question about home, or a friend to play soccer with, the power of investing in others with empowering love is creating change and impacting the Helder Valley community.