Coming to an End…

My time here in Cape Town is coming to an end very soon. Four weeks from today I fly out with my Mama. My mom is coming here two weeks from Thursday – November 15th. I am so excited to see her… it’s hard to believe it’s been almost six months! When I think about her coming, my stomach begins to have butterflies, as I am so excited!

My time with Dad and Robin was absolutely amazing! It was so nice to get to spend that time with them and to travel around with them. I fell in love with Zambia.... Victoria Falls is gorgeous... Kruger Park and the animals there living in their environment was astounding. What an amazing opportunity to get to do these things!

My emotions otherwise are a bit everywhere. I am getting very excited to come home and see family and friends and to go to Fellowship, but know I will miss it here too. It is funny how God has been preparing me to come home. I have been having random dreams of being home and seeing people. I also have an American friend here who is studying and doing her thesis on Americans in Africa, so she interviewed me to help her in thinking of different things. In doing this, I was reminded of so many things back home and even just re-realizing some of the big differences in culture between here and there. I think re-realizing some of these things and having these dreams will prepare me and hopefully make the adjustment back home easier.

Over the next three weeks, I am involved with the Restorative Justice II course in Pollsmoor Prison. I am looking forward to this, but am a bit scared of what God is going to bring out in me during this. When I helped with Restorative Justice I, I came home crying just about everyday and almost felt like I should be in the course rather than helping as a table leader. For the second course, we are doing an in-depth study on David’s life. I am very excited about it and would love prayer for me, the other table leaders, Jenny (the facilitator), and the inmates that are participating. Hope Ministries has put together a prayer request sheet, which I will cut and paste below.

I appreciate all of your support and prayers and look forward to seeing many of you in just a few weeks! May God bless you in abundance!

…………………………………..

HOPE PRISON MINISTRY

T O A L L I N T E R C E S S O R S

THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COURSE TWO with the Clients of Pollsmoor Female Correctional Centre starts on MONDAY 29th OCTOBER and finishes with the Family Day on SATURDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2007.

We, at Hope Prison Ministry, would sincerely appreciate your prayer cover during this time. This course is THREE WEEKS LONG. The theme for this second course is “DEALING WITH GUILT”. Please pray for:

THE INMATES/CLIENTS OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

● The 25 Clients who will be attending. Please pray for them by name.

Roxanne Helena Nyameka Rosina
Shameema Gloria Novuyo Yolanda
Karin Latecia Lindiwe Hestelene
Shelley Elcira Heidi Alecia
Adelia Loretta Nasheeba
Benita Nozibele Leslian
Iris Zukiswa Charlene

• For an openness to receive the content of the course. That God would prepare and soften hearts and minds.

● For those present to come into a relationship with the Lord. For total revelation of who God really is. That any head knowledge would become heart knowledge.

● For the content of this course to really hit the mark. That the inmates would grasp the truth of what is being taught and discussed. For life-giving revelation.

● For transparency from the inmates. For them to be open, sincere and honest in their response to the course.

● For the catering of lunch everyday for 40 plus people – Please pray for God's provision and for the preparation of these – this is a big task.

● For the daily venue of the course, as we may have to move venues.

• For the FAMILY DAY on Saturday 17th November. Please pray that the families of the clients attend and are open to respond appropriately.


FOR THE LEADER AND FACILITATORS – Please pray for us by name.

Leader of the course: JENNY CLAYTON

Names of Table Facilitators:

Table of Responsibility: Tania & Sue
Table of Confession: Mim & Veronica
Table of Repentance: Elizabeth & Luke
Table of Forgiveness: Dolly & Abigail
Table of Reconciliation: Marilyn, Doreen & Pam
Table of Restitution: Sarah, Angie and Mrs Fourie

There will be 6 tables, with 4 inmates at each (one table of 5) inmates with two facilitators per table.

● For wisdom, discernment, strength, courage, boldness and insight for Jenny Clayton, who will be leading this course and doing the majority of the talks over the three weeks. This is a supremely demanding role. Please pray that God will restore her strength on a daily basis.

● For God's protection over Jenny Clayton and the 13 Table Facilitators - physically, spiritually and emotionally. Also particular protection over our minds and over our relationships. This course is very intense, emotionally draining, and very demanding. Often at the end of a day the facilitator doesn't know quite where to put, or how to process what they have heard as the inmates unburden themselves.

● For the Facilitators: For wisdom, discernment, strength, courage, to be good listeners and good communicators. To know when to ask a question and when to remain quiet. To be able to draw out the quieter members of the table. For God’s love to shine out of the spiritual workers to the inmates.

We, as facilitators, have found in the past that the enemy will attack the following areas:

• FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
• MARRIAGES
• HEALTH
• STRUGGLE BETWEEN BALANCING EXTENSIVE TIME SPENT ON COURSE VERSUS QUALITY TIME WITH CHILDREN/FAMILY

Also, please pray for:

• PEACEFUL, RESTORING SLEEP FOR THE WORKERS
• PROTECTION OVER OUR HOMES AND TRAVEL
• PROTECTION OVER OUR MINDS, against bad dreams etc
• TRANSPORT & TRANSPORT EXPENSES
• FOR UNITY WITHIN THE TEAM – this is so crucial
• FOR THE DEBRIEF DAY WITH THE CLIENTS ON MONDAY 19TH NOVEMBER. Please pray that the spiritual workers are sensitive to how God wants us to continue to minister to the clients in order to meet their on-going spiritual needs.


NOVEMBER IS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MONTH AT POLLSMOOR PRISON. COURSES ARE ALSO BEING HELD IN THE MEN’S PRISON AND WITH THE AWAITING TRAIL JUVENILE BOYS – Please pray for them also. Thank you very much.

Please contact us if you have any questions or want an update.

Thank you in advance for your much valued prayer support.

Blessings,
Tania Holcroft, Restorative Justice Prayer Co-ordinator