This blog is dedicated to the ministry news of the Capricorn Project, the work being done in the township of Capricorn, Cape Town South Africa. This project is a merger of the work of several different full-time missionaries to the community and many part time volunteers. Clinton Losper, who has provided longtime pastoral care to the community through the ministry of Living Hope, Capricorn Church, and his own personal ministry has been the facilitator of this work. YWAM missionaries Joseph and Renee Horevay who came here in August 2009 to plant churches in the community got the vision to stay long-term and pray for 105 churches to begin the community transformation. Lydia Losper also came with the YWAM team and is now married to Clinton and dedicated full time to the ministry especially with the youth and young adults. Many YWAM students have been helping and volunteering with them in the community, as well as another missions group, the Foxfire team who are from African enterprises.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS

Capricorn (including Overcome Heights) is a township that has evolved over the last two decades from an informal settlement to a bustling community with paved streets, potable water, sanitation, electricity and basic municipal services. The community consists of 20,000 persons primarily Afrikaans speaking coloreds along with a mix of other South African tribal groups and a variety of immigrants from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and the Congo. English is nearly universally spoken as a second language. HIV/AIDS infection rate is at 37%, tuberculosis tracks a similar percentage. Unemployment is at 85%. Drug abuse abounds, especially tik (meth-amphetamine) as does alcoholism. Poverty characterizes the community. Many children go to bed hungry. The streets are litter-filled. Most housing is shacks.
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Eight evangelical Christian churches with attendance between 50 and 150 persons are the sole gospel witness to the thousands in Capricorn . The total church attending population is estimated at 600 persons, (3% of the population) including those that attend away from the community. The evangelical faith is somewhat familiar to the population. One church, planted by two white suburban baptist churches in 2008 operates at the entrance of Capricorn with a suburban church model and is led by a student/seminarian intern. It is overseen by a steering committee from the sponsoring churches. It appears to draw approximately 80 people from the community. At the opposite end of Capricorn is the largest, an Assembly of God. It appears to draw 150 people and operates a breakfast program for 250 school children. The Capricorn project operates five adult Bible studies with an attendance of 40 persons. There is a Malawian church of 100 that caters to that refugee community. The Galilean Gospel Mission has 50 persons. The Church of the Nazarene in Overcome Heights has 100 in attendance. The Vrygond (Free Ground) Evangelical Church has 150 persons. These churches seem to have little interaction. Near Capricorn is a sizable and vital church called Bay Community Church. It is a white suburban congregation that does have a small cell group in Capricorn. It does not have a comprehensive outreach program into that community, nor do many Capricorn residents attend. There is a mosque in Capricorn as well.

HOW THE PROJECT CAME TOGETHER
Clinton Losper, age 38 is a brother who has worked in Capricorn with a NGO for four years. He had in July 2009 transitioned from leadership in one of the local churches and was desiring to minister pastorally and evangelistically to Capricorn. He is widely known and respected in the township. Clinton is a providential key to this community as he has no agenda other then seeing the Kingdom of God manifest in Capricorn. As Clinton says: “he works for the Kingdom of God.” In August Clinton met with Joseph, Renee, Lydia and others from a YWAM outreach team and they began planting the house church meetings.
It began with four bible studies having an attendance of 10 to 20 persons per meeting, not counting the YWAM outreach members. There initially have been prayers for salvation at the earliest meetings. Each meeting offers prayer for healing and personal needs. Participation is encouraged for answering study questions, reading the study text, prayer, testimonies and sharing spiritual insights including prophecies. Simple meals are commonly shared with leftovers sent home with the unemployed for their children. The Lord’s Supper (communion, eucharist) has been celebrated and water baptism by immersion offered. A vision for reaching Capricorn by planting Bible studies is actively communicated in the four studies. It is encouraging to see the community members getting actively involved, for example two older women who had been attending, Awne & Margaret had an all-night prayer-intercession meeting for God to reach all of Capricorn! The faith found in this community surpasses that of many more “well off” places.

AS THE MINISTRY EXPANDS
Clinton and Lydia are currently running four home church groups a week and praying for God’s provision for meals for those groups. So far lunch is always served to those attending. As more workers come in, more home groups will be able to begin.
There are now four different teen discipleship groups that meet weekly, with more youths waiting for volunteers and venues to hold more groups. The youth are hungry for God, His love, and change in their communities. The vision of these groups is to not only teach them the word of God, but also provide mentorship and to walk with these youth in their everyday lives.
A young adult Bible Study was started Wednesday nights by YWAMer Jason Sutliff, a School of Biblical Studies student at the base in Muizenberg. This is mostly for non-believers who want to know more about following God and also to encourage those who are already Christ-followers.
Capricorn residents Linda and Doudenai have volunteered a piece of property for the ministry, so every Monday night there is a prayer vigil on their property as we wait for funds and a vision to use the land. Anyone is welcome to come and pray for the community on actual community grounds, as we know there is power in prayer to push back the enemy from inside.
Several YWAMer’s have started a photography club for kids on Saturday mornings. They have supplied the kids with cameras through donors and are teaching them the basics of photography. About ten of Capricorn’s kids look forward to this class every week.
Several weekends as there are funds and volunteers, field-trips are run for the youth such as trips to the beach, “The Castle” in Cape Town, or to the homes of the mission workers for meals and a movie.
Clinton is planning to run a two-week kids summer camp for the youth in December. He plans to take about 30 youth to Plettenberg Bay where they will experience life outside of Capricorn and also get the chance to minister to others. There will be many fun activities planned, as staffed by volunteers. The kids will have the chance to share their spiritual gifts of music, spiritual dance, prayer and evangelism with the local community.
Clinton and Lydia’s desire is to serve the community of Capricorn as a pastoral couple, and are already available and using their time to serve families where needed. This involves counseling in crisis situations, home visits, going with families to assist in taking care of legal business, providing food when possible, etc.

FUTURE VISIONS
Rene and Joseph Horevay will return to continue the work in January, and their vision is for church plant. As Joseph asked the Lord to plant 100 home bible studies/simple churches, he sensed the Lord say “105,” and that is now his vision. If 105 of these groups are planted each with and adult attendance of ten, that amounts to 5% of Capricorn’s population or 1,050 adults. When one adds to that the sphere of influence each adult has including children and grandchildren the level of influence grows to 10-15% or a total of 2,000-3,000 persons.
Clinton and Lydia have a vision of total community transformation, to see those in South Africa who are serving the Lord rise up to help meet the needs here in their own backyard. Their hearts are especially toward the youth but also to see wholeness brought to families through the transformation of Jesus Christ. They are open to bringing in volunteers from all denominations and missions organizations. They want to see the church unified and working together to fight back the enemy who has stolen so much ground in Capricorn. They would like to start a youth center there and are currently looking and praying for a building in Capricorn. The youth would come there for Christ-centered way out of the streets, to be tutored, mentored, disci-pled and just to have fun. They would like to see many more church locals involved in the ministry. They have a vision for a scholarship fund for the faithful kids, more camps and a non-denominational church, among many other things.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Clinton and Lydia are currently seeking financial support to be able to continue this ministry. Many more long term workers and recruiters are needed. There is a current need for funding and staff for the kid’s summer camp. There is also a current need for more volunteers to disciple young women and venues for them to meet in. There is always a need of food among many other things for the people of Capricorn. As more volunteers and funds come in, of course much more can be done. There is a need for networking to get the word out about what is being done in Capricorn. Anyone interested or think your church or other may be interested, please contact us!

World's most beautiful preschool, in South Africa known as the "cresh," is located in Lubonzi.  From the hillside that it sits on, you can see schools of dolphins swimming in the bay.  I spent four days here, working with the beautiful kids and introducing them to some new learning tools that we had brought.  The kids were ecstatic to receive jump ropes, puzzles, colored pencils and best of all, legos!  We also brought supplies to build a new swingset which was put together with some help from community men.  Here we also got to meet and talk with moms from the community and work alongside the regular preschool teacher.   

Good News Kid's Club... after school kids gather in a rondavo in front of the church in Zitelele.  Instead of running around town with not much to do, the kids are taught Bible stories, songs and games.  Ncediswa Sanda has been teaching kids for many years, and has impacted hundreds of them through Good News Clubs.  She also distributes clothing and gives counseling to the kids that need it.  If anyone would like to support her ministry, they can write to her at:

Ncediswa Sanda

PO Box 550

Mthatha 5099 

Eastern Cape

South Africa

Nondzukiso is a tourism student at Lubonzi School.  With her classmates, she gave us a tour of the village one morning soon after we arrived.  Nondzukiso speaks very good english and dreams of travelling to Cape Town to study at the University.  The teacher of the tourism class, Pumla, would love to have her students give any visitors a tour of the town.  That way they can help local industry and also gain experience in their field of study.  

Yoliswa is a nearby neighbor in Lubonzi.  She lives with her extended family and her three children.  Yoliswa speaks amazing english and helps translate for our host family.  She is also around to witness us trying to learn to carry water on our heads, quite entertaining for the skilled villiage women!  We quickly found a friend in her and her family.

Conelia... a shy, quiet girl who plays by herself and doesn't seem to belong to anyone.  After some coaxing she decided to climb into my lap and also accepted an egg salad sandwich which was eaten very quickly.  I never saw any adults with her, but on the first day of school she appeared with clean clothes.  She rarely talked to us and only in a small whisper but she couldn't hide her shy smile.

Back from the eastern cape...

Finally back on the internet after a month traveling east of Cape Town into the Transkei or "Wild Coast" region.  When I left Cape Town on a big yellow truck a month ago, I had no idea what to expect.  Gradually green mountains and vineyards gave way to arrid rolling grassy hills.  Monkeys became more and more common and english no longer the main spoken language.  Life lived out in the eastern cape is simpler, less complicated and more relational.  The main people group there is the Xhosa people, who speak a unique language know for it's clicks and pops.  Our leader, Rodger Galloway of "Cross Country Missions" gave us a crash course in Xhosa when we stopped in Jeffrey's Bay a few days into our trip.  While in J-Bay we were introduced to the Joshua Project, a program that offers education and mentorship to street kids.  They have already sent a graduate of their project on to higher education in youth ministry.  He has now returned to work with the boys and coach a soccer team for them.

The next major town stop was Port St. Johns, a beautiful beach town in the mountains.   There we were involved in street ministry, running a church service (which we were asked to do when we walked into the church) and several other things.  One of my teammates, Sarah, organized a massive soccer game with the kids in town.  Later we met up with Solomon, who runs a ministry to the youth of Port St. Johns.  Someone recently donated a building to them, which they will use for skills training, tutoring, and just a hang out spot.  If anyone would like to be involved with bringing skills training and christian mentoring to the youth of Port St. Johns, they can e-mail Solomon at portstjohnsyouthministry@live.co.za  Solomon is also praying for a woman to come and work with the young girls.  With the youth, we grabbed a taxi and headed out of town to the rural area where the free government housing is.  There is a large community of people living out of town who are 90% unemployed.  We taught them to play ultimate frisbee and tug-of-war, a change from their usual soccer games.  We were also able to give a message to them and have prayer with whoever wanted it.

I just want to say I'm so thankful to God to be here in BEAUTIFUL Muizenburg, South Africa!  For a while I was starting to doubt that I would actually be here, but what I've been wanting to do for years and years has finally happened as I stepped off the plane onto African soil!  Actually African concrete, but it's just as good for me.  Maybe you can see from the photo, here in the greater Cape Town area, there is absolutely everything you could ask for: amazing mountains, beautiful beaches, all the conveniences of any modern city and beautiful friendly people!  We are staying here in a local hostel, our hosts are some of the best, they cook fabulous meals for us and teach us words in Africaans.  It is surprisingly cold here, coming from a Kona, Hawaii summer we were not quite prepared for this.  But we learned how to take the public transportation, how to get to the mall and cheap clothing stores to get some warmer things.  Cathy who is in our group, is actually from South Africa and her family hosted us in their home in Vishoek which happens to be on the side of the mountain overlooking the bay.  It is just a short train ride and many steps up the mountain away.  So now that most of us have slept off our jet-lag, we are getting ready to travel again for a month through some more rural parts of South Africa.  We will be visiting people in the villages there and bringing some play equipment and things for them.  We were asked to bring work gloves along so it seems like we'll be getting our hands dirty out there!  Unfortunately there will be no internet there soo... look forward to a long update after a month!  Please pray for our team unity in love, protection and opportunity to be the hands and feet of God, and to have the heart of God for the people that we meet.  So, that's it for now, I'll write more soon!  (and more photos!)

The numbers are going down... very exciting!  I have seen some money come in this week and my needed funds are now down to $2,448!  

As for this photo on the left, we recently studied portrait taking, which happens to be my favorite week yet.  This is one of my New Zealand friends here in Kona.  Only two weeks till South Africa!

Well, today is the day... I am supposed to come up with another $3,282 for the trip leaving on June 25.  So... that means, if anyone reading this is praying about partnering with me, now is the time to do it!  I'm learning more and more about what we will be doing in South Africa.  For the first month we will be traveling around the country on a converted bus, meeting and getting to know the people and their needs.  We will be traveling to schools, meeting with AIDS victims, and sharing God's love in whatever ways we can.

After that, we are going back to Cape Town where we will be involved in a variety of ministries to voiceless and marginalized people there.  We will be reaching out to kids who are at an ever increasing risk of being trafficked into prostitution especially as Cape Town prepares to welcome the world to the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament.  We will also be looking for ways to minister to AIDS victims who may have come there to suffer alone with the disease away from the stigma and violence of their villages.  Then there is the chance to minister to women working in the sex trade in Cape Town.  If you would like to learn more about the organization I will be working with there, please check out www.avoiceforthevoiceless.co.za  there are also amazing photos on this website!

Please pray for me as I try to raise the rest of the money within a week and plan to leave.  I already have my plane ticket, and will be staying in South Africa until at least December.  I am very excited about this opportunity and thanks for everyone who decides to partner with me to bring much needed change to the world!

Hawaii

Aloha from beautiful Kona Hawaii...  I know it's about time that I write a new post since I have been here a month now.  Maybe the fastest months of my life.  First of all I have to say I love the weather here in paradise, some people are saying it's hot here but honestly after 4 months of winter at 6,500 feet in Montana I think it's great not to wake up freezing cold every night.  I got to catch up with my sister and nephew who live in Hilo, and was treated to a snorkeling trip there.  I had no idea all those amazing coral and fish are right by the shore!  I really felt like I was spying on a secret world that no one else gets the privilege to experience.  Last night I was treated to an amazing Hawaiian luau by my friend Matt who was visit from Montana for the purpose of climbing the volcano!  I'm not sure I've ever seen better dancing in the world, and the Hawaiian method of cooking pork definitely rivals southern pit-cooked pulled pork.  Along with all these amazing experiences, I am working hard in classes also.  We have had some amazing teachers here and are starting to get more technical in our photography skills.

My first week or so here I was introduced to more of what we will be doing in the world and what the organization I will be working with has been doing all over the world.  I have to say my heart was breaking everyday for what is going on in our world and how much God cares for these people and wants to use us to bring hope to them.  In Brazil the leaders of our organization have started a movement in the government to recognize basic human rights of the tribes in the amazon who are on the verge of extinction due partly to infanticide.  Voice for the Voiceless began the Hakani project (www.hakani.org) telling the story of a little girl who survived being buried alive and then left to die outside her village.  There is now a movement in the Brazilian government to protect these children.  I would encourage everyone who reads this to please get involved by visiting the website.  

I also found out where I will be traveling for my outreach!  I originally thought I would be going to central america, but last week we were giving the option to travel to South Africa where "Voice for the Voiceless"  began.  The major movement there is to fight child prostitution, which 40,000 kids a year are forced into.  We are using photography to raise awareness of this, hoping to change those statistics.  There are also other counseling, aid and support programs there in Cape Town that we will be be helping.  We will also be traveling out to different villages, reaching out to orphans and those dying of AIDS and looking for anything else that we can do.  I would encourage everyone to find out about this organization by going to www.avoiceforthevoiceless.co.za

Fundraising is turning out to be a challenge for me, I am still needing about $3,500.  I am also hoping to stay in South Africa past the three months originally planned, so I am looking for monthly support to do that.  Well enough talk, I will put some photos up now as promised!

Welcome to my blog...

Singer Jason Upton has said "Everything we see is a gift from God."  The more I think about this quote, the more it means to me.  I realize first how much I have to be thankful for, then how much I need to appreciate the people around me.  I mean, He created every single person on earth as a work of art, with a God-given purpose and destiny for life.  So I have a responsibility now to not only ask God what that means for my life, but also how I can help others find that in their lives.  It makes me think about how impatient I am with that "annoying" friend, the slow person in front of me in the checkout line, or noisy roomates.  If we can learn to value ourselves and others the way God does, I believe we'll be blessed in ways we never thought possible.

I'm hoping to begin to learn this on my next journey in life, which is the reason I started this blog in the first place.  I will be on a six-month journey starting April 2, 2009 through Youth With A Mission called the PhotogenX DTS that strives to speak out for those who have no voice and fight poverty and injustice in our world.  We'll do this through photography, writing, and other types of media, striving to give hope to those who need it.  It is through the media that we have today that one person's story can reach thousands, through words or a simple pictures.  When I was a child I remember looking through the newspapers and reading about other children far away who were living in refugee camps and fighting for their lives.  I would look at their photos and remember thinking that while their faces were young, the eyes of these children were very old.  And these children, these people that I saw, they were a gift from God.  

There is no person on this earth that is less valuable than another.  There is no person on this earth that God does not love, that He did not create in a unique and beautiful way.  There is no person that does not matter.  I am telling you that today and I am hoping to spread that to many other people on this journey that I'm taking.

The first three months of my journey will be in Kona, Hawaii at the University of the Nations.  There I will meet my other team members, learn about where we will be traveling, learn about this great God that we serve, and hopefully learn some photography skills also!  Then we will take off for other places, our actual assignment, most likely down around Central America.  I am hoping to be able to keep up with this blog while I am down there, to keep everyone "back home" posted on what is going on.  So please, keep checking up, and keep in touch!

Love you all and God bless!