Galatians 6:1-2 states, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Wow. Restorative Justice has been amazing and yet very emotionally draining. I was reading Galatians 6 this morning and came across the above verse. First of all, I don't consider myself "spiritual" and secondly, I can hardly handle carrying my own sins and burdens, much less anyone else's!!! In the staff prayer meeting this morning at Jubilee, I just couldn't help but cry as I thought about Gloria and her burdens and struggles. I can't even imagine being where she is. I am so not qualified to even begin to help her through this. Yet I realize that it's not me, but God working through me.
In this course, I am "counseling" two ladies. I really just facilitate discussions and help lead them in the direction that the instructor is going. My two ladies are Latisha and Gloria, and they are both 33 years old. I love them both so dearly. They are so precious. My heart hurts for them.
We are having a family day at Pollsmoor (prison) this Saturday and I called Gloria's and Latisha's families to invite them. It was so amazing to get to talk to them and they are so excited about the course and the family day coming up. The family day is primarily for the ladies to apologize for the hurt that they have caused and to take responsibility in front of their families for the crimes they have committed. When I heard that the family day was just two weeks into the course, I was actually surprised and thinking that there is no way the ladies are going to be ready to apologize just two weeks into the course. Yet, by the second day of what I have realized is an incredibly intense and emotionally draining course, many of the ladies were crying and saying that they want to apologize to their families and restore those broken relationships.
One of the ladies in the course is a Muslim and four days into the course she had the revelation that our God is a God of relationship and a personal God, and she had never known that before.
I was asked to lead the morning devotion on the third day of the course. I had no idea what to talk about and was not feeling any direction from God. At the last minute, I decided just to share part of my testimony. I brought in the famous verses of Jeremiah 29:11-13, along with several others. When I was finished sharing, one of the other leaders wanted to say something... she said that the night before she could hardly sleep because those verses were continually going through her head. She almost came in that morning and asked if she could do the devotion because she felt like that's what God wanted to talk about. After she was finished, the lady leading the course, Jenny, said that that verse was continually going through her head, as well, and she had a song that was those verses being sung and she had found the CD to play and planned to play it later during the day... but she went ahead and played the song in the morning, since we had been discussing it. We then went into an amazing time of worship for about 30 minutes. Wow. He's amazing... God is continuing to surprise me this year.
I am feeling incredibly drained and not even sure how to go about "filling up my tank". I have learned one interesting thing (among others, of course) in the last few months. I was involved with intercessory prayer during our youth camp and was telling one of the other prayers that I almost don't know what to do or how to intercede for these meetings. She said that as God works in me, He will outpour through me and into praying for them. Also, while I was in the training for the Restorative Justice course, the leader (Jenny) said that we should just let God work in us and, as a result of Him working in us, He will outpour through us. Seems obvious, but was a revelation to me! And, it takes some of the pressure off! :)
Also an update that I no longer have a car... the car that I have been driving has been acting up more and more and the cost to fix it just isn't worth it. If we can sell it, the church will put some money in and purchase another vehicle for volunteers to use while they are here. I went to Pollsmoor yesterday by public transport, which was interesting, but not bad. It took a little over an hour for me to get there... here's my journey: 10 minute walk from flat to train station, 35ish minutes on train, from train station got a taxi and it's about a 10-minute ride to Pollsmoor, and then about a 10-minute walk to training center. Two ladies that are also in the course met me at the train station and we took the taxi and the walk together, which is quite good. It is actually quite a bit cheaper than having a car, as petrol is SO expensive here.
Love you all so much!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Three and One-half Months to Go!!!
Hello everyone! Wow… the last few weeks have been quite hard for me – I know that God is working in me, so it’s good, it’s just been hard. I have felt quite alone and have been stressed by trying to be in control of my life and my future. God is continuing to draw me closer to Him and I now have a peace about following where I believe He is taking me for the next season of my life – home! Each day I am getting more excited about coming home to my family and friends and Fellowship, but I am also treasuring each day that I have left here in beautiful Cape Town. I am continually broken for this city and the people here.
I only have three and one-half months left here – it’s so hard to believe and I’m sure it will go by SO fast. Here is a breakdown of my schedule for the next three and one-half months:
Aug 20 – Sept 4: Restorative Justice (explained more below) along with regular church work (bookshop, youth, Beauty for Ashes)
Sept 5: Maggie’s 30th birthday!!! Wish I could be there to celebrate!!! (Had to put this in here.)
Sept 5 – Sept 16: Normal life at Jubilee Community Church.
Sept 17 – Sept 28: Training block.
Sept 29: Young adult formal – shall be fun but I don’t have a dress!!!
Sept 29 – Oct 3: Normal life at Jubilee.
Oct 4 – Oct 11: Dad and Robin visiting Cape Town! YEAH!!!
Oct 12 – Oct 20: Travel to Johannesburg, Victoria Falls (Zambia side) and Kruegar Park with Dad and Robin. So excited!
Oct 21 – Oct 28: Normal life at Jubilee
Oct 29 – Nov 17: Restorative Justice at Pollsmoor.
Nov 18: Done with program. Hoping and praying for mom to come and visit for a bit and maybe travel some with her before heading home!
For life now, as many of you know, I have been house-sitting and I return to the flat tomorrow. I will miss the house and the nice car, but am ready to get settled again at the flat and have my housemate around.
I am starting something new this week at the prison, which I am quite excited about. They offer a course to the inmates for them to take before they are released from prison. It is called Restorative Justice and I will be helping with some of the facilitating and will also have two women inmates that I will be working closely with. The course is a six-week course. We meet three to four days a week from August 20th to September 4th and again from October 29th to November 17th. It helps the inmates to deal with the crime they committed and helps them to take responsibility for it and to forgive themselves and others involved, and encourages them to ask forgiveness to those affected by their crime. It is quite intense. We even bring the families in on September 1st for the inmates to talk with them regarding the crime. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this and pray that God uses me and directs me with the women I will be working with.
It is actually quite funny because I have known about this course the whole year and was really hoping I could be a part of it. I was speaking with Jenny, the lady who runs the course, last Wednesday and she said that she thinks they have enough workers, and that I probably wouldn’t be needed. I told her that I really would love the opportunity to be involved and help out in any way that I can. She said she would let me know on Thursday and I found out that I could be a part of it! I met with her on Friday and she told me that she wasn’t going to have me help out, but since I said that I really wanted to, she made it work – she said that she wants people who are passionate about this and have a heart for it. I am so thankful that God gave me the boldness to even step out and tell her that I really wanted to be a part of it! I normally would have just sat back and let whatever happen happen and trust that it was God’s will.
There is a specific prayer letter which was written by the ministry in the prison for prayer support for this course, and I am going to copy and paste it at the end of this post. I would appreciate any and all prayer for this.
Thank you all for your support – prayer, financial, emotional, Spiritual. I don’t know what I would do without all of you back home! Love you all!
Dear Prayers,
We would be so grateful if you would please pray for the Restorative Justice Course that is being held in the prison at Pollsmoor.
Prayer cover for this program is crucial and we would really appreciate your support in prayer – thank you.
1. The theme of this course is Healing the Wounds of Crime.
2. The primary goal of Restorative Justice is the address and confront the harm caused by crime.
3. We will be confronting, discussing and addressing the damaged and broken relationships caused by the crime.
4. Further points of discussion are: taking responsibility for past and future action, confession, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, reconciliation and accountability.
Please pray for:
1. The inmates who will be involved (24 inmates – all women).
2. For Jenny Clayton (Director of Hope Prison Ministry) who will be leading this course. Please pray for strength for her, as well as wisdom, discernment and protection. (There is a vast amount of work involved before, during and after this course.)
3. Please pray for the Spiritual Workers who will be facilitating each group (this is me along will 11 others).
4. Please pray that the Spiritual Workers can get to the prison each day – for transport (many take public transport).
5. Please pray for the logistics of the venue, catering, and every practical aspect.
6. Please pray for safety and protection and for our families too.
7. Please pray for restoration and reconciliation of relationships that have been damaged by crime.
8. Please pray for the family day on the 1st of September. Family members are invited to attend. The inmates speak about what they have learnt during the course. The inmate may seek forgiveness from family present and in many cases this is expressed. This is hugely powerful.
Thank you so much for your much valued prayers.
Tania Holcroft
Sprititual Worker, Hope Prison Ministry, Pollsmoor Prison.
I only have three and one-half months left here – it’s so hard to believe and I’m sure it will go by SO fast. Here is a breakdown of my schedule for the next three and one-half months:
Aug 20 – Sept 4: Restorative Justice (explained more below) along with regular church work (bookshop, youth, Beauty for Ashes)
Sept 5: Maggie’s 30th birthday!!! Wish I could be there to celebrate!!! (Had to put this in here.)
Sept 5 – Sept 16: Normal life at Jubilee Community Church.
Sept 17 – Sept 28: Training block.
Sept 29: Young adult formal – shall be fun but I don’t have a dress!!!
Sept 29 – Oct 3: Normal life at Jubilee.
Oct 4 – Oct 11: Dad and Robin visiting Cape Town! YEAH!!!
Oct 12 – Oct 20: Travel to Johannesburg, Victoria Falls (Zambia side) and Kruegar Park with Dad and Robin. So excited!
Oct 21 – Oct 28: Normal life at Jubilee
Oct 29 – Nov 17: Restorative Justice at Pollsmoor.
Nov 18: Done with program. Hoping and praying for mom to come and visit for a bit and maybe travel some with her before heading home!
For life now, as many of you know, I have been house-sitting and I return to the flat tomorrow. I will miss the house and the nice car, but am ready to get settled again at the flat and have my housemate around.
I am starting something new this week at the prison, which I am quite excited about. They offer a course to the inmates for them to take before they are released from prison. It is called Restorative Justice and I will be helping with some of the facilitating and will also have two women inmates that I will be working closely with. The course is a six-week course. We meet three to four days a week from August 20th to September 4th and again from October 29th to November 17th. It helps the inmates to deal with the crime they committed and helps them to take responsibility for it and to forgive themselves and others involved, and encourages them to ask forgiveness to those affected by their crime. It is quite intense. We even bring the families in on September 1st for the inmates to talk with them regarding the crime. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this and pray that God uses me and directs me with the women I will be working with.
It is actually quite funny because I have known about this course the whole year and was really hoping I could be a part of it. I was speaking with Jenny, the lady who runs the course, last Wednesday and she said that she thinks they have enough workers, and that I probably wouldn’t be needed. I told her that I really would love the opportunity to be involved and help out in any way that I can. She said she would let me know on Thursday and I found out that I could be a part of it! I met with her on Friday and she told me that she wasn’t going to have me help out, but since I said that I really wanted to, she made it work – she said that she wants people who are passionate about this and have a heart for it. I am so thankful that God gave me the boldness to even step out and tell her that I really wanted to be a part of it! I normally would have just sat back and let whatever happen happen and trust that it was God’s will.
There is a specific prayer letter which was written by the ministry in the prison for prayer support for this course, and I am going to copy and paste it at the end of this post. I would appreciate any and all prayer for this.
Thank you all for your support – prayer, financial, emotional, Spiritual. I don’t know what I would do without all of you back home! Love you all!
Dear Prayers,
We would be so grateful if you would please pray for the Restorative Justice Course that is being held in the prison at Pollsmoor.
Prayer cover for this program is crucial and we would really appreciate your support in prayer – thank you.
1. The theme of this course is Healing the Wounds of Crime.
2. The primary goal of Restorative Justice is the address and confront the harm caused by crime.
3. We will be confronting, discussing and addressing the damaged and broken relationships caused by the crime.
4. Further points of discussion are: taking responsibility for past and future action, confession, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, reconciliation and accountability.
Please pray for:
1. The inmates who will be involved (24 inmates – all women).
2. For Jenny Clayton (Director of Hope Prison Ministry) who will be leading this course. Please pray for strength for her, as well as wisdom, discernment and protection. (There is a vast amount of work involved before, during and after this course.)
3. Please pray for the Spiritual Workers who will be facilitating each group (this is me along will 11 others).
4. Please pray that the Spiritual Workers can get to the prison each day – for transport (many take public transport).
5. Please pray for the logistics of the venue, catering, and every practical aspect.
6. Please pray for safety and protection and for our families too.
7. Please pray for restoration and reconciliation of relationships that have been damaged by crime.
8. Please pray for the family day on the 1st of September. Family members are invited to attend. The inmates speak about what they have learnt during the course. The inmate may seek forgiveness from family present and in many cases this is expressed. This is hugely powerful.
Thank you so much for your much valued prayers.
Tania Holcroft
Sprititual Worker, Hope Prison Ministry, Pollsmoor Prison.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Hello Everyone!
Hello! I have been doing quite well - have had a bit of a stressful week, but that's okay! We are having a women's breakfast here tomorrow morning, which I am quite excited about. We will have breakfast together and then a few ladies will share testimonies and we'll have some worship time at the end. Herma, who is heading this up, asked me to be in charge of the admin and the decorations, so I am quite excited! We were expecting about 50 to 70 ladies to sign up, and we have over 220 - wow!!! This is the first women's event that they have had, so it is quite exciting and, by the response, it shows that this is needed! I have a team helping me here at the church tonight, which is wonderful.
I actually have youth tonight, as well, and we are spliting into life groups - I help lead the 10th graders. So, we are using this opportunity to teach on serving and then have the kids put this to practice by helping set out tables and chairs and stuff. That is such a blessing to me and I hope that it blesses them as they serve together.
On another note, on Wednesday we met with a lady at the prison who is one of the administrators there. We presented a program to her that we are wanting to implement in the prison. It is a wellness program, and we would teach the inmates about health, nutrition, exercise, sti's, hiv, parenting, etc. I am very excited about this! We do not yet have approval, but should here back soon from the prison. Our plan is to begin this in the women's section and then begin teaching it in the men's and kid's sections, as well. Please pray for favor from the administrators and a venue to use there.
I am also going into the prison this Sunday for church. My life group (small group) is going with me, so I am quite excited to get to take them in and show them what I am a part of and have them meet some of the ladies there. One of my life group leaders, Nico, is preaching and my old housemate, Craig, is leading worship. Please pray that God meets with us, uses us and directs us.
I am still housesitting and will be for a little over a week. It has been amazing having the house and car and know it will be hard to give it up! :) I love how God not only provides what we need, but He provides so much more!!! He continues to bless me, amaze me, astound me, excite me... and I could go on.
Things at the flat are okay - we have a new security gate, and should be getting a new door soon.
I have been getting emails from many people and have not had much opportunity to respond as I don't have email where I'm staying. I apologize and will do so as soon as I can!
Love you all and miss you!
I actually have youth tonight, as well, and we are spliting into life groups - I help lead the 10th graders. So, we are using this opportunity to teach on serving and then have the kids put this to practice by helping set out tables and chairs and stuff. That is such a blessing to me and I hope that it blesses them as they serve together.
On another note, on Wednesday we met with a lady at the prison who is one of the administrators there. We presented a program to her that we are wanting to implement in the prison. It is a wellness program, and we would teach the inmates about health, nutrition, exercise, sti's, hiv, parenting, etc. I am very excited about this! We do not yet have approval, but should here back soon from the prison. Our plan is to begin this in the women's section and then begin teaching it in the men's and kid's sections, as well. Please pray for favor from the administrators and a venue to use there.
I am also going into the prison this Sunday for church. My life group (small group) is going with me, so I am quite excited to get to take them in and show them what I am a part of and have them meet some of the ladies there. One of my life group leaders, Nico, is preaching and my old housemate, Craig, is leading worship. Please pray that God meets with us, uses us and directs us.
I am still housesitting and will be for a little over a week. It has been amazing having the house and car and know it will be hard to give it up! :) I love how God not only provides what we need, but He provides so much more!!! He continues to bless me, amaze me, astound me, excite me... and I could go on.
Things at the flat are okay - we have a new security gate, and should be getting a new door soon.
I have been getting emails from many people and have not had much opportunity to respond as I don't have email where I'm staying. I apologize and will do so as soon as I can!
Love you all and miss you!
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