Here is an email from Jake and Sandy- the missionaries that I will be working with in South Africa. This is their Christmas letter and would like you all to see it. Please be praying for God's provision in the upcoming year for all the children. I ask that you would consider blessing others with what you have been blessed with!

Dear Praying Friends,

Remember how we reminded you how desperately we need your prayers and how mightily God will use them even beyond anything we could "ASK OR THINK? We had two businessmen visit us from the USA and one from our own country, South Africa. Looks like we are going to get another roof put on our next building. It's not "signed sealed and delivered, but please continue to pray. As people arrive and see our feeding project in action and the close proxemity of our 5 buildings and seventeen acres to where we are ministering to the kids of Hani Park, they want to get on board! We hope you too can pay us a visit some day soon and sense God's WIND BENEATH YOUR WINGS! Our worship centre and classrooms have been roofed.(1000 sq meters). We are in the process of putting down carpet squares. The classrooms are tiled. Just the hallway needs to be tiled and the main activity room for our preschool. Wish you could see it for yourself. Folks, so many children are going to be helped. It's wonderful to see piping hot food being served out to desperate little munchkins, but we plan to do much, much more (come out and see for yourself)!

A FALLEN EAGLE: You have been praying for Mokete, the teen whose mother died in a hospital about 200 miles away. Well, Mokete had just scored a goal in a "friendly match." The angered goalie kicked the side of his leg, "snap!" Mokete was in hospital for several days. I took the guys there to visit. When the nurse in charge saw all the guys coming, she refused entry. But when we explained our team's concern for their fellow Eagle, she relented. How badly this teenage boy needed this visit. He is "home" now in his little tin shanty. His younger sister is cooking for them and helping to care for big brother who has a big pin in knee. How we would have loved to taken him to Restore to stay in a much cleaner environment. I was shocked as Oscar, our team captain pleaded with the sister to try and help him get ready for the Sunday service at Welkom Baptist. He said, "Pastor, Mokete needs to know the Lord as I know Him!" That response caused a big lump in my ole throat. Our teens had the entire Christmas service at Welkom Baptist church with yours truly giving the closing message. We showed up Sunday morning but Mokete's knee had been bleeding (when his sister helped him change this huge bandage. We thought it best he stay put. But his eyes were "glued" on me and Oscar for he had heard Oscar's witness that he needed salvation. Please continue to pray for Mokete. May he be saved soon.

A RISEN EAGLE: Our Christmas letter spoke of Taboho who had been strongly tempted to turn back to drugs and sex. Taboho (English name Aubrey) showed up to ride in with the life skills team for our "Christmas" service. What a surprise! Oscar, our team captain and Piet gave testimony to their new life in Christ. Piet, or Black Piet as he used to address himself to me had been training to deal drugs since age nine. As I gave the invitation Maboho (Aubrey) raised his hand high in the air to receive Christ. He kept his hand raised the entire invitation! Finally, I asked him to come down forward and join me, he did! He put his skinny long arm around my neck. I said, "Hey take at easy I bruise easily!" He laughed. The congregation was over joyed!.....................So were the angels in heaven! Pray for Aubrey's continual growth and our Eagle with the "broken wing would be saved soon.

OUR CHRISTMAS WISH LIST FOR 2009:

(1) Folks, please send us copies of the latest edition OF Our Daily Bread.

(2) Would you like to help us purchase mealy meal (corn meal) only $40.00 per month.

(3) The kids need basic meat in their diet at about $75.00 per month. (It is cooked as a broth)

(4) We want them to have bread with their one hot meal about $140.00 a month.

(5) Sugar beans at about $30.00 per month.

(6) Samp ( a corn derivative) about 35.00 per month.

(7) Propane gas to cook the meal (there is no electricity in Hani Park) about $200.00 per month.

(8) Monthly support to our 5 ladies who do all the work. One going to work at 3:00 AM. $200.00 per month. They have no other means of support.

The social services of South Africa have ceased their assistance about March 2008. We thank our gracious Lord that churches and individual have been helping. The responsibility now lies upon Restore Ministries. Help in any of the above items would be such a blessing to our kids....and our budget. Send all checks to Christian Bible Fellowship, 1290 Springwood Ave. Gibsonville, NC 27249. Make the check out to Christian Bible Fellowship. In the lower left hand corner of your check put "Food For Restore." If our Lord should lay it on your heart.......come join "our witness." Math. 25:34,35.

Believe us folks, so many of you truly are "THE WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS."

Our many thanks,

Jake & Sandy.........................& about 300 or so kids.

30 Days left in the U.S.

I officially have 30 days left in the states before I fly to South Africa. It is crazy how fast the time has gone by. I have enjoyed my time at home spending my break with friends and family. God has blessed me with the support, prayers and encouragement from my friends and family! Thank you so much for your willingness to be apart of this ministry opportunity.

This "partnership" in ministry goes far deeper and is far greater than what I will do while being there, it will take all of us to be effective for Christ. Your prayers, financial support and encouragement plays a vital part in this ministry as a whole. So I thank you! That is what the body of Christ is meant to look like- many members with different functions.

I'm sad to leave but know that God will give me a peace to board that plane and sacrifice this time, and the people I will leave back home to further His Kingdom. I often have wondered what is was like for the disciples to leave everything (to drop their nets and follow Christ). They left their families, their jobs, their goals and replaced them with fulfilling God's plan entirely. I can't wait to experience a complete surrender to God. One where I won't have the comforts of home and the dependence on relationships here on earth. It will definitely stretch me for sure!

Thank you all for keeping up with my preparations with leaving! Just as you know I will be praying for you, please keep me in your prayers.

I love you all!

Heather

With one month to go I have...

-Plane tickets bought (and yes...I do have a return ticket ;)) This is my traveling route:Fort Wayne, Indiana->Atlanta, Georgia->Dakar, Senegal-> Johannesburg, South Africa->3 hour car ride in a buckey to Welkom, South Africa!

-Lodging booked- Thanks to Jenny's House (check out my pictures)

-Watched the movie Castaway- bad idea...definitely not something to watch when you are going to be in a plane for more than a day. Not exactly the experience I want!

- Health Insurance Purchased (No worries mom!)

- Visa application completed and sent ( Please pray I get my visa soon)

- 7 books purchased as part of my further study while doing ministry- I will be posting a list of the books that I will be reading- I encourage you to check them out! Good stuff!

- $5,000 raised in support- which is half of what I need. That is a huge blessing! Please pray for the rest to come in and any extra, so I can meet the physical needs of the children I will be working with.

-This shouldn't be too shocking for those of you who know me...but ...I have started packing. Laugh all you want. I like being prepared!