Living Way

Entrance to Living Way

LW Campus

Well I have survived my first full day as a Living Way Volunteer! Now on to day two: I have been assigned to help with two projects, the first being the 1st Annual Cape Town Bike Show. There will be 1,000 motorcycles on the LW campus as well as local manufacturers and suppliers. "This will also provide a great opportunity for the biking community to come together once again in aid of a fantastic charity as well as for members of the public to get up close and personal with these beautifully made machines. Few people realize how much fundraising the biking community does in the Western Cape. Bikers represent every walk of life, from bankers and managing directors to your local doctor or the principal at your child’s school, yet popular media often misrepresents them. Somewhat like the often misunderstood squatter camp inhabitants who are served by Living Way." (http://www.capetownbikeshow.co.za/)
The second project I'll be helping raise funds for is the Masi-Hope Edu-Trust. The Trust was formed to educate children from the Masiphumelele Township, in the Fish Hoek Valley in order to have equal opportunities to taste success in life. It focuses, firstly, on enabling children to have a first class pre-school education at Noordhoek Valley situated on the campus of Living Way– an economic empowerment initiative part of Living Hope and secondly, to support selected children from there to access a high quality primary school education at Sun Valley Primary School, a mere 3km from the township. In order to achieve this partnership, a Trust was formed. I am working on coming up with different fundraising ideas for both South African donors/sponsors and US donations. If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them!!

Noordhoek Educare Center

Bakery Update: Yesterday I was able to go back to the bakery where the bakers were counting the money from Friday's sales as well as making a stock list for this weeks baking needs. Concepts that we would take for granted like making a list of baking supplies so you're only making one trip to the grocery store and setting up a plan for the week are huge undertakings for them. Please be praying for them and their business; that God would become an essential part of their lives. I am praying that he gives each of them the drive to become an efficient team that bakes more and the confidence to sell more. Also, I ate one of the rolls that was freshly baked this morning...it was so good! I need to make sure and watch it or I'll get rather fat between now and December! Haha!

This morning I was a part of the Entrepreneur meeting. We only had two men show up this week. These men are undertakers in the Masi community. They explained the process they have to take in order to bury someone here. After the family calls to report that someone has died, these men come to the home and make sure that the police and hospital are notified (either a police officer or doctor must sign off on a form that officially states the person is dead.) Then the undertakers take the form to the equivalent of our Homeland Security office to be processed for a death certificate. The body is then collected and frozen. One of the men said "frozen like a chicken!" Because funerals take place on Saturdays, it can sometimes take weeks for a body to be buried. The undertakers explained that the freezer used was as big as the room we were in and had too many bodies in it. They have a good business plan and are working along side the mortuary in order to be successful. They are providing a service that I think most of us would overlook, but is extremely essential here. Please be praying for them. They have found a car that is in good condition. Currently they have to walk up and down the mountain and it is very time consuming. Also they need transport for the bodies and taxis are quite expensive. The car is being sold for R40,000 which is around $5700. Please pray specifically that they are able to get the loan to purchase the car. **One of these men has a terrible cough. Please keep his health in your prayers as well. Pray that the Lord will give him the strength he needs to continue working and if it's the Lord's will to heal his body.

Thank you all! And so much love!!!