As we approach the end of our 10-month sabbatical, you may be wondering, “What’s next for the Stewart family?” Or you may be asking, “What, they’ve been in America for 10 months??” Well friends, let me say a bit about each of those (stay with me, this gets progressively more interesting as it goes). First, our sabbatical has been amazing – restful, memorable, shaping, fun.  We have so much to write about our time that I will start a little “series” tomorrow on sabbatical highlights (in no particular order).  Much of what we have experienced and learned is shaping our sense of what’s next.  And I know that many of you really want those details.  So…

The next 3 weeks

• We are having a goodbye party this Saturday (15th) in Fresno!  It’s on open house, come by whenever, stay as long as you’d like deal 12:00-5:00.  Here’s the event link on fb or contact me if you want details.
• We are speaking at Friends Community Church (Fresno) this Sunday morning, then having a birthday party for the boys in the afternoon (including Arthur Paul’s baptism)
• Next week will be our last week in Fresno
• We are heading down to SoCal May 22-30. We will be at Foothills Community Church (Pasadena) on May 23. We have some people to visit and a few fun things to do during the week, but if you would like to see us, let me know and we might be able to make it happen
• On June 1, we are getting on an airplane and flying back to South Africa

June and July

We will spend two months (June and July) discerning God’s call for our family to be in South Africa. This is what we have felt for some time, and now we need to listen together on the ground. Is Cape Town the right place for us now?  We also want to reconnect with lots of friends and colleagues. By the end of July, we will decide if we are staying in South Africa or if there is a better place for us. If we stay, we will be leaving our current missions agency to partner with local people and ministries.  If we are leaving, we will say goodbye to South Africa and join an existing Church Resource Ministries team outside SA.

That’s the pragmatics.  But what is this Cape Town thing all about?  Very simply, we want to see people – ourselves included -  live the lives we were created to live. We believe the God who created and loves us makes this possible as we follow Jesus and allow his Spirit to continually awaken our deepest hearts and freeing us to become the amazing, beautiful, different, yet TRUE US. We also believe that we need each other to help us be different and together make a difference in our neighborhoods and world. This can take place LOTS of ways, so here’s where praying and exploring and asking God: who God has made us to be + our experiences, skills, and desires + the realities and needs of our family + the people and place we think God is calling us to be with = WHAT?

We think it might look something like this for us:

Living in a diverse neighborhood, loving neighbors, bringing people together. We are feeling the Woodstock neighborhood in Cape Town could be the one because of friendships we have there, its urban/cosmopolitan needs and opportunities, and the way we can picture our family living and flourishing

Helping people (particularly those who are often overlooked or left out) connect with, experience, and grow in God – especially in new, different, and “outside the box” ways that help change lives… one-on-one, ongoing groups, events, etc.

Working with local non-profits, ministries, and churches through teaching, training, and lending a hand – we want to help others who are also making a difference

Encouraging and equipping local leaders to have a reaching and lasting impact on their communities, especially through new and different types of faith communities

Participating in a regular friendship with other local and global practitioners – finding ways to collaborate for greater impact and strengthen one another in our journeys of following and serving Jesus

Oh, I could write so much more here, but this will have to do for now.  This was, after all, supposed to be an update – not a presentation! This is what we are going to explore. We will be in the place. We will be with the people. We will see what what God does and says. We are trusting that the specifics and next steps will become clear in the process.

Here’s where you come in!

1. Pray for us – now as we wrap everything up here (craziness, I tell you) & and as we listen with God there.  We will be updating/reminding you throughout
2. Do it with us – stay in regular conversation, find ways to help, support our family in this ministry with some monthly money, love us.  I feel a little weird asking for these, but know we need them!

More to come, but figured this would give you a little to chew on for now.
with love,
Arthur for the Stewarts

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In the rush to get our sabbatical started, pack up our entire house, and move from South Africa to California for the year, I haven’t sat down to write in detail about this sabbatical thingy.  But, with a little room to breathe, I wanted to start giving our friends more information on what we are up to.  I am sure this will turn into a multiple-post series, especially as we process and can begin to share what God is doing in us through the process.

In wrapping up our time with NieuCommunities in Pretoria and before starting for something new in Cape Town, we have a unique and precious window of time to let God prepare us in significant ways.  For today, some basics on the PURPOSES of our sabbatical…

1. The first purpose of our sabbatical is rest from several years of cross-cultural living and ministry.  We need to decompress, have time as a couple, and opportunity to do things as a family that we haven’t made as much time for in the last several years as we would have liked to.  We believe this will put us in a better place personally, spiritually, and relationally.

2. A second purpose of our sabbatical is restoration.  This is part of the reason we needed to leave our normal environment so we have time, space, and freedom from our normal obligations that can detract from making growth a top priority.  We are in the middle of a great program at Link Care in Fresno specifically designed for missionaries and their unique needs.  We will continue counseling throughout our time in Fresno as part of the process of continuing to grow into the people God wants us to be.  A big part of what we anticipate is deeper intimacy with God, one another, and all those God brings into our life.

3. A third reason for our sabbatical is reflection on the past several years of life and ministry.  What has taken place in our personal lives, what have we learned about life in community, how has God shaped and used us in South Africa, and what does all this mean for the future?  Expect lots of writing…

4. The final purpose for our sabbatical is preparation for what God has in store for us in this next season of life and ministry.  We have some pretty good ideas about what that will look like, but want God to confirm and clarify.  We expect God to further reveal hopes, details, and specifics.  We also anticipate this leading us to further training and learning to get us ready.  And, we want to use this time to develop the patterns and habits we will need to continue successfully in the next season.  Of course, you will hear more and more as we do, and as we gear up for all that is to come when our sabbatical ends on May 31.

For now, we are settling into life, school for the kids, and soon a new house (renting from friends) in Fresno!  More on all that, and some pics, soon

In the meantime, would appreciate your comments and prayers.

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Was part of a great book discussion today on David Bosh’s crazy-good, often referred to, yet under appreciated Transforming Mission.  Bosch’s book is one of those that for some reason I have never got around to reading – until now.  So glad I am.  Beyond the reading, the discussions look like they will be both fun and challenging.  It’s nice to talk with a bunch of people who have hearts that resonate, and “get” one another.  So, we can dive deeper than just discussing theological/philosophical concepts to why and how it matters for our lives.  I think that just maybe we will find some ways to put parts into practice together as well.   Tom, Cobus, and Chris have written about this conversation/their thoughts.  I am sure that   Sure Joe will as well (especially since I just called him out).

So much that I would like to comment on, but I’ll save for other posts.  For now, maybe just a quote from the end of the chapter we were discussing.  I didn’t get a chance to say anything in our group, so here’s my chance…

In discussing the ways in which the early church participated in living signs of the Kingdom, Bosch maintains that they did so in a manner consistent with Jesus.  However, they failed in at least 3 ways.  First, the early church too quickly established what separated themselves from others rather than their calling and responsibility toward these others.  Second, the movement turned into an institution.  Third, the growing church marginalized the Jews (those from whom they were birthed).  Those of you who have studied organizations know that these are pretty common in the life cycle of any movement.  We always wonder how to influence the process so that institutionalization/fossilization doesn’t take place in some inevitable fashion.  I would dare say that this has happened with the emerging church in the USA (but Tony, I think you have wisely and subversively multiplied influence by deconstruction, perhaps preempting the process? – yet another blog post I should write).

Then Bosch throws in this little nugget that has left me thinking a lot: “Very few people can be both at the periphery and at the center at the same time.  And even if they do manage that, they usually do so only for a very short while” (52).  Crap!  We’re trying so hard to be a church for all people.  A place where homeless and affluent rub shoulders, where radical discipleship is the norm, not the exception.  Are you saying we can’t live on the edge and in the middle of society?

Bosch is right, I think.  All my years (oh so many years, at that) seem to point that way.  You choose to live on the edge or at the center.  Lots of young, excited, or naive people get started on the fringes.  What usually happens over time?  They get sucked toward the middle.  They become jaded, disenchanted, tired of fighting the system, or just plain selfish.  The middle has a strong pull, doesn’t it?  But I repeat: YOU CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE ON THE EDGE OR AT THE CENTER.

The edge is scary, risky, exciting, unknown, and the place of miracles because God is needed.  It’’s real reality, the “thin place” where heaven and earth come close together.  It’s the place of angels and demons.  It’s where we see God’s Kingdom coming.  It’s where I want to be.  If I must choose between the periphery and center, I choose the edge.

I choose the edge.

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My friend Andrew just came back from Zim. Here’s a bit of what he experienced.

Note: there are some hard to look at pics. That’s torture.  That’s Zimbabwe.

Pray for Zimbabwe. Pray for us as we feel God is calling us to be involved in different ways.

zimbabwe

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At the Amahoro conference, my friend Trevor Ntlhola was talking about racism and reconciliation ( podcasts are becoming available as Graeme has time to post them). At one point, Trevor had this indictment against the colonial/western missionaries who brought Christianity to the continent…

“The white missionaries taught us that God loves us. They didn’t tell us that THEY loved us.”

Does the content of our good news match the “delivery”?  If not, the message is impotent, isn’t it?

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As you may recall, at the end of last year I put out a request for donations for a group of guys Jostina and I have been serving dinner to one night a week. I call them “MaGents.” I quickly received over $400 to sponsor HIV/AIDS testing and counselling for these young men. I am grateful that we were able to help 10 guys (and gift the nurses and counsellors as well) with $30 gift certificates for a local department store. Please pray with me that the knowledge of their individual status and education they received will prevent future infection of HIV and VIMBELA IGCIWANE ELISHA (“Stop the Virus,” in Zulu)!

The day after the 10 guys were tested and given their “gift,” the other 17 guys wanted in on the deal. So, I am asking again, please prayerfully consider how you can partner with us to serve this often neglected population of young men through a financial contribution and/or by spreading the word among those in your network. I need to raise $560 to reach 17 more young men! If you would like information on how to send $$, please email me!

The testing and counselling has been possible through a connection with a local HIV/AIDS resource center called Vimbela Igciwane Elisha. A truly amazing and sacrificial woman, Maria Sekaja, directs this underfunded non profit, grassroots organization based in Pretoria North. Vimbela exists to provide home based care to frail, sick and HIV/AIDS patients, initiate awareness campaigns and various support services to HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons. Vimbela was formed in 2002 by Maria and a group of women from the community concerned about the lack of care and support services available to those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS in the Northern subburbs of Pretoria, South Africa. As a registered non profit organization the staff of Vimbela, currently totalling 8, is responsible for securing funding for the services they provide. They currently offer all services free of charge as the people they serve are impoverished and cannot even afford a minimal fee.

Vimbela Igciwane Elisha operates from an office adjacent to the government run Pretoria North Health Clinic and a sub-office in the nearby township of Soshanguve. Vimbela is the only HIV/AIDS community support organization currently operating in the Northern subburbs of Pretoria. There are three local government health clinics who regularly refer patients to Vimbela. After the initial HIV counselling, testing and post counselling, patients infected by HIV receive no further support from the local clinic outside of health related visits. Daily the staff of Vimbela dedicate themselves to serving this neglected population with little recognition from the larger community as they strive to meet overwhelming needs. Vimbela struggles financially every month just to cover basic operating costs like phone, electricity, and office supplies. These costs must be covered and Maria regularly pays her staff before herself which means that she, and the other staff, often subsidize Vimbela personally each month. Maria, the two counsellors and two nurses who made MaGents testing possible were also given gift vouchers as a small expression of appreciation for their sacrificial dedication to the people they serve. A consistent and generous monthly donation could lessen the burden on Maria and her staff tremendously. Currently, Vimbela’s primary one time need is for a vehicle to transport patients to and from medical appointments. They need approximately $17,000 to purchase a 7 passenger vehicle.

Any help you could give either financially, by spreading the word of these needs to those who might be interested in donating, and even help with researching and requesting grants and donations from companies/organizations in the US would be greatly appreciated. You are welcome to pass along this information to anyone who may be interested. Please ask if you have any further questions or need more information concerning Vimbela and its needs.

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A new book you really should read is Sub-merge by John Hayes. John is founder of Innerchange, a ministry that works among the poor. He is extremely experienced and knowledgeable and has really shaped my own thinking and practice on living the Kingdom among the “least of these.” We are using John’s book as a text in our apprenticeship this year.

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This year I’ve been serving dinner every Tuesday night to a bunch of young men. I call them “MaGents” (pronounced mah-gents) a slang South African term similar to the American term “homeboys” or “my hommies.” Many of these guys (aged 17-25) have families and homes in nearby townships, but they have left for varying reasons. Some of their families have sent them out to provide for themselves. Some of the guys have chosen to leave because of the abuse they’ve experienced at home. Many of them have not finished high school and several can’t read or write.



Most of the guys hang around on the street near the mall 3 blocks from our house. They direct people to parking spaces on the street and ask if they can “watch your car” for you while you shop. They’ll even wash your windows or the whole car if you let them! This is a very common occurrence here in SA. Some stores, restaurants and malls employ their own uniformed car park attendants. It is customary to tip them if you agree to allow them to watch your car, usually about R2 (about 30 cents at the current exchange rate). The guys say that on average, if they work all week from 7 am till 6 pm, they make about R200 ($30). They sleep in vacant lots around the shops and some of them say they have “a room” somewhere.



A group of people from different churches got together a couple of years ago to serve food to these guys five days out of the week. Several NieuCommunities apprentices have been involved in serving these guys over the last 3 years. Since we had no apprentices this year, I took over Tuesday nights. I asked one of our Pangani staff, my friend Jostina, if she would accompany me. So, after she works a full day cleaning my house and doing my laundry, Jostina and I head to the place where we serve MaGents. The kitchen staff at a nearby retirement home provide the food. Jostina and I bring plastic plates, forks and serving spoons.



Most of the time the food from the retirement home is decent. Sometimes, honestly, I wouldn’t eat it. The guys eat most of it because they are hungry. But, often they choose not to eat one item or another. One week, when they seemed unhappy with the meal, I asked them what would they like, what was their favorite meal…they said they liked motwana (pronounced mow-TWah-nah), pap (pronounced pop) and coca-cola (Coke:).

shirts v. skins serving the foodMotwana and Pap

One Sunday afternoon I invited MaGents to the park to play soccer and eat lunch. Arthur, Tim Ramage, Doug, and our kids played a shirts v. skins match. Jostina made the motwana (boiled chicken feet with a tomato and onion sauce), pap (the main starch eaten throughout Africa, but prepared a bit differently from country to country) and mashed pumpkin. We served the food after the soccer game and then just talked and hung out at the park until the sun began to set. It was a beautiful day.

Last week Abie asked me to bring “cool drink” (similar to punch). I told him I would, but that since I would be paying for the drink each week I needed his, and the other guys, help to keep each other honest and not take the forks and plates that we bring each week. Many times MaGents show up to eat and they have been sniffing glue or drinking cheap beer. One of the younger guys, Tsepo, is regularly high on glue. On occasion he is sober and he’s really an articulate, intelligent, likeable guy. I’ve told him a few times now that he is a smart guy and that I really enjoy him much more when he is sober.

A few weeks ago MaGents told me they would like Christmas presents. I asked them what they kinds of gifts they wanted. One guy said, “just something that will make us happy.” So, I don’t know what kind of picture you have of these guys at this point, but picture any average 17-25 year old in America. These guys want similar things. They like to look good. They save up their money and buy Fila “takkies” (athletic shoes). They are into soccer and talk about what kind of car they’d like.

I told MaGents that I would see what I could do to get them some Christmas presents. But, I also asked them, if I got them something good would they get tested for HIV in order to get the present. I had asked one of the guys prior to this conversation if he had been tested. He said “no.” I asked if he would get tested and he said, “probably not.” So, these guys, in general, have no natural inclination to get tested. After I presented the idea the guys said they would get tested if they got a gift out of the deal.



Here’s where you come in…I’d like to give these guys the option of a new pair of athletic shoes or a soccer jersey. I am hoping to get 20 guys to come out one afternoon to get counseling and HIV testing through the local clinic. I need $45 each, a total of $900 to pay for the gifts. Please email me ASAP if you are interested in partnering with us in this endeavor!



Thank you for listening to my story:) Melissa

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