tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48096571490830863622024-03-14T07:17:22.361-05:00Journey of Purpose : Melanie Dillmelanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.comBlogger619125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-79612213979692547532017-07-12T08:19:00.001-05:002017-07-12T08:19:52.892-05:00CAPE TOWN needs peace<div dir="ltr"><blockquote type="cite" style="font-size:12.8px"><center><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%" id="gmail-m_8493722431569368442body-table"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" class="gmail-m_8493722431569368442tl-body-table-content"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" id="gmail-m_8493722431569368442template-container"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="gmail-m_8493722431569368442tl-email-body"><div>Just a quick note about some recent challenges in Cape Town. The two communities that Andrew and I work in (Capricorn and Hout Bay) have both been through some trauma. Capricorn has seen violent protests, looting, and taxi-shootings. Hout Bay is currently facing riots and violence as well. Our work environments are volatile. There has also been a lot of violence toward women and children in our country. The news is full of horror stories and one such tragedy hit very close to home last week.<br> <br>Our hearts are burdened and cry out for peace. Please pray for our country. Ask the Lord to transform hearts and minds toward Truth and respect for human life. Pray for us as we battle with this unrest and often feel anxious and burdened about social justice issues in our work. May Cape Town feel Jesus' love and be healed!<br><br>Blessings to you all. Thanks for following this journey and being prayer warriors.</div><div><br></div><div>Here are links to some local news...</div><div><br></div><div>Capricorn/Vrygrond: <a href="http://ewn.co.za/Topic/Vrygrond">http://ewn.co.za/Topic/Vrygrond</a></div><div><br></div><div>Hout Bay: <a href="http://ewn.co.za/Topic/Imizamo-Yethu">http://ewn.co.za/Topic/Imizamo-Yethu</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center></blockquote><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><br><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div> melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-8944234159440175312017-02-06T06:47:00.001-06:002017-02-06T07:06:34.744-06:002017 is moving quickly<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear friends and family following this mission in South Africa, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I arrived back in South Africa from a quick visit to the USA early January. Ever since my landing, I feel I've been in fast-forward, moving so fast that I can't quite keep up. Forgive the blog silence, but hopefully many of you have seen the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melaniemdill/" target="_blank">Instagram posts</a> and my efforts to semi-frequently give you a peak into my life and ministry here in SA! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017 promises to again be a year of CHANGE. I'm getting a little tired of all the change, but when you see God's hand in it, you can't help but move along and roll with it! His purpose makes it all right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o keep a long list of ministry responsibilities short, here are my mission goals for 2017:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">- “Be the bridge,” helping others understand mission and community development</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">- Use my gifts in <a href="http://www.melaniedill.com/creating" target="_blank">art </a>and administration to serve South Africa</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">- Support the wider effort of “church strengthening” in South Africa, personally offering leadership in Mentoring/Discipleship, Bible Study, Missions and Community/Leadership Development in vulnerable communities</span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Help girls <a href="http://www.melaniedill.com/grow" target="_blank">GROW</a>: encouraging girls and young women in educational, social, and spiritual goals in order to serve the Body of Christ well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've got some exciting news and plans ahead. I'm going to need lots of prayer and support to accomplish this God-size vision. More on this to come, but I'd love prayers for strength, provision and favor with God and man! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are just a few photos from the last month to give you an update:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commonground.co.za/constantiaberg-am/" target="_blank">Common Ground Church</a> 20 year birthday picnic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girl enjoying the church birthday picnic and jumping castles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Capricorn granny's 70th birthday. <br />
We took her to a creche (preschool) so they could sing happy birthday to her!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie's 70th birthday costume party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view in Capricorn everyday. <br />
Gosh I love this place. My heart lives here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching up with old ministry friends and laborers in the field ... Basil and Blanche</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train the Trainer - Community Art Facilitators with<a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/" target="_blank"> BAP</a> in Capricorn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew and I are immersed in the art-world because of our jobs. <a href="https://www.lalela.org/" target="_blank">His work </a>puts on lots of amazing art events that he gets to attend. This is us at an exhibition downtown last month. Excited to see where God takes us with these relationships and new spheres of influence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pEQsYpNIp4iE0Lhs5opYtDX1JO0MjMU8A8GpK8egy2AXSdhqwGFo_oiPNTM11KuSBan-QH9CieMiwPHjboBfscEhV5jPtq_NKifUQMvblKhFXUYrsMXbYGM8B_7dD-g9sZP8DYU5K_dV/s1600/IMG-20170115-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a>melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-38143868803018656672016-11-20T01:17:00.001-06:002016-11-20T01:17:47.741-06:00I'm a new instagramer<p dir="ltr">Just a little update .... my end of year recap and update are coming soon. Stay tuned. </p> <p dir="ltr">Until then, check out my new instagram page for recent photos and few ministry insights:<br> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/melaniemdill">www.instagram.com/melaniemdill</a> <br><br></p> <p dir="ltr">Melanie Dill<br> <a href="http://www.melaniedill.com">www.melaniedill.com</a></p> melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-47609274777409288822016-10-10T10:30:00.002-05:002016-10-10T10:30:48.564-05:00GROW Camp 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year launched a huge piece of my ministry dreams and goals: a girls mentoring strategy for South Africa! I entitled it GROW, modeled after Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom, stature (physically) and in favor with God and man (<a href="http://www.melaniedill.com/grow">http://www.melaniedill.com/grow</a>). This is how I want these girls and leaders to grow! And with the birth of this new ministry concept for me, the mentors and I dreamed of taking these girls on a 'camp' retreat. It took a lot of planning, a lot of sponsors, and many prayers ... and boy was it a success. </div>
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While small in numbers, this is strategic. Camp can often be about creating an "experience" but this was all about building on the relationships, using time and nature to foster a pause, and study God's Word in an environment that encourages reflection. We rented a house off AirBnB, and with the help of Shades Mountain, we used the Student Divinely Designed curriculum (<a href="http://divinelydesigned.net/">http://divinelydesigned.net/</a>) to lead our girls to understand how they have been created and pray about what God has for them in His Kingdom ministry ahead. </div>
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Thanks to all who supported this GROW journey financially and spiritually. All your prayers have been watered and harvested. The mentors will follow up and continue to walk this year-long journey of growth with these girls, holding them accountable to the things God said and did at 'camp.' </div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">This GROW ministry has so much more to birth in 2017. There are dreams of supporting girls' college education, helping girls succeed in purity and discipleship through mentoring, assisting with meals for families that can't provide regularly (you can't teach a hungry child), counseling, and of course more spiritual input through local conferences, camps and youth/young adult ministry input!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">... and a huge dream into the future - a week-day boarding house for girls to have a safe place to stay Mon-Fri, be driven to school safely, provided school supplies and uniforms, 3 meals a day, and biblical discipleship and mentoring. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Pray for more mentors to be trained to meet the needs of all the girls that want to be part of this ministry in 2017. Pray for the right pairs of mentoring/discipleship women and youth. Pray for funds, timing and human resources to make all these Kingdom plans happen!</span></div>
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Recap of GROW CAMP 2016 in photo:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv6tyaAiCEGGgMMzMk1jh2Db4KukSsuYTEAiSq-IE2KtpakrdT77gM6ps8x7nRRRHc6sv0zj_fBJU7sCFk1IOVYktOF5GA7Bm2kssWHIJlKjnhnpBt2RA8isVl_YaK_svJffXHe7FK3-U/s1600/DSCN9706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv6tyaAiCEGGgMMzMk1jh2Db4KukSsuYTEAiSq-IE2KtpakrdT77gM6ps8x7nRRRHc6sv0zj_fBJU7sCFk1IOVYktOF5GA7Bm2kssWHIJlKjnhnpBt2RA8isVl_YaK_svJffXHe7FK3-U/s320/DSCN9706.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nature hike in Onrus, South Africa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfxpbQXUHJ6pHiZL9cpbcf7c-P0Ie7lWRv6EoVmIkCTxFguCECIXVPII7KKwQsJQOMVnoEgZfT2ojr7cF8-TvyLKNoAyR3A_U0umIlP1o9Qe8eFmzDbRlvB0Dj1kiLl3w8h89x1i7qDKQ/s1600/DSCN9731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfxpbQXUHJ6pHiZL9cpbcf7c-P0Ie7lWRv6EoVmIkCTxFguCECIXVPII7KKwQsJQOMVnoEgZfT2ojr7cF8-TvyLKNoAyR3A_U0umIlP1o9Qe8eFmzDbRlvB0Dj1kiLl3w8h89x1i7qDKQ/s320/DSCN9731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onrus beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymuPEDx_6q7wYD5wPMcwmSBsPm7-0KXTJKjL3ffUIQ72isGeWkXmgr9YRVnAVyUHIMiGmANAI0Sx2wwFRzW7T4oceip7FsOyO9mjHsG9AcyhZMpw3m8wrntc-eGHQk95A4w_PNMDmzlfy/s1600/DSCN9743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymuPEDx_6q7wYD5wPMcwmSBsPm7-0KXTJKjL3ffUIQ72isGeWkXmgr9YRVnAVyUHIMiGmANAI0Sx2wwFRzW7T4oceip7FsOyO9mjHsG9AcyhZMpw3m8wrntc-eGHQk95A4w_PNMDmzlfy/s320/DSCN9743.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GROW mentors</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmg8GEw57HbPBpkiUlYV2vY5liu0Irict0C0po65maD4l14J8ZQK0kb5UJTa8aJedFnsez3Kdvk53oz-alnAACb-2KIxrwCVk-toy1lfpG9RVL_kPAWg1f42bqH6V4q7RRQf8JeOs2hMi/s1600/DSCN9746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmg8GEw57HbPBpkiUlYV2vY5liu0Irict0C0po65maD4l14J8ZQK0kb5UJTa8aJedFnsez3Kdvk53oz-alnAACb-2KIxrwCVk-toy1lfpG9RVL_kPAWg1f42bqH6V4q7RRQf8JeOs2hMi/s320/DSCN9746.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp braai (BBQ)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-CFkL49XLv9vwJPm0rTLzAsUcYJF929bokggKnMqjuXhBctte03o1PPcuA4u6wrX8P0uu6eWHkQ6QPFCw6Y9BN5TnrmIRL3g1H5ytQOkQgOFMV2Gj6KxqhK7KiuIWhtEoBaVHsPBftNP/s1600/DSCN9751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-CFkL49XLv9vwJPm0rTLzAsUcYJF929bokggKnMqjuXhBctte03o1PPcuA4u6wrX8P0uu6eWHkQ6QPFCw6Y9BN5TnrmIRL3g1H5ytQOkQgOFMV2Gj6KxqhK7KiuIWhtEoBaVHsPBftNP/s320/DSCN9751.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introducing these South African pj girls to SMORES!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv_60ZRenZ30cSPlL1KDPDgqUVMjUSxuvJ-nDkdfP1NLKJymh0Lhz_5ivagZpewpO-hgGlbURIZdVSuetWeWF9Iwcxnms0pmY3eusmG13jTlelNsw2c-BzSzX79AYauTK8A7-kHdMNSN1/s1600/DSCN9758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv_60ZRenZ30cSPlL1KDPDgqUVMjUSxuvJ-nDkdfP1NLKJymh0Lhz_5ivagZpewpO-hgGlbURIZdVSuetWeWF9Iwcxnms0pmY3eusmG13jTlelNsw2c-BzSzX79AYauTK8A7-kHdMNSN1/s320/DSCN9758.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smores are a hit!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF91HRAYO4RxkrCnqkGxNMYLC28yBUiFQjsR3BBw9xZehksBsh5PIDAMkbxSo8FnVvHYgPGNkuiM2nKuygFp4TOtRLC6FXhaQt-02vi4J2Lt0gDtRDziiZ7vhmKHQRAqyD-_kzqmud-YH/s1600/DSCN9761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF91HRAYO4RxkrCnqkGxNMYLC28yBUiFQjsR3BBw9xZehksBsh5PIDAMkbxSo8FnVvHYgPGNkuiM2nKuygFp4TOtRLC6FXhaQt-02vi4J2Lt0gDtRDziiZ7vhmKHQRAqyD-_kzqmud-YH/s320/DSCN9761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Divinely Designed session. Working out our gifts, experiences, passions and more!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknlRr55R8t1HGJ54O_LrpJiVpz8RvrVkfNHIzp9um8VzqJYbBwVNUJrUo4o6LRWFTXlk_FDo648kVt0SI-UtOTuSwe2uH613hyphenhyphenswxQdvZ34aeF8FrPWF_2frgrnS0_hUNqLsyfqlTd9KV/s1600/DSCN9773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknlRr55R8t1HGJ54O_LrpJiVpz8RvrVkfNHIzp9um8VzqJYbBwVNUJrUo4o6LRWFTXlk_FDo648kVt0SI-UtOTuSwe2uH613hyphenhyphenswxQdvZ34aeF8FrPWF_2frgrnS0_hUNqLsyfqlTd9KV/s320/DSCN9773.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermanus, South Africa</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjYIPFJ0X1VUS-k1pC0Y5l2ngJmGyPiAs1WcHadDcY5Ghj12J5078CTDfD6_N-OhKAB7M7dOGygcz10btqn8EN1d9S1BxNGusuUEJe-5UhK77sjx6Qnyl4dkXm726YvpYxrrBrVRKYOZU/s1600/DSCN9775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjYIPFJ0X1VUS-k1pC0Y5l2ngJmGyPiAs1WcHadDcY5Ghj12J5078CTDfD6_N-OhKAB7M7dOGygcz10btqn8EN1d9S1BxNGusuUEJe-5UhK77sjx6Qnyl4dkXm726YvpYxrrBrVRKYOZU/s320/DSCN9775.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanika and Mel</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85gLjiPhnRtAt4r6mYsSQENrRBEUUU53Jjj0_WZ_VP24O6ox7aR97BTHJBP5W9Gu0XuLkGEW8IXa1xVFQ2qQ6CGMpTaIqtT1ohF6PEYJgCjuCd9aFm-l_p-S6_G0PXlyB5Jq0Fmkv9H3w/s1600/DSCN9789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85gLjiPhnRtAt4r6mYsSQENrRBEUUU53Jjj0_WZ_VP24O6ox7aR97BTHJBP5W9Gu0XuLkGEW8IXa1xVFQ2qQ6CGMpTaIqtT1ohF6PEYJgCjuCd9aFm-l_p-S6_G0PXlyB5Jq0Fmkv9H3w/s320/DSCN9789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crazy girls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4anS-CDuyw4TcaIdrC9T-YqXFz-wEVWgBLPE-rP-re8l7bH8zuqPfKdp6xFFMJDnksWejTSBUBi4ZzwRu7tTMpx725RUtH_SkDXceu7su0SJdJGZ3uWS_XudGeNn7TZC_2yb1HWtNVaRF/s1600/DSCN9790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4anS-CDuyw4TcaIdrC9T-YqXFz-wEVWgBLPE-rP-re8l7bH8zuqPfKdp6xFFMJDnksWejTSBUBi4ZzwRu7tTMpx725RUtH_SkDXceu7su0SJdJGZ3uWS_XudGeNn7TZC_2yb1HWtNVaRF/s320/DSCN9790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made for this life! [note my #Luyando shirt - GROW where you're planted]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK1RSuH16zeyMB2f4wvqivtbqaTU_YcB-sF3mbg-BVGTL1VJtDywpQQD3WZGmZF7j4HEL0u2HFGOfadRfIF4QZuTMP3SgSsBWa1FP93FdOTrMppbaqswYD3iAmSglQrjI5Oel7Q2LcOIm/s1600/DSCN9796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK1RSuH16zeyMB2f4wvqivtbqaTU_YcB-sF3mbg-BVGTL1VJtDywpQQD3WZGmZF7j4HEL0u2HFGOfadRfIF4QZuTMP3SgSsBWa1FP93FdOTrMppbaqswYD3iAmSglQrjI5Oel7Q2LcOIm/s320/DSCN9796.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this view. Hermanus, South Africa</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnaLwA-3u1dqanZZNohiES1ihuKUlBdad3egbVzBbQTrxK3UNLZW2Xnn6EFsSrXle1nrcakPMdf61pN6-BSd24NdqQx_xUraRm2_3bCpKhIJxi9R0SeNX08DLZF08YYIvUvkDiD6dXjQJ/s1600/DSCN9818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnaLwA-3u1dqanZZNohiES1ihuKUlBdad3egbVzBbQTrxK3UNLZW2Xnn6EFsSrXle1nrcakPMdf61pN6-BSd24NdqQx_xUraRm2_3bCpKhIJxi9R0SeNX08DLZF08YYIvUvkDiD6dXjQJ/s320/DSCN9818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican Dinner!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cjw9nZ0BRRE4Boq9zXFi_7VRHslK5dRDl5tfcWke8Qwd2MFRecfdy7EuCfFSBwFfYNCD9xjyxMIK8nwwGEHbOe27bBtK2pbURfWhMQxHn2rjzLO4KFpYgAarLBnHj-OXdu4K9w4C8sTe/s1600/DSCN9823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cjw9nZ0BRRE4Boq9zXFi_7VRHslK5dRDl5tfcWke8Qwd2MFRecfdy7EuCfFSBwFfYNCD9xjyxMIK8nwwGEHbOe27bBtK2pbURfWhMQxHn2rjzLO4KFpYgAarLBnHj-OXdu4K9w4C8sTe/s320/DSCN9823.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home-made tortillas, fajita meat, pico, guac, cheese and sour cream! YUM!</td></tr>
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<br />melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-62209175264946889352016-08-29T01:42:00.002-05:002016-08-29T14:02:34.227-05:00GROW Mentoring Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Moms - Guardians - Daughters . GROW Mentoring Tea . </b></div>
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At the beginning of Jan 2016, I was part of the launch of a mentoring ministry strategy for South Africa called <a href="http://www.melaniedill.com/#!grow/c18d6" target="_blank">GROW</a>. After much research and experience in township youth ministry, this strategy is implementing how to support discipleship in difficult community environments. We chose girls that we already had relationship with and that showed great potential in wanting to reach new goals in their life.</div>
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GROW is based on how Jesus grew while on this earth: Luke 2:52 says, "And Jesus grew in wisdom, stature [physically], and in favor with God and man." Bi-monthly, we meet with the girls and check in on 4 areas of their lives: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We set goals for where they'd like to be and they make action steps on how to get there. </div>
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There's no grand new design or revolutionary concept; it's one older girl walking life and supporting steps of growth with a younger girl. Discipleship is God's design, we're testing how to do this in a new, challenging environment ... and God is blessing the journey.</div>
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Here are the highlights of the Sunday Afternoon Tea:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN8d-74UYoFJmJEEHoszskt_COZXrcwac1Yr7P1SVSYi8ybr1le8YHpupmB1UBv2Xuqaa3-WN5j8z4v28xyAlXvJ8Ar71g50Hs8_RqdJZkjN4cL3quG5X6JE4WBoRfQ-ptJuYycrinqjU/s1600/DSCN9406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN8d-74UYoFJmJEEHoszskt_COZXrcwac1Yr7P1SVSYi8ybr1le8YHpupmB1UBv2Xuqaa3-WN5j8z4v28xyAlXvJ8Ar71g50Hs8_RqdJZkjN4cL3quG5X6JE4WBoRfQ-ptJuYycrinqjU/s320/DSCN9406.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic South African snacks: Milk-tart, sausage rolls, hertzoggies (coconut & jam cookies), <br />
brownie bites, sugar cookies, fruit and savory crackers! The girls LOVED these treats.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWekgQIL2iATHyw6VQUNKopTSW2p-DBzFHBrjrdbX0bkTKw0bat4r48RBDm9VlVxSGLLpYwShr7ILEu_rwpu0px3amKW_wXwgz5cKouoNvWT4maehWGcNssy59wpoV8MDOnrpgCBYo1jVM/s1600/DSCN9413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWekgQIL2iATHyw6VQUNKopTSW2p-DBzFHBrjrdbX0bkTKw0bat4r48RBDm9VlVxSGLLpYwShr7ILEu_rwpu0px3amKW_wXwgz5cKouoNvWT4maehWGcNssy59wpoV8MDOnrpgCBYo1jVM/s320/DSCN9413.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was such a nice day, we had our tea party in the garden!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev8vaIUXJgwA-DwusRxT9LhCVyAYK1CHWLwkgLsoaePkZxFKRWPW7efUkkX1k-UUhjlHP3J38senWG2jP84hXn0zBudXiKmZud-j30TCBoxQUypLwf7NEJ5L0qm7otv6y9Z9H4v_pm89Z/s1600/DSCN9414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev8vaIUXJgwA-DwusRxT9LhCVyAYK1CHWLwkgLsoaePkZxFKRWPW7efUkkX1k-UUhjlHP3J38senWG2jP84hXn0zBudXiKmZud-j30TCBoxQUypLwf7NEJ5L0qm7otv6y9Z9H4v_pm89Z/s320/DSCN9414.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moms and daughters were led in mentoring activities that the mentors do with the girls each session. <br />
The moms were able to share their thoughts and future goals with their daughters!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid0RbrxnbvJnVjXkNfqmmGRy8gnIlx0XIkZEhYKLfPuTy0f0QlV-z5ihI2YgH9vNe_vTY01H9zto2xbfvGhh6joNeEowKowtT5VBlg8xUoHOAvItr5W-iO0B5QKKU2PySV9CvjLn8kOkh/s1600/DSCN9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid0RbrxnbvJnVjXkNfqmmGRy8gnIlx0XIkZEhYKLfPuTy0f0QlV-z5ihI2YgH9vNe_vTY01H9zto2xbfvGhh6joNeEowKowtT5VBlg8xUoHOAvItr5W-iO0B5QKKU2PySV9CvjLn8kOkh/s320/DSCN9420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so fun watching these generations bond and share!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B-ssD_mDxNXpudrp4H6f5T9qvQsrTuueTD09Zitm-XH-uyF-rdK1gG1PgVf8WruZYMYF72l1UFRDelBNAydOYOueiIYiPI34HtjaNY6HfiOs2k3J4qO0RHhTmXJRKmIIpcfbM7SUA8TF/s1600/DSCN9423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B-ssD_mDxNXpudrp4H6f5T9qvQsrTuueTD09Zitm-XH-uyF-rdK1gG1PgVf8WruZYMYF72l1UFRDelBNAydOYOueiIYiPI34HtjaNY6HfiOs2k3J4qO0RHhTmXJRKmIIpcfbM7SUA8TF/s400/DSCN9423.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the mentors, moms, guardians and girls in GROW!</td></tr>
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Earlier in the year, many of you helped fund a 'camp-retreat' for these girls. Because of school holidays and some challenges gathering the details, we delayed the event. But good news ... we set a date and we're ready to take these girls out of their environment in order to GROW even more. More details about this soon. But pray for the planning and organizing of this event!<br />
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If you're interested in finding out more about this strategy or want to partner as a prayer-warrior, <a href="mailto:grow.mentor@gmail.com" target="_blank">email me</a>! We hope to grow this GROW ministry in 2017 and there's room for many more to join and benefit from God's work in community relationships!melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-59071327268642957432016-08-24T13:22:00.001-05:002016-08-24T14:04:18.863-05:00A creative, fun few months <div class="mobile-photo">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">To catch you up on missions in Capricorn, South Africa ... July/August 2016</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">street art in Capricorn during July school holidays</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkc7btP4kb7q22WCsyVldotoPRGe8hpfL4SvwuQoChTrw4JxNGl53pDuyRwL3PMyADbjpxOnOIs0-F77Ojv0MD8IyUVnaKb0-m6JmcJag2gUIVd_eUNK1r8IP3jLZa_ZELGbYeSe7ifjV/s1600/WP_20160712_11_15_46_Pro-768029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6322462308904286338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkc7btP4kb7q22WCsyVldotoPRGe8hpfL4SvwuQoChTrw4JxNGl53pDuyRwL3PMyADbjpxOnOIs0-F77Ojv0MD8IyUVnaKb0-m6JmcJag2gUIVd_eUNK1r8IP3jLZa_ZELGbYeSe7ifjV/s320/WP_20160712_11_15_46_Pro-768029.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">the simple joys of chalk! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oil pastels ... building relationships in the streets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO0_xEN08cMXqaTFP0np9mmkMNuJ2tszYu0BejbSlJQz_bqn9zfRfl6UufaaDd1Nm3niMbpWgd71E5bY6y4j8DPO4lXul3JdpbqNnZbWJDef2Ne-NIUaLoj34xBVduOla6YxXy-Tx9tKU/s1600/WP_20160713_10_58_32_Pro-770453.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6322462319443426738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO0_xEN08cMXqaTFP0np9mmkMNuJ2tszYu0BejbSlJQz_bqn9zfRfl6UufaaDd1Nm3niMbpWgd71E5bY6y4j8DPO4lXul3JdpbqNnZbWJDef2Ne-NIUaLoj34xBVduOla6YxXy-Tx9tKU/s320/WP_20160713_10_58_32_Pro-770453.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">budding artist ... look at that stance!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3ZLQ_9hIJUwj17jcA9VoMRNL414zAgoK87k4mtrzTbZmlfj1mhMAg2Bjb-0rZC8W4RQkuHwTx6OiGRKJh7INGmSnpPNRQzAsO8wqB2jQJlYYGMLYqabZJ-2Uc2QFibF0L5Jx_dLprEQW/s1600/IMG-20160713-WA0002-771700.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6322462322726481698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3ZLQ_9hIJUwj17jcA9VoMRNL414zAgoK87k4mtrzTbZmlfj1mhMAg2Bjb-0rZC8W4RQkuHwTx6OiGRKJh7INGmSnpPNRQzAsO8wqB2jQJlYYGMLYqabZJ-2Uc2QFibF0L5Jx_dLprEQW/s320/IMG-20160713-WA0002-771700.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiRZGZosaBbsS9iA-c-M9GZHVKOCoXw9n8w0yxrEydPmtpOQgmU5Bn0XXd7rKA4sf5D8hJNpIOBacKggX03D7BZjGyLoffVl0qYIRSJGfFbztCVpzuuzhwQVXF_V9_lRWh5hSMbfk1ml-/s1600/IMG-20160724-WA0006-772850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6322462326717512578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiRZGZosaBbsS9iA-c-M9GZHVKOCoXw9n8w0yxrEydPmtpOQgmU5Bn0XXd7rKA4sf5D8hJNpIOBacKggX03D7BZjGyLoffVl0qYIRSJGfFbztCVpzuuzhwQVXF_V9_lRWh5hSMbfk1ml-/s320/IMG-20160724-WA0006-772850.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Butterfly Art Project interns from Germany and the Netherlands.<br />All have said farewell by now, but boy did we have fun while they were here! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God's promises over my community! <br />#CapricornSouthAfrica #CapricornPrimarySchool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little one got mail from her GROW prayer partner!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little one LOVES being in the kitchen with me.<br />Look at her precious school uniform and her bacon-wrapped-dates!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found Gherkin like this one morning. Yes she sleeps in the bed! ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GROW mentoring birthday party. Girls love good food and a good chat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXomYP4SJ5kdCuHuu9x3OejJZ4t5Wvu63xzsyBeD1v4FJrLmsaW5p3rwhIqTQxDVA92J8D48u74CGueYSM3GHu7XCRUvZPLky4vLUgieUCVAg8SmV62yE0yNWiZh2VVbfyvReR8eU5lKP/s1600/WP_20160819_15_53_57_Pro-780359.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6322462364570666610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXomYP4SJ5kdCuHuu9x3OejJZ4t5Wvu63xzsyBeD1v4FJrLmsaW5p3rwhIqTQxDVA92J8D48u74CGueYSM3GHu7XCRUvZPLky4vLUgieUCVAg8SmV62yE0yNWiZh2VVbfyvReR8eU5lKP/s320/WP_20160819_15_53_57_Pro-780359.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SMBC sent a care package. I'm honored to have a church family that supports missions!<br />This one got to help me make American, Betty Crocker Brownies!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Forgive the blog silence. Its been a wild few months. There are some great photo updates that happen on my twitter feed (</span><a href="https://twitter.com/trulymeldill)" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">https://twitter.com/trulymeldill)</a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> much more regularly than the blog these days. Check them out and follow this beautiful, South African mission!</span></div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-74793675441860316182016-07-01T04:01:00.004-05:002016-07-01T04:03:29.339-05:00The key to long-term missions ... what I'm learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The theme of true ministry and long-term missions is RELATIONSHIP. </div>
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I've been in Cape Town, doing community development in the same little township for 6 1/2 years now. I've had the privilege of working with lots of non-profits, churches and schools. It's hard to have time for everyone and everything that's good, but I've been transformed by the importance of relationships and time-spent in people's homes. The secret to good relationships in places like Capricorn, South Africa is ...</div>
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Listen. </div>
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Listen some more. </div>
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Then keep listening. </div>
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I don't have a lot of answers, but I have a lot of access to people's stories. I'm not the answer, God and His community are. I'm the connector of stories, the pointer to other people's experience, the bridge to communities, and I love introducing people to each other so that they can share their stories. In my line of work, there's a lot of counseling, a lot of deep personal sharing. So much of my work can't be shared on a platform like this for the safety of my people and privacy of personal lives. But what an honor to have these stories and relationships in my heart! God is truly changing me, more than I'm changing Africa.</div>
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These last few weeks, I've been DEEP in a few key relationships, investing in the growth of people's journey and celebrating people I love. It's school holidays, so my work in the community is exciting because the community is alive with the chaos of children. </div>
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Here are just a few photos of the last few weeks and a peak into the stories I can tell ...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUyCqWVGTnhGVuU28PfyTNM8xHQDvSBKWb-xPS-vrZecx5qS9swuobX0Qqm4DZ2ep7UGDI5hDTTD6Yi5D88yJHvKOpBij-8tf9MTBWXM6Y5T_AJOFmPfXdA3LxW7l4kVRgwHDSjqRNb52/s1600/DSCN8882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUyCqWVGTnhGVuU28PfyTNM8xHQDvSBKWb-xPS-vrZecx5qS9swuobX0Qqm4DZ2ep7UGDI5hDTTD6Yi5D88yJHvKOpBij-8tf9MTBWXM6Y5T_AJOFmPfXdA3LxW7l4kVRgwHDSjqRNb52/s320/DSCN8882.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Blanche. She's a wife, mom and care-taker of many youth in Capricorn!<br />
She took time out of her week to teach me and a few of my colleagues <br />
(from <a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/" target="_blank">www.butterflyartproject.org)</a> her version of South African curry. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxhcDmbNwXJruTIb_i7Q5LYQhy-niO0OL7kSEdKTrotP7HrxXr0xNTof5a0-gba36RgWNcbUNC-zlv7e5Sm4KLl0t3JbeM9iBi0VDlxTa274-EDJ0RSLgvas7Po8K_maXgqJK338CkCcA/s1600/DSCN8883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxhcDmbNwXJruTIb_i7Q5LYQhy-niO0OL7kSEdKTrotP7HrxXr0xNTof5a0-gba36RgWNcbUNC-zlv7e5Sm4KLl0t3JbeM9iBi0VDlxTa274-EDJ0RSLgvas7Po8K_maXgqJK338CkCcA/s320/DSCN8883.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blanche's mince (ground beef) curry with potatoes and peas. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazel, Amanda, and Blanche in Blanche's Capricorn kitchen!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took my little GROW girls on an outing to Hermanus <br />
(an hour's drive from Cape Town)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GROW girls in Hermanus!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa7DnTX3I4cNEY3md4owwXVKD6OkLzDu2PpbI-xJUYPaQzSTyEHeWHQ7ozyAPUXkT3cvAY9FU6t9HhFmIM3QqYx8fM2MSkai4eYzfU3Irw_qUT3C22u-rbpI3EHFjm5j97UX1ZY61w0jZ/s1600/DSCN8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa7DnTX3I4cNEY3md4owwXVKD6OkLzDu2PpbI-xJUYPaQzSTyEHeWHQ7ozyAPUXkT3cvAY9FU6t9HhFmIM3QqYx8fM2MSkai4eYzfU3Irw_qUT3C22u-rbpI3EHFjm5j97UX1ZY61w0jZ/s320/DSCN8854.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home visits in Capricorn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvOKGjK3247IfbSjwbE37J-eoXMLtQ0_UakpHhpszl63fyHlkhN8NPVg1F1tRMXKRXpyCOnqcFzulY-A8ZtzacVGkE5V5ldbcJmb8hihi-MKX088bJGBq0ndXbw9auEuKYsHcebN9rYFm/s1600/DSCN8856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvOKGjK3247IfbSjwbE37J-eoXMLtQ0_UakpHhpszl63fyHlkhN8NPVg1F1tRMXKRXpyCOnqcFzulY-A8ZtzacVGkE5V5ldbcJmb8hihi-MKX088bJGBq0ndXbw9auEuKYsHcebN9rYFm/s320/DSCN8856.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supporting families and spending time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sister of mine had a birthday. <br />
We celebrated her with cake and a dinner with friends!<br />
She's in her last 5 months of Seminary, finished her thesis,<br />
and headed to an awesome church internship in a few weeks. </td></tr>
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<br />melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-88189170709630155732016-06-15T03:59:00.000-05:002016-06-15T04:16:50.953-05:00Mid-year Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me jump right in and give you a taste of what's going on here in South Africa. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite streets in Capricorn! Pray for this beautiful community!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>VISA …</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of you have asked about my VISA situation and the result of the work permit appeal. I have NO NEWS. My application is still pending. While the uncertainty can be frustrating, it’s not consuming. I’ve been so thankful that I can continue to be in ministry and serve my community in this wait. God has been so good to continue to build on His work and my presence in Capricorn. Everyday I pray for God’s provision in strength and patience until His perfect timing. I promise to let you know as soon as I know more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>MINISTRY …</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CHURCH - <br />I’m developing new relationships with multiple small churches in Capricorn. Alongside a few others, we’re helping pastors connect, get to know each other and team up for the greater good of our community and the Body of Christ! We’re at the early stages of this church-unity-work, but it’s exciting to be on the ground floor and getting inside and outside people involved in Justice work in Capricorn!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm attending a church outside of Capricorn, and it's been a place of great refuge and peace for me. I'm involved in a small group and getting involved in the early stages of helping this large church do justice in their surrounding communities of need! There's lots of work to be done and I'm honored to be a small part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GROW - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our mentoring ministry that was launched in January (<a href="http://www.melaniedill.com/#!grow/c18d6" target="_blank">http://www.melaniedill.com/GROW</a>)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> has truly taken off and we’re seeing girls grow in spiritual and educational goals. In short, our mentors commit to journeying with 2-4 young girls for a year. Each girl makes 3 BIG goals for the year; we break the year into 3 month increments and have smaller goals to reach their large growth goal. At each 3 month period, if the girl reaches her milestones, we CELEBRATE. We spend an afternoon talking about their strides and thank God for His help to get to their goals (see photos below). Each mentee is doing so well. Deep relationships and trust have been built. The GROW concept and strategic planning continues to be developed and tested in this South African context, and one day in the future I hope to roll it out in other communities and churches in this country! Pray for the mentors and mentees that play a big part in this foundation-building-year!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>BUTTERFLY ART PROJECT at CAPRICORN PRIMARY SCHOOL …</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/">http://www.butterflyartproject.org/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Volunteering at the primary school and investing in this art project continues to be quite the fun challenge and a unique way serve Capricorn! Our art team has grown so much (teaching children and adults) and we’ve got many more hands to serve our children. This means there are more adult teachers to love and minister to as well! I’m honored to be part of this initiative and the wide range of secular connections I’m making in our community and all over Cape Town. God continues to show me my bigger purpose in these new places and I’m praying He will use me in this environment for His glory!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks to you all for your love, support and prayers. This South African journey continues to be wild and unexpected, but with God all things are secure! I’ll keep you posted and try to do better with updating more frequently on the blog. Life has gotten a bit busy but in a very great way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>PHOTO UPDATE ...</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly Art Project, Community Art Facilitators course in Newlands -<br />
teaching adults to lead vulnerable children through therapeutic art mediums!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Butterfly Art Project, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Community Art Facilitators course in Capricorn -<br />art therapy concepts!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking some of my girls to church! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOYZMpo1sKEH98YXOHzNFKLBYb2U8caDRe3WE7IdbBR-wOdQwvMIiOAKWh9bj70ZKR2X8kkGY3fCbFe15KBr7ijLRzsWZw2EbIYV5fA4B2df3DhDgPj_j4iOrvaG3g1ZSLn4leupxwn_8/s320/Freedom+Day+protest+2016.2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FREEDOM DAY in Cape Town. Bumped into a peaceful protest.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOYZMpo1sKEH98YXOHzNFKLBYb2U8caDRe3WE7IdbBR-wOdQwvMIiOAKWh9bj70ZKR2X8kkGY3fCbFe15KBr7ijLRzsWZw2EbIYV5fA4B2df3DhDgPj_j4iOrvaG3g1ZSLn4leupxwn_8/s1600/Freedom+Day+protest+2016.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJnqPRjm2SxAG7QBf1DQaPaMKfZ3cWi1WLir-rjiKw-pLJvS-N56kgzAddXmgt3qSJc-Sr0k0d1A3Qfkl3kGRSBOqC5Z7Ebfc_BASSMJOTec8UAuifP0nxJB1TgQ7Wc07_QoKT2rgjsaU/s320/Freedom+Day+protest+2016.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FREEDOM DAY PROTEST in downtown Cape Town.<br />
This country has a long history of beautiful justice fights.<br />
On this public holiday, many returned to the streets to fight for a better, free, South Africa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu97oWE8QGtlI40NAZX1i6YzUF3ItOX-7ojXhoIp0ZYXLP2iGRVnzmyRQftlQoLNYEqg-2BbgxzA1yVimme0wZWsQFaYjjw38Vxv7daIn_3c8qK_X-xMMrpKng0JwM-dSD5shx7xujuYg/s320/GROW+celebration+1.2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GROW CELEBRATION! Laurina & Tanika!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grow Celebration snack. All they wanted to do for their celebration was to<br />
have a Mugg & Bean large muffin! They were so precious and loved their<br />
little outing to the mall. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my newest friends in Capricorn and GROW.<br />
Celebrating goals met. Outing to Muizenberg!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2We-z1eYZidNsoE7sgmKomFPFlkdwgUTz8tUJD-zdVbewSV-EyQ6n-ugoV5CDGfrJdEM477LHdn7Qhno7duLfZTfXAc-KUvlBpb8VJ6I40WaS-ueXM6fmNbPqgd-DuuPRQL0bysg8w8vG/s1600/GROW+celebration+2+karen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXjyfKkUAOsCxzrIpHCDGl19Wjn_dlKa-sV-xOqU_ScLduFSGvF1e7J_JWE0TiRrCVQOtMjSQCkclvRLynXD0gFRShg02132HhNC26ZZ_NuF5N82N-YYLBKhYT_UJwjEidLSl382i1bNK/s320/mia+mandela+report.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little Mia during one of our weekly tutoring sessions.<br />
Report on Nelson Mandela! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXjyfKkUAOsCxzrIpHCDGl19Wjn_dlKa-sV-xOqU_ScLduFSGvF1e7J_JWE0TiRrCVQOtMjSQCkclvRLynXD0gFRShg02132HhNC26ZZ_NuF5N82N-YYLBKhYT_UJwjEidLSl382i1bNK/s1600/mia+mandela+report.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl1VmeWewqE6ZxTJRcQFnHc77Ahf1uLx1g0OxvKPb46dgSbZaQikyO_IpBuxINv2L6f5PoeQ20UZmppMFqnJATNKuB3PCpU9uTE8Joz72xFNH9vRQfekDKTN00T8pYpymjYSRWSIRl4JS/s320/Mel+Meagan+rugby+may+2016.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meagan and Mel at a rugby game in May. <br />
It was Meagan's first live rugby game, my second.<br />
We loved every minute. I'm so thankful for this South African sister!</td></tr>
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<br />melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-50393862888048086592016-05-02T11:41:00.003-05:002016-05-02T11:41:29.120-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8nnWKnZFiRGKin-ymcizH5RjWpe0PvAtciq039XSCHj8i5BDTreSmD5V1Ili8iaR2VowSQumiHeZo62zOELP1Y-p-UXYiOft-19DbRE2QV51kfMW_HiJjMGb38Vs7hvfbDQo2DDpDoAe/s1600/DSCN8617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8nnWKnZFiRGKin-ymcizH5RjWpe0PvAtciq039XSCHj8i5BDTreSmD5V1Ili8iaR2VowSQumiHeZo62zOELP1Y-p-UXYiOft-19DbRE2QV51kfMW_HiJjMGb38Vs7hvfbDQo2DDpDoAe/s400/DSCN8617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cape Town Baptist Seminary - Elsies River Mission Team 2016</div>
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These guys and gals are headed on mission next week. They came to my home for missions-training. We did sessions on:</div>
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- personalities and working styles</div>
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- entering community as pilgrims and learners</div>
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- ministry strengths and weaknesses </div>
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- team expectations </div>
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It was so nice to see these local South Africans ready to serve a local community. They're preparing themselves individually and as a team so that the spirit can use them! </div>
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Pray with me for:</div>
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- Meagan D, as she lead this team to Elsies River (just outside of Cape Town)</div>
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- for team-work and cooperation amongst the team</div>
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- for God to use the gifts present in the community to come alongside the team's gifts & abilities</div>
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- comfort zones to be invaded and new ministry experiences to happen</div>
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- for each individual missionary to learn something about people, God, themselves</div>
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- for God to be glorified in his pilgrims!</div>
<br />melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-4735134268542393812016-04-13T07:21:00.001-05:002016-04-13T07:21:14.981-05:00highlights from the last few months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In a flash of photos, here's what's been going on the last few months ... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkK93uZduDW5LfGW935FrB6IB_k54dPU0GJ_F5PMeL5Id9lfzgUlqdfHOe30nk7rorGxnABBWLbRJudO9LeDADRZe1pW9YeCMXdFHNboGfbLVh8cWBKrc4v1YQMvQV3Oe5WEOG1BsQsBeP/s1600/DSCN8150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkK93uZduDW5LfGW935FrB6IB_k54dPU0GJ_F5PMeL5Id9lfzgUlqdfHOe30nk7rorGxnABBWLbRJudO9LeDADRZe1pW9YeCMXdFHNboGfbLVh8cWBKrc4v1YQMvQV3Oe5WEOG1BsQsBeP/s320/DSCN8150.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supporting Meagan's Seminary as they are presented and prayed for in a local church!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H02Rsir3y1frFC1vWiRPOBvhketTf-B7GgHVZURCme-TlOzN7rFPISLQslRU3DMLteBlTJoqLdU9YntpFiRVj4rXh6dfia06_bUaCGDDAORlWMAl2rUegwH6JBLqHOACca0wlObPKXl9/s1600/DSCN8200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H02Rsir3y1frFC1vWiRPOBvhketTf-B7GgHVZURCme-TlOzN7rFPISLQslRU3DMLteBlTJoqLdU9YntpFiRVj4rXh6dfia06_bUaCGDDAORlWMAl2rUegwH6JBLqHOACca0wlObPKXl9/s320/DSCN8200.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PASSION CAME TO TOWN! <br />Louie Giglio & Chris Tomlin & the gang led Cape Town in a worship night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFyVlNZISHApdulZZruM1OT_R3FfmvRlRQJ7ZbYQws4GebhaZf0zxOto1bZiKav22EykxmtwzQQPSxtstm2GXmdd6R3BpgmZ6b5S24eYvOXgDkkp-qXf8w2i4IP32zmIkoSEoDrW4wKHS/s1600/DSCN8212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFyVlNZISHApdulZZruM1OT_R3FfmvRlRQJ7ZbYQws4GebhaZf0zxOto1bZiKav22EykxmtwzQQPSxtstm2GXmdd6R3BpgmZ6b5S24eYvOXgDkkp-qXf8w2i4IP32zmIkoSEoDrW4wKHS/s320/DSCN8212.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Investing in some really awesome girls. These are just a few that are part of GROW!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rluISqQOYmg2cMtGMUFsB8oGfcdMcfj-OUHNlvR_3QJIHITWgkjh0NgRCwNmypE5s08F54VcYFgz_cnN1MKK9JD7jc8qilde6g8QRRW3y6N_A-rJv85hP95-MdY-lNwTEitOI0bMiUb8/s1600/coconut+cake+EASTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rluISqQOYmg2cMtGMUFsB8oGfcdMcfj-OUHNlvR_3QJIHITWgkjh0NgRCwNmypE5s08F54VcYFgz_cnN1MKK9JD7jc8qilde6g8QRRW3y6N_A-rJv85hP95-MdY-lNwTEitOI0bMiUb8/s320/coconut+cake+EASTER.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter was tasty! I made a 3-layer coconut cake.<br />My family had some sort of coconut dessert each Easter, and the tradition continues.<br />I got to share this cake with my neighbors, Meagan's family, and some of my GROW girls & their families!<br />Baking is love.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LsYIGCDXFU7EmcxkEk-RRnwqmtejqzYSTzqzYgdcC-9M15GDfhEwnA8UkIJt5R8DQUjWhBzvgwcj0ZE8qbdNPTtHCTznMwelGxdUK2TQKVCaBfFMA91pPRapquRN5BSt9A-wsulG20xb/s1600/DSCN8427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LsYIGCDXFU7EmcxkEk-RRnwqmtejqzYSTzqzYgdcC-9M15GDfhEwnA8UkIJt5R8DQUjWhBzvgwcj0ZE8qbdNPTtHCTznMwelGxdUK2TQKVCaBfFMA91pPRapquRN5BSt9A-wsulG20xb/s320/DSCN8427.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mia & Chelsey on a Easter Sunday afternoon trip to Muiz Beach.<br />Spend the night party ensued afterward!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrASZnb_wj_TGy-S8-3wGmRxBDtYVjwzydmaCHiy8r1tOWPbRYVX1dwUPzrfWOr4SiC-H3rci9dVk_oxL6fcPDG2iRVL_92OJkV-_qm6ir3uno60qXEFKPe90YjU2F4v6MoRInXpWOUF8/s1600/DSCN8462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrASZnb_wj_TGy-S8-3wGmRxBDtYVjwzydmaCHiy8r1tOWPbRYVX1dwUPzrfWOr4SiC-H3rci9dVk_oxL6fcPDG2iRVL_92OJkV-_qm6ir3uno60qXEFKPe90YjU2F4v6MoRInXpWOUF8/s320/DSCN8462.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Monday (also known as Family Day here in South Africa) is a public holiday.<br />We went on a 5k trek in Sea Point, stopping at 3 playgrounds along the way!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRFFSZ8rklCsl_lArioLc5lp-Vk-LgF7-y_YqLr9Fvrt9ANAd1Vf76b7Ui7-2akjw6v3RemUUbGINjrK-VATa5rfmP4QVHTmvPjsPS30xUQsEnmyB0-DJ4w6_7dnlXLa3eZRxAKW4QP1l/s1600/DSCN8473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRFFSZ8rklCsl_lArioLc5lp-Vk-LgF7-y_YqLr9Fvrt9ANAd1Vf76b7Ui7-2akjw6v3RemUUbGINjrK-VATa5rfmP4QVHTmvPjsPS30xUQsEnmyB0-DJ4w6_7dnlXLa3eZRxAKW4QP1l/s320/DSCN8473.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor markets are huge here. <br />Had a small road trip with some friends to Franschoek and reveled in the glorious Autumn air!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5E7tr2uTE-mHXyzPG5IpHpQLvUm0wF3ZEUaKjKZ9x_THNTjBJxipQ8_qFnybsroR7m-X-K7FMH-xRq9vfLNHXduFzyyAcQO8-J7M1gDu0z6CLEG5uO58s5BdW6_cCqcSw3FeWpiyaSbU/s1600/DSCN8476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5E7tr2uTE-mHXyzPG5IpHpQLvUm0wF3ZEUaKjKZ9x_THNTjBJxipQ8_qFnybsroR7m-X-K7FMH-xRq9vfLNHXduFzyyAcQO8-J7M1gDu0z6CLEG5uO58s5BdW6_cCqcSw3FeWpiyaSbU/s320/DSCN8476.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franschoek, South Africa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0__2pI6bNm7Jo4dctgOmAspCtq5I-4iS57rK2Hf0eZ36gGqHCeaDjwrMdyfWo06R3m1NVyLmWqPp5V-PKT1CeOZpos4L5DdqzhhrBscy4JILEco4oaxy7cgwle0cfEe6jdGuy-xP-kus/s1600/DSCN8478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0__2pI6bNm7Jo4dctgOmAspCtq5I-4iS57rK2Hf0eZ36gGqHCeaDjwrMdyfWo06R3m1NVyLmWqPp5V-PKT1CeOZpos4L5DdqzhhrBscy4JILEco4oaxy7cgwle0cfEe6jdGuy-xP-kus/s320/DSCN8478.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends with coffee. There's no greater thing.</td></tr>
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Easter Break was fabulous and gave me 2 weeks of rest and special ministry times sprinkled in the break. I'm finding a much better balance in responsibilities, commitments, ministry stuff ... missions life details! I feel life is more together and I can breathe a bit in the handful of focus areas in ministry.<br />
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<b>Pray for ...</b><br />
- the local churches and pastors I'm working with in and out of Capricorn. I'm trying to strengthen discipleship strategies and mentoring concepts, walking alongside them and their youth/young adults. This is a slow process, but I'm building great relationships with churches in my community and continuing to build trust.<br />
- community development and creativity training through the Butterfly Art Project. This has been a HUGE ministry opportunity. Using art as a medium for relationship.<br />
- Capricorn Primary School - for the principal, staff, teachers ... it's a hard job to work in a South Africa community-governement-school<br />
- my Visa to come through - I'm having some delays and pray God's favor and provision upon this mission. I know this seems to be the never-ending story, but please persistently pray for this for me and ministry. It's crucial.<br />
- my GROW girls - the upcoming retreat planning, the weekly mentoring sessions, the families that are being supported<br />
- Meagan, my South African sister - as she's still waiting on an internship opportunity (July-Dec) and future full-time job (post seminary)<br />
<br />melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-37903521336130596462016-03-24T02:24:00.003-05:002016-04-07T14:06:58.669-05:00Celebrating Art In Life: Drawing Beautiful South Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQRW4OGNpaa2V3SsaTqGddxf9H9iQngs34f0XuBSufxeTMClvfLIVQzynOkxSK_t_teFHBQDkm6F-fc_8_GyVXvxnJ9SRHUhpQmME8-3R16GW5ikzK5hKGg7WtNO86AfsipeeqvvBYC-V/s1600/DSCN8172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQRW4OGNpaa2V3SsaTqGddxf9H9iQngs34f0XuBSufxeTMClvfLIVQzynOkxSK_t_teFHBQDkm6F-fc_8_GyVXvxnJ9SRHUhpQmME8-3R16GW5ikzK5hKGg7WtNO86AfsipeeqvvBYC-V/s400/DSCN8172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our class mantra. At the beginning and end of each class, we read this little poem.<br />
It reminds us that we're artists, we're full of good characteristics, and we're to create in all of life!</td></tr>
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My <a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/" target="_blank">Butterfly Art Project</a> after school art class just finished Term One! The past 8 weeks, we studied SHAPE. We used lots of mediums too: clay, pencil, watercolors, oil pastels! We even had a guest videographer who documented one of our clay lessons!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3ZqXor15uI1Ae2TVrHvc9bQVtwNjXGi480gX6mbU1rUgq4efbepuhjjNsnsYJZ8eS9O4UeTjKyKnsvX_kMrWWLMwYqB9d01SPkHwO7rYL3O0Dhf4SiL46Eumr6yJOED5B7VWki6mNBuG/s1600/DSCN8160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3ZqXor15uI1Ae2TVrHvc9bQVtwNjXGi480gX6mbU1rUgq4efbepuhjjNsnsYJZ8eS9O4UeTjKyKnsvX_kMrWWLMwYqB9d01SPkHwO7rYL3O0Dhf4SiL46Eumr6yJOED5B7VWki6mNBuG/s320/DSCN8160.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group Work - Clay Mandala. "How To" Video created during this lesson!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3vKLVj4B4iTET_kKeYnGjAwRGeLKgHTBV4yH-suH89OVCtsmfXUAheGLGMGilU5MVG17xPUl-ksyj1Aydop6JPSQJkRibjQiEhbvnrse6b6I_E_xSKuGrCobEMubcihDYOaYrjp5SaB2/s1600/DSCN8168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3vKLVj4B4iTET_kKeYnGjAwRGeLKgHTBV4yH-suH89OVCtsmfXUAheGLGMGilU5MVG17xPUl-ksyj1Aydop6JPSQJkRibjQiEhbvnrse6b6I_E_xSKuGrCobEMubcihDYOaYrjp5SaB2/s320/DSCN8168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay Mandala - Art in Life Class, Feb 2016</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j87AWEXEQSc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j87AWEXEQSc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Check out our "How To" YouTube video:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j87AWEXEQSc" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Butterfly Art Project : How To Make a Clay Mandala</span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQx3fuUPnbIzJ0NAFaeqeLQmqlBqJrAIy16Jel9IsjK1yGuH8mxVv_HEMWLgf7Co-zjdRi0fsbDCnV_cfbbhlA2N1I_Rxynnu6iEo3QdaSIC6_N8McbGqpDa4ibND7oithwqRvAlFvKjN/s1600/DSCN8231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQx3fuUPnbIzJ0NAFaeqeLQmqlBqJrAIy16Jel9IsjK1yGuH8mxVv_HEMWLgf7Co-zjdRi0fsbDCnV_cfbbhlA2N1I_Rxynnu6iEo3QdaSIC6_N8McbGqpDa4ibND7oithwqRvAlFvKjN/s320/DSCN8231.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group Mandala project - each student got a 1/4 page with a quarter of a circle drawn.<br />
Each artist filled in their quarter, applying the lessons of shape, color and pattern we'd learned!<br />
We'll then put all the pieces together to make an awesome collaborative piece.</td></tr>
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This class did so well that they earned an OUTING! </div>
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We got out of Capricorn, drove in a mini-bus taxi, had a picnic (hotdogs and juice boxes), and spent time drawing nature in the famous <a href="http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch" target="_blank">Kirstenbosch Gardens</a>! Not only was this a great art opportunity, but it was a bonding experience for our class. </div>
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<b>Here are a few photos of our Beautiful, South African Outing:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasgBzWUVBG1vObjEa7iKTbBNkzRqPCxgeK9-RyxIGsrjn3bmDZ2EREGCxlSrSMWpUfAST6uiwsDpgUxi4sLmcJnSqjpSN2QEnfSiFkKOd1kSWWg4Y6G2KZV3ZLqzTCPxjq-fyaVZ6XeG-/s1600/art+in+life+zand+thir+mel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasgBzWUVBG1vObjEa7iKTbBNkzRqPCxgeK9-RyxIGsrjn3bmDZ2EREGCxlSrSMWpUfAST6uiwsDpgUxi4sLmcJnSqjpSN2QEnfSiFkKOd1kSWWg4Y6G2KZV3ZLqzTCPxjq-fyaVZ6XeG-/s320/art+in+life+zand+thir+mel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Here's what I'm learning on mission these days:</b><br />
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- <b>Give your skills </b>- no matter what they are. Art is a medium for ministry! After all, Christ is Creator, and we mirror His creativity.</div>
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- <b>Be present. </b>The more I'm around these students, the more I learn about their homes, their needs, their dreams. Just show up and learn!</div>
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- <b>Care. </b>Go above and beyond. Arranging a simple outing can mean the world to students AND parents. Show you care in creative ways. </div>
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<br />melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-32299197386782746402016-03-16T02:04:00.002-05:002016-03-16T02:04:27.102-05:00When a field worker goes silent ...<div class="p1">
When a field worker goes silent via social media or their blog, there’s usually one of three things going on …</div>
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1. things are hard and challenges are overwhelming (and we feel no one will want to hear about the series of down days)</div>
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3. there’s so much good stuff going on, there’s not time to document it all</div>
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Thankfully, my lack of reporting has been because of the latter! There’s so much going on, I feel as busy as an American, and I’m needing a breather. </div>
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Let me tell you what happened just yesterday …</div>
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I’ve been mentoring a girl from the community. We had another session yesterday over coffee. She said to me, “I just want to know my purpose. I have no idea why I’m on this earth.” And there flew open the door for me to tell her about <i>my </i>purpose in Christ, my ‘non-religious’ views - describing church as a place filled with grace and love, not rules and judgment. I told her God sent Jesus because He knew we could never work our way to perfection, but our belief in Jesus gives us access to a relationship with our Creator God. </div>
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And she said to me, “I’ve never heard that before. I thought to know God I must be at church all the time and pray a certain number of prayers. That’s good news!” I smiled inside because, yes, that’s <i>THE </i>GOOD NEWS! This precious gal is not ‘churched.’ She’s not filled with a family tradition of cultural church attendance and religion. She’s fresh into the seeking realm and really wants to make her own decisions about faith. </div>
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My community is far from evangelized. There are so many beliefs and works-based-religions that are holding people back from freedom in Christ. Evangelism is happening through mentoring and relationship.</div>
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I have a long Easter break coming up soon, so I’ll document some more God-stories and catch you up. God is doing amazing things and opening doors for deep ministry. This is a true answer to prayer. Please continue to pray for favor and time to do what God is calling me to do - nothing more, nothing less. </div>
melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-3002023043196367842016-02-12T07:02:00.001-06:002016-02-12T07:12:11.676-06:00brief update in photo<div>
Let me catch you up just a bit ... </div>
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Here are few highlights from the past few weeks in photo.<br />
This is one of those posts that won't be too spiritual, but a glimpse of real-life in South Africa.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afterschool tutoring is going great.<br />There are LOTS of reasons I keep doing this ministry but this little one is on the top.<br />She's behind in traditional schooling but finding success in creative ways. We bake, we chat, we do exercise. She's learning to deal with educational challenges and life disasters in a new way. Supporting this family has been part of my call and ministry since 2010. God is truly getting me deeper and deeper into this family's life through the ministry of presence!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art is a huge part of my ministry these days.<br />This is just one of the creative pieces that I've done with groups this month.<br />It's called "Expression Pizza" - each individual group member gets a slice and has to illustrate their journey from the application to attend my course until the moment they arrive into the classroom. They then explain to the group who they are, tell their story and explain why they're in our art class. Art is the medium to get to know each other, and I'm having a ball!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gherkin turned 3!<br />It's summer here, so I made her a doggie ice cream dessert!<br />That's also Meagan's attempt at making her a party hat! She hated it, can you tell?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4o50Ou6JvapowIyM9QphacFyPiabS-VMi7HXhYH3JUJTj_uFugKWRE7_Dw5GK4s3cXr1-nOmd-8CrGIDodOxhUhrOzsrfv71Z4BKGCCRFgZZgmvI3sow2cU-6zww0N6mrlV0ZLrMHSJ/s1600/gherkin+bday-737374.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6250389192174202402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4o50Ou6JvapowIyM9QphacFyPiabS-VMi7HXhYH3JUJTj_uFugKWRE7_Dw5GK4s3cXr1-nOmd-8CrGIDodOxhUhrOzsrfv71Z4BKGCCRFgZZgmvI3sow2cU-6zww0N6mrlV0ZLrMHSJ/s320/gherkin+bday-737374.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Gherkin. You bring great joy!<br /><br />And can someone send me winter? I HATE the heat. </td></tr>
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<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;">Melanie Dill</span></span></div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-62449823498001510322016-02-03T05:27:00.001-06:002016-02-03T05:48:06.936-06:00Creating Connections<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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Lots of creativity and community development happening in Cape Town! These are a few photos of workshops I've been co-leading to develop Community Art Facilitators and creative teams.</div>
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Art has been my link to deeper relationships in Capricorn and all around Cape Town. Looking forward to seeing what God will do with these connections!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyQEbFPOKzkFA_Yun2Sd1wwbvwIr4AGv9TYOQWHMGlZ2XvlEnyzGUNXK8BmrGgeLEuLnqF63omNzqeFBkUn_aIAz3h1TL1pcTo1E4IJLlRkJSMASWQBIH5vqgsZAY7dmPd3_xxk_93lIB/s1600/WP_20160115_09_38_39_Pro-774849.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6247025107617457442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyQEbFPOKzkFA_Yun2Sd1wwbvwIr4AGv9TYOQWHMGlZ2XvlEnyzGUNXK8BmrGgeLEuLnqF63omNzqeFBkUn_aIAz3h1TL1pcTo1E4IJLlRkJSMASWQBIH5vqgsZAY7dmPd3_xxk_93lIB/s320/WP_20160115_09_38_39_Pro-774849.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sozo Foundation - team building through creative interaction<br />
www.thesozofoundation.org.za</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/#!community-art-facilitators/dh1ui" target="_blank">Newlands group </a>- telling your story - group bonding</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facilitator from an<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Philippi-Arts-Academy-339740322822035/" target="_blank"> Arts Academy</a> learning about creative facilitation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newlands Community Art Facilitators - Clay Mandala</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/#!community-art-facilitators/dh1ui" target="_blank">Capricorn Community Art Facilitators </a>- Clay Mandala in progress</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #888888; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Melanie Dill</span></div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-89008662414815577682016-01-13T09:39:00.000-06:002016-01-13T09:40:18.276-06:00The beginning of 2016<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3wFCIzxupvuwCISAh4vhdE_Wm9iAQPXo8vGNOxWVKvmfip_Ie7PLLIzTZN94HT-1RMWUStBxe45mr7UssTMMG19WEdCF5H1SH1Osay11HLHKnhnLn_W1ymIK2NMv1LE2LoRQkO_6ffSY/s1600/WP_20160113_11_43_17_Pro-718277.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3wFCIzxupvuwCISAh4vhdE_Wm9iAQPXo8vGNOxWVKvmfip_Ie7PLLIzTZN94HT-1RMWUStBxe45mr7UssTMMG19WEdCF5H1SH1Osay11HLHKnhnLn_W1ymIK2NMv1LE2LoRQkO_6ffSY/s320/WP_20160113_11_43_17_Pro-718277.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6239297355159665826" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOLhImAMz9uqG2TdviCksh1J4pLY-UB1_tZ-d1eWcxpikKcr2cEnGeQ8brT1o33ASd1JOj1QXKVB78OCednPnedPAYsH-abvVaLELL7HZ8m2RX7YCCgq3D9NRtrZuOfvuVrDRPG8W5BA-/s1600/WP_20160113_12_54_46_Pro-721440.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOLhImAMz9uqG2TdviCksh1J4pLY-UB1_tZ-d1eWcxpikKcr2cEnGeQ8brT1o33ASd1JOj1QXKVB78OCednPnedPAYsH-abvVaLELL7HZ8m2RX7YCCgq3D9NRtrZuOfvuVrDRPG8W5BA-/s320/WP_20160113_12_54_46_Pro-721440.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6239297367842819330" /></a></p><div><div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br>My little community here in South Africa is in full swing. After a long Dec break, adults are back to work, kids began school today, and there's a nice vibe on the streets. <br><br>This was my view today. Children laughing, playing, ready for class. These past few days, I've been in project planning meetings, did home visits, organized school supplies, and got back into the routine of ministry life. Whew!<br><br>This year, please pray for:<br><br>- My girls mentoring and discipleship ministry - "Grow"<br>- Favor of the community and deep relationships that lead to Christ<br>- The Butterfly Art Project at Capricorn Primary School (which I serve as a community outreach) - art classes, staff development, art therapy<br>- Entry and opportunity to teach Bible Studies and Community Development in new places and with new groups<br>- Church support - helping churches with training in girls ministry, youth, Sunday School, missions <br>- God to move and transform hearts in Capricorn!<br><br><br>Ill keep you posted.<br><br>Melanie Dill</div></div>melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-73520347444016194762016-01-08T14:25:00.001-06:002016-01-08T14:38:07.293-06:00Thank you USA!<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had a lovely visit to the USA over Christmas. Now that I'm back in South Africa for another round of intentional community development, I'm reflecting on some things that have become my missionary life …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1. <b>USA life is foreign to me now.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The pace, the food, the choices, the constant conversation … these things are overwhelming when coming back for a visit. In South Africa, things run slower, the choices are fewer and simpler, and I'm not as scheduled. When I try to keep up with American life and ways, I can't keep up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2. <b>The USA is for refreshing, not resting. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">People are always getting on to me about the schedule I keep in America. But let me reverse it … you guys are the ones asking for time-spent, so it's not my fault! I'm trying to see you all! And I want to! My time in the USA is never restful, but it's purposefully refreshing. I get to fill up my relational-tank, make memories, catch up on conversations I've missed over the year gone, do fun things, and then have the encouragement to go back and endure the lonely days and harsh environment. THANK YOU to all who filled that encouragement tank! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3.<b> I will always disappoint. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And to point 2, I add …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I feel I'm constantly disappointing people when I'm in the US. There's never enough time, there aren't enough days; I can't do it all. I try my hardest to visit those that want to catch up, but it's never enough. And to those I wasn't able to see AT ALL this visit, FORGIVE ME; I'll visit again in a year or so. Again, I always disappoint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">4. <b>Your food is killer! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No seriously. I physically feel awful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It took me being fully removed from American culture to understand that how we eat in America is NOT good. Maybe it's the mega-stores with "bulk savings," the boxed pre-prepared meals, or the allure of social eating in restaurants. I thought I knew how to cook until I had to learn to cook from SCRATCH in South Africa. In America, I was used to cooking with ingredients that aren't natural – things that could sit in a pantry or frig for a month. Here in South Africa, you use whatever's available fresh (and beware things spoil quickly) and learn to be creative! Want pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner … you better learn to puree a real pumpkin, not open a can! It's been a culinary mission for sure! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">While the treat of American food was great for a month, my body took a toll. I tried to have self-control, but when you're being hosted, you're just thankful for the food provided and the company with it! Can't complain!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">5. <b>I need you to remember me!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Remember me throughout your year. When your family gathers and shares milestones, send a picture! When you feel lonely and have no one to share your challenging day with, email me. When you hear an amazing sermon, read a verse that's inspiring, or have a prompt in your spirit to contact a missionary, reach out! I don't need you to find 2 hours to type a 5 page update about what I've missed and what you want to share. Sometimes just knowing I'm not forgotten over the waters and through the miles is what encourages me most. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I need to hear from you guys. Your prayers are so important. Your communication is valued. Your support is what keeps this mission going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you to all who shared their homes, food, finances, and lives with me during my visit to America. I appreciate you caring about missions and me! I'm back on the mission field, trying to get over jetlag and ready for another year of watching God show up and be God! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'll keep you posted. You do the same!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: medium;">Melanie Dill</span></div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-7917671067228200862015-12-02T14:26:00.001-06:002015-12-02T14:26:38.148-06:00Graduating a class<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV7NCq0l48XdqiKjts9MUgwW1dCgALsVXlnDYZvge7yRgHUE2QgchBYEho6I_v25YY2-q91gSU46JnYI73Aq8Sv4QlO1MaUrDoKXo75lPY5mxVfOv0FyiSmC6SBeeYKOSPHYb60W4ntdI/s1600/WP_20151202_08_33_37_Pro+%25282%2529-798149.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV7NCq0l48XdqiKjts9MUgwW1dCgALsVXlnDYZvge7yRgHUE2QgchBYEho6I_v25YY2-q91gSU46JnYI73Aq8Sv4QlO1MaUrDoKXo75lPY5mxVfOv0FyiSmC6SBeeYKOSPHYb60W4ntdI/s320/WP_20151202_08_33_37_Pro+%25282%2529-798149.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6223785563322072338" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8jm1VWjEhkJbZ17Z96U33MZVg-JuxUYPLiRiGGyfRQOXQj3OotP-4djY4t9O_mx07E-u9IiiXl29yTgbgrJX95pLmu7-nJXzazUandCYMCOb8tcaaLB98KZrzPhrvy-b0qj49m4xJxxU/s1600/WP_20151202_11_51_12_Pro-700962.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8jm1VWjEhkJbZ17Z96U33MZVg-JuxUYPLiRiGGyfRQOXQj3OotP-4djY4t9O_mx07E-u9IiiXl29yTgbgrJX95pLmu7-nJXzazUandCYMCOb8tcaaLB98KZrzPhrvy-b0qj49m4xJxxU/s320/WP_20151202_11_51_12_Pro-700962.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6223785576254273762" /></a></p><div><div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Had to say goodbye to my grade 7 art students today. Our school year concludes this month and grade 8 begins high school. <br><br>My new ministry at the local primary school has been such an exciting adventure and opportunity to love and serve hundreds in Capricorn community that I never knew before. <br><br>Praying these children finish high school, get a job they love and can provide for their families while leading our community in positive transformation! These our the next leaders of Capricorn!<br><br>Melanie Dill</div></div>melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-58623103002013858242015-11-11T04:42:00.001-06:002015-11-11T04:58:09.839-06:00Update in Photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my streets just before the morning chaos beings!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School Holiday open studio. Large painting of the community road-map!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my best students - studying LINE and TEXTURE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7PB0Eh-c1JHVSO2Yx6yaIkgfvCqCF4S6C0NjBRV8seYs1ZFHDNWO5Wcu1RSY-tvzf16ip8daYS1aDWXOgnTrnzMmAuReYKF2XdsEvD_jf-GwXrKs5aARE4hcGOqepR-Ri6j_tPNdo9cX/s1600/WP_20151102_15_42_57_Pro-796925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842445431203826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7PB0Eh-c1JHVSO2Yx6yaIkgfvCqCF4S6C0NjBRV8seYs1ZFHDNWO5Wcu1RSY-tvzf16ip8daYS1aDWXOgnTrnzMmAuReYKF2XdsEvD_jf-GwXrKs5aARE4hcGOqepR-Ri6j_tPNdo9cX/s400/WP_20151102_15_42_57_Pro-796925.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building creativity into the next generation!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74VYaN1RIplmn1Wzv1nzcX2C5LDCDYrfCFSbWzojSeTuRAI-N51jm-3oj6qniEtRubLhOP0WRyiM6EN6ZSYIHAzdO3iuuVP9kppKvi7d1tzZfvzWMwtX2mACfKqLrefjS4TAnzIGHaHKx/s1600/WP_20150914_15_26_20_Pro-769384.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842329138025282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74VYaN1RIplmn1Wzv1nzcX2C5LDCDYrfCFSbWzojSeTuRAI-N51jm-3oj6qniEtRubLhOP0WRyiM6EN6ZSYIHAzdO3iuuVP9kppKvi7d1tzZfvzWMwtX2mACfKqLrefjS4TAnzIGHaHKx/s400/WP_20150914_15_26_20_Pro-769384.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my local colleagues teaching an art lesson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFlgutdpqK_Y5huCR0nrs24rRVHik0CvBaJ0822ekRLknwXp5bUY1LM8S4xuyWHDTXtB_zM707VJLjwvTthuhv55VuKU1WlGji_Pm8LvyWGgP8KGYgz4OStKaCDpRQJg1f7142T_vMx9b/s1600/WP_20150921_15_36_52_Pro-771692.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842338408596802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFlgutdpqK_Y5huCR0nrs24rRVHik0CvBaJ0822ekRLknwXp5bUY1LM8S4xuyWHDTXtB_zM707VJLjwvTthuhv55VuKU1WlGji_Pm8LvyWGgP8KGYgz4OStKaCDpRQJg1f7142T_vMx9b/s400/WP_20150921_15_36_52_Pro-771692.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fashion Design drawings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPy87schDlfPIpi1yTblg726fVNTvmg1iLgg1lyBZUCFcoxsIY7-q_KgHUPNAj92RGlcpohz7gxkEQeGfCwt9_W0_tiC4Uh8f4THwX-OoucPd4kb2gY-6kkaTQNs8Lf8fDOTqfiQ60Oi4/s1600/WP_20150921_15_37_15_Pro-773746.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842348060164594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPy87schDlfPIpi1yTblg726fVNTvmg1iLgg1lyBZUCFcoxsIY7-q_KgHUPNAj92RGlcpohz7gxkEQeGfCwt9_W0_tiC4Uh8f4THwX-OoucPd4kb2gY-6kkaTQNs8Lf8fDOTqfiQ60Oi4/s400/WP_20150921_15_37_15_Pro-773746.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fashion Design drawings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLkL9YM_wrjkaQdP7QNojfHHvUSSLeEDvROco6oDPkrVrforrj5vR9E8eWI5PPIXJ1Lc-MbxcshyphenhyphenwYNZp-yqKAlADVlDp45xLiOFubcqE9NV5noGIc7kFgRrw3vQswLYlmaUyj5OzoEP_/s1600/WP_20150928_14_06_16_Pro-781658.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842380140079874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLkL9YM_wrjkaQdP7QNojfHHvUSSLeEDvROco6oDPkrVrforrj5vR9E8eWI5PPIXJ1Lc-MbxcshyphenhyphenwYNZp-yqKAlADVlDp45xLiOFubcqE9NV5noGIc7kFgRrw3vQswLYlmaUyj5OzoEP_/s400/WP_20150928_14_06_16_Pro-781658.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conducting a team-building strategic planning session with the Butterfly Art Project</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLnLoDBYCESUMn6E8xoBk5dE9hfa3b9RKiDsZKB8uji9QEchqCMALlNUn35nji6J6ZG27hdUNNFJG8_rABYd9kIMDGQ6bY7WNwoJRiaYxRdjsHe7zPwIdzkx6BbF3eGysTKQvfU4_0yxF/s1600/WP_20151006_12_51_44_Pro-785669.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842399832962226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLnLoDBYCESUMn6E8xoBk5dE9hfa3b9RKiDsZKB8uji9QEchqCMALlNUn35nji6J6ZG27hdUNNFJG8_rABYd9kIMDGQ6bY7WNwoJRiaYxRdjsHe7zPwIdzkx6BbF3eGysTKQvfU4_0yxF/s400/WP_20151006_12_51_44_Pro-785669.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My make-shift art studio. Producing paintings for fundraising!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-QNPsE3ND0fJFqbBcxY6_PlUAmHXqlueuYuIG854bZ9iO60onwX0G960BLjIFo3DwE1ctBmcnPjkTfS3VYxBfRaWBufllOF3yYhjyJtgaIo26LvB8HjEe8OhpU98md7o0h4k4u6Ue6rd/s1600/IMG-20151021-WA0011-794918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842438331629874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-QNPsE3ND0fJFqbBcxY6_PlUAmHXqlueuYuIG854bZ9iO60onwX0G960BLjIFo3DwE1ctBmcnPjkTfS3VYxBfRaWBufllOF3yYhjyJtgaIo26LvB8HjEe8OhpU98md7o0h4k4u6Ue6rd/s400/IMG-20151021-WA0011-794918.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In action - doing a test-work for teaching art</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWvC7NvAOnl8w9W_f4oxk3lP0eS3-ThoLQDi_mtD3AFtTvOVDI1ixJHvvxO-WDsubLmJGZslGtDk7Ac_L5iT29WU9o3uPpVFBaFggmpZYjGd4N6D64tpUQYjtZwY8XO2it_U_SI8ikuIm/s1600/WP_20151009_10_48_25_Pro-789975.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842417644373714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWvC7NvAOnl8w9W_f4oxk3lP0eS3-ThoLQDi_mtD3AFtTvOVDI1ixJHvvxO-WDsubLmJGZslGtDk7Ac_L5iT29WU9o3uPpVFBaFggmpZYjGd4N6D64tpUQYjtZwY8XO2it_U_SI8ikuIm/s400/WP_20151009_10_48_25_Pro-789975.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mentoring Outing - discipleship with these gals is so fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc0mq1VC_-EfgcOjI1OMT1Bwzz3mr1_FcCqK4YCkLatf1qD1EK8kYeeSquz4VCpMzYnjHhRGx4uufv8HLBSMfcIWCNV7czfjahqpa0xvwic_lHLuRujZUTcvlTLfP4gge0OZxuHeDTIh9/s1600/WP_20150923_17_42_51_Pro-775456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6215842351592194546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc0mq1VC_-EfgcOjI1OMT1Bwzz3mr1_FcCqK4YCkLatf1qD1EK8kYeeSquz4VCpMzYnjHhRGx4uufv8HLBSMfcIWCNV7czfjahqpa0xvwic_lHLuRujZUTcvlTLfP4gge0OZxuHeDTIh9/s400/WP_20150923_17_42_51_Pro-775456.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Investing in their education and spiritual development weekly for over 5 years now!<br />Can't wait to watch how God uses them for His glory.</td></tr>
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Missions life in Capricorn and Cape Town continues to evolve and grow. I've been a part of some really neat ministry opportunities lately - counseling sessions, mentoring opportunities, community and staff development, supporting families in crisis, creative processing, training people from around the world in missions strategy, and building local relationships across cultural and religious divides. </div>
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God has redeemed a lot of really hard years of investing in this difficult place. As I process and pray for the next season and next year, I'm excited about what's to come. God is faithful and continues to provide in ways I never imagined!</div>
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Continue to pray for South Africa and this mission. </div>
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Pray specifically for open doors and favor in Capricorn.</div>
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Pray for the big vision God is putting together inside of me for strategic ministry in 2016</div>
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... more details to come!</div>
melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-74444386707039444752015-11-03T12:30:00.001-06:002015-11-04T02:14:22.768-06:00Training the nations<div class="mobile-photo">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TcCADkHw-qE9kzweX9f-6TfDz6pTF8L2iPV2G481QqfKPngm5M3sgfsvo49l9Ghms2vG3JMLZrqLIgQDS8baPFI2dEE8G2U1XDgDB0jmnBLT13oefNyF4qRYx7U739zgLE7k9UaUY1eL/s1600/WP_20151029_08_56_20_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TcCADkHw-qE9kzweX9f-6TfDz6pTF8L2iPV2G481QqfKPngm5M3sgfsvo49l9Ghms2vG3JMLZrqLIgQDS8baPFI2dEE8G2U1XDgDB0jmnBLT13oefNyF4qRYx7U739zgLE7k9UaUY1eL/s320/WP_20151029_08_56_20_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly Art Project - discovering theories of child trauma healing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGsaK-Rr2Rc51kl-vylt8GHr3f5x7mQfO_IvkvkP-2khREKXzt1BOp-pE_WX1p5szYT12BdWBCwxfAxYmTBYoQUl8xVdo1pbZTRVagN541gVRr410_KREGa4gD8LNMca2jReJmdxubGES/s1600/WP_20151029_11_41_43_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGsaK-Rr2Rc51kl-vylt8GHr3f5x7mQfO_IvkvkP-2khREKXzt1BOp-pE_WX1p5szYT12BdWBCwxfAxYmTBYoQUl8xVdo1pbZTRVagN541gVRr410_KREGa4gD8LNMca2jReJmdxubGES/s320/WP_20151029_11_41_43_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly Art Project Method - practicing a child trauma questionnaire </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Personal Healing Retreat - discovering our need for God's healing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YWAM Children at Risk School students 2015</td></tr>
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Last week I had the privilege to help train a group of students from <a href="http://ywammuizenberg.org/training/children-at-risk-school/" target="_blank">Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Muizenberg</a>. This is an international missions group with a training base in South Africa. Students are in South Africa for 12 weeks learning about how to minister to "children at risk." I got to jump in their week of learning about Trauma. <br />
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These YWAM students represented many nations: France, Zambia, South Africa, USA, Netherlands, India and Sierra Leone. It was an amazing experience to be with God's people from around the globe. <br />
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On Thursday, I introduced them to the work I'm part of in Capricorn. They learned about Art Therapy and the value of teaching traumatized children artistic coping skills. I shared about the value of being in the secular world with spiritual eyes. It was a great day of township, cultural education!<br />
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Then on the Friday, at their personal retreat, I was asked to lead a creative session on "healing personal trauma." This was a unique group time - using clay and play dough to make a little person that represented themselves. Each person spoke about what they love about their creation and what the little image "needs" in its life. The group gave feedback and spirit-led words to each person. We also had a personal processing time with scriptures to meditate on, silent solitude, and group worship. Of course we ended with a South African Braai (BBQ) and got to relax and get to know each other by the lake.<br />
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I was so thankful to make this connection and share my love of art and "personal spiritual processing" with the world. There are so many new and beautiful doors opening for me in ministry. GOD IS GOOD and so faithful! <br />
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Thanks YWAM, Aukje and Toby for inviting me to serve your students!<br />
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Melanie Dill</div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-11273536294499386172015-10-22T14:21:00.004-05:002015-10-22T14:21:59.903-05:00Back in physical community<div class="p1">
Yesterday was my first day back in Capricorn after the violent protests that made us pause for a week. As I entered the community, I was greeted by a police road-block. They were stopping everyone entering the community, especially taxis, and checking registrations just to be sure all drivers were legal and operating in the new agreement post-protest. I almost cried as I saw how the police were supporting and protecting us. They were out in full-force! </div>
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I drove down the street just a bit further and stopped at a family’s house that I wanted to check on. The mom opened the door and hugged me like we hadn’t seen each other in years. We stood in front of her gate, briefly caught up on the week’s events, and encouraged each other with a reminder of deep relationship we’d built. </div>
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Then, I drove into the school parking and was welcomed by the grounds-keeper and smiling children. We were all so thrilled to be back together. There was such an air of unity and appreciation.</div>
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At 12noon that first day back, a local colleague and I went to a meeting led by a few Capricorn leaders. The agenda of the meeting, unknown, but we all gathered because we got a text message invite and we desired to really listen to those who wanted to support change. Over 50 community leaders showed up to hear what the people had to say. The meeting began with the South African national anthem, which is a huge symbol of unity as its lyrics are sung in 5 of the 11 national languages in South Africa. This was a sign of togetherness and inclusion.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0Rm1czsFADYoAqIEV0z9J7YNT62RF96-a1iPQ3WTHQ-ZR58iWJ5YPHMVdUPi15pCtXSo7Qac4Ly26yCaDti_0ga5fFh_IYPC4g9F8V41MoYOrp0-k1ixW3zPlSRSII-po04EzdkGAlPT/s1600/sa+national+anthem.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0Rm1czsFADYoAqIEV0z9J7YNT62RF96-a1iPQ3WTHQ-ZR58iWJ5YPHMVdUPi15pCtXSo7Qac4Ly26yCaDti_0ga5fFh_IYPC4g9F8V41MoYOrp0-k1ixW3zPlSRSII-po04EzdkGAlPT/s640/sa+national+anthem.tiff" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lyric source: </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa" style="font-size: medium;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_South_Africa</a></td></tr>
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Then, 2 huge things happened. Firstly, <b>the taxi association </b>(which started this whole drama in the streets) <b>apologized to the community</b> for how the events took place. All of the key players of the Taxi Association were present (one sitting right next to me), and they actually wanted to be part of the community change! Secondly, the meeting was called to <b>propose a Vrygrond Forum</b> be put into place. This would essentially be representatives from all sectors of the community (non-profits, sports programs, churches, transportation, etc). And this would be the place where complaints could be raised and issues dealt with civilly. Hallelujah. Capricorn is making progress and it’s coming straight from the natives! Essentially, we’re on the right track and the meeting was progress for us all! I’ll keep you posted on the initiative as I have information!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uwq2iv7W1HIll5T4YinThEoqlD3xfQEsY2ox6IXoSICKt0foCtaS79q9Ib-P10uRGhebijYwKBLe6qxSXEWhQBsDhcyok1n-roBhLSc99QF7EHjE5AibNgXyP6rOmVxvePAPX8uDa23f/s1600/WP_20151021_12_23_08_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uwq2iv7W1HIll5T4YinThEoqlD3xfQEsY2ox6IXoSICKt0foCtaS79q9Ib-P10uRGhebijYwKBLe6qxSXEWhQBsDhcyok1n-roBhLSc99QF7EHjE5AibNgXyP6rOmVxvePAPX8uDa23f/s400/WP_20151021_12_23_08_Pro.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Community Meeting at an NGO building (Sozo Foundation)</td></tr>
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This week has been one to remember. <b>I’m thankful to personally be in a place where my everyday makes me depend on the Lord</b>. I’m thankful to see that God truly made me and equipped me for my task and continues to put me deeper and deeper into the community so that I can be a light for Him. </div>
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This place is crazy, but it’s teaching me a lot about how little I knew about the world when I was in my Christian bubble. </div>
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Capricorn is changing and I see God paving the way for revival right here!</div>
melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-26223957381400039742015-10-20T01:41:00.001-05:002015-10-20T01:41:43.978-05:00Processing Violence in Capricorn: a lesson for missionaries and alongsiders<div dir="ltr"><div>Thank you to all who have emailed and contacted me to inquire about the situation in my community. I'm amazed at how quickly news can spread but I'm also intrigued at how complex technology makes an international situation. I'm going to jot some thoughts below as a response to what I'm pondering and God is teaching me through this community that I call home.<br></div><div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">Firstly, as much as I call Capricorn home, I do not live within its borders. I live less than a mile from one of the entrances. I can walk to Capricorn if needed but I'm privileged to have a car that gets me in and out of there quickly if needed. I am not trapped by Capricorn borders like many I serve. </p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">When violent protests hit this place, I'm informed by locals as to the safety and my ability to enter. I have many "men of peace" in the community and because of our Christian community, these people give me updates on the situation. When the police get involved, I surrender to their advice and enter when they give the ok. This is the primary school's situation as well. There is such emphasis placed in mission upon proper entry and occupancy into a township like Capricorn… and many non-profits and even Christians who seek to do-good don't grasp these rules.</p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">I used to think I was being "too careful." What would Jesus do? Would Jesus play it safe? Or would Jesus risk life and limb to be with his people during Capricorn protests? Here's what I've come to see in this particular situation. I asked myself, <b>what's the motive of me being involved during this time</b>? Do the people really need assistance in this matter? What can I give or do? In this case, the protests were led by taxi drivers who lost a court case and their taxis were impounded. They were fighting to continue driving illegally and they wanted to enforce mob-justice and shut the community down to show how much control they had. In this situation, no one was in danger unless you walked the street and got involved in the protests. If you stayed home and weren't active in the protests, you could cope and be safe. So as an "outsider" the people didn't really see a need for me in the community until things settled. They actually didn't want me there to draw attention. Yes, the children were bored and the people weren't able to go to work, but there wasn't a cause for outsiders. The biggest lesson I'm learning here is to <b>check my motive</b>. Is it that I want to see what's going on and personally be informed? Is it that I think I can "save the world" by my presence or my resources? Or is it a time to understand my role in the community and pray that the efforts I've done in the recent days to <b>equip, support and build local leaders</b> is actually fruitful? I'm learning the latter is true.</p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class=""><b>Missionaries are alongsiders. Missionaries and Christian ministry leaders should never be in the spotlight as 'saviors of the situation.' We are a human-resource and spiritual guides and the locals must be supported as the ones who lead.</b></p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">This time, it was important to stay outside. Coming in as "rescuer" could be seen as a harmful mission theory. Thanks to technology, I was able to call and whatsapp my class children from the school, I could check on my church families and I was in frequent contact with many local leaders. It was time for me to encourage, not step in.<b> I told the locals how proud I was of their efforts to hold prayer meetings in their homes. I was so thankful for the local bodies that arose to their God-given gifts and really were the body parts of Christ coming together. </b>To step in this time would mean I would be taking the role and robbing others I've equipped in acting in their gift-set. </p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">Proper missions response this time meant, encourage. </p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">For me, <b>the separation from my people was the hardest</b>. I really felt South African apartheid had come again, but this time it was a separation between economic status. If you lived in another neighborhood, you weren't allowed across the Capricorn lines. If you were a citizen of Capricorn, you were held in like a prisoner. This isn't how we've come to know Capricorn. It isn't right to be so separate. </p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">So, after 4 working days of being asked to stay outside the borders, I'm tired. Our Butterfly Art Project team (the arts education team to the Capricorn Primary School and community) worked at our Director's home in the neighborhood across the street from Capricorn. We planned the rest of our year, had lots of "debriefing talks" with our interns from Europe who are having a hard time emotionally and mentally with this violence, and we've supported our children from afar on the phone … many hours of talking to parents and community leaders. I've given lots of time to documenting my plans and purpose in 2016 and praying about what ministry should look like in this next, big season in South Africa. This pause from normality was really productive and put life in perspective for all of us!</p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class=""><b>I'm exhausted. </b>These events are cause for overdrive. The mental strain and emotional processing wears me out. This must be the feeling of all inside Capricorn too, but with extra strain due to "survival mode" as well. </p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">I want to point out that we all process these things differently. Some people in Capricorn have said they're fine and life is per normal. Some have told me their children are afraid to walk the streets alone and are sad about the destruction of the buildings. But <b>there is LIFE in the Christian community </b>there. There's a source of strength that is coming alive and being a witness to the whole community. Even sitting in a team meeting yesterday, I realized that those of us who are Christians are dealing with these events in a much healthier way than those who don't know this Christian-fellowship in Capricorn. A relationship with God and fellowship with others makes a huge difference.</p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">The longer I'm in South Africa, the more I see that this is what life is like here. There will be protests, violence, unrest. This is a community that is under-resourced and under-heard. They don't always follow the rules and they prefer making a noise to get attention. This is Africa. Because of these realities, I'm no longer so naive about who can come and do ministry here. I haven't had a team visit in over a year, and that's partly purposeful because short-term mission has to be re-thought and strategic where I am. The American circus can't come and draw attention and think that's the best way to serve in this context. Maybe one day soon I can host a small team again and have the support of my USA church in that way. I'm still learning too.</p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">I also want to point out that Facebook is a tricky thing. One must be conscious of overly-emotional messages and what sound like advertisements for a cause. There's always a bit of truth sprinkled in, but locals have been outraged at how this situation blew up emotionally on Facebook and how people who aren't really in touch with the matter can project their feeling on a community. Please don't believe everything you see on social media.</p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">I do my best to stay calm and report the reality of the matter. Yes, it's difficult to bear, but I believe <b>God builds a missionary for their task.</b> If you look at my biography, you can see the circumstances and personality-building that fits this<b> life as an "alongsider" of Capricorn</b> so well. After 5 1/2 years of working in this community and being inside every day, I'm learning how to educate the American church on ways to properly view and partner with communities like these. </p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">As Americans, we see this news and we shudder. Our lives don't look like this and we think this shouldn't happen to anyone. To a degree this is true. However, Jesus is coming back soon, and this should catapult us into a reality that is not our bubble of suburbia. The world needs us and our prayers. <b>With proper motives and God-led mission, we can really make a difference in places like Capricorn through the locals there. </b></p> <p class=""><br></p> <p class="">The school is reopening today. The police are still EVERYWHERE and patrolling heavily. The community leaders are calling a meeting on Wednesday. There's a lot of activity and God has a huge opportunity to show up and show off His glory! </p> <p class=""><br></p></div></div></div></div></div> </div></div> melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-41821483216557344932015-10-17T12:12:00.001-05:002015-10-17T12:12:14.054-05:00Community Update <div><div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In short...<br>- The last 3 days have been uncertain in our community but its also caused a great sense of support and love for each other.<br>- The violence has calmed down. I expect it could start up again when people need to leave the community for work on Monday, but I pray it doesn't.<br>- It's been reported that the adults who want to cause trouble have been using children to light the fires and throw petrol bombs in buildings. This can't be confirmed but pray for the children who are being used - that they would be protected and free from this bondage and abuse.<br>- The police have been GREAT and have helped disperse protests and supported the innocent. They have a tough job.<br>- I'm safe and eager to return to work so that I can share God's love with those I've been separated from during this time of unrest. Can't wait to see my school children and help them process these events. God is ready to do miracles, I just know it!<br><br>Keep praying for us as we re-enter and love hard! But overall, we're well.<br><br>Melanie Dill</div></div>melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-55267631926914228552015-10-15T06:06:00.001-05:002015-10-15T06:22:10.029-05:00Violence escalating in Capricorn<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
Shootings, more protests, fires and chaos. There is unrest. Our community needs peace. </div>
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Again, today the primary school and non-profits are closed. Police are patrolling. The community is at a standstill. </div>
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The parents and youth I've talked to feel trapped in Capricorn and want to have the freedom to walk their streets again. The children want to go to school. One of my co-workers was shot with police rubber bullets as he was trying to see what was going on yesterday morning. There's a battle between the law and those who have "community control."</div>
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Those protesting are throwing stones and attacking all who try to leave or come in Capricorn. They want the attention of the government and will do anything to get it. </div>
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South African Local news:</div>
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<a href="http://citizen.co.za/818148/two-shot-dead-in-cape-flats-taxi-related-protest/">http://citizen.co.za/818148/two-shot-dead-in-cape-flats-taxi-related-protest/</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/14/Strong-police-maintained-in-Vrygrond-after-taxi-protest">http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/14/Strong-police-maintained-in-Vrygrond-after-taxi-protest</a></span></span><br />
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Videos from our Butterfly Art Project friends: </div>
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PRAY FOR CAPRICORN / VRYGROND:</div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pray for our law enforcement trying to do their jobs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pray for our children who are unable to study and go to school because of this protest.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pray for justice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pray for safety of all involved.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pray that this is an opportunity for the Gospel and unity. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">May the local church arise and care for all in our hurting community.</span></li>
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AGAIN, I'M OK. </div>
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I worked from a co-worker's home outside of Capricorn today. We did team for the non-profit and I'm doing ministry admin as well. I'm calling all my Capricorn "families" and my extramural tutoring children. The Vrygrond Trust (who cares for the community) is in communication and letting us know when it's safe to go back into the community. I'm anxious to see my kids and love on them. But I promise I'm wise and letting the Spirit work when I can't be physically there. </div>
melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-76467562422442661192015-10-14T12:23:00.001-05:002015-10-14T12:29:12.971-05:00they're at it again<div class="mobile-photo">
Today school was cancelled, non-profits were closed, and no one was allowed in or out of Capricorn during the morning and afternoon peak-travel times. The taxi protests are in full swing and our community was on lock-down today. </div>
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Here are a few local news post about the Capricorn/Vrygrond protests:<br />
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<a href="http://www.enca.com/south-africa/burning-tires-vrygrond-protest">http://www.enca.com/south-africa/burning-tires-vrygrond-protest</a><br />
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<a href="http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/14/Several-roads-closed-following-Vrygrond-protest">http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/14/Several-roads-closed-following-Vrygrond-protest</a></div>
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Here's what it looked like from inside the community (photos from a co-worker of mine who lives in Capricorn):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_OhFhB_R2XOwdwTHz90757ry13iocBmEk5QUK8PqOLyVLcQ0KZI8gMadQ7W4K6NSN1kNoQEkb2ADAB1wdjdIZotmPZj2p6_P2SlwAhDWX2zXjX5IwZ0wH34bT6ToiJaQ_RZqhd8iIAOE/s1600/IMG-20151014-WA0003-700476.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6205555154770107042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_OhFhB_R2XOwdwTHz90757ry13iocBmEk5QUK8PqOLyVLcQ0KZI8gMadQ7W4K6NSN1kNoQEkb2ADAB1wdjdIZotmPZj2p6_P2SlwAhDWX2zXjX5IwZ0wH34bT6ToiJaQ_RZqhd8iIAOE/s320/IMG-20151014-WA0003-700476.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokA72o2ZIExK7DqX6cBYIF4i2qiViSuGsx_eWJhcjKxW9Cc4u3bdWaYn1CY-iYP3FgEC90rl22u81yAAhDrdT5pe_B0l__trXzuDg0T1D_vPFuEhquwB7WShJoKOUmRwny2Rutp-OaLP3/s1600/IMG-20151014-WA0004-702622.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6205555160493797698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokA72o2ZIExK7DqX6cBYIF4i2qiViSuGsx_eWJhcjKxW9Cc4u3bdWaYn1CY-iYP3FgEC90rl22u81yAAhDrdT5pe_B0l__trXzuDg0T1D_vPFuEhquwB7WShJoKOUmRwny2Rutp-OaLP3/s320/IMG-20151014-WA0004-702622.jpg" /></a></div>
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PLEASE PRAY FOR CAPRICORN</div>
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<li>Pray for peace in our community</li>
<li>Pray that the taxi issues subside and all parties look out for what's best for the workers, those who use public transport and for the safety of all people in our area. </li>
<li>Pray that our school and non-profit can re-open so we can continue to serve and love on these children of Capricorn, and that those living inside Capricorn won't be trapped in by the violence. </li>
<li>Pray for those that have been traumatized by these events and need to cope in these surroundings. This is a HUGE prayer need ... and especially for the non-profit I serve part-time as we help children process and heal from traumatic events they face. </li>
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DON'T WORRY ...</div>
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I'm fine and have been cautious in ministry today. I will keep you posted, but wanted my supporters to pray for this community that's in a vulnerable spot today.</div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809657149083086362.post-7885424402240619272015-09-29T13:40:00.001-05:002015-09-30T03:15:07.077-05:00Painting Sold!<div class="mobile-photo">
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To fundraise for the Art Project I'm working with in Capricorn, I donated some artwork to an online auction in South Africa. I've chosen to send all proceeds straight to the Butterfly Art Project (<a href="http://www.butterflyartproject.org/">www.butterflyartproject.org</a>) in order to bring creative development and art therapy to this community that I love. <br />
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Today I sold my first painting! So exciting! <br />
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Check out more here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.unsungart.co.za/">www.unsungart.co.za</a><br />
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<a href="http://unsungart.co.za/product_ranges/melanie-dill">http://unsungart.co.za/product_ranges/melanie-dill</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.melaniedill.com/#!portfolio/c16jg" target="_blank">Melanie's portfolio on www.melaniedill.com</a><br />
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This initiative was just a trial to see if it would be worth my time. I'm happy to report that it was! I'll have to get to my studio this weekend and get more art online! Ill keep you posted.<br />
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Melanie Dill</div>
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melanie (dill) mokgatlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16122369570914257912noreply@blogger.com0