Looking back at 2014

 The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means “God with us”. Matthew 1: 23

   As this year draws to a close and we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus, we’d like to spend some time reflecting on how God has been with us during 2014.

    An ongoing praise item for us has been Ndumiso’s growth and health during the year. He is indeed a great blessing to us and so many others too. We’ve learned so much about the Father’s love for us and his desires for us as we’ve experienced parenthood first hand. I’m certain too, that this won’t come to an end any time soon.

    Our J-Life family has been, and continues to be, a tremendous gift to us. With neither of us able to see our biological families often, we do value the friendship, love and support we receive from everyone on Camp Eden, in Heidelberg and further afield. We have seen God with our community in many ways this year, in the good times and the difficulties.

   God has been ‘with us’ in the provision of ongoing ministry opportunities according to our gifts and passions. So many people live lives devoid of purpose, or of frustration at not being able to live out their passions. We are very grateful that we can do what we love and love what we do.

  Throughout the year we saw God as "Jehova Jireh" - the Lord our provider. Our ministry would not be possible without the giving of many people, in many different ways ALL through the year. We are especially grateful as we look back on this year that’s nearly done – for all that God has done and how He has allowed us to play a small part in that. 

To everyone who contributes to our ministry in any way - a BIG Thank you for your generous spirits and your obedience to God. 

Here are a few ministry highlights from this year

Beta Interns 

A total of 22 interns participated in our different Beta programmes this year. Pictured above are the year interns after their climb up Mont-Aux-Sources early in December. Seeing how they grow in their love for God and people is always a highlight

School Leadership training and camps
We always have lots of fun with the leadership camps we have once September comes around. Whether it's just a day or over a weekend, the learners go away having learned about themselves, leadership and team work.

Youth pastor training

I (Bhuti) had the privilege of working with youth leaders from Walkerville and Finetown. Training and coaching this particular group has been blessing because they are passionate about disciple-making. They have all, in different scales, been able to implement and train others in the second generation material. I've learnt a lot in terms of contextualising both training and implementation.

VAC Camp

We closed the year with our annual youth camp. This year’s theme was “Evolve”. God did amazing work in the lives of the youth and crew during camp. What a great way to end 2014!

Worship Station during Worship Evening

Afternoon activities 

Bhuti giving a talk at an evening session

June/July Update

June and July have been busy months for the Kheswas. This is a 'Highlights Package' to bring you all up to speed with some of what's been happening in our corner of the world.

At the beginning of June our youth workers and coaching teams returned to Camp Eden for their second training intensive of this year. It was good to see them and hear what they've been up to during their time in their respective churches. They are currently back in their churches and will return for more training late September and early October.

Six week interns: Molly, Ricardo, Lacy and Stacey

During their second week with us our year students were joined by 4 short term interns who are spending 6 weeks with us. As a team building exercise we did our own version of The Amazing Race in Heidelberg. The teams were dropped off in the township and had to complete a puzzle before they could proceed by taxi into the town. Once in town they had to find 10 different places in a race to the finish to claim the first prize of pizza for lunch. Thanks David and Liz for allowing us to invade your home.

Africa is a place of tremendous beauty, contrasts, challenges and potential. Another part of the training was a simulated experience we call African Realities, which exposes our trainees to exactly that. This year we had the van Zyls share some of their experiences with realities in Africa. The van Zyls are missionaries with Open Doors, ministering in South Sudan for 15 years and have been back in South Africa for 3 years now. They shared some great and up to date insights about Sudan, Eritrea and the Central African Republic.

Prayers for our beautiful continent

Simunye (We are One) Kids Camp was a highlight of this training intensive. Each year our trainees host a camp for orphaned and underprivileged kids from the surrounding areas. This year's camp was one of the best! The kids had a great time as they spent time playing games, doing crafts, singing, dancing and being loved on by the leaders.

Life at Camp Eden is full of ebbs and flows. Come the beginning of July and in flowed 20 or so camp counsellors for Sports Camp - a very exuberant bunch!! Two days later and 60 campers arrived bringing with them all the pent up energy teenagers are known for. And so followed 5 days of non-stop fun, action, sports, games and music. Lots of music. Camp ended with some of the campers being baptised. The water could NOT have been warmer than 2degrees Celsius - eeeeeekk!! We are really grateful to the Lord for what He did during that week and what will continue in and through everyone who was on camp.

FBC Bryan Team and some local mama's

June - August is summer holidays in the USA and when many of our partner churches are able to visit us. At the moment we have a group of 11 from First Baptist Church Bryan, Texas. They'll be doing a variety of things during their 2 week stay with us. Please do pray that their time here will be meaningful and will help them grow in Loving God and Loving People.

Walkerville and Finetown GC2 Group

At beginning of June Bhuti had a follow up meeting from our March training with the Youth Leaders from Walkerville and Finetown, for encouragement and coaching.  Most of them had met road blocks when it comes to training the second generation.  Those who had successfully trained their youth shared ideas and inspired the others to try different approaches. We then met on the 12^th and 19^th of July to cover the second module: Foundations for a healthy ministry. Over the next 3 months they will be implementing and transferring the principles.

Additional Prayer Items

• Marketing and Recruiting: That the Lord provides us with quality young people for next year for both the Youth Worker and Coaching Team programmes.
• Open doors to new churches and communities
• Growing our support base

Additional Photos

J-Life Staff and interns

Sazi, Ricardo and Dylan with their boys on camp

Meghan on mission, playing with kids in Ext 23

Play time

Riding a Giraffe

Serving lunch at Holiday Club

Kids at Holiday Club @ Heidelberg Methodist

Tired Boy after dancing at Holiday Bible Club

March/April Ministry Update

Hi All.

Greetings from the Kheswas. Here is not so brief summary of what we’ve been up to since the last update.  

J-Life International Summit 2014

Once again the J-Life tribe serving across the African Continent came together for our annual summit. The theme this year was Waging war as heirs of the King. This was a great reminder that we are engaged in spiritual warfare.  We had refreshing times as we spent time praying and worshiping together. We were all encouraged by stories of what God is doing in different parts of the continent.

A worship session during Summit '14

African Initiative Trainees

Shisa nyama in Soweto

African Initiative Training is a 3 month long intensive, where we train those pioneering J-Life into new countries or team members of the existing country teams. This year’s group finished their training at the end of March. Please be praying for them as they transition back home.

Jubs, is a youth pastor, who goes back to implement the training in his local church as well as train youth leaders across the nation for his denomination. He will also be joining the J-Life Zimbabwe team.

Enoch is returning to Tanzania as a regional leader in Shinyanga region. He will be coordinating training in the region as well as assisting with translation and contextualisation of the material.

Betty is going back to Uganda to join James and the team there. Pray that she will a find a place of ministry and be effective.

Julia, did the training as part of her gap year. She starts University later this year. Between now and University she will be volunteering at her local church in Nairobi, Kenya. Pray that her final choice of university will be where God has chosen for her to be.

Ben, goes back to Togo, to help with the in country training of Pastors and Youth Pastors. This will free Mgliwe, J-Life Togo leader, to pioneer J-Life to the neighbouring French speaking countries. Pray that God will strengthen the Togo team and give them men and women of peace in all their pioneering ventures.

Rithou remains at Camp Eden. She will be helping in the office, serving at the campsite and be involved in ministering to the kids and families who live in the farm.  

Walkervile and Finetown GC2.

Summarizing the stages of disciple making process 

I (Bhuti) started training a group of youth leaders form 5 churches from Walkerville and Finetown. Please keep them in prayer as they go to their churches to implement and train others. Also pray for me as I walk alongside them to train and coach.  

My goal for the year is to recruit and run two more of these groups in other communities. Please pray for favor as share the vision with pastors. 

Trainees evaluating their ministries, and planing to implement

I (Jann) have returned to work. This is yet another transition for me in a string of them. I am enjoying the feeling of having a more productive day but need to learn how to balance all my responsibilities well. I have a few exciting new prospects in terms of developing some schools ministry material as well as being involved in the Beta group training process.

Ndumiso is doing well and is such a joy and blessing to us and the community here on Camp Eden. He has been healthy so far but with winter approaching this is a concern. Please pray for good health for all of us but him especially. We were able to spend a week visiting my family down in Port Elizabeth before I got back to work. Fresh sea breezes and his first taste of the sea and sandJ We are really grateful for God’s provision so that we’re able to share him with all of the family.

Things to pray for:

·         Second Intensive for the Beta students: 4-26 June

·         6 weeks internship: 15 June-27 July

·         Sports Camp: 6-12 July
      Marketing and recruiting-All year round.

     Extra Pictures

First time at the beach

First time on a plane

First solid food for a Zulu boy

With a cousin. 

New kid on this Blog

Hi All.

Umndeni=Family

We trust that you are well and that your year has gotten off to a good start. Our prayer is that God will go ahead of you in all your ventures and that you will seek to bring Him glory in all you do.

We know He has great plans in store for us this year, and we are privileged to serve Him

We have so many things to share in our first blog post of 2014 so lets get down to it!

The new kid on this Blog: Ndumiso

On the 23rd of November 2013, Jann gave birth to our first born son, Ndumiso Luke Kheswa. The last two months have been such a blessing and a learning curve. We are so grateful to God who has given us the blessing and responsibility of raising a child.
(A few Pics)

My new favorite saying is: "Luuuuke I am your fatherrrrr"

                                    Recent pics of Ndumiso at the end of this post :-)

Jann 

Maternity leave is quite an interesting time. Living on Camp Eden provides the opportunity to still have contact with what's happening without the regular time commitment and involvement. I must admit that it's taken me some time to get used to that and some days I miss being involved in the 'action' more than others. But motherhood is exciting and fulfilling and has a rhythm all of its own (like being up at 3am). My new boss does take up a LOT of time but I really can't resist that cute face:)

Training 

On January 11 we started training with our 2014 bunch of trainees. As per our custom,  we started our training intensive with a concentrated time of team building and goal setting. The trainees had hours with one another - building a shelter, cooking their own meals, completing challenges and solving puzzles. This is to build community, which is so vital in a life of a disciple. They also spent hours in solitude, connecting with God and setting goals.

This picture was taken before Betty from Uganda arrived, for those who will count the faces to double-check my maths.

There are 22 trainees from 7 different countries with us at the moment in three different streams.

Coaching Team and Youth Worker

These are the trainees doing the Gap Year Program / Beta GC2 . They will be back and forth between their churches and our training centre. This year we have three training intensives and the rest of their time will be spent doing practicals in churches, school and communities. 

Already in the final week of their first intensive, they leave for their churches on 8 February 2014.

African Initiative

These are the Trainees who are sent by existing J-Life Country leaders, as a way of growing their Country Team or come as a Pioneer from a country  where J-Life has no presence . Their training is three months long. Please be praying that they will be able to soak up all they have been sent to learn so that they can add value to their country teams.

Bethel College Semester Abroad

For the first time this year we have four students from Bethel College, Indiana doing a Semester abroad with us. They are spending the first training intensive with us at Camp Eden and thereafter will be involved in different communities, learning and doing ministry in diverse settings.

I have a lot of fun teaching these guys Isizulu. I confess sometimes they think its Zulu, but its actually my mother tongue (Rubbish/nonsense).

Thank you all for your continued financial and prayer support of our ministry. Inkosi inibusise.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 
Romans 15:13

Prayer Points:

Jann as she spends most of her day with Ndumiso.
GC2 recruiting and training 

J-Life International Summit 20 - 28 February

It's bath Time = Yiskhat' sokugeza

Play time

Ubaba nendodana